Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 17, 1995 TAG: 9511170060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
The two sluggers tied for the league RBI lead with 126. Belle, however, led the majors with 50 home runs in the shortened season and became the first player to get 100 extra-base hits since Stan Musial in 1948.
Belle has earned a reputation, however, for being uncooperative and downright rude to reporters - who do the voting. He is expected to be disciplined by major-league baseball this month for berating a television reporter during the World Series, although that outburst came after all 28 ballots were returned.
``I guess it really does say something,'' Vaughn said at a news conference in Boston.
The conference was held at a center where Vaughn founded a youth development program. ``People are looking at the whole thing and that it's just not numbers,'' he said.
A letter that accompanies the official ballot to members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America lists the five rules - which have remained unchanged since the original ballot in 1931 - to consider. The third guideline: ``General character, disposition, loyalty and effort.''
Vaughn, regarded by media members and fans as one of the nice guys in baseball, hit .300 with 39 home runs as the first baseman for the AL East champion Boston Red Sox. Belle batted .317 as an All-Star outfielder for the Indians, who had the best record in baseball.
Vaughn received 12 first-place votes, 12 seconds and four thirds for a total of 308 points. Belle got 11 first-place votes, 10 seconds and seven thirds for 300 points. Had just one more first-place vote changed positions, Belle would have won.
``I know that he had some great numbers,'' Vaughn said. ``If it's numbers, he probably would win.''
Seattle designated hitter Edgar Martinez received four first-place votes and was third with 244 points, and Indians reliever Jose Mesa got the other first-place vote and was fourth with 130.
The eight-point margin between Vaughn and Belle was the ninth closest in MVP history, and the closest since Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez tied for the 1979 NL honor.
The tightest AL election also involved a question of character when Joe DiMaggio beat Ted Williams 202-201 in 1947. Williams won the Triple Crown that season, but was left off the 10-place ballot by a Boston writer who did not like the sometimes-surly Red Sox star.
``It's important to have character,'' Vaughn said.
The voting was done was by 28 writers - two from each league city.
Vaughn became the ninth Boston player to win the MVP, and the first since Roger Clemens in 1986. No Cleveland player has won since Al Rosen in 1953, a year before the Indians had made their last World Series appearance until Belle led them that far this season.
Vaughn led the Red Sox early in the season, when they were struggling to stay ahead despite injuries to Jose Canseco and other key players. He set a career high for home runs, played in his first All-Star Game and showed improved defense.
In addition to his on-field efforts, Vaughn has been praised by city leaders for his charity work, especially with children.
Belle, whose stellar career on the field has been marred by several baseball-related suspensions amid run-ins with reporters, became the 12th major-leaguer to hit 50 home runs in a season.
by CNB