What was the deal with Babe Ruth and the MVP award?

[budstinks]

Babe Ruth only won 1 MVP award and that was in 1923.

He hit .356-60-164 in 1927 and didn't receive one vote. Lou Gehrig, who deservingly won it 27, had a pretty good year himself.

It wasn't until 1931 before Babe Ruth even received any MVP votes.

In 1926, George Burns won it with .358-4-114-97 runs. Ruth hit.372-47-146-139 runs.

In 1928, Micky Cochrane won it with .293-10-57-92 runs. Ruth hit .323-54-142 with an amazing 163 runs.

So Ruth was obviously black balled.

Was it because the voters back than hated the HR and rejected him. I thought he was pretty well liked, did the voters hate him?

Did his defense really suck? Did think it was just because of the short porch in right?

Who voted back the, was it newspaper guys?



Ah, no multiple winners were allowed until 1930. Mystery solved.

[kan_t]

Before 1931, player was only allowed to receive the award once. That's why.

[Dave Visbeck]

Before 1931, player was only allowed to receive the award once. That's why.

Didn't Rogers Hornsby win it twice in the 1920's?

[kan_t]

Didn't Rogers Hornsby win it twice in the 1920's?

AL and NL got different rules at that time.

[hellonewman]

Who voted back the, was it newspaper guys?

The leagues themselves gave out the awards during the 1920s, before the BBWAA took over in the early 1930s. As previously noted, the AL did not allow repeat winners.

Another thing about the so-called "League Awards" that was different than today: the MVP winner was announced immediately after the season, before the World Series. Then in 1925, the newly crowned MVP, shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh of the Washington Senators, went on to make 8 errors in the World Series as the Senators lost. Legend has it that this is why they now hold back award announcements until after the playoffs.

[nnysiny]

AL and NL got different rules at that time.

interesting. thanks