Biggest award mistake?

[Dick Whitman]

With the recent raging debate about the A.L. MVP and the Heisman Trophy conversation in full swing, perhaps we can talk about what was the biggest mistake in giving a postseason honor you can recall. Can be a mistake at the time or in hindsight.

I have to say the 2005 A.L. Cy Young Award, Bartolo Colon over Johan Santana.

 

[Armchair_QB]

2009 Nobel Peace Prize.

 

[MankyJimy]

Morneau over Jeter in 2006.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Any year between 1988 and 1998 that Michael Jordan played a full season and didn't win the NBA MVP Award.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Morneau over Jeter in 2006.

Good call. Morneau should have won by a much bigger margin.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I hate to say it, but this is one time that Manky might have a point.

 

[MankyJimy]

Morneau over Jeter in 2006.

Good call. Morneau should have won by a much bigger margin.

How many first basemen over the last 20 years have hit .300 w/ 30 HRs? There are dozens. There was nothing special about Morneau's season. The fact that he hasn't come close to matching those numbers in the last six years makes the decision to give him MVP look even worse.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

It was a strike year with almost half the season missed, but it's still weird Mark Moseley got the NFL MVP in 1982. Not only a kicker, a straight-ahead kicker.

 

[printit]

It was a strike year with almost half the season missed, but it's still weird Mark Moseley got the NFL MVP in 1982. Not only a kicker, a straight-ahead kicker.

This has got to be #1. Surprised if anyone tops this.
This would actually be a good feature---track down people who voted for Moseley and ask them why?

 

[Armchair_QB]

Morneau over Jeter in 2006.

Good call. Morneau should have won by a much bigger margin.

How many first basemen over the last 20 years have hit .300 w/ 30 HRs? There are dozens. There was nothing special about Morneau's season. The fact that he hasn't come close to matching those numbers in the last six years makes the decision to give him MVP look even worse.

What the **** does future performance have to do with a single season MVP award?

 

[Versatile]

The 1947 American League Most Valuable Player Award is the best choice. Ted Williams won the Triple Crown and led the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, WAR and every other statistic we have now to measure the overall effectiveness of a player. Joe DiMaggio had one of the worst full seasons of his career. Williams lost by one point because he was left off a ballot.

 

[qtlaw]

Welch over Clemens in 1992(?).

Kent over Bonds in 2000 (Kent had close to twice as many RBI chances as Bonds.)

Juan Gone over A-Rod in 1996.

 

[Versatile]

All three Rangers MVPs in the late 1990s were terrible choices. It's like no one looked around and realized that park was a bandbox.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

The 1947 American League Most Valuable Player Award is the best choice. Ted Williams won the Triple Crown and led the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, WAR and every other statistic we have now to measure the overall effectiveness of a player. Joe DiMaggio had one of the worst full seasons of his career. Williams lost by one point because he was left off a ballot.

By a sportswriter who had a running feud with Williams, no less.

 

[MankyJimy]

Other bad MLB award picks:

Mo Vaughn over Albert Belle in '95
Giambi over Pedro in '00
Felix Hernandez over CC in '10

 

[LongTimeListener]

John Elway over Jerry Rice in 1987. Rice caught 22 touchdown passes in 12 games -- Randy Moss set the record of 23 in 16 games in 2007, and nobody else has ever had more than 18. Elway had 19 TD passes and 12 INTs, also in 12 games. Rice won everything but the official AP MVP award, which is why no receiver has ever won it. He split too many votes with Montana -- final tally Elway 36, Rice 30, Montana 18.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Any year between 1988 and 1998 that Michael Jordan played a full season and didn't win the NBA MVP Award.

This times 1,000,000.

 

[MankyJimy]

All three Rangers MVPs in the late 1990s were terrible choices. It's like no one looked around and realized that park was a bandbox.

I agree. I would have picked Jeter in '99 but Pedro, Robbie Alomar, Manny, Nomar, and probably a half dozen other players were more deserving than Ivan Rodriguez.

 

[Huggy]

Jethro Tull winning the Grammy in 1988 for Best Hard Rock Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental over Metallica.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Heisman category:

Crouch over Grossman