Hey, everyone likes to
make lists, so here are a few of my own.
The first BBWAA MVP Awards
were handed out in 1931; the winners were Lefty Grove and Frankie Frisch.
There has been one tie, in the National League in 1979, between Keith
Hernandez and Willie Stargell.
The first Cy Young Award
was handed out in 1956, to Don Newcombe. From 1956-1966, only one Cy
Young was awarded each year; starting in 1967, an award was given to the best pitcher
in each league. There has also been one tie, that in the American League
in 1969, between Denny McLain and Mike Cuellar.
Below are my choices for the RMVP (Revisionist MVP Awards) and RCYA (Revisionist Cy Young AWards), since 1876, in all major leagues. In brackets, I have listed the MVP and Cy Young Award winners for years in which I have made a different selection. Also note that I have considered pitchers ineligible for the RMVP Award, just because.
AL RMVP AWARDS
07 Alex Rodriguez
06 Derek Jeter [Justin Morneau]
05 Alex Rodriguez
04 Vladimir Guerrero
03 Alex Rodriguez
02 Alex Rodriguez [Miguel Tejada]
01 Jason Giambi [Ichiro Suzuki]
00 Alex Rodriguez [Jason Giambi]
99 Derek Jeter [Ivan Rodriguez]
98 Nomar Garciaparra [Juan Gonzalez]
97 Ken Griffey Jr
96 Alex Rodriguez [Juan Gonzalez]
95 Albert Belle [Mo Vaughn]
94 Frank Thomas
93 John Olerud [Frank Thomas]
92 Roberto Alomar [Dennis Eckersley]
91 Cal Ripken Jr
90 Rickey Henderson
89 Robin Yount
88 Jose Canseco
87 Alan Trammell [George Bell]
86 Wade Boggs [Roger Clemens]
85 George Brett [Don Mattingly]
84 Cal Ripken Jr [Willie Hernandez]
83 Cal Ripken Jr
82 Robin Yount
81 Rickey Henderson [Rollie Fingers]
80 George Brett
79 George Brett [Don Baylor]
78 Jim Rice
77 Rod Carew
76 George Brett [Thurman Munson]
75 Fred Lynn
74 Rod Carew [Jeff Burroughs]
73 Reggie Jackson
72 Dick Allen
71 Bobby Murcer [Vida Blue]
70 Carl Yastrzemski [Boog Powell]
69 Harmon Killebrew
68 Bill Freehan [Denny McLain]
67 Carl Yastrzemski
66 Frank Robinson
65 Tony Oliva [Zolio Versalles]
64 Brooks Robinson
63 Elston Howard
62 Mickey Mantle
61 Mickey Mantle [Roger Maris]
60 Mickey Mantle [Roger Maris]
59 Nellie Fox
58 Mickey Mantle [Jackie Jensen]
57 Mickey Mantle
56 Mickey Mantle
55 Mickey Mantle [Yogi Berra]
54 Yogi Berra
53 Al Rosen
52 Mickey Mantle [Bobby Shantz]
51 Yogi Berra
50 Phil Rizzuto
49 Ted Williams
48 Lou Boudreau
47 Ted Williams [Joe DiMaggio]
46 Ted Williams
45 Snuffy Stirnweiss [Hal Newhouser]
44 Snuffy Stirnweiss [Hal Newhouser]
43 Luke Appling [Spud Chandler]
42 Ted Williams [Joe Gordon]
41 Joe DiMaggio
40 Hank Greenberg
39 Joe DiMaggio
38 Jimmie Foxx
37 Joe DiMaggio [Charlie Gehringer]
36 Lou Gehrig
