[FuzzyRussianHat]

Fresh off an incredible playoff run as World Series and NLCS MVP, Cardinals RF/P Charlie Hickman won his third National League Most Valuable Player award. “Piano Legs” pulled it off despite missing a month to back issues in the summer. Hickman had 22 first place votes while Louisville 3B Jim Delahanty had two. Delahanty notably led in home runs (31), triples (12), total bases (337), triple slash (.339/.423/.617), OPS (1.040), wRC+ (195), and WAR (10.1).

At the plate, Hickman had 127 games with 163 hits, 89 runs, 47 doubles, 9 triples, 18 home runs, 92 RBI, .333/.365/.577 slash, 159 wRC+, and 5.5 WAR. Pitching, the 29-year old righty had a 16-7 record, 2.87 ERA, 200.2 innings, 85 strikeouts, 132 ERA+, 103 FIP-, and 2.3 WAR. Hickman became an eight-time Silver Slugger winner with six as a pitcher and two in the outfield. He remains signed through 1901 for St. Louis. Hickman previously won MVP in 1904 and 1902 and is one of five players to win the award thrice or more.

Louisville righty Christy Mathewson was the unanimous Pitcher of the Year. It was his third win, having also won in 1901 and 1902. He led in strikeouts for the fifth straight season and again broke his single-season record, this time by one. His 333 Ks and 12.9 WAR both were MLB records. Mathewson has five of MLB’s seven 300+ K seasons and has the top four by pitching WAR.

For 1905, he also won his third ERA title (2.02) and led in WHIP (0.91), K/9 (10.3), and FIP- (48). Mathewson had a 16-11 record over 289.2 innings and 188 ERA+. He remains locked up with the Colonels through 1909. In six seasons, the 25-year old has a 99-69 record, 2.34 ERA, 1688.2 innings, 1867 Ks, 382 walks, 169 ERA+, 58 FIP-, and 64.9 WAR.

Another Louisville pitcher took Rookie of the Year in Ed Reulbach, getting 20/24 first place votes. The other four were split evenly between Braves 3B Mike Mowrey and Cubs 1B John Hummel. The #13 pick in the latest draft, Reulbach had a 15-13 record, 2.42 ERA, 264 innings, 190 strikeouts, 103 walks, 157 ERA+, 87 FIP-, and 5.3 WAR.

Pirates 2B Reddy Mack won his sixth Silver Slugger. New Orleans 1B Frank Chance and Colonels 3B Jim Delahanty both became four-time winners and Cardinals C Regino Garcia got his third. Pittsburgh 1B Dan McGann won his fourth Gold Glove.

Thanks to his World Series win, Joseph Keenan earned back-to-back Manager of the Year honors with St. Louis. In six seasons with the Cardinals, the 45-year old Keenan has a 503-469 record and .517 win percentage. St. Louis was middle-tier in his first four seasons at the helm but has earned repeat playoff trips. His current contract is in its final year.