2011 MLB MVP: Power Ranking the 50 Greatest MVP Seasons of All Time

In less than a week, the MVP awards for both leagues will be announced.  Fans will await in anticipation to see if their team's best player will win the coveted trophy, let alone even place.

Since we are only a few days away from the announcement, I pose you all a question?  How do you define value in today's players?  Is it a player on a successful team who consistently comes through in the clutch, or rather a player on a bad-to-mediocre team who just has a ridiculous year in terms of stats?

One player who is no stranger to the MVP-craze is Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (pictured), who has won the award three times with three incredibly dominant seasons.

Thus, in the spirit of predicting the winners this year, let's count down the 50 most dominant MVP performances in MLB history.

Honorable Mention: Sammy Sosa, 1998

Though his legacy was later tarnished by allegations of doping, Sammy Sosa still had one of the best seasons in the history of the game during his 1998 MVP-campaign.  All eyes were on him and Mark McGwire as they both raced to break Roger Maris' then-record of 61 home runs in a regular season.

McGwire would finish the year with 70 taters, but lost out on MVP due to being on a losing St. Louis Cardinals team.  Sosa finished the season with a .308 batting average, 66 homers and led the majors with 158 RBI as his Chicago Cubs made it to the playoffs.

The season definitely has an asterisk next to it, but the hype surrounding it gives it my honorable mention.

No. 50: Zoilo Versalles, 1965

Zoilo Versalles was a Cuban shortstop who enjoyed a brief string of success playing for the Minnesota Twins in the 1960s, making two All-Star teams and winning two Gold Gloves as a reliable leadoff man.  In 1965, however, the .242 career hitter had the best season of his life.

That year, Versalles hit just .273.  Yet, he had 19 homers and a career high 77 RBI with 27 steals.  On top of that, he led the majors in doubles (45), triples (12) and runs scored (126).  Oddly enough, he also led all of baseball with 122 strikeouts.

Was it an incredibly dominant performance?  Not by a long shot.  Yet, it's dominant enough to kick off this countdown.

No. 49: Ken Boyer, 1964

For 11 seasons, Ken Boyer was a slick-fielding and power-hitting third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals.  Over that stretch, the man hit .293 with 255 home runs and 1,001 RBI.  In the process, he also took home five Gold Gloves and played in seven All-Star games.

Yet, out of those 11 seasons, the one that Cardinals fans remember the most occurred in 1964.  That year, Boyer hit .295 with 24 homers and an MLB-leading 119 RBI as his team went on to win the World Series against the New York Yankees.

It wasn't the best of the MVP years, but it sure meant a lot down the road.

No. 48: Maury Wills, 1962

Maury Wills hit .281 for his career, but only had 20 homes and 458 RBI in 14 seasons mostly spent with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Yet, he was one of the fastest men to ever play the game, easily the Rickey Henderson of his generation.  For his career, Wills swiped 586 bases.

His most memorable base-stealing year came in 1962, when he played in the second of what would be seven career All-Star games for him.  That year, he stole a then-record 104 bases and was named MVP.

Not necessarily a flashy performance outside stealing bases, but it sure made a statement.

No. 47: Bobby Shantz, 1952

In 16 seasons, Bobby Shantz was an average pitcher who split his time between the rotation and the bullpen while showing some fine work with the glove on days he did pitch.  Yet, in 1952, Shantz had the best season for his career.

Pitching for the Philadelphia Athletics, Shantz went 24-7 with a 2.48 ERA and a remarkable 1.04 WHIP.  He also threw 27 complete games.

No. 46: Jim Konstanty, 1950

Unless you're a Phillies fan over the age of 65, chances are that you've never heard of Jim Konstanty.  He was a relief pitcher for the team from 1948-1954 and his most memorable season occurred in 1950.

That year, Konstanty appeared in an MLB-leading 74 games, starting none of them, while posting a 2.66 ERA and 22 saves.  Even more incredible, he had a 16-7 record...out of the bullpen!

His performance proved very valuable down the line as the Phillies made the World Series that year, losing to the New York Yankees in four games.

No. 45: Pete Rose, 1973

Considering how Pete Rose was probably the best contact hitter to ever play the game, I'm shocked that he only won one MVP award.  In 1973, he ran the table in the NL when he hit .338 and led the majors in total hits with a whopping 238.

