Al Simmons, who won the first Sporting News Most Valuable Player Award in 1929, had a very unusual batting stance and when he was traded to the A's he worried that Connie Mack would force him to change it; however, Mack simply told him, "You can hold the bat in your teeth, provided you hit safely and often." — Simmons hit .387 that particular season.
Multiple American League winners include Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx with three while Joe DiMaggio and Hank Greenberg won two each. In the National League no player ever won three times while Carl Hubbell and Chuck Klein were the only ones to win twice.
Do you agree or disagree with The Sporting News recipients? Take a moment and share your opinion with fellow fans on Baseball Fever.