35 Hank Greenberg
34 Lou Gehrig [Mickey Cochrane]
33 Jimmie Foxx
32 Jimmie Foxx
31 Lou Gehrig [Lefty Grove]
30 Joe Cronin
29 Babe Ruth
28 Babe Ruth
27 Babe Ruth
26 Babe Ruth
25 Al Simmons
24 Babe Ruth
23 Babe Ruth
22 George Sisler
21 Babe Ruth
20 Babe Ruth
19 Babe Ruth
18 Babe Ruth
17 Ty Cobb
16 Tris Speaker
15 Ty Cobb
14 Eddie Collins
13 Eddie Collins
12 Tris Speaker
11 Ty Cobb
10 Nap Lajoie
09 Ty Cobb
08 Ty Cobb
07 Ty Cobb
06 Nap Lajoie
05 Harry Davis
04 Nap Lajoie
03 Nap Lajoie
02 Ed Delahanty
01 Nap Lajoie
NL RMVP AWARDS
07 Albert Pujols [Jimmy Rollins]
06 Albert Pujols [Ryan Howard]
05 Albert Pujols
04 Barry Bonds
03 Barry Bonds
02 Barry Bonds
01 Barry Bonds
00 Barry Bonds [Jeff Kent]
99 Chipper Jones
98 Mark McGwire [Sammy Sosa]
97 Mike Piazza [Larry Walker]
96 Ken Caminiti
95 Barry Larkin
94 Jeff Bagwell
93 Barry Bonds
92 Barry Bonds
91 Terry Pendleton
90 Barry Bonds
89 Kevin Mitchell
88 Kirk Gibson
87 Ozzie Smith [Andre Dawson]
86 Mike Schmidt
85 Willie McGee
84 Ryne Sandberg
83 Dale Murphy
82 Gary Carter [Dale Murphy]
81 Mike Schmidt
80 Mike Schmidt
79 Keith Hernandez
78 Dave Parker
77 George Foster
76 Joe Morgan
75 Joe Morgan
74 Joe Morgan [Steve Garvey]
73 Joe Morgan [Pete Rose]
72 Johnny Bench
71 Joe Torre
70 Johnny Bench
69 Willie McCovey
68 Pete Rose [Bob Gibson]
67 Roberto Clemente [Orlando Cepeda]
66 Roberto Clemente
65 Willie Mays
64 Willie Mays [Ken Boyer]
63 Hank Aaron [Sandy Koufax]
62 Willie Mays [Maury Wills]
61 Frank Robinson
60 Willie Mays [Dick Groat]
59 Hank Aaron [Ernie Banks]
58 Willie Mays [Ernie Banks]
57 Hank Aaron
56 Duke Snider [Don Newcombe]
55 Willie Mays [Roy Campanella]
54 Willie Mays
53 Roy Campanella
52 Jackie Robinson [Hank Sauer]
51 Roy Campanella
50 Jackie Robinson [Jim Konstanty]
49 Jackie Robinson
48 Stan Musial
47 Ralph Kiner [Bob Elliott]
46 Stan Musial
45 Tommy Holmes [Phil Cavaretta]
44 Stan Musial [Marty Marion]
43 Stan Musial
42 Enos Slaughter [Mort Cooper]
41 Pete Reiser [Dolph Camilli]
40 Johnny Mize [Frank McCormick]
39 Johnny Mize [Bucky Walters]
38 Mel Ott [Ernie Lombardi]
37 Joe Medwick
36 Mel Ott [Carl Hubbell]
35 Arky Vaughan [Gabby Hartnett]
34 Arky Vaughan [Dizzy Dean]
33 Arky Vaughan [Carl Hubbell]
32 Mel Ott [Chuck Klein]
31 Bill Terry [Frankie Frisch]
30 Hack Wilson
29 Rogers Hornsby
28 Jim Bottomley
27 Paul Waner
26 Paul Waner
25 Rogers Hornsby
24 Rogers Hornsby
23 Frankie Frisch
22 Rogers Hornsby
21 Rogers Hornsby
20 Rogers Hornsby
19 Edd Roush
18 Heinie Groh
17 Rogers Hornsby
16 Zack Wheat
15 Gavy Cravath
14 Rabbit Maranville
13 Gavy Cravath
12 Heinie Zimmerman
11 Wildfire Schulte
10 Sherry Magee
09 Honus Wagner
08 Honus Wagner
