1907 AL Stargell Award

American League 1907

			AVG	OBA	SLU	AB	HIT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SB	OPS
CF	T COBB	DET	350	380	468	605	212	28	14	5	97	119	24	49	848
RF	S CRAWFORD	DET	323	366	460	582	188	34	17	4	102	81	37	18	826
RF	E FLICK	CLE	302	386	412	549	166	15	18	3	78	58	64	41	798
LF	G STONE	STL	320	387	399	596	191	13	11	4	77	59	59	23	787
CF	T HARTSEL	PHI	280	405	367	507	142	23	6	3	93	29	106	20	771
1B	H DAVIS	PHI	266	318	399	582	155	37	8	8	84	87	42	20	713
RF	S SEYBOLD	PHI	271	324	363	564	153	29	4	5	58	92	40	10	687

2B	N LAJOIE	CLE	299	345	393	509	152	30	6	2	53	63	30	24	738
2B	D MURPHY	PHI	271	316	345	469	127	23	3	2	51	57	30	11	663
2B	J WILLIAMS	NY	270	319	359	504	136	17	11	2	53	63	35	14	678
SS	B WALLACE	STL	257	328	320	538	138	20	7	0	56	70	54	16	647
CA	O SCHRECKENGOST	PHI	272	306	334	356	97	16	3	0	30	38	17	4	640
CA	N CLARKE	CLE	269	333	372	390	105	19	6	3	44	33	35	3	704

         As you can see, Cobb was already the best player in the AL. He led the league in OPS, runs produced and total bases. This was the first of nine 200-hit seasons for Cobb; it was also his first of twelve batting titles, four RBI titles, and six stolen base titles.
        Cobb was nicknamed "The Georgia Peach"; this may refer to his playing ability, but not his personality. As most fans know, Cobb was one of the most hateful and hated players in baseball history. He was born and raised in the backwoods of Georgia; his youth had its share of traumatic moments, including the night his mother shot and killed his father. He moved to the city as a teenager, determined to shed his image as a country hick, and to become a great ballplayer.
        Well, he did became a great ballplayer. He never really fit in with the guys, though, probably because of his habit of strangling people. He liked to sharpen the spikes on his shoes before games, and slid with his feet up, impaling any infielder who dared to get in his way. He was something of a psychopath, but being a little crazy never prevented anyone from being a great ballplayer. Cobb's aggressiveness and meanness, combined with his raw talent, made him one of the most formidable players ever to step on a ball diamond.
        Off the field, he was always something of a country bumpkin, but he had a shrewdness that you would expect from someone so diabolical. As soon as he started receiving paycheques, Cobb invested in a little company called Coca-Cola, and became a millionaire.
        Nap Lajoie is the only player among the infielders who perks my interest, and even he didn't have a great year by his own standards. Ossee Schreckengost was a terrific defensive catcher, a decent hitter, and had a great name, but didn't play enough to be a good MVP candidate.