Mickey Mantle addendum to previous post about Tito Francona: 1959 AL MVP.

Be patient.

Tito Francona (not Terry) and the case for Hits being the qualifier for leading in Batting Average (BA). Friday, August 25, 2023

In 1959 the New York Yankees had an off year, led by their best player, Mickey Mantle, having an off year by the criteria of the time.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1959.shtml

Win totals:
White Sox 94
Cleveland 89
Yankees 79

MVP points:
Nellie Fox CHW 295
Luis Aparicio CHW 255
Early Wynn CHW 123 (won Cy Young award)
Rocky Colavito CLE 117
Tito Francona CLE 102
Kaline 6th, Kuenn 8th

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Mantle was American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1956 and 1957. He had the triple crown in 1956 and his highest Batting Average (BA) in 1957.

In 1958 Mantle led the AL in Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Runs, Home Runs, Bases on Balls (BB) and OPS+ (On Base Plus Slugging adjusted). But Mantle was 5th in MVP voting with zero first place votes; Jackie Jensen of Boston was first. 

Which brings us to 1959, the subject of the previous post on Tito Francona. Mantle's modest 1959 stats in triple crown categories:

BA .285
HR 31
RBI 75

But Mantle was first in OPS+ and WAR in 1959 as he had been in 1958. But those stats were unknown way back then. So, Mantle finished 1959 MVP voting in 17th place. 17th. 18th was Mantle's teammate Bobby Richardson.