07 Honus Wagner
06 Honus Wagner
05 Honus Wagner
04 Honus Wagner
03 Honus Wagner
02 Honus Wagner
01 Honus Wagner
00 Honus Wagner
99 Ed Delahanty
98 Billy Hamilton
97 Willie Keeler
96 Hughie Jennings
95 Ed Delahanty
94 Hugh Duffy
93 Ed Delahanty
92 Dan Brouthers
91 Billy Hamilton
90 George Pinckney
89 Mike Tiernan
88 Jimmy Ryan
87 Sam Thompson
86 King Kelly
85 Roger Connor
84 King Kelly
83 Dan Brouthers
82 Dan Brouthers
81 Cap Anson
80 George Gore
79 Paul Hines
78 Paul Hines
77 Deacon White
76 Ross Barnes
AA RMVP AWARDS
91 Dan Brouthers
90 Cupid Childs
89 Harry Stovey
88 Harry Stovey
87 Tip O'Neill
86 Bob Caruthers
85 Pete Browning
84 Dave Orr
83 Harry Stovey
82 Pete Browning
NA RMVP AWARDS
75 Cal McVey
74 Cal McVey
73 Ross Barnes
72 Ross Barnes
71 Levi Meyerli
FL RMVP AWARDS
15 Benny Kauff
14 Benny Kauff
PL RMVP AWARD
90 Roger Connor
UA RMVP AWARD
84 Fred Dunlap
AL RCYA AWARDS
07 CC Sabathia
06 Johan Santana
05 Johan Santana [Bartolo Colon]
04 Johan Santana
03 Pedro Martinez [Roy Halladay]
02 Pedro Martinez [Barry Zito]
01 Freddy Garcia [Roger Clemens]
00 Pedro Martinez
99 Pedro Martinez
98 Roger Clemens
97 Roger Clemens
96 Pat Hentgen
95 Randy Johnson
94 David Cone
93 Kevin Appier [Jack McDowell]
92 Dennis Eckersley
91 Roger Clemens
90 Roger Clemens [Bob Welch]
89 Bret Saberhagen
88 Frank Viola
87 Roger Clemens
86 Roger Clemens
85 Bret Saberhagen
84 Willie Hernandez
83 Dan Quisenberry [La Marr Hoyt]
82 Dave Stieb [Pete Vuckovich]
81 Rollie Fingers
80 Mike Norris [Steve Stone]
79 Mike Flanagan
78 Ron Guidry
77 Jim Palmer [Sparky Lyle]
76 Jim Palmer
75 Jim Palmer
74 Catfish Hunter
73 Jim Palmer
72 Gaylord Perry
71 Vida Blue
70 Jim Palmer [Jim Perry]
69 Mike Cuellar
68 Denny McLain
67 Joel Horlen [Jim Lonborg]
66 Jim Kaat
65 Sam McDowell
64 Dean Chance
63 Whitey Ford
62 Hank Aguirre
61 Whitey Ford
60 Jim Bunning
59 Early Wynn
58 Whitey Ford [Bob Turley]
57 Jim Bunning
56 Herb Score
55 Whitey Ford
54 Bob Lemon
53 Billy Pierce
52 Bobby Shantz
51 Ed Lopat
50 Early Wynn
49 Mel Parnell
48 Bob Lemon
47 Bob Feller
46 Hal Newhouser
45 Hal Newhouser
44 Hal Newhouser
43 Spud Chandler
42 Tex Hughson
41 Thornton Lee
40 Bob Feller
39 Bob Feller
38 Red Ruffing
37 Lefty Gomez
36 Lefty Grove
35 Lefty Grove
34 Lefty Gomez
33 Lefty Grove
32 Lefty Grove
31 Lefty Grove
30 Lefty Grove
29 Lefty Grove
28 Lefty Grove
27 Waite Hoyt
26 George Uhle
25 Walter Johnson
24 Walter Johnson
23 Herb Pennock
22 Red Faber
21 Red Faber
20 Jim Bagby
19 Walter Johnson
18 Walter Johnson
17 Eddie Cicotte
16 Babe Ruth
15 Walter Johnson
14 Walter Johnson
13 Walter Johnson
12 Walter Johnson
11 Walter Johnson
10 Jack Coombs
09 Frank Smith
