It’s time for a landmark season in this second MLB Monday miniseries: when the Giants franchise first was identified as being cheaters! Of course, not much has changed today, after the team tried to play it straight in San Francisco after moving in 1958. The House That Steroids Built is still alive and strong today. Sad. But we digress … the New York Yankees won the World Series again, so not much had changed in the early ’50s.

1951 World Series MVP: Eddie Lopat, SP, New York (AL)

The Yankees beat the cheatin’ New York Giants in six games after the NL champs took a 2-1 lead in the Fall Classic. The Bronx Bombers didn’t have a single dominant hitter in the matchup as several players had merely “solid” results. On the mound, the star was starter Eddie Lopat, easily: 2-0, 0.50 ERA, 0.722 WHIP, and 2 complete games. He won Games 2 and 5 to single-handedly overpower the Giants. He is our winner.

1951 AL MOTY: Casey Stengel, New York

The Yankees won the pennant by 5 games over the Cleveland Indians, and New York Manager Casey Stengel posted a plus-4 PPP mark. That wasn’t as good as Cleveland Manager Al Lopez (plus-5 PPP), but the race would have been a lot closer without Stengel at the helm of those in pinstripes. He deserves credit for keeping his team ahead of the overachieving Indians and getting his team to the pennant nonetheless.

1951 NL MOTY: Chuck Dressen, Brooklyn

The Giants famously overcame a big deficit to win the pennant in a playoff, but we will not give Manager Leo Durocher credit for cheating. He led the NL with a plus-5 PPP effort, aiding by cheating. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Dodgers Manager Chuck Dressen only managed a plus-1 PPP mark, but that would have been higher if the Giants hadn’t cheated systematically. He gets our nod here for honesty, integrity, and quality.