Kinder, gentler Vaughn edges Belle in American League's MVP voting

Jet, Dec 4, 1995

Boston Red Sox slugger Mo Vaughn, who is known its much for his community service work as he is for his stellar offensive and defensive play, beat out Cleveland Indians' Albert Belle as the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player in the fifth-closest balloting for the award. Belle was the first player to ever hit 50 homers and 50 doubles in the same season.

Vaughn, 27, hit 39 home runs and drove in 126 runs to lead the Red Sox to a division title. He received 12 first-place votes and finished with 308 points in the voting by the Baseball Writers of America.

Meanwhile, Belle's league-leading power statistics placed him second with 11 first-place votes and 300 points. Not since 1947, when Ted Williams won the triple crown--leading the league in batting average, home runs and runs batted in--but lost to Joe Dimaggio by a point, has this happened.

"To be given this honor, it's unbelievable," Vaughn said during a news conference at a youth center where he founded a youth development program. "It's a nice thing, especially when you think about the players involved. Albert Belle had a great year. (Seattle Mariners third baseman) Edgar Martinez had a great year," he added.

Both had outstanding years, but Belle's numbers were more impressive across the board. Belle had a higher batting average at .317 to Vaughn's .300 and a higher slugging percentage at.690 to Vaughn's.675.

Belle, 29, also is facing disciplinary action from the commissioner's office for a verbal outburst against a TV reporter during the World Series, but ballots were in before the start of postseason play.