08 Ed Walsh
07 Ed Walsh
06 Addie Joss
05 Rube Waddell
04 Jack Chesbro
03 Cy Young
02 Cy Young
01 Cy Young
NL RCYA AWARDS
07 Jake Peavy
06 Brandon Webb
05 Roger Clemens [Chris Carpenter]
04 Randy Johnson [Roger Clemens]
03 Eric Gagne
02 Randy Johnson
01 Randy Johnson
00 Randy Johnson
99 Randy Johnson
98 Greg Maddux [Tom Glavine]
97 Pedro Martinez
96 John Smoltz
95 Greg Maddux
94 Greg Maddux
93 Greg Maddux
92 Greg Maddux
91 Tom Glavine
90 Doug Drabek
89 Mark Davis
88 Orel Hershiser
87 Tim Burke [Steve Bedrosian]
86 Mike Scott
85 Dwight Gooden
84 Rick Sutcliffe
83 John Denny
82 Steve Rogers [Steve Carlton]
81 Fernando Valenzuela
80 Steve Carlton
79 Bruce Sutter
78 Phil Niekro [Gaylord Perry]
77 Steve Carlton
76 Randy Jones
75 Tom Seaver
74 Phil Niekro [Mike Marshall]
73 Tom Seaver
72 Steve Carlton
71 Tom Seaver [Ferguson Jenkins]
70 Bob Gibson
69 Tom Seaver
68 Bob Gibson
67 Jim Bunning [Mike McCormick]
66 Sandy Koufax
65 Sandy Koufax
64 Sandy Koufax
63 Sandy Koufax
62 Don Drysdale
61 Warren Spahn
60 Vern Law
59 Sam Jones
58 Warren Spahn
57 Warren Spahn
56 Don Newcombe
55 Robin Roberts
54 Johnny Antonelli
53 Warren Spahn
52 Robin Roberts
51 Sal Maglie
50 Jim Konstanty
49 Howie Pollet
48 Johnny Sain
47 Warren Spahn
46 Howie Pollet
45 Hank Wyse
44 Bucky Walters
43 Mort Cooper
42 Mort Cooper
41 Whit Wyatt
40 Bucky Walters
39 Bucky Walters
38 Bill Lee
37 Jim Turner
36 Carl Hubbell
35 Dizzy Dean
34 Dizzy Dean
33 Carl Hubbell
32 Lon Warneke
31 Bill Walker
30 Dazzy Vance
29 Burleigh Grimes
28 Dazzy Vance
27 Jesse Haines
26 Ray Kremer
25 Eppa Rixey
24 Dazzy Vance
23 Dolph Luque
22 Wilbur Cooper
21 Burleigh Grimes
20 Pete Alexander
19 Hippo Vaughn
18 Hippo Vaughn
17 Pete Alexander
16 Pete Alexander
15 Pete Alexander
14 Bill James
13 Christy Mathewson
12 Christy Mathewson
11 Christy Mathewson
10 Christy Mathewson
09 Mordecai Brown
08 Christy Mathewson
07 Mordecai Brown
06 Mordecai Brown
05 Christy Mathewson
04 Joe McGinnity
03 Christy Mathewson
02 Jack Taylor
01 Deacon Phillippe
00 Joe McGinnity
99 Vic Willis
98 Kid Nichols
97 Kid Nichols
96 Kid Nichols
95 Pink Hawley
94 Amos Rusie
93 Amos Rusie
92 Cy Young
91 Bill Hutchison
90 Bill Hutchison
89 John Clarkson
88 Tim Keefe
87 John Clarkson
86 Lady Baldwin
85 John Clarkson
84 Old Hoss Radbourn
83 Old Hoss Radbourn
82 Old Hoss Radbourn
81 George Derby
80 Jim McCormick
79 Tommy Bond
78 Tommy Bond
77 Jim Devlin
76 Jim Devlin
AA RCYA AWARDS
91 Jack Stivetts
90 Scott Stratton
89 Matt Kilroy
88 Silver King
87 Matt Kilroy
86 Dave Foutz
85 Ed Morris
84 Guy Hecker
83 Tim Keefe
82 Will White
NA RCYA AWARDS
75 Al Spalding
74 Al Spalding
73 Al Spalding
72 Al Spalding
