The Minnesota Twins were surprise winners of both the pennant and the World Series this year. For the Twins, it was their first championship in Minnesota, and the franchise's first since the old Washington Senators won back in 1924. The Twins had an underwhelming team — they won only 85 games, the fifth-best record in the league. But all of the strong teams were in the East Division, and the Twins were able to win the West. Led by superstar centre fielder Kirby Puckett, the Twins then defeated both the Tigers and the Cardinals in the playoffs.
        The best teams during the regular season were the Tigers and the Blue Jays. They had a very close race, that the Blue Jays led into the final week of the season. But the young Jays choked badly; they lost their final seven games of the season, including the final three to the Tigers, who won the division.

         The Blue Jays did got some revenge after the season; the MVP vote was a close one between Toronto outfielder George Bell, and Detroit shortstop Alan Trammell. Bell was the winner. During the 1980's, the Blue Jays enjoyed the benefits of having a strong scouting presence in Latin America. Their two best players this year, Bell and Tony Fernandez, were both from the Dominican Republic. Bell was a good power hitter for played for twelve seasons; he hit 265 career home runs, and pounded out over 1700 hits and 1000 RBI. He had his best seasons in 1986-87, then at the end of his career had the distinction of being dealt for Sammy Sosa.
        A lot of runs were scored this year, and there were a lot of impressive individual performances. Mark McGwire was 23 years old, and had only partially-bulging bicps. He set a rookie record for home runs in a season, with 49. He won the Rookie Of The Year Award; the previous year, the Award had been won by fellow Bash Brother Jose Canseco. In Milwaukee, Paul Molitor had a tremendous season that included a sensational 39-game hit streak, the longest in the American League since Joe DiMaggio's streak in 1941. Molitor missed 44 games, yet still led the league in both runs scored and doubles.
        Wally Joyner hit a career-high 34 home runs this year. Joyner was in his sophomore year; as a rookie, he had become an instant star by hitting 19 home runs in the first half of the season. He hit only three homers the rest of the season, but still led his team to the playoffs. This year, Joyner peaked as a power hitter; he never hit more than 21 homers in a season.
        I'm not sure that Bell was the best player of the above group; his on-base percentage was the lowest of the players listed. On the other hand, the only player with clearly superior offensive numbers to Bell was Molitor, who missed a large chunk of the season. Bell and Dwight Evans led the league in runs produced, and Bell led in total bases as well. The Blue Jays had the second-most wins in the league. I'll give Bell the nod as the best of the above group — but not as the MVP.
         A lot guys set career highs in home runs this year; the player who prospered the most in this regard was Wade Boggs. He hit 24 homers, three times his next-highest total of eight. Boggs was the best hitter in the league, and arguably the best player. But he's not my MVP choice; his team had a bad year, and there were lots of other guys who had great seasons.
        Before the season, the Tigers didn't have a cleanup hitter, so manager Sparky Anderson announced that shortstop Trammell was the man. Trammell was 29 years old, and had never looked like a power hitter in the past, but he rose to the challenge with the best year of his life. I think Trammell has to be the MVP. Compare him and Bell as hitters: Bell had more homers and runs produced, but Trammell's batting average and on-base percentage were both 50 points higher. He also hit 28 home runs, and was caught stealing only twice.
        And if you still think that Bell was a better hitter, you then have to compare them on defense. A bad left fielder compared to a good shortstop... Trammell rates a huge edge in the field. And his team led the league in wins.
        Tony Fernandez was the other outstanding shortstop in the league, and like Bell was another Latin star who was developed by the Blue Jays. Tony was 25 years old, and had already set a record for hits by a shortstop in a season. This year he won his second of four straight Gold Gloves, and he also had a great year with the bat. Tony played for seven teams over 17 seasons (and spent a year in Japan), and retired with 2276 lifetime hits, a record for Dominican-born players.
        Tony's career had its ups-and-downs. This season, he smashed his elbow at the end of the season, an injury that contributed to the Blue Jays' slide. In 1989 he was smashed in the face by a pitch, and still bears the scar. In 1990 he was dealt to San Diego in the trade that brought Roberto Alomar to Toronto. In 1993, Tony returned to Toronto, and won a World Series with them. He missed all of the 1996 season with an injury. In 1997 with Cleveland, Fernandez hit a game-winning home run against the Orioles, then committed a crucial error in the final inning of the World Series. Tony was a survivor, though, and in 1999 posted the highest batting average of his career.