Decisions, Decisions: The 1967 AL MVP

Based on that title, you might be saying to yourself, “Huh? There’s was no decision to make in 1967.”

And, if you possessed the same baseball knowledge that 99% of the population has, you would be right. That was the year Carl Yastrzemski had not only the best season of his career, or in the American League, but arguably the best season any hitter not named Babe Ruth has ever had in the live-ball era. (Negro Leaguers excluded.)

Here are the top-10 single-season WAR totals by hitters from 1920 to the present day.

1. Babe Ruth, 1923 - 14.1

2. Babe Ruth, 1921 - 12.8

3. Babe Ruth, 1927 - 12.6

4. Carl Yastrzemski, 1967 - 12.5

5. Rogers Hornsby, 1924 - 12.1

6. Lou Gehrig, 1927 - 11.9

7. Babe Ruth, 1920 - 11.9

8. Barry Bonds, 2001 - 11.9

9. Barry Bonds, 2002 - 11.8

10. Cal Ripken, Jr., 1991 - 11.5