Cecil Fielder, unable to get regular playing time with the Blue Jays after spending four years with them, spent the entire 1989 season in Japan. He came back with Detroit in 1990, and hit 51 home runs, the first American League player to reach 50 since Maris and Mantle in 1961.
        He didn't win the MVP; Rickey Henderson did. Fielder had a large numbers of supporters, though, enough to make it a close vote (Fielder himself was also quite perturbed at losing). Who deserved the award?

         The Oakland Athletics won their third consecutive pennant; they swept the Red Sox in the league playoffs, but were themselves swept in the World Series. Their best player was star left-fielder Rickey Henderson, who had his best season and won the MVP Award. Rickey was also the team's best player in the playoffs, but the rest of the team around him fell apart against the Reds in the World Series.
        Henderson was 31 years old, midway through his great career. Though Rickey won't have much problem getting into the Hall Of Fame, I think he is another example of a player whose reputation has suffered because fans identify him with only a single skill. Rickey is the greatest base stealer in baseball history; he does much, much more, but gets little credit beyond what he does on the basepaths. On the other hand, players who do well in one of the Triple Crown categories tend to be overrated, like Fielder.
        I think that Rickey Henderson was the best player of the 1980's and one of baseball's greatest outfielders. This was his only MVP Award, and it was also the last year that he was an MVP candidate, though he has had some other fine seasons in the 1990's. At this writing, Rickey has a record 1395 stolen bases, and also stole a record 130 in a single season. In 2001 he broke Ty Cobb's record for runs scored, and finished the season with 2248. That same year, Rickey also broke Babe Ruth's record for career walks, finishing the year with 2141. And again, in 2001, Rickey reached the 3000 career hits milestone. No other player in baseball history has both 3000 hits and 2000 walks, not to mention over 2000 runs scored and over 1300 stolen bases. Rickey also has 278 lifetime home runs. Rickey is also an outstanding defensive player who has won numerous Gold Gloves.
        But Rickey Henderson always has trouble getting respect. Even in this, his best season, he barely edged out Fielder in the MVP vote. Fielder's advantages were 23 homers, 33 runs produced, and a slight edge in slugging. Henderson did everything else better, including huge advantages in batting average, OPS, on-base percentage and stolen bases. Henderson was also a much better defensive player, and his team (the Athletics) won their second straight pennant. I think Rickey was clearly the MVP.
        George Brett won his third batting title. He was nearing the end of his career, and seemed to be in a permanent decline, when he got hot for one more summer. His decline continued next year, but he lasted long enough to hammer out over 3000 hits in his career.
        Kelly Gruber was a solid, consistent player who had one big season. After this year, a string of injuries ended his career. Toronto had a fine year, finishing two games behind Boston, so I'll rank Gruber third. After him, I'll take his teammate in Toronto, Fred McGriff, who had one of his best seasons.