This second MLB Monday miniseries now gives out awards that didn’t exist at the time! What can we say about 1934? Well, the St. Louis Cardinals won their third World Series in 9 years, as they also were playing in their fifth Fall Classic during that same timeframe (1926-1934). That’s a pretty good run, historically speaking. When we think of “dynasties” in baseball, this is not what we automatically think, and it’s probably because the New York Yankees overrun our thoughts. But this is mad respect now. Enjoy!

1934 World Series MVP: Paul Dean, SP, St. Louis (NL)

The Cards beat the Detroit Tigers—a team that lost three World Series in a row from 1907-1909—in a seven-game matchup that was very close … until Game 7, which St. Louis won on the road by an 11-0 score. This was a series with no travel days, and it was a back-and-forth affair from the start. Overall, the teams were tied in runs after Game 6, as well. Basically, though, it’s hard to give the MVP nod to a Tigers player with that complete no-show performance in the last 9 innings of the Fall Classic.

So, Cardinals in contention include third baseman Pepper Martin (.928 OPS, 4 RBI, 2 SBs), left fielder Joe Medwick (.952 OPS, 1 HR, 5 RBI), and starting pitcher Paul Dean (2-0, 1.00 ERA, 18 IP, 11 Ks). The more-famous Dizzy Dean won Game 7, but he also lost Game 5 to put St. Louis in a 3-2 series hole. Together, though, the Dean bro(ther)s started five games in the World Series and combined for 44 of the 65 1/3 IP for the Cards. That’s pretty incredible.

Medwick struck out 7 times in the Series, however, and Martin somehow made 4 errors. Meanwhile, Paul Dean won Game 3 to put St. Louis up 2-1 in the matchup, and then he won Game 6, which was a must-win game as his team faced elimination, giving up just 1 earned run—before handing the ball to his brother on one day’s rest for Game 7. We like Paul’s understated and clutch efforts in delivering two complete-game victories in important spots. Without his 6, there’s no 7 for Dizzy. Think about that.

1934 AL MOTY: Mickey Cochrane, Detroit

Hall of Fame player Mickey Cochrane, who was the starting catcher on two World Series-winning teams in 1929 and 1930, managed the Tigers to a 7-game pennant cushion, and he matched the best PPP mark in the league at the same time (plus-3). In truth, he also won the 1934 AL MVP vote (plus the 1928 vote, too), but we took those player awards away from him. That does not diminish this achievement at all, of course. Cochrane really earned this nod, for sure.

1934 NL MOTY: Frankie Frisch, St. Louis

This is a perfect example of the manager making all the difference, as the Cards won the pennant over the New York Giants by 2 games. St. Louis Manager Frankie Frisch (our 1923 NL MVP pick) pulled off a plus-5 PPP mark, while Giants Manager Bill Terry (our 1930 and 1931 NL MVP pick) scuffled his roster to a minus-2 PPP finish. That’s the flag right there, of course, as if both managers were able to break even, we’d have had a playoff for the Series slot. Well done, Mr. Frisch.