MLB Most Valuable Player Award

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The MLB Most Valuable Player Award (usually called the MVP Award) is an annual Major League Baseball award . One player each from the American League and one from the National League will be honored . Since 1931, the award has been given by the Baseball Writers Association of America , an association of professional baseball journalists from various daily newspapers. Its predecessors were the automobile manufacturer Hugh Chalmers, who awarded a prize for the best batter from 1911 to 1914. From 1922 to 1928 each journalist presented a League Award in the American League. The National League followed suit from 1924 to 1929.

Chalmers Award (1911-1914)

Scandal winner Nap Lajoie

Before the 1910 season, Hugh Chalmers , owner of Chalmers Automobile Works , promised to give the batting champion of each league a car as a prize. In the American League, the two players Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie were almost equal before the last game day. When the double header between the St. Louis Browns and the Lajoie team from Cleveland on the last day of the game, there was a scandal. The infield of St. Louis retreated so far in the at-bats of Lajoie that he was able to reach first base six times with a total of six bunts and thus won the title. Due to the frequency of the Bunts, there was an intention of the Browns to "give" Lajoie the hits, as the defense would normally move very close to the infield if the batter kept laying Bunts. As part of the ensuing debate about this apparently unsporting behavior, St. Louis manager Jack O'Connor was fired for his role in the affair. Hugh Chalmers ultimately gave each of the two contenders a car.

For the 1911 season, Chalmers decided that the batting average was too limited to be the basis for awarding an award. He decided that the award should go to the player who can prove himself to be the most important and useful player in his team and in the league. This was the first attempt to measure a player by their overall contribution to the success of the team. On this basis, Chalmers awarded his prize up to and including 1914. At this point, however, interest in his award had waned so much that he withdrew the prize.

The first 1911 American League winner Ty Cobb

Chalmers Award winner

year National League American League
1911 Wildfire Schulte , Chicago Cubs , OF Ty Cobb , Detroit Tigers , OF
1912 Larry Doyle , New York Giants , 2B Tris Speaker , Boston Red Sox , OF
1913 Jake Daubert , Brooklyn Dodgers , 1B Walter Johnson , Washington Senators , P.
1914 Johnny Evers , Boston Braves , 2B Eddie Collins , Philadelphia Athletics , 2B

League Awards (1922-1928)

Rogers Hornsby , sole multiple winner of a League Award

In 1922 the " American League Trophy Committee " was founded to honor the baseball player who made the greatest all-round contribution to his team and to the reputation of baseball in the respective season. For this purpose, a journalist was selected from every city that had a franchise in the American League, who was to choose an outstanding player for each team and to rank them. Player-coaches and players who had already been awarded in one of the previous years could not be elected. In contrast to the vote today, two differences can be identified. On the one hand, a vote can now be divided between two players and, on the other hand, already excellent players can receive the award again. For example, Babe Ruth could not be honored for his more than outstanding performance in the offensive field in 1927, since he received the award in 1923.

Knowing these facts, the National League established its own US $ 1,000 award in 1924, which allowed journalists to choose 10 players with no limit on the number of players per team. In addition, player-coaches were also allowed in the election. Furthermore, excellent players could already be selected in the previous year, which also happened through the two-time award from Rogers Hornsby in 1925 and 1929.

But both awards were very short-lived, mainly because the limited number of voters limited the credibility of the award and thus the interest of the fans.

On May 6, 1929, the American League teams decided to abolish the award. The National League followed shortly thereafter, but in contrast to the American League in 1929, it still awarded an award.

Babe Ruth , 1923 American League winner

League Award winner

year National League American League
1922 no winner George Sisler , St. Louis Browns , 1B
1923 no winner Babe Ruth , New York Yankees , OF
1924 Dazzy Vance , Brooklyn Robins , P. Walter Johnson , Washington Senators , P.
1925 Rogers Hornsby , St. Louis Cardinals , 2B Roger Peckinpaugh , Washington Senators , SS
1926 Bob O'Farrell , St. Louis Cardinals , C George Burns , Cleveland Indians , 1B
1927 Paul Waner , Pittsburgh Pirates , OF Lou Gehrig , New York Yankees , 1B
1928 Jim Bottomley , St. Louis Cardinals , 1B Mickey Cochrane , Philadelphia Athletics , C.
1929 Rogers Hornsby , Chicago Cubs , 2B no winner

Baseball Writers Association of America's Most Valuable Player

Motivated by the loophole created by the abolition of the League Awards, the Baseball Writers Association of America initiated a vote in October 1929 to elect the unofficial MVP of the American League. The winner of the vote was Lew Fonseca . The Sporting News went one step further and in January 1930 held a vote among the journalists who had previously determined the official award winner. Their choice fell on Al Simmons . In 1930, each league again determined an official MVP. The Sporting News repeated their unofficial election this time for both leagues. The Baseball Writers Association of America also named a National League player, while the Associated Press news agency named an American League player.