Those 238 were a drop in the bucket for his all-time leading 4,256 hits.  This poses the next question: CAN WE JUST LET HIM INTO COOPERSTOWN ALREADY?????

No. 44: Kirk Gibson, 1988

The Dodgers made it to the World Series in 1988, and wouldn't have gotten that far had it not been for Kirk Gibson.  That season was his first in Dodger Blue and while he hit just .290, his 25 homers, 76 RBI and 31 steals were instrumental in the team's run to winning the Fall Classic that year.

Oh, and let's not forget this moment either.

No. 43: Terry Pendleton, 1991

In the past 20 years, Terry Pendleton's MVP season in 1991 is definitely the most subtle.  He hit .319 and oddly enough, that led the NL.  To go with that, er, impressive average, Pendleton hit 22 home runs with 86 RBI.

On paper, it doesn't seem like an MVP season.  Yet, when you take into consideration that Pendleton was the most consistent hitter on an Atlanta Braves team that made it to the World Series that season, his value is unquestionable, especially since he hit .367 in the Fall Classic.

No. 42: Jackie Jensen, 1958

A rocket-armed outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, Jackie Jensen's career year came in 1958 at age 31.  He only hit .286, but had a career-highs in both home runs (35) and RBI (122).

Unfortunately, Jensen would only play for two more seasons as baseball's expansion to the West Coast combined with his panic attack-inducing fear of flying forced him into early retirement.

No. 41: Elston Howard, 1963

In 1963, the New York Yankees starting lineup was constantly in shuffle due to injuries.  Mickey Mantle was limited to 65 games, and Roger Maris was limited to 90.  Thus, in terms of consistency, catcher Elston Howard was the go-to guy.

Howard only hit .287 that season, but his 28 homers and 85 RBI were more than enough as the team reached its fourth consecutive World Series, where they would be swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

No. 40: Lou Boudreau, 1948

In 1948, the Cleveland Indians won the World Series.  Without Lou Boudreau in the lineup, I'm willing to bet that they wouldn't have gotten that far.

The scrappy shortstop hit an incredible .355 that year with 18 home runs and 106 RBI as his team defeated the Boston Braves in six games.  It was his last incredibly productive year before his numbers started to decline.

No. 39: Hank Sauer, 1952

In 1952, the Chicago Cubs went 77-77 and finished in fifth in the National League.  Without the MVP-season of Hank Sauer, chances are they would have finished much lower in the standings.

Nicknamed "Honker" for obvious reasons, Sauer hit an average .270 that season.  Yet, he also led the majors with 37 home runs and 121 RBI.  Much like other players who have won the award while playing for bad teams, he was the lone bright spot, if you will.

No. 38: Mort Cooper, 1942

Mort Cooper just had a phenomenal year for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1942.  Not only did he win an MLB-leading 22 games (compared to seven losses) and also be tops in ERA with a 1.78 mark, but the man also had 22 complete games and a ridiculous 10 shutouts.

Sure enough, he was instrumental in getting his team to the World Series, where they were major underdogs against a dangerous New York Yankees team.  However, a bit of baseball magic occurred as the Cardinals defeated the Bronx Bombers in five games.

The crazy part is that Cooper was largely ineffective in the Series that year, going 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA in two starts.

No. 37: Jackie Robinson, 1949

Just two years after breaking the color barrier, Jackie Robinson had the season of his career.  In 1949, as the Dodgers worked their way back to a World Series rematch against the New York Yankees, Robinson hit .342 with 16 home runs and 124 RBI, not to mention 37 stolen bases.

The team known as "'Dem Bums" would go on to lose the Series to the Yankees again, this time in five games, but the fact remains that Robinson still had an incredible season, regardless of his team's final result.

No. 36: Spud Chandler, 1943

In 1943, the New York Yankees had a shot at revenge as they faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series for the second consecutive year.  They had lost in five games the year before, but this year was going to be different.  You see, right-hander Spud Chandler was the ace of the staff that year and his dominance carried over into the Fall Classic.

