We’ll do this Award Show style, ending with the MVP.
#Silver Sticks
The guideline here is the best offensive performance at each position, with a slightly relaxed PA requirement and combining LF and RF. Players qualify for their team at season’s end, much to Paul Konerko‘s delight.
| Pos | American League | National League |
|---|---|---|
| C | Ed Bailey (DET/CLE) | Josh Gibson (HOM) |
| 1B | Frank Thomas (CAG) | Paul Konerko (CAG/BBB) |
| 2B | Rogers Hornsby (NYY) | Roberto Alomar (OTT) |
| 3B | Evan Longoria (CLE) | Ron Cey (BRK) |
| SS | Cal Ripken, Jr (BAL) | Ernie Banks (HOD) |
| OF | Babe Ruth (NYY) | Larry Walker (OTT) |
| CF | Turkey Stearnes (SFS) | Oscar Charleston (IND) |
| OF | Kal Daniels (LAA) | Aaron Judge (PHI) |
| DH | Ty Cobb (DET) | Willie Stargell (HOM) |
Joe Morgan was better offensively than Alomar, but Alomar had 200 more plate appearances and was no slouch himself.
#Rookie Of the Year
This was pretty easy in terms of the overall awards, but the second and third place finishers were far more heavily contested.
| Rank | American League | National League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turkey Stearnes (CF, SFS, 22) | Charles Rogan (P/Util, PHI, 27) |
| 2 | Cal Ripken, Jr (SS, BAL, 23) | A. Rube Foster (P, KCM, 24) |
| 3 | Bump Hadley (P, SFS, 23) | Smokey Joe Williams (P, BRK, 24) |
Al Kaline (DET), David Ortiz (MEM), and Jim Whitney (MCG) in the AL, and John Briggs (BRK), Judy Johnson (HOM), and George Foster (IND) in the NL were the next names on the lists, but these selections feel pretty solid.
#All Rounder Award
This one is given to the player whose offense was most well-rounded–walks, power, speed, all of it.
| Rank | American League | National League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ty Cobb (DET) | Roberto Alomar (OTT) |
| 2 | Kal Daniels (LAA) | Jackie Robinson (BRK) |
| 3 | Tris Speaker (CLE) | Oscar Charleston (IND) |
#Phineas Flint Award
This goes to the best reliever in each league–not necessarily a closer, but often.
| Rank | American League | National League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rod Beck (SFS) | Eric Gagné (BRK) |
| 2 | Joe Nathan (LAA/SFS) | Lee Smith (KCM) |
| 3 | Goose Gossage (NYY) | Craig Kimbrel (KCM) |
#Brock Rutherford Award
This goes to the dominant pitcher in each league, usually a starter.
| Rank | American League | National League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lefty Grove (SFS) | Luis Padrón (IND) |
| 2 | Bump Hadley (SFS) | Toad Ramsey (HOU) |
| 3 | José Méndez (MCG) | A. Rube Foster (KCM) |
#Mel Trench Award
And, the biggie, the MVP. A slight prejudice towards batters here, but it’s possible for a pitcher to enter the building.
| Rank | American League | National League |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ty Cobb (DET) | Josh Gibson (HOM) |
| 2 | Babe Ruth (NYY) | Oscar Charleston (IND) |
| 3 | Mike Trout (LAA) | Gary Carter (OTT) |
As has been constant in much of this Award season, the top spots are clear, and beyond that it’s a little bit of a mess.
Trout’s numbers weren’t as good as Turkey Steranes or Tris Speaker, but he carried Los Angeles all season. That said, this could have been a 3 way tie for AL CF’s. In the NL, you can argue that Ron Cey was more important to Brooklyn than Carter was to Ottawa, and certainly Brooklyn’s Whirled Championship counts for something. But Carter did all that … as a catcher (which underscores Gibson’s edge on the field).