MVPs of 1929 and 1930

For the 1931 season, the BBWAA decided to select the most valuable players in both leagues in the future. This decision is given almost everywhere as the birth of the “modern” MVP award, although the leagues had not yet recognized the award at that time. The Sporting News magazine continued to present its own award until 1938. At that time, the magazine agreed with the BBWAA on a joint award of the award. However, The Sporting News later launched its own MVP award, which the magazine still awards today.

In 1956 the Cy Young Award was given for the first time to the best pitcher in Major League Baseball (since 1967 the award has been given to one pitcher per league). As a result, the prevailing opinion arose that pitchers should not be elected as MVPs, firstly because they have their own award and secondly because they cannot be as valuable to a team as they do not take part in every game. Despite all this, pitchers still win the award. Since the Cy Young Award was presented in both leagues in 1967, a pitcher has been elected MVP seven times. The last was Dennis Eckersley in 1992.

Winner of the MVP Award of Modern Times

Willie Mays (left), winner of the NL 1954 and the three-time winner (1951, 1953, 1955) of the NL Roy Campanella
Pitcher Roger Clemens , 1986 American League winner
Ken Griffey junior , winner of the 1997 AL
Alex Rodríguez , three-time winner in the AL. 2003, 2005 and 2007

* unanimous decision

year National League American League reference
winner team Item winner team Item
1931 Frankie Frisch St. Louis Cardinals 2 B Lefty Grove Philadelphia Athletics P
1932 Chuck Klein Philadelphia Phillies OF Jimmie Foxx Philadelphia Athletics 1B
1933 Carl Hubbell New York Giants P Jimmie Foxx Philadelphia Athletics 1B
1934 Dizzy Dean St. Louis Cardinals P Mickey Cochrane Detroit Tigers C.
1935 Gabby Hartnett Chicago Cubs C. Hank Greenberg * Detroit Tigers 1B
1936 Carl Hubbell * New York Giants P Lou Gehrig New York Yankees 1B
1937 Joe Medwick St. Louis Cardinals OF Charlie Gehringer Detroit Tigers 2 B
1938 Ernie Lombardi Cincinnati Reds C. Jimmie Foxx Boston Red Sox 1B
1939 Bucky Walters Cincinnati Reds P Joe DiMaggio New York Yankees OF
1940 Frank McCormick Cincinnati Reds 1B Hank Greenberg Detroit Tigers OF
1941 Dolph Camilli Brooklyn Dodgers 1B Joe DiMaggio New York Yankees OF
1942 Mort Cooper St. Louis Cardinals P Joe Gordon New York Yankees 2 B
1943 Stan Musial St. Louis Cardinals OF Spud Chandler New York Yankees P
1944 Marty Marion St. Louis Cardinals SS Hal Newhouser Detroit Tigers P
1945 Phil Cavarretta Chicago Cubs 1B Hal Newhouser Detroit Tigers P
1946 Stan Musial St. Louis Cardinals 1B Ted Williams Boston Red Sox OF
1947 Bob Elliott Boston Braves 3B Joe DiMaggio New York Yankees OF
1948 Stan Musial St. Louis Cardinals OF Lou Boudreau Cleveland Indians SS
1949 Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers 2 B Ted Williams Boston Red Sox OF
1950 Jim Konstanty Philadelphia Phillies P Phil Rizzuto New York Yankees SS
1951 Roy Campanella Brooklyn Dodgers C. Yogi Berra New York Yankees C.
1952 Hank Sauer Chicago Cubs OF Bobby Shantz Philadelphia Athletics P
1953 Roy Campanella Brooklyn Dodgers C. Al roses * Cleveland Indians 3B
1954 Willie Mays New York Giants OF Yogi Berra New York Yankees C.
1955 Roy Campanella Brooklyn Dodgers C. Yogi Berra New York Yankees C.
1956 Don Newcombe Brooklyn Dodgers P Mickey Mantle * New York Yankees OF
1957 Hank Aaron Milwaukee Braves OF Mickey Mantle New York Yankees OF
1958 Ernie Banks Chicago Cubs SS Jackie Jensen Boston Red Sox OF
1959 Ernie Banks Chicago Cubs SS Nellie Fox Chicago White Sox 2 B
1960 Dick Groat Pittsburgh Pirates SS Roger Maris New York Yankees OF
1961 Frank Robinson Cincinnati Reds OF Roger Maris New York Yankees OF
1962 Maury Wills Los Angeles Dodgers SS Mickey Mantle New York Yankees OF
1963 Sandy Koufax Los Angeles Dodgers P Elston Howard New York Yankees C.
1964 Ken Boyer St. Louis Cardinals 3B Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles 3B
1965 Willie Mays San Francisco Giants OF Zoilo Versalles Minnesota Twins SS
1966 Roberto Clemente Pittsburgh Pirates OF Frank Robinson * Baltimore Orioles OF
1967 Orlando Cepeda * St. Louis Cardinals 1B Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox OF
1968 Bob Gibson St. Louis Cardinals P Denny McLain * Detroit Tigers P
