Bob Lutz: Derek Jeter, the never MVP
Derek Jeter’s days as a New York Yankees player are numbered. He’ll leave as one of the most iconic players ever on baseball’s most iconic team. Yet he’ll also leave the game without ever being chosen as the American League’s most valuable player.
Jeter has played 20 seasons, amassed nearly 3,500 hits and been in too many postseasons to count. But never an MVP; his best finish was second in 2006.
It got me to thinking about how many other great players – in this case Hall of Famers – were never MVPs. And it’s a long list with some other surprising names. Here it is with the player’s highest finish in the MVP voting. The MVP, by the way, has been awarded since 1911.
Roberto Alomar, third in 1999, Cleveland Indians
Luis Aparicio, second in 1959, Chicago White Sox
Richie Ashburn, seventh in 1951 and 1958, Philadelphia Phillies
Earl Averill, third in 1936, Cleveland Indians
Home Run Baker, third in 1914, Philadelphia A’s
Dave Bancroft, sixth in 1925, Boston Braves
Wade Boggs, second in 1993, Boston Red Sox
Roger Bresnahan, 11th in 1914, Chicago Cubs
Lou Brock, second in 1974, St. Louis Cardinals
Max Carey, 11th in 1925, Pittsburgh Pirates
Gary Carter, second in 1980, Montreal Expos
Earle Combs, sixth in 1928, New York Yankees
Sam Crawford, second in 1933, Washington Senators
Kiki Cuyler, second in 1925, Pittsburgh Pirates
Bill Dickey, second in 1938, New York Yankees
Larry Doby, second in 1954, Cleveland Indians
Bobby Doerr, third in 1946, Boston Red Sox
Rick Farrell, 12th in 1933, St. Louis Browns
Carlton Fisk, third in 1983, Chicago White Sox
Goose Goslin, sixth in 1927-1928, Washington Senators
Tony Gwynn, third in 1984, San Diego Padres
Chick Hafey, fifth in 1931, St. Louis Cardinals
Harry Heilman, second in 1927, Detroit Tigers
Billy Herman, third in 1936, Chicago Cubs
Harry Hooper, 20th in 1914, Boston Red Sox
Monte Irvin, third in 1951, New York Giants
Shoeless Joe Jackson, second in 1913, Cleveland Indians
Travis Jackson, fourth in 1934, New York Giants
Al Kaline, second in 1955 and 1963, Detroit Tigers
High Pockets Kelly, third in 1925, New York Giants
George Kell, fourth in 1950, Detroit Tigers
Ralph Kiner, fourth in 1949, Pittsburgh Pirates
Nap Lajoie, 11th in 1913, Cleveland Indians (38 years old)
Tony Lazzeri, third in 1928, New York Yankees
Freddie Lindstrom, second in 1928, New York Giants
Rabbit Maranville, second in 1914, Boston Braves
Eddie Mathews, second in 1953 and 1959, Milwaukee Braves
Bill Mazeroski, eighth in 1958, Pittsburgh Pirates
Johnny Mize, second in 1939, 1940, St. Louis Cardinals
Paul Molitor, second in 1993, Toronto Blue Jays
Lefty O’Doul, second in 1929, Philadelphia Phillies
Mel Ott, third in 1942, New York Giants
Tony Perez, third in 1970, Cincinnati Reds
Kirby Puckett, second in 1992, Minnesota Twins
Pee Wee Reese, fifth in 1949, Los Angeles Dodgers
Edd Roush, 10th in 1924-25, Cincinnati Reds
Ray Schalk, third in 1922, Chicago White Sox
Red Schoendienst, third in 1957, Milwaukee Braves
Joe Sewell, third in 1925, Cleveland Indians
Ron Santo, fourth in 1967, Chicago Cubs
Al Simmons, second in 1925, Philadelphia A’s
Enos Slaughter, second in 1942, St. Louis Cardinals
Ozzie Smith, second in 1987, St. Louis Cardinals
Duke Snider, second in 1955, Brooklyn Dodgers
Bill Terry, third in 1929, 1931, New York Giants
Joe Tinker, fourth in 1912, Chicago Cubs
Pie Traynor, sixth in 1928, Pittsburgh Pirates
Arky Vaughan, third in 1935 and 1938, Pittsburgh Pirates
Honus Wagner, second in 1912, Pittsburgh Pirates (38 years old)
Zach Wheat, third in 1924, Brooklyn Dodgers
Billy Williams, second in 1970 and 1972, Chicago Cubs
Hack Wilson, fifth in 1926, Chicago Cubs
Dave Winfield, third in 1979, San Diego Padres
Ross Youngs, fifth in 1924, New York Giants
Players with 500 or more home runs never to win an MVP award
Jim Thome, 612
Mark McGwire, 583
Rafael Palmeiro, 569
Manny Ramirez, 555
Eddie Mathews, 512
Mel Ott, 511
Gary Sheffield, 509
Players with 3,000 or more hits never to win an MVP award
Derek Jeter, 3,461
Cap Anson, 3,435 (career ended before first MVP award)
Honus Wagner, 3,420 (career was at its end when MVP award was first given)
Paul Molitor, 3,319
Nap Lajoie, 3,243 (career was near its end when MVP award was first given)
Tony Gwynn, 3,141
Dave Winfield, 3,110
Craig Biggio, 3,060
Lou Brock, 3,023
Rafael Palmeiro, 3,020
Wade Boggs, 3,010
Al Kaline, 3,007