During the regular season, Chandler went 20-4 with a league-leading 1.64 ERA, including 20 complete games and a ridiculous 0.99 WHIP.  In the Series, he went 2-0 with an ERA of 0.50.  Sure enough, he was named AL MVP that season.

No. 35: Don Newcombe, 1956

The Brooklyn Dodgers went back to the World Series in 1956, looking to win a second consecutive title against the New York Yankees.  Much of their regular season success was thanks to star pitcher and eventual NL MVP Don Newcombe, who was just lights out all season long.

The Dodgers would ultimately lose the Series and Newcombe was ineffective, going 0-1 with a 21.20 ERA in two starts.  Yet, his regular season line of 27-7 with a 3.06 ERA and 0.99 WHIP is undeniably what made him not just the most valuable man on his team, but in all of baseball.

No. 34: Ryne Sandberg, 1984

Easily one of the most popular players in Chicago Cubs history, fans may best remember Ryne Sandberg for his MVP season in 1984. 

In helping the Cubs get back to the playoffs for the first time since 1945, Sandberg hit .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBI and 32 steals.  On top of that, he also led the majors in triples (19) and runs scored (114).

It was just one of two trips Sandberg ever made to the postseason, but it's no secret that the teams he played on that did make it to the playoffs wouldn't have gotten that far without him.

No. 33: Robin Yount, 1982

Easily the most legendary player in Brewers history (for now, at least), Robin Yount won the MVP award twice in the 20 years he played for the team.  The memorable MVP season occurred in 1982, when the Brewers just wouldn't stop winning.

That year, the 26-year-old Yount hit .331 with 29 home runs and 114 RBI, leading the majors with 210 hits along the way.  Sure enough, he was essential in helping the Brewers reach the World Series that year, where they faced the St. Louis Cardinals.

In his only trip to the World Series, Yount hit .414 with one home run and six RBI.  His team may have lost, but you can sure as hell bet that they wouldn't have gotten that far without him.

No. 32: Roy Campanella, 1953

Easily one of the most underrated players of all time, former Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella won the NL MVP award three times.  The one I've chosen to spotlight is his second MVP season, in 1953.  That year, Campanella just ran the table.

Not only did he hit .312, but he also had an astounding 41 home runs and led the majors with 142 RBI.  There is no doubt that in his time, Campanella was the best catcher in the game.

Unfortunately, his career ended prematurely in January 1958.  While driving back to his home on Long Island from the Harlem liquor store he ran during the offseason, his car hit a patch of ice and flipped over.  The accident left Campanella paralyzed from the shoulders down and confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

No. 31: Jim Rice, 1978

In the 1970s and 1980s, no one was more synonymous with the Boston Red Sox than Jim Rice.  Considering all the great seasons he had, it's surprising that his lone MVP award came in 1978.

That year, Rice hit .315 and led the majors in home runs (46), RBI (139), triples (15) and total hits (213).  If you ask me, he is easily one of the greatest players to never win a World Series.

No. 30: Roger Clemens, 1986

I don't want to hear one word about the alleged steroid use.  For a period of time (or two), Roger Clemens was the best pitcher in all of baseball.

His breakout season came in 1986, when the 23-year-old went 24-4 with a 2.48 ERA, 10 complete games and 238 strikeouts.  He kept his greatness up down the stretch as his Boston Red Sox made it to the World Series, where he posted a 3.18 ERA in two starts.

Sure enough, Clemens won both the AL MVP and Cy Young Awards that year.  The Cy Young was the first of seven he would win over the course of his 24-year career.

No. 29: Willie McGee, 1985

In his prime, Willie McGee was one of the fastest outfielders in the game, and he had a decent contact swing to boot.  In 1985, he showed the baseball world just what he could do with the bat when he led the NL with a .353 average and 18 triples, not to mention 56 stolen bases.

His St. Louis Cardinals made it to the World Series that year and despite his dominance during the regular season, McGee hit just .259 with a homer and two RBI.  Still, it's pretty amazing that someone 6'1" and a skinny 175 pounds was able to run the table on offense that much during the regular season.

No. 28: Barry Larkin, 1995

For 19 years, Barry Larkin was the most popular Cincinnati Red in town despite his tendency to get injured.  That's because when he was healthy, the man was just plain awesome.

