New Britain herald., 1928-10-11

WRITERS To PICK
VALUABLE Player
Yearly Award Of Honor and
Cash to Be Made Soon

New York. Oct. II N1Juries are
cut in the cases OF the most valu-
able players In the American and
National leagues and verdicts soon
will be returned.
A writer in each city represented
u the two major leagues has mail
- a rating Of. the most valuable
players as he sees them to league
headquarters and the one named as
the head man will get $1,000 and
ha,~ ais name placed on the honor
roll.
The announcement cannot be
made before the world series. 1t was
not always SO. In 1925 Roger Peck
inpaugh. now manager Of the Clevs-
land Indians. then playing shortstop
for Warrington. was declared the
most useful to hts team and the
announcement was made with
flare and blare OF trumpets great
ly to Peck's embarrassment a few
days later. In the world series he
was the goat" of the big shot, maxi
ing eight errors and batting a pal
try $50. Since then the votes have
been mailed before the series starts
but the winners are not announced
until the tumult and shouting of the
inter-league play has died away.
The writers and league OPTICIANS
are very secretive about the voting
ana only guesses may be made as
to the winners. The writer's In fact,
not being able to make a guess
themselves unless they go into a
huddle and compare notes.
Many suggestions have been
worthy of the honor but three in
each league seem to be leading in
advance calculations. Waite Hoyt's
pitching was big factor in the win
ming of the Yankees third success
sive pennant. and while pitchers are
in the minority in the official hall of
fame. one in each league has been
honored, Walter Johnson in the
American and Dairy Vance in the
National.
Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig are
ineligible since they have won it
and the American league rules do
not permit encores. A favored cam
didate is Harry Manush of the st.
Louis Browns. The former Detroit
outtielder led the league in hitting
when he was Tiger and was only
one point out Of the leadership this
year on the basis of unofficial fig
ures. He was a powerful figure in
the astounding jump Of the Browns
from a lowly second division berth
to third place.
Lefty Grove, star pitcher of the
Philadelphia Athletics, soundly and
consistently trimmed every club in
the league except the Yankees and
his pitching placed the AS in the
competition extending through the
stretch to the finish. The fact that
the crack southpaw could not make |
an impression on the champions may |
mitigate against his chances.
In the National Freddy Lindstrom
Of the Giants. Jim Bottomley of the
Cardinals and Hughie Critz of the
Reds. all infielders, have figured in
pre-choice discussion. Lindstrom's
great play. extensively and defensive
ly, was decided factor in the Nc
Graw Clan success. Bottomley led
the league with runs batted in. the
most important feature of play. The
brilliant Critz not only fielded in
his usual sensational style, having
a large share In the record breaking
number of double plays made by
Cincinnati, but batted we'll.
Although 1t perhaps just happens
SO, a player on a pennant winning
team has an edge in the balloting.
Last year Gehrig of the Yankees and
Paul Waner of the Pirates were
elected. In 1926 O'Farrell of the
pennant winning Cardinals won.
The American League honor. how
ever, went to player on a nom
winner. George Burns of Cleveland.
The American League honor roll
system was started in 1922 when
George Sisler was named, but it was
made retroactive to include Ty
Cobb. Eddie Collins and iris Speak
err. Babe Ruth took his place with
the other distinguished baseball fig
ures in 1923 and Walter Johnson
followed I'm 1924 when Washington
won its first pennant.
The National League Joined in the
movement in 1924 and Rogers
Hornsby was crowned in 1925 after
Vance had been placed at the top
the year before.
The winners in the two leagues:
American
1922-George Siyler. h.. Browns.
1923-Babe Ruth, Of, Yankees.
1924-Walter johnson, F., Sena-
tors.
1a25-Roger Peckinpaugh, SIS.
Senators.
926-George Burns. 1b.. Indians
1927-Lou Gehris. h., Yankees.
National
1924-Dazzy Vance, P, Brooklyn.
1925-Rogers Hornsby, 2b.. Car
dinals.
1926-Bob O'Farrell c., Cardinals.
1527-Paul Waner. Of, Pirates.
Rogers Bowling Team