Ted Williams and the MVP

[HoustonGM]

It's probably been mentioned tons of times before, elsewhere, but I was looking over Ted Williams today, and it's absolutely amazing how many times he was jipped from the MVP award, particularly when the winner went to someone from a certain New York team.

Looking through each year of his career, I see these years in which he was arguably the MVP:

1948 (placed third to Joe Dimaggio, NYY and Lou Boudreau, CLE)
1954 (placed 7th, had he played in more than 117 games, he should be the no doubt MVP, but playing time is, and should be, and factor, so the "arguably" here depends on how much weight you want to put on playing time)
1955 (placed 4th, despite playing in just 98 games, again, the playing time is the major factor in the "arguably" here)
1957 (placed 2nd to Mickey Mantle, who had an amazing year, just slightly worse than Williams, in more playing time, and was probably a better fielder)

and these years in which he was no doubt the MVP:

1941 (lost to Joe Dimaggio, NYY)
1942 (lost to Joe Gordon, NYY)
1946 (won)
1947 (lost to Joe Dimaggio, NYY)
1949 (won)
1951 (he placed 13th! He led the AL in OBP, SLG, OPS, total bases, walks, OPS+, times on base and runs created, and 2nd in homers, RBI, and extra base hits, 4th in AVG, 3rd in runs, and 5th in hits. Yet 13th in MVP voting. 6 pitchers placed ahead of him, as well as such batting stars as Phil Rizzuto, he of the .696 OPS, and Bobby Avila, of the .784 OPS. The award went to Yogi Berra. Williams dominated the leaderboards, and placed 13th in the MVP voting. That's tremendous.)

Williams rightfully deserved 6 MVP's, and an argument could be made for a total of 10...8 if you throw out the 2 weak playing time arguments. Wow.

[robinhoodnik]

The media didn't like him. Col. Dave Egan especially had it in for him in Boston. It's often more a matter of who's buddy is voting, rather than who the actual most valuable player is.

[robinhoodnik]

Ted also brought a lot of it upon himself. He'd probably be one of the game's biggest villains if he played today.

[HoustonGM]

The media didn't like him. Col. Dave Egan especially had it in for him in Boston. It's often more a matter of who's buddy is voting, rather than who the actual most valuable player is.

Oh, I know why it happens. I just hate it.

[Wassit3]

you forget HGM Ted was as big a jerk as barry bonds in his day...

[michaelg123789]

Teddy Ballgame was amazing

[Wassit3]

It's probably been mentioned tons of times before, elsewhere, but I was looking over Ted Williams today, and it's absolutely amazing how many times he was jipped from the MVP award, particularly when the winner went to someone from a certain New York team.

Looking through each year of his career, I see these years in which he was arguably the MVP:

1948 (placed third to Joe Dimaggio, NYY and Lou Boudreau, CLE)
1954 (placed 7th, had he played in more than 117 games, he should be the no doubt MVP, but playing time is, and should be, and factor, so the "arguably" here depends on how much weight you want to put on playing time)
1955 (placed 4th, despite playing in just 98 games, again, the playing time is the major factor in the "arguably" here)
1957 (placed 2nd to Mickey Mantle, who had an amazing year, just slightly worse than Williams, in more playing time, and was probably a better fielder)

and these years in which he was no doubt the MVP:

1941 (lost to Joe Dimaggio, NYY)
1942 (lost to Joe Gordon, NYY)
1946 (won)
1947 (lost to Joe Dimaggio, NYY)
1949 (won)
1951 (he placed 13th! He led the AL in OBP, SLG, OPS, total bases, walks, OPS+, times on base and runs created, and 2nd in homers, RBI, and extra base hits, 4th in AVG, 3rd in runs, and 5th in hits. Yet 13th in MVP voting. 6 pitchers placed ahead of him, as well as such batting stars as Phil Rizzuto, he of the .696 OPS, and Bobby Avila, of the .784 OPS. The award went to Yogi Berra. Williams dominated the leaderboards, and placed 13th in the MVP voting. That's tremendous.)

Williams rightfully deserved 6 MVP's, and an argument could be made for a total of 10...8 if you throw out the 2 weak playing time arguments. Wow.

sound similiar to a guy currently playing doesn't it...

[Arctic Blast]

Actually, from a lot of things I've read, Teddy was much less of a jerk to fans and such than Joe D was, but Joe was constantly willing to suck up to the media and give them total access, while Ted wasn't, so he got the kid glove treatment, while Williams was raked over the coals.

[dps]

Actually, from a lot of things I've read, Teddy was much less of a jerk to fans and such than Joe D was, but Joe was constantly willing to suck up to the media and give them total access, while Ted wasn't, so he got the kid glove treatment, while Williams was raked over the coals.

From what I've read, Joe DiMaggio was cold and aloof, but Williams was actilvely hostile and combative.

[Edge]

Well it does go to show how the media acts like sports stars being jerks is somehow a new concept.

I've long maintained that for all the **** A-Rod and Bonds, etc. get that people would have a field day with Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle.

I don't think the players have changed, but the way we view them has. It's a general reflection of a society that is always interested in dirt and juicy details like we're somehow "owed" this knowledge.

As for Ted Williams as MVP, you could make a very good case. It'd be interesting to see DiMaggio's numbers as a right handed hitter in Boston and Williams in Yankee Stadium. Or imagine if that long rumored "swap" of the two had gone down?

[RickD]

Let's not forget Ted was a Red Sux so he had that going against him as well!