Killebrew returns from injury to earn AL MVP
Age, injuries and team uncertainty seemed to be all working against Harmon Killebrew as the Minnesota Twins slugger entered the 1969 season.
By the end of that campaign, however, Killebrew had assembled what would be the best year of his Hall of Fame career.
Killebrew was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player on Nov. 12, 1969, capping off a season where he led the AL in home runs (49), RBI (140), walks (145) and on-base percentage (.427). His heroics powered the Twins – who had suffered three straight disappointing seasons following their 1965 AL pennant – to the first-ever American League West title.
“I’ve always felt this was the No. 1 award,” Killebrew told the Associated Press after learning he had totaled 294 points in the voting – 67 more than runner-up Boog Powell of the Orioles. “I’ve always felt it is difficult to pick one guy for the MVP. It takes a lot of guys to win.”
Killebrew, however, was the clear choice by the voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He tallied 16 first-place votes compared to six for Powell and two for Powell’s teammate, Frank Robinson. Despite splitting time between first and third base during the season, Killebrew – who turned 33 years old on June 29 – kept an even keel at the plate all year, amassing between 16 and 37 RBI in each full month of the season.
Killebrew played in all 162 games as the Twins went 97-65 before falling to the Orioles in the American League Championship Series.
For Killebrew, it was redemption – and relief – after he suffered a ruptured left hamstring during the 1968 All-Star Game, an injury that sidelined him for almost two months. But despite his age and the upcoming postseason games, Twins manager Billy Martin put Killebrew in the lineup every day down the stretch as the slugger chased what would become his sixth – and final – AL home run crown.
Killebrew finished the season one home run ahead of Washington’s Frank Howard and two in front of Oakland’s Reggie Jackson.
“If the circumstances were right, I’d like to get Harmon (out of the lineup),” Martin told the AP after Killebrew, Howard and Jackson found themselves tied for the top spot with 47 home runs after the games of Sept. 24. “He’s tired. He’s played every game. But the home run thing means a lot to him and I’ll give him his chance.”
Killebrew hit his 48th home run on Sept. 26 to retake sole possession of first place before Howard tied him on Sept. 29. But Killebrew hit No. 49 in the next-to-last game of the year on Oct. 1. Howard did not homer that day, which proved to be the last game of Washington’s season – giving Killebrew the title.
His 49 home runs proved to be his career high, and he finished the year with 446 total homers – which would be 127 less than his final total over 22 big league seasons.
“I don’t know whether this is the best season I’ve ever had because the years all sort of run together,” Killebrew told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “I’m looking for another good year (in 1970). Maybe my next goal will be to have 50 home runs for one season and 500 for a career.”
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
