I would say Ewell Blackwell versus Robin Roberts is too close to call.

My best player without a vote: Andy Seminick or Hank Thompson. Best Pitcher: Warren Spahn

Unsurprisingly this is everyone's first time on a ballot. 6 players with a first place vote ties the maximum.

Wow. Very close.

DL - Hi. This is Brock. When we were doing the 1985-1987 seasons, I had a series of short comments I wanted to write about the postseasons of those three years. The theme was that a lot more of what happened was due to manager mistakes - by managers (Whitey Herzog in two of those three years) who did not normally make those mistakes - than to the players who ended up with the misplays. However, when those years were going on, I had little time, and never got those done. If anyone is interested in this topic - manger mistakes in the WS. I would love to do those, since I now have some time. The question is where to put them. There's no point in putting them in the threads about those years, because no one's reading those any more. Would it be OK for me to put them somewhere coming up, like one of the 1951 threads? If so, which one and when? I don't want to just block up a discussion with three comments about years we've already voted, but I do think the three years' of WS mistakes is helpful info to have when you see new WS, or are thinking about postseason play, or looking at managers and how they perform under stress. So, is there a good place to put those, or should I just forget it, since I'm way late of any relevant deadline? - Thanks, Brock Hanke

You can put them in the old threads. That will bring them to the top for discussion again.

Congratulations, Phil Rizzuto!

This was a widely split vote and Rizzuto won with only 4 out of 11 first place votes. However, Rizzuto does not hold the record for the lowest percentage of first place votes. That record belongs to Reggie Jackson who had 30.7% of the first place votes in 1969.

Congratulations, Eddie Stanky!

He joins a strong delegation of Giants NL MMPs which so far includes Willie Mays ('62, '64, '65, '66), Willie McCovey ('68, '69), Will Clark ('88) and Buster Posey ('12). That's easily the most victors for any National League team and 29% of the awards handed out to date.

Congratulations, Ned Garver!

Garver is this year's pitching MMP. Garver played for the St. Louis Browns, who would go on to become the Baltimore Orioles in a few years. Jim Palmer previously won the pitching MMP for the Browns/Orioles in 1975. And Bob Gibson previously won the pitching MMP for St. Louis with the Cardinals from 1968 to 1970.

I would say Ewell Blackwell versus Robin Roberts is too close to call.

I was set to agree with you but then I thought I'd look at the ballots first. It came out pretty close in the final count. However, it helps that many voters indicate their 11-20th ballot spots. Blackwell was listed first on 6 ballots and Roberts on 5. That's still close but it is an edge for Blackwell. Roberts made it look closer because he had a couple of very high placements (2nd and 3rd) but if we asked for a runoff, Blackwell would come out ahead based on the number of ballots. So I'd call it for Blackwell by a nose.

Finally, congratulations to Jim Konstanty who added his name to the list of relief pitchers to be named on an MMP ballot. I'm not sure a reliever can ever win the award (John Hiller came closest with a 6th in 1973) so for relievers, the honor is just being nominated.

When we were doing the 1985-1987 seasons, I had a series of short comments I wanted to write about the postseasons of those three years. The theme was that a lot more of what happened was due to manager mistakes - by managers

When I saw Brock's comments I immediately thought of Sparky Anderson, Darrell Evans, 3rd base, & the 1987 ALCS

DL, I missed 1950 but will try and submit one for 1951

most victors for any National League team

Mays debuts next year. He should pick up a couple in the 1950s

Definitely. Mays isn't done collecting hardware.

We haven't covered Barry Bonds' career either.

My best player w/out a vote: Duke Snider (15th)
My best pitcher w/out a vote: Art Houtteman (16th)