Indians shortstop and manager Lou Boudreau is named the American League’s Most Valuable Player. He becomes just the second Cleveland player to earn the honor (George Burns, 1926).

Boudreau took home 22 of the 24 first place votes for the award after the best year of his then eleven-year MLB career. He had finished third in the voting in 1947.

Boudreau finished the 1948 season with a .355 batting average (second to Boston’s Ted Williams), 18 home runs, and 106 runs batted in, all career highs. In 676 plate appearances in 152 games that season, he struck out just nine times while walking 98. His efforts on the field and in the dugout helped to lead Cleveland to their first championship since 1920.

Only one Indians player has earned the honor since Boudreau – Al Rosen in 1953.

Photo: Cleveland Memory Project