1973 MVP

[D-Man]

Eric Davis was a head-scratcher in 1987, too. How do you post .293/37/100 (129 R & 50 SB, GG) and have 8 guys finish ahead of you? I can buy a debate over one or two other guys, but 8???

The short answer: juiced ball. Power numbers were waaay up in 1987 compared with other years in the 1982-92 era.

The more nuanced answer is that the best players in 1987 -- ED, Raines, and Jack Clark all missed significant time due to injuries ( and contract issues in Raines' case). That complicated the decision. Ozzie Smith was great that year too, but he hit 49 fewer HRs than Dawson.

In the 80s, baseball writers had no idea of the relative value of defense, base running, and power.

[mth123]

The short answer: juiced ball. Power numbers were waaay up in 1987 compared with other years in the 1982-92 era.

The more nuanced answer is that the best players in 1987 -- ED, Raines, and Jack Clark all missed significant time due to injuries ( and contract issues in Raines' case). That complicated the decision. Ozzie Smith was great that year too, but he hit 49 fewer HRs than Dawson.

In the 80s, baseball writers had no idea of the relative value of defense, base running, and power.

1987 was the height of the superstation era. Andre Dawson was doing his thing on national TV every day which was an advantage similar to playing in NY.

Personally, I'd have a hard time voting for any position player to be the MVP when he missed over 20% of his team's schedule. The objective is still to win the games and no matter how good a player is, he doesn't help his team win if he's not playing.

[RedsBaron]

Personally, I'd have a hard time voting for any position player to be the MVP when he missed over 20% of his team's schedule. The objective is still to win the games and no matter how good a player is, he doesn't help his team win if he's not playing.

Mickey Mantle won the MVP award in 1962 even though he only appeared in 123 games.

[RedsBaron]

Personally, I'd have a hard time voting for any position player to be the MVP when he missed over 20% of his team's schedule. The objective is still to win the games and no matter how good a player is, he doesn't help his team win if he's not playing.

Mickey Mantle won the MVP award in 1962 even though he only appeared in 123 games. He still lead the AL in slugging and OBP, with a league leading offensive WAR of 7.7, and the Yankees won the pennant.

[D-Man]

1987 was the height of the superstation era. Andre Dawson was doing his thing on national TV every day which was an advantage similar to playing in NY.

Personally, I'd have a hard time voting for any position player to be the MVP when he missed over 20% of his team's schedule. The objective is still to win the games and no matter how good a player is, he doesn't help his team win if he's not playing.

Dale Murphy put up comparable stats to Dawson in a different superstation market... and he finished 11th in the voting. I put very little stock in writers valuing Dawson because he was on TV more frequently. Dawson lead the league in baseball writer crutch categories (HRs and RBIs), and that won him the hardware.

As for rate stats v. counting stats, Davis was so electric and his contributions well rounded hat he would have fared well in most playing time -adjusted measures. Baseball reference has Davis 2nd in WAR for that year.

[Norm Chortleton]

In the 80s, baseball writers had no idea of the relative value of defense, base running, and power.

Thank God Bill James came along and showed us how to make sense of a 100-year-old plus game.

[WrongVerb]

Wow Aaron had 40 HR's in just 392 at bats.

Aaron has some amazing statistics. My favorite stat is that for his career he accumulated 3016 hits that were NOT home runs.