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Most sources list Boston's Dustin Pedroia as being 5-foot-9, and those who have seen him up close would call that "generous." A good, if unscientific rule of thumb (or foot) is to subtract about 2 inches from whatever it says on the back of a player's baseball card for his actual height.

That could make him 5-7, which would make the tales stand even taller for Pedroia, who was named this season's AL MVP.

Minnesota's Justin Morneau, who won the AL MVP in 2006, finished second this time in scattered voting that had five different players pick up at least one first-place vote. Kevin Youkilis, Pedroia's taller and balder teammate, finished third.

Red Sox Nation fawned over Pedroia like he was a puppy, albeit a ferocious one that would bite your ankles to win. So much sock — 54 doubles, 17 homers — coming in such a small package.

Sorry to disappoint everyone out there fighting for the Little Guy, but Pedroia ain't such a runt.

Pedroia is the first AL MVP to regularly play second base since Hall of Famer Nellie Fox (5-9, 150) in 1959. So, is Pedroia, listed at 180 pounds, the littlest MVP in either league since Fox? Scoff!

Jimmy Rollins (5-8, 160) won the NL MVP in 2007. And he slugged .531 to Pedroia's .493.

Pedroia, according to a body mass index calculator, actually is overweight for someone listed at 5-foot-9 (shrug). But when it comes to baseball's best mighty mites, Pedroia comes up a little short. Or maybe it's not short enough.

Here, thanks to Baseball-Reference.com and other sources is a list of the littlest MVPs of all time:

Li'l MVP (team): Height, Weight

Johnny Evers (1914 Braves): 5-9, 125

Bobby Shantz (1952 Athletics): 5-6, 142

Phil Rizzuto (1950 Yankees): 5-6, 160

George Burns (1926 Indians): 5-7, 160

Joe Morgan (1975, '76 Reds): 5-7, 160

Paul Waner (1927 Pirates): 5-8, 153

Fox ('59 White Sox): 5-9, 150

Rollins ('07 Phillies): 5-8, 160

Ichiro Suzuki (2001 Mariners): 5-9, 160

Zoilo Versalles (1965 Twins): 5-10, 150

Roger Peckinpaugh (1925 Senators): 5-10, 164

Maury Wills (1962 Dodgers): 5-11, 170

George Sisler (1922 Browns): 5-11, 170

Eddie Collins (1914 Athletics): 5-9, 175

Terry Pendleton (1991 Braves) 5-9, 180

Pedroia ('08 Red Sox) 5-9, 180

Joe Gordon (1942 Yankees) 5-10, 180

Yogi Berra (1951, '54, '55 Yankees) 5-8, 194

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146 Comments

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  1. Saro G
    1. Posted by Saro G Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:46 pm EDT

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    Nothing exemplifies the dead ball era better than a 125 lb. stick winning MVP.
  2. Brett K
    2. Posted by Brett K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Little man deserves it. For Gods sake, he actually batted cleanup for the Sox at one point in the season. He has great range, pop in the bat, and gets on base.
    Out of all the canidates he had the most all-around stats.
    Go Sox!!!
    Petey with a repeat in 09
  3. mike
    3. Posted by mike Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    baseballs over time for real sports
  4. jeffutlaw
    4. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    I always thought he was kinda chubby.
    #3, thanks for taking the time to post on a baseball thread about how baseball is over.
    Irony gets me through the day.
  5. Brett K
    5. Posted by Brett K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    themiguelman
    I agree with jeff, why comment on a sport that apperently you do not like. Is there nothing better off for you to do? I dont go to the NFL or NBA blogs and comment there, cause I dont care, but I dont feel the need to express that feeling on to others. Stick to your domain and let the thinking mans sport fans stay in peace in ours.
  6. The Thrilla in Vanilla
    6. Posted by The Thrilla in Vanilla Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:01 pm EDT