71 George Zettlein
FL RCYA AWARDS
15 Dave Davenport
14 Claude Hendrix
PL RCYA AWARD
90 Silver King
UA RCYA AWARDS
84 Bill Sweeney
OTHER STUFF:
These are the players to
whom I have given the most awards:
RMVP AWARDS
Babe Ruth 10 (+ 1 RCYA Award)
Honus Wagner 10
Mickey Mantle 8
Barry Bonds 8
Rogers Hornsby 7
Willie Mays 7
Ty Cobb 6
Alex Rodriguez 6
George Brett 4
Dan Brouthers 4
Ed Delahanty 4
Nap Lajoie 4
Joe Morgan 4
Stan Musial 4
Ted Williams 4
Hank Aaron 3
Joe DiMaggio 3
Jimmie Foxx 3
Lou Gehrig 3
Mel Ott 3
Albert Pujols 3
Cal Ripken Jr 3
Mike Schmidt 3
Harry Stovey 3
Arky Vaughan 3
RCYA AWARDS
Walter Johnson 9
Lefty Grove 8
Christy Mathewson 7
Roger Clemens 7
Randy Johnson 6
Greg Maddux 5
Pedro Martinez 5
Jim Palmer 5
Warren Spahn 5
Pete Alexander 4
Whitey Ford 4
Sandy Koufax 4
Tom Seaver 4
Al Spalding 4
Cy Young 4
Mordecai Brown 3
Jim Bunning 3
Steve Carlton 3
John Clarkson 3
Bob Feller 3
Hal Newhouser 3
Kid Nichols 3
Old Hoss Radbourn 3
Johan Santana 3
Dazzy Vance 3
Bucky Walters 3
Of course, timing is everything.
Mickey Mantle was a great player, but most of the other great outfielders
of the era — Mays, Aaron, Robinson, Clemente — were all in the National
League. Likewise, Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux benefit from not facing
one another. Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Feller, and others all lose
out to the war; Cy Young had many of his best seasons before the turn
of the century.
And, of course, it's all
subjective. If you think Tony Gwynn deserves three MVP Awards but Rogers
Hornsby doesn't deserve any, then you're entitled to that opinion.
AND MORE STUFF:
As I see it, here are
the best performances by players and pitchers in each league in each
decade.
AMERICAN LEAGUE NATIONAL LEAGUE
1900's Nap Lajoie 1901 Honus Wagner 1909
Ed Walsh 1908 Christy Mathewson 1905
1910's Ty Cobb 1911 Sherry Magee 1910
Walter Johnson 1913 Pete Alexander 1915
1920's Babe Ruth 1921 Rogers Hornsby 1922
Red Faber 1921 Dazzy Vance 1924
1930's Jimmie Foxx 1932 Hack Wilson 1930
Lefty Grove 1931 Dizzy Dean 1934
1940's Joe DiMaggio 1941 Stan Musial 1948
Hal Newhouser 1946 Mort Cooper 1942
1950's Mickey Mantle 1956 Willie Mays 1955
Bobby Shantz 1952 Robin Roberts 1952
1960's Mickey Mantle 1961 Willie Mays 1965
Denny McLain 1968 Sandy Koufax 1966
1970's Rod Carew 1977 Joe Morgan 1976
Ron Guidry 1978 Steve Carlton 1972
1980's Robin Yount 1982 Mike Schmidt 1980
Bret Saberhagen 1989 Dwight Gooden 1985
1990's Alex Rodriguez 1996 Barry Bonds 1993
Pedro Martinez 1999 Greg Maddux 1995
2000's Alex Rodriguez 2007 Barry Bonds 2001
Pedro Martinez 2000 Randy Johnson 2001
