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This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons.com for more sports history.

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Today my guest will be Monty Irvin, an outfielder who swung a big bat for the Giants back in the days when the Giants called the Polar Grounds in New York home.

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I'll begin my interview with Monty Irvin right after we hear this important message.

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Monty Irvin, I think one of the big unfortunate things in this whole situation as far as baseball is concerned, is a guy like Monty Irvin didn't get a chance to get into baseball earlier.

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How old were you when you first started?

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Well, I got started late, Jackie. I was 31 when I started. And, of course, I was a little disappointed that I couldn't get started at an earlier age.

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I think that most people in baseball say that a guy reaches his peak at about 28, 29 years of age.

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You started at 31. Again, I say it's a real shame.

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Monty, I think in 1951 that was perhaps your greatest year. And you led the league, didn't you, and RBI's?

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And you came very close. And, well, matter of fact, there have been many, there were many people who thought that you were the most valuable player.

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What do you think about the voting for the most valuable player?

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Well, I think that there should be a new system, of course, devised to select or choose the most valuable player.

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Back in the 1951 season, as I can remember, I thought I had a pretty good year, and also Sal Magley.

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And we were real disappointed, of course, that Sal had won a week because he pitched a great ball.

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And we just thought that Sal would be an automatic shoe-in. But, of course, Campy had a tremendous season, and he was selected.

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There's no question about Roy having a great year.

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There was certainly no question about that if it was going to be a giant, it was going to be either you or Sal.

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I think perhaps there should be a change in the balloting. I don't know what the answer is, and I don't think it's our position to say.

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But I think there's something wrong with it because if a fellow is not liked by one writer, or he has a vote, he will exclude him from all of his ten selections.

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And I don't think this is fair, really.

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Right. I can think of, I think it was the 1950 season when Robin Roberts had a tremendous year,

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and I think everyone thought that he won the most valuable player that year. And I think someone else was selected.

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I think Hank Sauer won it that year, to the amazement of all the Eastern fans, and particularly the Philadelphia Philly fans.

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Monty Irvin, as I said earlier, I'm awfully sorry because I think Monty could have written a lot of records into the book had he been given an opportunity to, say, start playing when he was, say, 20 years of age.

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We're also happy that you were able to drop by and chat with us. Appreciate a lot, Monty.

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Always enjoyed talking to you.

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Well, that just about does it for now, fans. See you soon.