Expert: Brian Flaspohler - 9/19/2006

Question
Brian - Are there only 28 voters (or is it now 31?) from the Baseball Writers Ass'n of America that vote for the MLB MVP? Why so few? Wouldn't many more be a better barometer?

Answer
Paul,

Actually there are two writers from each city.  So there are 62.

I suppose the answer to your second question is that in the good old days when the MVP voting started, there was no TV and limited radio coverage.  There was a perception that only someone who saw many baseball games in person in a professional capacity was qualified to vote.  And they didn't want the players or managers to vote because of their biases.  And the reason it hasn't changed is tradition.  Baseball is very hard headed about any change.

Hope this helps!

Brian