In 1995, with the Reds having a shot at the World Series, Larkin hit .319 with 15 homers and 66 RBI, but also had 51 steals.  The Reds ended up being swept by the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS, but Larkin never backed down and hit .389 in that series.

His numbers may not have been overwhelming, but he was still the obvious choice for MVP.

No. 27: Ivan Rodriguez, 1999

Some people believe Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez to be the best catcher in baseball history.  Based on his MVP season in 1999, I can see the argument.

Rodriguez hit .332 with 35 home runs, 113 RBI and 25 steals (for a catcher!) that season as his Texas Rangers made it back to the playoffs and once again lost to the New York Yankees.  In the postseason, his bat shut down as he hit just .250.

Still, it cannot be denied that when push came to shove, Pudge was the man you wanted on your team.

No. 26: Jeff Kent, 2000

The all-time leader in home runs by a second baseman, it's hard to believe that Jeff Kent only won one MVP Award.  In 2000, he hit .334 with 33 homers and 125 RBI, beating out his teammate Barry Bonds in the process.

He would go on to hit .375 in the NLDS, where his San Francisco Giants lost in four games to the New York Mets.

No. 25: George Bell, 1987

We're entering the second half of the countdown, aka the half that was tougher to put together than some of Ozzy Osbourne's sentences.  Yet, to kick it off, I think I've got a good one for you.

In the 1980s, George Bell was a popular power-hitting outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays, who also happened to have a rocket arm.  In 1987, he broke through his already decent power threshold.  He hit a modest .308, but smacked 47 home runs and led the league with 134 RBI.

It would mark the last time that Bell hit over .300 and over 25 home runs.

No. 24: Jose Canseco, 1988

I know I might ruffle some feathers by including an admitted steroid user on this list, but the fact remains that Jose Canseco's 1988 season was just plain ridiculous.  The man hit a respectable .307, but ran the table with 42 homers and 142 RBIs, and let's not forget his 40 steals.  Those numbers made Canseco the first ever member of the 40-40 club, or having a season with both 40 home runs and 40 steals.

His Oakland Athletics made the World Series that year, but that is when the home run power ran out for Canseco.  He appeared in five of the six games and went just 1-for-19 with a home run and five RBI.  Still, his overall performance over the course of the entire season was great.

No. 23: Rod Carew, 1977

Considering how he is one of the best pure average-hitters of all time, one would think that Rod Carew would have a cabinet full of MVP awards.  Instead, he has just the one he took home in 1977.

Still, that season was a great one for Carew.  He hit an incredible .388 with 14 home runs, 100 RBI and 23 steals.  Apart from batting average, he led in runs scored (128) and total hits (239).  There is really just one word to describe those numbers, considering the year in which they were accumulated: ridiculous.

No. 22: Denny McLain, 1968

Given how ridiculous a 1968 season Denny McLain had, I'm almost sorry that I can't rank him higher on the list.  You see, McLain is the last pitcher to ever win 30 games in a season.

He finished 1968 with a mark of 31-6 and an incredible 1.96 ERA.  Of his 41 starts, 28 were complete games.  In an astounding 336 innings pitched, he struck out 280 batters.

Sure enough, his Detroit Tigers made it to the World Series on his back and won in seven games.  He went 1-2 in three Series starts, but still posted a respectable 3.24 ERA.

Nos. 21 & 20: Hal Newhouser, 1944 & 145

While we're on the subject of ridiculous pitching seasons, allow me to tell you the tale of Hal Newhouser.  He was a hometown hero who ended up pitching for the Detroit Tigers and over this two-season stretch, his numbers were just ridiculous.

In 1944, he went 29-9 with a 2.22 ERA and led the league with 187 strikeouts.  The following year, he went 25-9 with a ridiculous 1.81 ERA and 29 complete games, not to mention eight shutouts.  Sure enough, he was named MVP both years.

Yet, I have yet to give you the most insane stat.  Over that two year stretch, Newhouser threw an arm-aching 625.2 innings.

No. 19: Cal Ripken Jr., 1991

Though he's better known for being baseball's ultimate iron man with 2,632 consecutive games played at one point, Cal Ripken Jr. was once one of the game's most dangerous bats.  In 1991, he had the best year of his career playing for the sixth-place Orioles.