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    You are commenting on someone who commented on how someone's comment was off-topic.
  7. Dan
    7. Posted by Dan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    Maybe miguelman was saying that "baseball's overtime" for real sports. Like, that baseball is the ultimate in real sports because it's the overtime. I don't know, just trying to read in to the lack of grammar there.
  8. Johnny Appleseed
    8. Posted by Johnny Appleseed Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    Anybody else watch the Islanders-Canucks game last night? Great stuff, but I hate the shootout.
    What was that? MVP? Oh yeah, great job, Dusty. Pedroia the Destroyah!
  9. Brett K
    9. Posted by Brett K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Johnny,
    Love it
  10. Charles F
    10. Posted by Charles F Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    Zoilo Versalles!!!!
    I finally have a Thanksgiving day trivia question to stump my unlces with.
  11. jeffutlaw
    11. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Damn Rich, bitter?
    Resorting to gay insults is a pretty unoriginal way to go about it.
  12. jeffutlaw
    12. Posted by jeffutlaw Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Thrilla, I'd comment on your post, but don't think I could grasp the logical circle that would result.
    Damn, I think I already did.
  13. powder ski
    13. Posted by powder ski Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    Pedroia deserves every minute,thought it might have gone to YOUK ,but It's all good in REDSOX nation.
    "09" baby!!!!!!!!!
  14. Brett K
    14. Posted by Brett K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    BO2
    Baseball has come to the point were a little man with a big heart can win MVP. People like Eckstien, Pedroia, Counsell are the people baseball fans should root for no matter what team they are on cause in the examples of those three they were all told they were to small to play in the majors, but with a big heart and being deaf to the word no they all have had great impacts on their respective teams at one time or another.
  15. A.J.
    15. Posted by A.J. Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    Youk deserved the MVP.
  16. Randy
    16. Posted by Randy Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    garbage
  17. james b.
    17. Posted by james b. Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    Still wondering how the Red Sox got beaten by a team that didn't even put up a fight against the Philadelphia Overateds.
  18. j_mste07
    18. Posted by j_mste07 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    How does a midget win MVP? Im bigger than him and I'm in highschool. I thought baseball lived by the longball.
  19. Skinhead Bob
    19. Posted by Skinhead Bob Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:52 pm EDT

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    Well james, tha Sox didn't get beat by the devil rays, they got beat by the umpire and his ever expanding strike zone against Boston hitters!!! Also, I don't believe that the mlb wanted to see tha Sox repeat, they don't want that 'coz of how the yankess ruined baseball by going back to back so often!
  20. Peter S
    20. Posted by Peter S Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:07 pm EDT

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    Yankee fans are just pissed that an actual clutch hitter won the MVP.
  21. Larry L
    21. Posted by Larry L Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    Good for Pedroia, He played his Azz off every game. I think the fact that he had no clause in his contract for bonus bucks sux. The organization should pony up some $$$$ as others who placed further back got as much as 75K
  22. Kainoa A
    22. Posted by Kainoa A Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:46 pm EDT

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    ok this stuff about the red sox not winning the world series because the mlb is out to get them is bogus. the rays were a better team all year and beat them fair and square. the phillies have always been talented but their hitting finally showed up in the playoffs. they just got hot at the right time thats baseball. look at the cardinals when they won a few years back. as for pedroia i dont think he should have won the mvp i believe that should have gone to his teammate youkilis. really quickly i would like to point out that pedroia does not have good range at second base but he is a solid 2b nonetheless.
  23. Larry L
    23. Posted by Larry L Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    by the way "The Bruise" that must mean you are also bigger than Doug Flutie !!
  24. Sawyer
    24. Posted by Sawyer Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    Youk sucks
  25. PAUL D
    25. Posted by PAUL D Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

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    Skinhead Bob - they are the RAYS not the DEVIL RAYS. Do you honestly think MLB wanted to have a team like Tampa in the World Series ahead of Boston. Such a huge fan base down there in Florida to tune in to the games. Worst television ratings of all time. No, I think they would have preferred the Sox for that reason alone.
    Give the little guy some credit. He was consistent all year long, got clutch hits, stole bases, scored a ton of runs and played some solid defense and it's only his second year in the majors.

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