1947 AL Stargell Award

Probably the most controversial vote in the history of the MVP Award. Joe DiMaggio won his third Award, clipping Ted Williams by a mere one point. Boston fans weren't happy, since Williams appeared to have superior numbers. The furor was increased by the revelation that a Boston sportswriter left Williams completely off his ballot, apparently because he and The Splinter didn't get along too well.
And now you get to decide for yourself.

American League 1947

			AVG	OBA	SLU	AB	HIT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SB	OPS
LF	T WILLIAMS	BOS	343	499	634	528	181	40	9	32	125	114	162	0	1133
RF	T HENRICH	NY	287	372	485	550	158	35	13	16	109	98	71	3	857
1B	F FAIN	PHI	291	414	423	461	134	28	6	7	70	71	95	4	837
LF	J HEATH	STL	251	366	485	491	123	20	7	27	81	85	88	2	850
OF	B MCCOSKY	PHI	328	395	399	546	179	22	7	1	77	52	57	1	795
1B	G MCQUINN	NY	304	395	437	517	157	24	3	13	84	80	78	0	832

CF	S SPENCE	WAS	279	378	441	506	141	22	6	16	62	73	81	2	819
CF	J DIMAGGIO	NY	315	391	522	534	168	31	10	20	97	97	64	3	913
SS	L APPLING	CHI	306	386	412	503	154	29	0	8	67	49	64	8	797

SS	L BOUDREAU	CLE	307	388	424	538	165	45	3	4	79	67	67	1	811
SS	J PESKY	BOS	324	393	392	638	207	27	8	0	106	39	72	12	785
SS	V STEPHENS	STL	279	359	406	562	157	18	4	15	74	83	70	8	765
SS	P RIZZUTO	NY	273	350	364	549	150	26	9	2	78	60	57	11	714
2B	J GORDON	CLE	272	346	496	562	153	27	6	29	89	93	62	7	842
2B	B DOERR	BOS	258	329	426	561	145	23	10	17	79	95	59	3	755
3B	G KELL	DET	320	387	412	588	188	29	5	5	75	93	61	9	798

         DiMaggio was a wonderful player, and I'm usually willing to believe that Joe's combination of defense, baserunning and leadership was enough to offset Williams' advantage at the plate. But this year is a tough sell. As usual, DiMaggio was a better defensive player, and his team won the pennant. Still... I really do think that Williams was the best player in the league. The difference in run production was just too huge. The Red Sox did have a disappointing season, but Williams was legitimately outstanding. And this really was not one of DiMaggio's best seasons.
        This was Ferris Fain's rookie season. Fain played for nine years, and was a master at getting on base. Every year of his career, Fain had an on-base average above .400; his career OBA was .425. Fain also won consecutive batting titles from 1951-52. He had little power, but he was a good hitter; his career was reportedly shortened by a knee injury. Fain was also nicknamed "Burrhead"; in the pictures I have seen of him he is always wearing a cap.
        Lou Boudreau, Joe Gordon, Bobby Doerr and George Kell were all excellent defensive players. This was Gordon's first year with the Indians; he and Boudreau formed an awesome combination up the middle that would propel Cleveland to the championship next year.