The history of sports is both vast and rich, thanks to the existence of so many different events and the longevity associated with them. With so much history to cull through, We offer the opportunity to look back and see what memorable things happened or milestones were reached on November 18 in baseball history.
- November 18, 1949 — Brooklyn Dodger second baseman Jackie Robinson who hit 16 home runs with 124 RBI and led the National League with a .342 batting average, becomes the first black player to win the MVP Award. Stan Musial, Ralph Kiner, and teammate Pee Wee Reese are the runners-ups in the BBWAA balloting.
- On November 18, 1959 — Washington Senators outfielder Bob Allison is voted the American League Rookie of the Year. Allison led all major league rookies with 30 home runs and 85 RBI. Cleveland Indians pitcher Jim Perry, who posted a 12-10 record with a 2.65 ERA, is a distant second.
- November 18, 1964 – Baltimore Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson is voted American League Most Valuable Player, outpolling Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees 269 to 171. Robinson hit career highs with a .317 average, 28 home runs and 118 RBI’s. It will be 1 of 2 seasons Brooks finishes with 100+ RBI’s. Robinson will also have 4 other top 5 MVP finishes in his career. Mantle hit 35 home runs and drove 111 runs, Mantle will lead his team to the World Series and they will lose to St Louis in 7 games.
- On November 18, 1966, Los Angeles Dodgers pitching ace Sandy Koufax announces his retirement, due to increasing pain caused by arthritis in his left elbow. Koufax cites the fear of permanent damage as the reason for placing himself on the voluntarily retired list. The press conference was only attended by the press, there was no Dodger personal in the room. When he finished talking the entire room applauded. The southpaw, who has thrown four no-hitters and set the single-season strikeout record last year with 382.
- On November 18, 1970, Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench wins the National League MVP Award with 326 points, 108 more than Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs. Bench hit for a .293 average with 45 home runs and 148 RBI, while Williams finished with .322, 42, 109.
- On November 18, 1981 — Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt wins his second consecutive National League MVP Award, joining Ernie Banks (Cubs, 1958-59) and Joe Morgan (Reds, 1975-76) as the only NL players to take the award back-to-back. In the strike-shortened season, Schmidt hit .316 and led the league in home runs (31), RBI (91), runs (78), walks (73), on-base percentage (.435) and slugging percentage (.644).
