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Most Valuable Hitter - Nominees
Cap Anson, Boston Red Caps - 3B (2-64-.356-11) - Another amazing year from this superstar, who despite the fact that he has been dominating professional base ball for a decade is still only 29 years old.
Ross Barnes, Boston Red Caps - 2B (1-49-.368-9) - He looked headed for a certain MVH when he went down for a month with a knee injury. However, when Boston went 9-10 in his absence and basically lost the pennant in that month, his candidacy if anything may have looked stronger.
Cal McVey, Boston Red Caps - C (1-41-.334-13) - After a couple years as the forgotten man of Boston's Big Three, he returned to form with a big season. He, Anson and Barnes are all equally deserving of the MVH this season.
"Orator Jim" O'Rourke, Chicago White Stockings - C (2-54-.310-1) - Although Chicago is no longer the powerhouse it once was, O'Rourke reminded the world why he has been considered such an excellent player since turning pro in 1872.
Lip Pike, Buffalo Bisons* - 2B (2-43-.315-3) - At age 36 and in the final year of his huge contract with Buffalo, a lot of people thought Pike no longer had the skills to star in the National League. He proved the doubters wrong in a big way this season, and now he gets to test the market and see if anyone wants to take a flyer on a 37-year-old star.
And the 1881 Most Valuable Hitter award goes to... ROSS BARNES, in another razor-thin vote. Last year it was Anson narrowly defeating Barnes; this year it was the reverse. This is Barnes' third MVH Award. Between them Anson and Barnes have seven of the eleven that have been given, including five in a row. This year it was an all-Boston top three, as McVey took third in the voting.
Most Valuable Hitter Awards
1871 - Dickie Flowers, Troy
1872 - Cal McVey, Boston
1873 - Jim Foran, Philadelphia (W)
1874 - Cap Anson, Brooklyn
1875 - Cap Anson, Brooklyn
1876 - Levi Meyerle, Chicago
1877 - Ross Barnes, Louisville
1878 - Ross Barnes, Boston
1879 - Cap Anson, Boston
1880 - Cap Anson, Boston
1881 - Ross Barnes, Boston
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