Chuck Klein, the Phillies' first MVP
The Baseball Writers' Association of America first began voting for the MVP in each league in 1931. Had the MVP been in existence in 1930, Chuck Klein would have been a strong candidate to win. Hitting .386, he led the league in runs (158), doubles (59) and total bases (445). Toss in 40 homers and 170 RBIs.
As it was, Klein became the first Phillies player to be named MVP. The announcement was made on Oct. 18, 1932, and deservedly so. The 27-year-old led the league in games (154), hits (226), runs (152), home runs (38), slugging percentage (.646), stolen bases (20), OPS (1.050) and total bases (420).
Klein was presented with the trophy between games of a Saturday doubleheader at Baker Bowl on May 13, 1933. The Phillies won the second game, 7-1, after losing the opener, 7-5. The attendance was listed as 10,000.
Sportswriter Stan Baumgartner’s story in the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper the next day:
“During the intermission between games, Chuck Klein, powerful slugger and home run hitter of the Phils, was presented with The Sporting News trophy, a beautiful silver loving cup, for being the most valuable player in the National League after a nationwide poll of sports writers.
“Klein was also given a magnificent bouquet of flowers of which he took one rose and then sent the rest to the hospital to bring a little sunshine to those less fortunate than he.
“The presentation of the trophy was made by G. William Duncan, president of the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association, after a parade of the Progressive Assembly of Artisans’ String Band. Members of both teams assembled at the home plate to pay homage to Klein.”
A side note about Baumgartner: As a 20-year-old, he was a member of the 1915 pennant-winning Phillies. After his playing career, he was an Inquirer sportswriter from 1929 until his death in 1955.
As any true Phillies fan knows, Klein came right back in 1933 to win the NL’s Triple Crown by leading the league in home runs (28), RBIs (120) and batting average (.368). He is the last Phillies player to do so.
One can only wonder what salary Klein would command today with such achievements at the plate.
One more point about Klein. In addition to the impressiveness of his feats with a bat, they have also been enduring. Klein hasn’t played for the Phillies in more than 80 years, yet he remains the club’s single-season leader in the following batting categories: RBIs (170), doubles (59), extra-base hits (107) and total bases (445). He set these records during the 1930 season.