1969 Willie McCovey San Francisco Giants 1B Harmon Killebrew Minnesota Twins 3B
1970 Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds C. Boog Powell Baltimore Orioles 1B
1971 Joe Torre St. Louis Cardinals 3B Vida Blue Oakland Athletics P
1972 Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds C. Dick Allen Chicago White Sox 1B
1973 Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds OF Reggie Jackson * Oakland Athletics OF
1974 Steve Garvey Los Angeles Dodgers 1B Jeff Burroughs Texas Rangers OF
1975 Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds 2 B Fred Lynn Boston Red Sox OF
1976 Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds 2 B Thurman Munson New York Yankees C.
1977 George Foster Cincinnati Reds OF Rod Carew Minnesota Twins 1B
1978 Dave Parker Pittsburgh Pirates OF Jim Rice Boston Red Sox OF
1979 Don Baylor California Angels DH Keith Hernandez St. Louis Cardinals 1B
Willie Stargell Pittsburgh Pirates 1B
1980 Mike Schmidt * Philadelphia Phillies 3B George Brett Kansas City Royals 3B
1981 Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Phillies 3B Rollie Fingers Milwaukee Brewers P
1982 Dale Murphy Atlanta Braves OF Robin Yount Milwaukee Brewers SS
1983 Dale Murphy Atlanta Braves OF Cal Ripken Junior Baltimore Orioles SS
1984 Ryne Sandberg Chicago Cubs 2 B Willie Hernandez Detroit Tigers P
1985 Willie McGee St. Louis Cardinals OF Don Mattingly New York Yankees 1B
1986 Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Phillies 3B Roger Clemens Boston Red Sox P
1987 Andre Dawson Chicago Cubs OF George Bell Toronto Blue Jays OF
1988 Kirk Gibson Los Angeles Dodgers OF José Canseco * Oakland Athletics OF
1989 Kevin Mitchell San Francisco Giants OF Robin Yount Milwaukee Brewers OF
1990 Barry Bonds Pittsburgh Pirates OF Rickey Henderson Oakland Athletics OF
1991 Terry Pendleton Atlanta Braves 3B Cal Ripken Junior Baltimore Orioles SS
1992 Barry Bonds Pittsburgh Pirates OF Dennis Eckersley Oakland Athletics P
1993 Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants OF Frank Thomas * Chicago White Sox 1B
1994 Jeff Bagwell * Houston Astros 1B Frank Thomas Chicago White Sox 1B
1995 Barry Larkin Cincinnati Reds SS Mo Vaughn Boston Red Sox 1B
1996 Ken Caminiti * San Diego Padres 3B Juan González Texas Rangers OF
1997 Larry Walker Colorado Rockies OF Ken Griffey, Jr. * Seattle Mariners OF
1998 Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs OF Juan González Texas Rangers OF
1999 Chipper Jones Atlanta Braves 3B Iván Rodríguez Texas Rangers C.
2000 Jeff Kent San Francisco Giants 2 B Jason Giambi Oakland Athletics 1B
2001 Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants OF Ichirō Suzuki Seattle Mariners OF
2002 Barry Bonds * San Francisco Giants OF Miguel Tejada Oakland Athletics SS
2003 Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants OF Alex Rodríguez Texas Rangers SS
2004 Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants OF Vladimir Guerrero Anaheim Angels OF
2005 Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals 1B Alex Rodríguez New York Yankees 3B
2006 Ryan Howard Philadelphia Phillies 1B Justin Morneau Minnesota Twins 1B
2007 Jimmy Rollins Philadelphia Phillies SS Alex Rodríguez New York Yankees 3B
2008 Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals 1B Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox 2 B
2009 Albert Pujols * St. Louis Cardinals 1B Joe Mauer Minnesota Twins C.
2010 Joey Votto Cincinnati Reds 1B Josh Hamilton Texas Rangers OF
2011 Ryan Braun Milwaukee Brewers OF Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers P
2012 Buster Posey San Francisco Giants C. Miguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers 3B
2013 Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates OF Miguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers 3B
2014 Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers P Mike Trout * Los Angeles Angels OF
2015 Bryce Harper * Washington Nationals OF Josh Donaldson Toronto Blue Jays 3B
2016 Kris Bryant Chicago Cubs 3B Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels OF
2017 Giancarlo Stanton Miami Marlins OF José Altuve Houston Astros 2 B
2018 Christian Yelich Milwaukee Brewers OF Mookie Betts Boston Red Sox OF
2019 Cody Bellinger Los Angeles Dodgers OF Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels OF

