2012 leaders

Pitcher Justin Verlander of the Tigers had the most Box-Toppers points in 2012 with 24.8.

Pitcher Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers had the most Box-Toppers points of any National League player, with 20.8.

Adrian Beltre of the Rangers had the most Box-Toppers points among American League batters in 2012 with 13.5.

Ryan Braun of the Brewers had the most points among National League batters during 2012 with 12.5.

Though Verlander topped all Box-Toppers measures, he finished second in AL Cy Young voting to Rays pitcher David Price, who finished 10th among AL pitchers in Box-Toppers with 14.1 points.

Though Kershaw topped all NL pitchers in Box-Toppers, he finished second in NL Cy Young voting to Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey, who finished fourth among NL pitchers in Box-Toppers with 19.1 points. Kershaw, interestingly, only passed Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals in Box-Toppers points during the final week of the 2012 season. Strasburg had been sitting out since Sept. 8 to limit his innings pitched while rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery. Also, interestingly, though Strasburg led in Box-Toppers points near the end of the season, he received a grand total of zero Cy Young votes.

Though Beltre topped all AL batters in Box-Toppers points, he finished third for AL most valuable player. Voters were unable to resist picking Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers, who won baseball's triple crown for the first time in 45 years. However, Cabrera had 11.7 Box-Toppers points in 2012, third among AL batters. Beltre also finished behind Mike Trout of the Angels in MVP voting. Trout, also hard for voters to resist, was a rookie who exploded onto the scene, hitting home runs, stealing bases and robbing home runs in the outfield. Trout finished fifth among AL batters in Box-Toppers points for the 2012 season, with 11. Chris Davis of the Orioles finished second among AL batters in Box-Toppers points for 2012, with 12. He finished behind Beltre but ahead of MVP favorites Cabrera and Trout. Davis received nary a vote—zero—for AL MVP.

Though Braun topped all NL batters in Box-Toppers points, he finished second for NL most valuable player. Buster Posey of the Giants was named NL MVP. He had 5.5 Box-Toppers points and did not finish among the top 10 NL batters.

This list includes only MLB players active at the close of the 2012 season and includes them with the team they were with and the league they were in at the end of the season. 

What are those numbers after players' names?

More leaders:

• All-time (1995-present)
• 2007-2012
• 2011-2012