Ripken hit .323 with a career-high 34 home runs and 116 RBI as he was named MVP.  He may have been the only decent hitter on the team that year, but he still led the majors with 368 total bases.

No. 18: Dennis Eckersley, 1992

Easily the most intimidating closer of his time, Dennis Eckersley had a ridiculous 1992 season, at least compared to other relief pitchers of that era.  In 69 games out of the bullpen, Eckersley went 7-1 with a 1.91 ERA and led all of baseball with 51 saves.

To date, he is the last pitcher to ever win the MVP award in either league.

No. 17: Larry Walker, 1997

In his days with the Colorado Rockies, Larry Walker was one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.  Not only did his home ballpark give him ridiculous home run power, but he could also hit phenomenally for average.

Such was the case in 1997, when Walker hit .366 with 49 homers and 130 RBI.  On top of that, he stole 33 bases.  It was the first year of a six-year stretch during which the man would hit .353 and take home three NL batting titles in the process.

No. 16: Kevin Mitchell, 1989

While Kevin Mitchell managed to make a career for himself as an outfielder/third baseman with decent power, his 1989 season with the San Francisco Giants is definitely one for the annals.  As the team made its march towards the World Series, Mitchell had an MVP year that saw him bat .291, but with 47 home runs and 125 RBI.

His team lost the World Series that year to the crossbay rival Oakland Athletics, but he still had a respectable four games, hitting .294 with a homer and two RBI.

No. 15: Ken Griffey Jr., 1997

Ken Griffey Jr. was one of my favorite players to watch when I was a kid and in 1997, I remember there was one question I asked all summer that drove my parents nuts: "Did Griffey hit another homer last night?"

Sure enough, Griffey would lead the AL with 56 homers and 147 RBI to go with a .304 average.  Given how incredible he was during his first tour of duty in Seattle, I'm honestly surprised that this was his only MVP trophy.

No. 14: George Foster, 1977

One of the staples of baseball in the 1970s was the successful Cincinnati Reds teams, known as "The Big Red Machine."  In the '70s, the Reds made the World Series four times, winning twice (1975-76).

One of the key members of these teams was outfielder George Foster and in 1977, he had a ridiculous year.  Foster hit .320 with an astounding 52 dingers and 149 RBI, though his team missed the playoffs.

Still, those stats are just plain ridiculous for a single season.

No. 13: Bob Gibson, 1968

Easily the greatest pitcher in St. Louis Cardinals history, Bob Gibson's 1968 season was just...wow.  He went 22-9 and struck out 268 hitters in 304.2 innings, with 28 complete games and 13 shutouts.  Sure enough, the Cardinals made their second consecutive World Series and lost to the Detroit Tigers.

In the first game of the series, however, Gibson struck out 17 batters, a record that still stands today.  In the entire series, he went 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA, tossing three complete games.

That reminds me.  I forgot to mention his regular season ERA for this year: 1.12.

No. 12: Sandy Koufax, 1963

Had he not been forced to retire at 30, Sandy Koufax probably would have become the greatest pitcher of all time.  He won three NL Cy Youngs in his career, but his lone MVP year was in 1963.

That year, Koufax went an incredible 25-5 with a 1.88 ERA, remarkable 0.87 WHIP and 11 shutouts, striking out 306 hitters in 311 innings.  He would help lead his Dodgers to the World Series that year, posting a 2-0 record with a 1.50 ERA in the Fall Classic.

Nos. 11 & 10: Roger Maris, 1960 & 1961

Considering how his teammate was Mickey Mantle, one of the greatest power hitters of all time, it's surprising that Roger Maris managed to win two consecutive AL MVP Awards, let alone one.

His first one came in 1960, when he hit .283 with 39 home runs and an AL-leading 112 RBI.  He hit just .269 the following year, but still won MVP yet again.

That's because in 1961, Maris and Mantle engaged in a race, the one for Babe Ruth's single-season home run crown.  In the end, it was Maris who won with 61 dingers and 141 RBI.

But speaking of Mantle...

No. 9: Mickey Mantle, 1956

By the start of the 1956 season, Mickey Mantle had been in the majors for five years and had established himself as a reliable (albeit injury prone) outfielder who, when healthy, was an excellent power bat to have in the lineup.  That very season, the switch-hitting Mantle would go on to win the AL Triple Crown at just 24 years of age.