Abbreviations of the positions : P = Pitcher , C = Catcher , 1B, 2B, 3B = First , Second , Third Base , SS = Shortstop , OF = Outfielder

Multiple award-winning players

Record winner with seven awards: Barry Bonds
player number Years
Barry Bonds 7th 1990, 1992-1993, 2001-2004
Yogi Berra 3 1951, 1954-1955
Roy Campanella 3 1951, 1953, 1955
Joe DiMaggio 3 1939, 1941, 1947
Jimmie Foxx 3 1932-1933, 1938
Mickey Mantle 3 1956-1957, 1962
Stan Musial 3 1943, 1946, 1948
Albert Pujols 3 2005, 2008, 2009
Alex Rodríguez 3 2003, 2005, 2007
Mike Schmidt 3 1980-1981, 1986
Mike Trout 3 2014, 2016, 2019
Ernie Banks 2 1958-1959
Johnny Bench 2 1970, 1972
Lou Gehrig 2 1927, 1936
Juan Gonzalez 2 1996, 1998
Hank Greenberg 2 1935, 1940
Carl Hubbell 2 1933, 1936
Roger Maris 2 1960-1961
Willie Mays 2 1954, 1965
Joe Morgan 2 1975-1976
Dale Murphy 2 1982-1983
Hal Newhouser 2 1944-1945
Cal Ripken, Jr. 2 1983, 1991
Frank Robinson 2 1961, 1966
Frank Thomas 2 1993-1994
Ted Williams 2 1946, 1949
Robin Yount 2 1982, 1989
Miguel Cabrera 2 2012, 2013

Number of awards per team

team Awards
New York Yankees 22nd
St. Louis Cardinals 20th
New York / San Francisco Giants 14th
Philadelphia / Kansas City / Oakland Athletics 13
Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers 13
Cincinnati Reds 12
Detroit Tigers 12
Chicago Cubs 11
Boston Red Sox 10
Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins 8th
Pittsburgh Pirates 8th
Boston / Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves 7th
Philadelphia Phillies 7th
St. Louis Browns / Baltimore Orioles 6th
Washington Senators / Texas Rangers 6th
Chicago White Sox 4th
Atlanta Braves 4th
Milwaukee Brewers 4th
California / Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels 4th
Cleveland Indians 3
Kansas City Royals 2
Seattle Mariners 2
Toronto Blue Jays 2
Houston Astros 2
Colorado Rockies 1
San Diego Padres 1
Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals 1
Miami Marlins 1

MLB teams without award winners

team
Arizona Diamondbacks
New York Mets
Tampa Bay Rays

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Jorge L. Ortiz: Angels' Mike Trout wins second AL MVP. usatoday.com, November 17, 2016, accessed November 17, 2017 .
  2. Marcus Blumberg: Altuve and Stanton win MVP awards. spox.com, November 17, 2017, accessed November 17, 2017 .