This is Ted Williams' 3rd MMP award and 10th season with MMP votes. Players with 3+ MMP awards and 10+ times on ballot:

Bonds 7/18
Mays 6/16
Pujols 3/11
Wagner 4/11
Mantle 3/11

Player #ballots
S Musial 12
T Williams 10
J Gibson 7
J Robinson 6
C Keller 5
H Newhouser 3
B Feller 3
J Mize 3
M Irvin 3

For the second year in a row, we need a runoff to determine one of the smaller awards as the difference between Josh Gibson and Monte Irvin is officially "too close to call." Please submit a list of your top three Negro League players.

In other news, Hal Newhouser is the pitching MMP. This makes back-to-back awards for Newhouser, joining an elite group that includes Ed Walsh, Christy Mathewson, Robin Roberts, Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Dave Stieb, Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Roy Halladay and Clayton Kershaw.

Over on the Senior Circuit, Stan Musial has won his third NL MMP ('43, '44 and '46) while Stan's St. Louis teammate Howie Pollet is the NL pitching MMP.

My top three Negro League Players:

1. Leon Day
2. Monte Irvin
3. Larry Doby

Top three Negro League players

1. Jackie Robinson - I don't know if you consider him here; since he did not play in the Negro leagues
********************
2. Monte Irvin
3. Josh Gibson
4. Larry Doby

1) Josh Gibson
2) Monte Irvin
3) Willard Brown

N/A Jackie Robinson
1) Monte Irvin
2) Josh Gibson
3) Larry Doby

I would suggest 1947 or 1948 as the last year to track a NGL MMP. The Negro National League ended after 1948 and the Negro American League became essentially a minor league after that. In 1947 a full team's worth of talent was already pulled out of black baseball and into the MLB system with everyone who had the opportunity abandoning the Negro Leagues by the 1948 offseason.

Also Seamheads currently does not have NGL stats for 1948 and later.

1. Josh Gibson
(Jackie Robinson)
2. Bobby Avila
3. Larry Doby

I would suggest 1947 or 1948 as the last year to track a NGL MMP. The Negro National League ended after 1948 and the Negro American League became essentially a minor league after that. In 1947 a full team's worth of talent was already pulled out of black baseball and into the MLB system with everyone who had the opportunity abandoning the Negro Leagues by the 1948 offseason.

I definitely agree. By 1949, the former Negro Leaguers were flooding the Pacific Coast League, independent leagues and minor leagues, even as MLB allowed a mere trickle of players through the color barrier. The NAL of 1949 and later was a shell of its former self. I'll track a NGL MMP for '47 but I haven't yet decided on '48.

2. Bobby Avila

Bobby Avila was in the Mexican Leagues. Not sure if that counts for this subgrouping.

2. Bobby Avila


Bobby Avila was in the Mexican Leagues. Not sure if that counts for this subgrouping.

If not, move Doby up to 2 and Bus Clarkson slides into 3.

Also, for Chris Fluit, I believe I may have mentioned it somewhere else, but I don't know if you ever saw it, but going through the MMP archives, you have Nap Lajoie listed as the AL MMPosition Player for 1902. However, Ed Delahanty finished 36 pts ahead of him that year and Big Ed played for the Senators that year. thanks again for your excellent work keeping the archives.

Bobby Avila was in the Mexican Leagues. Not sure if that counts for this subgrouping.

That doesn't matter. Josh Gibson won a NGL MMP with Veracruz.

I also appreciate that the voters have indicated where they would have included Jackie Robinson. I was on the fence about whether to include Jackie's season in Montreal. If he had won, I likely would have gone ahead and recognized him. As it is, he's safely third.

Also, for Chris Fluit, I believe I may have mentioned it somewhere else, but I don't know if you ever saw it, but going through the MMP archives, you have Nap Lajoie listed as the AL MMPosition Player for 1902. However, Ed Delahanty finished 36 pts ahead of him that year and Big Ed played for the Senators that year. thanks again for your excellent work keeping the archives.

Good catch. Thank you. At least it's not as embarrassing as the time I credited Willie Mays as a New York Yankee.

That doesn't matter. Josh Gibson won a NGL MMP with Veracruz.

Right, Chris. As long as it was a legitimate league and its strength can be ascertained accurately, it should count, IMO.

bjhanke and Tubbs, are you guys willing to submit your top three Negro Leaguers for 1946?

I had started one, I'm gonna see if I can finish it tonight

1. Irvin--edges Doby due to advantage in OPS, WAR, & WSH as well as playing more difficult defensive position
2. Doby--along with Irvin must've been one heck of a double play tandem. Both future HOFers
3. Day--beats Gibson for final spot, no wonder the Eagles won

And that settles it. Thanks, Tubbs. bjhanke had Irvin on his ballot, but not Gibson. So even if bj puts Gibson 2nd or 3rd for the runoff, Irvin takes it. Thanks, everyone.