On October 24, 1939 – Joe DiMaggio is named AL MVP, with Jimmie Foxx the runner-up. DiMaggio, for four years, acknowledged the greatest player in baseball by fans and experts alike, finally received official recognition yesterday when he was voted the Most Valuable Player in the American League. In receiving an honor long overdue, the 24-year-old slugger from San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf received 280 points out of a possible 335 in the annual vote of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and will receive The Sporting News award next season. DiMaggio, who led the league in batting with .381, drew fifteen first-place votes from the twenty-four participating writers (three from each city), three for second, three for third, one for fourth and two for fifth. For three years DiMaggio, whose arrival with the Yankees in 1936 started them on their unsurpassed streak of four successive World Championships, has been shunned when the postseason honor was awarded. He almost won the citation two years ago but was nosed out by Charley Gehringer. 78-74. (under the old scoring system) when veteran writers hesitated to give the coveted honor to a sophomore. In his freshman year, Joe finished eighth in the balloting; last season, he was sixth.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AWARDS and HONORS
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AWARDS and HONORS
Trevor Hoffman (NL), Mariano Rivera (AL) & Rolaids Relief Awards
Major League Baseball Players of the Month
Major League Baseball Players of the Week
Major League Baseball Pitchers of the Month
Major League Baseball Rookies of the Month
Major League Baseball Relievers of the Month
Delivery Man of the Year Award
Comeback Player of the Year Award
Batting Champions (highest BA as recognized at time)
Pitching Champions (lowest ERA as recognized at time)
National League Gold Glove Awards
American League Gold Glove Awards
National League Silver Slugger Awards
American League Silver Slugger Awards
The Sporting News Pitchers of the Year & Players of the Year
