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Boston Red Sox: Mookie Betts in good company as MVP runner-up

By Sean Penney

Sep 28, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) runs to first base after hitting an two run double against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) runs to first base after hitting an two run double against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A Baseball glove and ball rest on the field prior to a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; A Baseball glove and ball rest on the field prior to a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Rest of the runner-ups

Wes Ferrell (1935)

The former Red Sox pitcher started 38 games and tossed 322 1/3 innings, an unfathomable workload by today’s standards. Ferrell led the league with 25 wins and 31 complete games, while posting a 3.52 ERA.

Detroit Tigers first baseman Hank Greenberg topped Ferrell to win the MVP that year. He hit .328 with a 1.039 OPS, while leading the league with 36 home runs and 168 RBI.

Jimmie Foxx (1939)

Foxx won his third career MVP in 1938, the first and only of which came in a Red Sox uniform, but he had to settle for second place the following season. The man they called the Beast led the league with 35 home runs, a .464 OBP and .694 SLG. Impressive numbers, but well short of his dominant season that earned him the hardware the previous year.

Joe DiMaggio won his first career MVP in ’39 in what would be the first of several times the Yankee Clipper would finish just ahead of a Red Sox hitter for the award.

Billy Goodman (1950)

Goodman was the Brock Holt of the 50’s, spending time at five different positions. The versatile fielder was pretty good with the stick too, winning a batting title with a .354 average. He didn’t have the pop that you expect from most MVP candidates, tallying a mere 4 home runs and driving in only 68 runs. Despite owning a WAR of only 2.7, Goodman’s league-leading batting average carried him to the runner-up spot behind – surprise, another Yankee – Phil Rizzuto.

Mike Greenwell (1988)

The former Red Sox left fielder finished second on the ballot in his second full season in the big leagues at the age of 24. Greenwell hit .325 with 22 home runs and 119 RBI to lead the team to an AL East division title.

Greenwell made his first of consecutive All-Star appearances that season, which would prove to be his only selections to the Mid-Summer Classic.

Next: What's next for Rusney Castillo?

Jose Canseco stole the MVP that year on the strength of his league-leading 42 homers. We now of course know that the former Bash Brother’s accolades are tainted by his admitted use of performance enhancing drugs. Of all the runner-ups on this list, Greenwell may have the best case for having been robbed of the award, since we know the guy that beat him was cheating.

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