Introducing Your 2012 MLB Most Valuable Players - Who Would Have Thought?

2012 MLB Most Valuable Players

In recent years, Topps has reserved six cards within Series 1 for the AL and NL award winners that are being announced this week. Unfortunately, this year's preliminary checklist doesn't specify what numbers are being held for the them.  But yesterday, MLB announced the Most Valuable Players in both the National and American Leagues.

Congratulations to both Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants and Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers for being named the National League and American League Most Valuable Players for 2012.  Incredible seasons by both players (a comeback season of epical proportions and the first batting Triple Crown winner since 1967) gave the voters enough reason to select these two extraordinary players the award.

What else can be said about the year Miguel Cabrera had.  After moving back to third base to accommodate the signing of first baseman Prince Fielder, Cabrera had the season for the ages.  Leading the league in home runs (44) rbi's (139), and batting average (.330) won him the Triple Crown, but he also led the AL in Slugging Percentage (.606), and OPS (.999).  Cabrera has been in the running for MVP awards since his rookie year in 2003, and after placing second in 2010, and seeing Tigers teammate Justin Verlander win it last year, Cabrera now has his first MVP award to cap of his unbelievable season.  Cabrera captured 22 of the 28 first place votes, which gave him 362 points in the overall ballot.  In second place was Rookie of the Year winner Mike Trout of the Angels (281, 6 first place votes), Adrian Beltre of the Rangers (210), Robinson Cano of the Yankees (149), Josh Hamilton of the Rangers (127), Adam Jones of the Orioles (124), Derek Jeter of the Yankees (73), last year's MVP and teammate Justin Verlander (58), fellow corner mate Prince Fielder (56), Yoenis Cespedes of the Athletics (41), Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays (33), Cy Young winner David Price of the Rays (26), Fernando Rodney of the Rays (24), Jim Johnson of the Orioles (22), Alex Rios of the White Sox (17), Josh Reddick of the Athletics (14), Albert Pujols of the Angels (8), Ben Zobrist of the Rays (7), Joe Mauer of the Twins (6), Rafael Soriano of the Yankees (5), Matt "I'm Not With Topps" Wieters of the Orioles (4), Felix Hernandez of the Mariners (2), Jered Weaver of the Angels (2), and Raul Ibanez of the Yankees (1).

Buster Posey, the first Giants player to win the MVP award since Barry Bonds, caps of his comeback season in which he won two of the Comeback Player awards, a Silver Slugger, the Hank Aaron Award, and the Willie McCovey Award for being San Francisco's most inspirational player.  He becomes the first catcher to win the batting average title (major league leading .336) since Ernie Lombardi in 1942.  Hitting 24 home runs and driving in 103 rbi's is just the icing on the cake.  He received 27 of the 32 first place votes (422 points), which outdistanced him from last year's NL MVP Ryan Braun by over a hundred points.  Braun (285, 3 first place votes) leads the pack of runners-up which also includes Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates (245), Yadier Molina of the Cardinals (241, 2), Chase Headley of the Padres (127), David Wright of the Mets (86), Adam LaRoche of the Nationals (86), Craig Kimbrel of the Braves (73), Aramis Ramirez of the Brewers (47), Jay Bruce of the Reds (46), Matt Holliday of the Cardinals (34), Reds players Aroldis Chapman (20), Brandon Phillips (18), and Joey Votto (16), Cy Young winner R. A. Dickey of the Mets (16), last year's Cy Yong winner Clayton Kershaw (15), Ian Desmond of the Nationals (15), Michael Bourn of the Braves (12), Allen Craig of the Cardinals (10), Gio Gonzalez of the Nationals (8), Alfonso Soriano (8), Braves teammates Kris Medlen (8), and Martin Prado (8), Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals (7), Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins (7), Carlos Beltran of the Cardinals (6), Aaron Hill of the Diamondbacks (6), Carlos Ruiz of the Phillies (4), Jason Heyward of the Braves (4), Johnny Cueto of the Reds (2), NL Rookie of the Year Bryce Harper of the Nationals (2), Chipper Jones of the Braves (1), Miguel Montero of the Diamondbacks (1), and Giants outfielders Angel Pagan (1), and Hunter Pence (1).

That ends the individual awards, as well as my use of the 2012 Topps '87 mini cards to celebrate the announcements.  Too bad they didn't make cards for the managers (congratulations to both Bob Melvin of the Athletics and Davey Johnson of the Nationals by the way).  With everything all said and done, did your guy win?

Sincerely,

JayBee Anama