Seventy years ago, two Philadelphia pitchers dominated their respective leagues. When the season was over, Bobby Shantz was crowned the American League MVP; Robin Roberts was robbed in National League voting.

• Phillies Alumni

Pitching for the American League Philadelphia Athletics, the diminutive (5-foot-6, 139-pounds) Shantz pulled in 280 MVP points from the Baseball Writers Association of America to win over two Yankee greats, pitcher Allie Reynolds (183) and centerfielder Mickey Mantle (143).

Roberts on the other hand finished second to outfielder Hank Sauer of the Cubs, 226-211. Rookie Joe Black (pennant-winning Dodgers) was third (208).

The committee consisted of three writers from each league city. Points were distributed on the basis of 14 for a first-place vote, nine for second down to one for a 10th-place vote. Sauer and Black each had eight first-place votes, Roberts seven. Two writers did not mention either Sauer or Roberts in the first 10.

Hitters won the NL award over the nine previous years with the exception of 1950 when Robbie’s teammate, relief ace Jim Konstanty, earned the honor.

Shantz Season

The 26-year-old lefthander led the AL with 24 wins (7 losses) and a .744 winning percentage. He completed 27 of 33 starts, allowed 230 hits in 279.2 innings with 63 walks and 152 strikeouts. Shutouts, 5. His ERA was 2.48.

While current metrics didn’t exist back then, his numbers calculated as a 1.048 WHIP and 8.8 WAR for pitchers.

The A’s finished fourth, 79-75-1, 16 games behind the New York Yankees whom Bobby defeated four times. A broken bone in his left wrist ended his season on September 23.

His 16-year career that included three All-Star selections and seven Gold Gloves ended with 14 games with the 1964 Phillies.

Roberts Season

The 25-year-old righthander had his greatest season, 28-7, 2.59 ERA. Went 21-2 in final 23 starts; both losses came when the Phillies were shut out. On September 6, he pitched all 17 innings in a 7-6 win. He not only led baseball with 28 wins but 37 starts, 30 complete games, 330 innings and 1,340 batters faced. He walked 45 and struck out 148. His wins were the most (28) since Dizzy Dean in 1935.

His WHIP was 1.021. Overall WAR, 8.6 and WAR for pitchers, 8.4; led NL in both.

The Phillies (87-67) also finished fourth; 9.5 games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Sauer Season

The 35-year-old righthanded hitter led the league with 37 homers and 121 RBI while batting .270 for the fifth-place Cubs (77-77). He had a severe September slump, 213 average, 3 homers and 7 RBI in 22 games. His overall WAR was 5.6, 3.0 lower than Roberts.

The MVP announcement was made November 20, the same day he became the father of a son.

The Award History

The MVP award was established in 1931. The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) votes at the conclusion of each season before the postseason starts. The Cy Young Award for pitchers was established in 1956.

1952 was the first time since 1938 that both MVPs came from teams that didn’t win the pennant.

Quotable

“I want to say that I think it is a wonderful honor. And my teammates certainly helped me all year with their timely hitting. Gee whiz, I just don’t know what to say,” Bobby Shantz. (Philadelphia Inquirer, November 14, 1952)

“Yes, I’m surprised, but I can tell you, I’m sure tickled pink. I thought maybe the other guy (Roberts) would win it,” Hank Sauer. (Philadelphia Inquirer, November 20, 1952).

“Anybody who knows the difference between a bunt and punt must be completely flabbergasted at the selection of Hank Sauer in the National League. Most of the voters obviously never heard of Robin Roberts … one theory is that they were all on vacation and the ballot was filled in by the editor of the women’s page,” Oscar Fraley, United Press International sportswriter (1940-1965) wrote at the time..

There were no quotes from Roberts in the Inquirer of November 20 or 21.

One can only imagine the firestorm if this happened in today’s social media world.