He hit .353 with 52 home runs and 130 RBI as the Yankees went on to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series.  Mantle would hit just .250 that postseason, but had three home runs and four RBI.

In the end, he was the obvious choice for the award.

No. 8: Ted Williams, 1949

Ted Williams was one of those hitters who was deadly in two ways.  When he wasn't smacking home runs left and right, he was slapping the ball to all parts of the field.  Ironically, despite his career batting average of .344 and 521 home runs, he was only an MVP twice.

Of the two MVP years, the more dominant one happened in 1949, when "The Splendid Splinter" hit .343 with 43 home runs and 159 RBI.  He also led all of baseball in OBP with a ridiculous mark of .490.

No. 7: Joe DiMaggio, 1941

Joe DiMaggio's 1941 MVP campaign was special for a couple of reasons.  First, he hit .357 with 30 home runs and 125 RBI in leading the Yankees to a World Series victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Second, this was the season in which DiMaggio had his record 56-game hitting streak.  Forget Cy Young's 511 career wins.  DiMaggio's record is one that will also never be broken.

No. 6: Willie Mays, 1965

For 22 years, Willie Mays was one of the most popular players in the game.  He was a great team player and won a World Series (and NL MVP) with the Giants in 1954.  He was 23 years old.

However, I'm here to talk about Mays' second MVP Award, the one he garnered at age 34 in 1965.  That year, Mays hit .317 with an incredible 52 home runs and 112 RBI.  The fact that he was still able to hit for such power at that age is simply astounding.

Yet, the moment was bittersweet as that was the last season Mays ever hit over 40 home runs.

No. 5: Hank Greenberg, 1935

In the 1930s, Hank Greenberg was one of the game's most iconic figures.  Not only could he hit home runs with ease, but he was one of baseball's first Jewish superstars.

In 1935, the 25-year-old from The Bronx hit .328 with 36 home runs and an eye-popping 170 RBI while playing for the Detroit Tigers.  He only appeared in two World Series games that year, but his lone hit was a home run.

Greenberg would be named MVP again in 1940, but this season is just plain ridiculous in terms of RBI count.

No. 4: Alex Rodriguez, 2007

Watching Alex Rodriguez play is like watching a movie starring John Travolta.  His performance is either going to be unbelievably awesome a la Pulp Fiction or frustratingly awful a la Battlefield Earth.  In 2007, however, Rodriguez proved to be Vincent Vega, only better.

The man slugged his way to his third AL MVP Award, hitting home run No. 500 in the process.  On the season, he hit .314 with 54 home runs and 156 RBI along with 24 steals.

Now, if we could only get him to hit like that during the playoffs...

No. 3: Barry Bonds, 2001

Finally, we come to the slide that is going to generate the most hate mail for me.  Still, I stand by it as Barry Bonds has not yet tested positive for any banned substance, and I thus consider him to be innocent.

Thus, I don't think I need to say much regarding his 2001 season: .328 average, .515 OBP, 73 home runs and 137 RBI.  Enough said.

No. 2: Stan Musial, 1948

Come on, guys.  You really think I'd do a slideshow like this and not include Stan "The Man" Musial?  Seriously, his 1948 season was too epic to not include!

It was a season of career highs for Musial.  He batted .376 with 39 home runs and 131 RBI.  On top of that, he led the majors with 230 hits.

The funny part is that he would play 15 more seasons at the top of his game, yet not win another NL MVP Award.

No. 1: Jimmie Foxx, 1938

The mark of a true MVP is a player who not only brings in runs with one powerful swing of his bat, but one who also knows when to take a bit off and just work to get on base.  Such was the case with Jimmie Foxx in 1938, when he won his third and final MVP Award while playing for the Boston Red Sox.

During that season, Foxx was easily the most dangerous hitter in baseball.  He won the AL batting title with a .349 average, but also hit 50 home runs and drove in a major league-leading 175 RBI.  Simply put, pitching to the man alone was a risk.  Ironically enough, he also led the majors with 119 walks drawn.

His career would slowly start to go on the decline following that season, but Foxx's 1938 season is not one that should ever be forgotten.