The Dodgers are one of the most successful franchises in baseball history. The old Brooklyn Dodgers are still beloved by their fans, and their battles with the New York Yankees are a part of baseball lore. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1958, the Dodgers have enjoyed tremendous success, and are among the most successful franchises ever.
        That's why it is hard to believe that the first 40 years of the century were pretty much a washout for the Dodgers. This year, they won their first pennant, after a long series of losing seasons. They won another pennant in 1920, than sank into oblivion for another twenty years.
        Starting in 1941, the Brooklyn Dodgers became "Da Bums", a team that kept winning the pennant, but also kept losing to the Yankees in the World Series. They finally won the World Series in 1955, their only one in Brooklyn. Since moving to Los Angeles, they have won five more.

        Zack Wheat was the Dodgers' best player, and had perhaps his best year. He was a pretty good player, a left-handed line drive hitter, and he is in the Hall Of Fame. I don't think he was a great player; he was almost exactly the same as Rusty Staub, maybe a little better. There weren't too many good MVP candidates this year, and he was as good as any of them.
        Bill Hinchman had some good numbers, but played for a poor team (Pittsburgh). Hinchman had a short career, but this was the second of two big seasons that he had for the Pirates. He played more games than Gavy Cravath, and some of his other numbers were better. But Gavy was a fearsome slugger, and his team (Philadelphia) was good, finishing in second place. I will give the edge to Cravath.
        Hal Chase was a highly regarded player, and had his best year at the plate. Unfortunately, Chase liked to supplement his income by fixing baseball games. He was suspended for life a couple of years later. Seeing as how his team finished in last place (and won the pennant the year after he left), I can't think of any reason to consider him for MVP.
        This was Rogers Hornsby's rookie year, and he quickly established himself as the best hitting infielder in the NL. He later developed a reputation for poor defence, but I can't say if that was true early in his career. He kept moving to different positions (shortstop next year, second base after that), which may imply he wasn't comfortable anywhere in the field.
        I wonder why Hornsby wasn't an outfielder; he likely would have excelled in either left or right field, and was fast enough to play centre. But he had a reputation for stubborness, and was very proud of his great athleticism. Perhaps he was determined to play second base, no matter how awkward he was at the position.
        Art Fletcher was an outstanding defensive shortstop who didn't embarrass himself at the plate. He played for 13 years, most of them with the Giants, and hit better than the average shortstop. This was one of his best years, both on offence and defence. He missed about 20 games, but his team had a fine year, and he had the most positives of any infielder in the the league.