Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski (.326, 44, 121), receiving 19 of 20 first-place votes, is selected by the BBWAA as the American League Most Valuable Player. A writer puts the light-hitting Twins infielder Cesar Tovar (.267, 6, 47) on the top of his ballot, denying the 28 year-old Red Sox outfielder of being the unanimous choice for the award.
1966 – Triple Crown winner Frank Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles is the unanimous choice as American League MVP. He becomes the first major league player to win the award in both leagues.
1965 – Zoilo Versalles is named American League MVP. The Minnesota Twins shortstop gets 275 votes to 174 for teammate Tony Oliva.
1963 – New York Yankees catcher Elston Howard becomes the first black player to win the American League MVP Award. Howard beats out Al Kaline of the Detroit Tigers by 248 votes to 148 in the balloting.
On November 20, 1962, Mickey Mantle collects his third American League MVP Award. Mantle, who hit .321 with 30 home runs, also led the AL in walks (122) and slugging percentage (.605), while helping the Yankees to a berth in the World Series against the San Francisco Giants.
1961 – For the second consecutive year, New York Yankees outfielder Roger Maris is named American League Most Valuable Player. The new single-season home run record holder with 61 edges his teammate Mickey Mantle by four points, 202-198. Jim Gentile of the Baltimore Orioles finishes third with 157 points.
1959 – Chicago White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox wins the American League MVP Award. Teammates Luis Aparicio and Early Wynn finish second and third respectively.
On November 22, 1957, Mickey Mantle barely edges Ted Williams in the American League’s MVP voting. Mantle gains 233 votes to Williams’ 209 tallies. Mantle batted .365 with 34 home runs for the first-place New York Yankees, while Williams batted .388 with 38 home runs for the third-place Boston Red Sox. Red Sox…
Indian third baseman Al Rosen (.336, 43, 145) is selected the American League’s MVP by an unprecedented unanimous vote when he is named first on all 24 ballots cast by the writers. The 28 year-old infielder, completing his fourth full season as a major leaguer, barely misses garnering the triple crown when Mickey Vernon tops him by one point for the best batting average in the circuit.
1952 – The Baseball Writers Association of America name Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Bobby Shantz the American League Most Valuable Player. Shantz posted a 24-7 record with 152 strikeouts and a 2.48 ERA during the regular season and also claimed the honor of being The Sporting News American League Pitcher of the Year.
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