Welcome back as we return to our second MLB Monday miniseries, looking at 1930 awards that didn’t exist back then. We’re taking on the World Series MVP Award, which would not be awarded until 1955, and the Manager of the Year awards, which would not be awarded until 1983. Filling in the historical record’s gaps is what a good sports historian does, and that’s why we are here … for your curiosities and reading pleasures. Have at it!

1930 World Series MVP: George Earnshaw, SP, Philadelphia (AL)

The defending champion Philadelphia Athletics won a second-straight World Series, this time in six games over the St. Louis Cardinals, with the A’s winning the last two games by a combined 9-1 score. Overall, Philly outscored St. Louis by a 21-12 margin. Our candidates for the MVP trophy, then, are varied: A’s left fielder Al Simmons (1.144 OPS, 2 HRs, 4 RBI) and starting pitcher George Earnshaw (2-0, 0.72 ERA, 0.800 WHIP, 19 Ks, 25 IP).

We’re going with the pitcher here, as it was a Fall Classic with minimal scoring, and Simmons’ numbers were not dominant enough to truly stand out from the other two teammates who also posted OPS marks over 1.000 (first baseman Jimmie Foxx and catcher Mickey Cochrane). Meanwhile, Earnshaw’s ERA and WHIP are elite, and he led the Athletics staff in innings pitched, doing so without losing a game to the Cardinals.

1930 AL MOTY: Connie Mack, Philadelphia

The A’s manager sure earned his stripes this time out, as Connie Mack posted a plus-9 PPP mark, and his team won the pennant by 8 games over the Washington Senators—managed the great Walter Johnson to a minus-1 PPP finish. This means Mack got a lot more out of his roster than Johnson got out of his. This was only the second year in the dugout for the Big Train, so he still had some things to learn evidently. This was Mack’s 33rd season in the dugout, by the way—and his fifth AL MOTY nod from us.

1930 NL MOTY: Joe McCarthy, Chicago

The Cards won the pennant by 2 games over the Chicago Cubs, in spite of St. Louis Manager Gabby Street (minus-2 PPP). Meanwhile, Cubs Manager Joe McCarthy pushed his team with a plus-3 PPP effort. This never should have been a pennant race, but St. Louis fumbled its way to a 4-7 record in extra-inning games and a 23-31 mark in one-run games. Meanwhile, McCarthy wins his third-straight NL MOTY from us for that 10-2 extra-innings record and the 27-20 mark in one-run games. Wow!