Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-22
|CardGiven 319poinfs
1M Above Runnerup
Dodgers Walker
BY Joe ReichIer
Associossd Press Sports Writer

SIduley FRANK MuSlal, stellar 0rSt |
baseman Of the World Champion
st. Louis Cardinals and his leagues
batting king with q 1866 average,
today was named the National
Leagues most valuable player in
1916.
In winning baseball's most coveted
prize for the second time in his
four-year major league career, the
Donora pa clouter who only yes
terday celebrated his 18th birthday,
received the highest total Of points
ever accorded any player since the
present rating was adopted In 1888.
Musial, who also was voted most
valuable in 1913 with 267 points,
polled 319 points in the balloting by
"a 24-man committee of the Baseball
Writers Association of America.
Three writer's from each league city
voted.
The previous high received by any
player was 305 by Jimmy Foxx in
1888 while a member Of the Boston
Red Sox.
Makes Runaway Race.
Musial, 10th Redbird to receive
most valuable player recognition
since the award was instituted in
1912, received 20 of the "A first
place votes to make a runaway~race
OF the balloting. OF the two writers
VINO failed to name him on the first
ballot, one placed him second and
the other ninth.
Second place went to Brooklyn's
Dixie Walker, the peoples cherce, !"
whose l59 points made him the
poorest runnerup in the last nine
years. The Dodgers popular veteran
rightfielder, whose 1923 batting ay-
erage and 116 runs batted in almost
brought Brooklyn its first pennant
since 1941, did not receive a first
place vote, but was second choice on
nine ballots.
Outfielder Enos Slaughter anc
southpaw Pitcher HOWE Pollet, both
members of the Cards, were third
and fourth, respectively. Slaughter
got the only two first-place votes
not allotted to Musial and received
IA points. He batted an even 800
during the regular season and was
the runs batted-in king with 1913.
Two Pitchers in Top Ten.
Pollet, whose 81 victories made
him the "winningest" pitcher In the
league, was the only other player tt
get more than 100 points. He re.
ceived lie. Fifth place went t.
right-handed Pitcher Johnny Sair
Of the Boston Braves, only other 90
game winner in the circuit. He re
ceived IS points.
4 Rounding out the first 10 wer
Harold Peewee) Reese, Brooklyn
shortstop, 70; Ed Stanky, Dodge
second baseman, 81; Del Enni.
hard-hitting outhelder and the Phil
adelphia Pills candidate for rookie
Il of-the-year honors, 81; Harol
Il pistol Pete) Reiser. Brooklyn fly
4 chaser, So, and last years mos
valuable player, Phil Cavarretta
outfelder-first baseman of tn,
Chicago Cubs, 40,
4 Musial Is the third Nationa
! League player to receive the honor
twice The others were Roger.
Hornsby and Carl Hubbell. Thai
Musical would win in walk was 9
foregone conclusion, despite his bat.
ting slump in the recent Woric
Series against the Boston Red Sox
Musial Star on Offense.
Back with the Cards after year.
hitch in the Navy, Musial led the
league in practically every offensive
department. In addition to winning
the batting crown for the SECOND
time, he paced the loop with 22t
hits, 124 runs scored, so doubles anc
20 triples. He also banged is home
runs and drove In 103 runs.
| The voters probably remembered
too, that on June z, although hi
never had played first base before
4 in his life, Stan moved from hi.
natural left field position and fillet
a defensive gap at first with such
astonishing familiarity. that he be.
came the outstanding fielding first
baseman in the league.
i The change didn't bother his bat
/ ting at all. In fact, his average went
up more than ever, even higher thar
the 1857 of 1913, which won him hi.
/ first batting championship.