|
|
|
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
In the game of baseball, both amateur and professional, it is tradition to annually recognize the one player in the league who has contributed the most to the success of the player's team.
In the United States, the awarding of the Most Valuable Player Award (or MVP) in Major League Baseball has changed hands several times but since the 1930s has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America. A tally example of the 1999 American League Most Valuable Player Award can be found here that uses the Borda count voting method.
Chalmers Award (1911-1914)
The Chalmers Automobile Company awarded an automobile in 1910 to the batting average leader in each league. This led to a contoversy in the American League; Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie entered the final day of the season neck-and-neck. St. Louis, playing Lajoie's Cleveland team, played their infield back, allowing Lajoie to beat out seven bunt singles in a doubleheader and win the title. In the ensuing debacle, Chalmers awarded automobiles to both players. (The question of who really won the batting title is still debated.)
For 1911, the Chalmers Company decided that batting average was too narrow a focus for an award. The Chalmers Award was the first attempt to recognize a player for overall contributions to his team's success — hence the designation Most Valuable rather than "player of the year", a distinction which remains today.
Year |
American League |
National League |
1911
|
Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers, OF
|
Wildfire Schulte, Chicago Cubs, OF
|
1912
|
Tris Speaker, Boston Red Sox, OF
|
Larry Doyle, New York Giants, 2B
|
1913
|
Walter Johnson, Washington Senators, P
|
Jake Daubert, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1B
|
1914
|
Eddie Collins, Philadelphia Athletics, 2B
|
Johnny Evers, Boston Braves, 2B
|
League Awards (1922-1929)
In the 1920s the leagues awarded MVP titles, but limited the ballot options to one player per team, which led to there being no National League MVP in 1922 or 1923. A League Award could also be won by a player only once, leading to unusual results like Babe Ruth's 1927 (one of the greatest offensive seasons of all time) not being eligible for the award. The rule was changed in time for Rogers Hornsby to become the first man to win two MVP awards, in 1929.
Year |
American League |
National League |
1922
|
George Sisler, St Louis Browns, 1B
|
No winner |
1923
|
Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, OF
|
No winner |
1924
|
Walter Johnson, Washington Senators, P
|
Dazzy Vance, Brooklyn Dodgers, P
|
1925
|
Roger Peckinpaugh, Washington Senators, SS
|
Rogers Hornsby, St. Louis Cardinals, 2B
|
1926
|
George Burns , Cleveland Indians, 1B
|
Bob O'Farrell , St. Louis Cardinals, C
|
1927
|
Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees, 1B
|
Paul Waner, Pittsburgh Pirates, OF
|
1928
|
Mickey Cochrane, Philadelphia Athletics, C
|
Jim Bottomley, St. Louis Cardinals, 1B
|
1929
|
No winner |
Rogers Hornsby, Chicago Cubs, 2B
|
BBWAA Awards (1931-present)
In 1931, the Baseball Writers Association of America began awarding the Most Valuable Player trophy.
In 1956 the Cy Young Award was first given to the best pitcher in Major League Baseball (the current practice of honoring the best pitcher in each league did not begin until 1967). After that, the belief arose that the Most Valuable Player ought to be a position player, since pitchers had their own award. On occasion, though, pitchers still win the award, and the current rules for the MVP specifically state that pitchers are to be considered.
Year |
American League |
National League |
1931
|
Lefty Grove, Philadelphia Athletics, P
|
Frankie Frisch, St. Louis Cardinals, 2B
|
1932
|
Jimmie Foxx, Philadelphia Athletics, 1B
|
Chuck Klein, Philadelphia Phillies, OF
|
1933
|
Jimmie Foxx, Philadelphia Athletics, 1B
|
Carl Hubbell, New York Giants, P
|
1934
|
Mickey Cochrane, Detroit Tigers, C
|
Dizzy Dean, St Louis Cardinals, P
|
1935
|
Hank Greenberg†, Detroit Tigers, 1B
|
Gabby Hartnett, Chicago Cubs, C
|
1936
|
Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees, 1B
|
Carl Hubbell, New York Giants, P
|
1937
|
Charlie Gehringer, Detroit Tigers, 2B
|
Joe Medwick, St Louis Cardinals, OF
|
1938
|
Jimmie Foxx, Boston Red Sox, 1B
|
Ernie Lombardi, Cincinnati Reds, C
|
1939
|
Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees, OF
|
Bucky Walters, Cincinnati Reds, P
|
1940
|
Hank Greenberg, Detroit Tigers, OF
|
Frank McCormick , Cincinnati Reds, 1B
|
1941
|
Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees, OF
|
Dolph Camilli , Brooklyn Dodgers, 1B
|
1942
|
Joe Gordon, New York Yankees, 2B
|
Mort Cooper , St Louis Cardinals, P
|
1943
|
Spud Chandler, New York Yankees, P
|
Stan Musial, St Louis Cardinals, OF
|
1944
|
Hal Newhouser, Detroit Tigers, P
|
Marty Marion, St Louis Cardinals, SS
|
1945
|
Hal Newhouser, Detroit Tigers, P
|
Phil Cavarretta , Chicago Cubs, 1B
|
1946
|
Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox, OF
|
Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals, 1B
|
1947
|
Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees, OF
|
Bob Elliott , Boston Braves, 3B
|
1948
|
Lou Boudreau, Cleveland Indians, SS
|
Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals, OF
|
1949
|
Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox, OF
|
Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers, 2B
|
1950
|
Phil Rizzuto, New York Yankees, SS
|
Jim Konstanty , Philadelphia Phillies, P
|
1951
|
Yogi Berra, New York Yankees, C
|
Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers, C
|
1952
|
Bobby Shantz, Philadelphia Athletics, P
|
Hank Sauer , Chicago Cubs, OF
|
1953
|
Al Rosen†, Cleveland Indians, 3B
|
Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers, C
|
1954
|
Yogi Berra, New York Yankees, C
|
Willie Mays, New York Giants, OF
|
1955
|
Yogi Berra, New York Yankees, C
|
Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers, C
|
1956
|
Mickey Mantle†, New York Yankees, OF
|
Don Newcombe, Brooklyn Dodgers, P
|
1957
|
Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees, OF
|
Hank Aaron, Milwaukee Braves, OF
|
1958
|
Jackie Jensen, Boston Red Sox, OF
|
Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs, SS
|
1959
|
Nellie Fox, Chicago White Sox, 2B
|
Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs, SS
|
1960
|
Roger Maris, New York Yankees, OF
|
Dick Groat, Pittsburgh Pirates, SS
|
1961
|
Roger Maris, New York Yankees, OF
|
Frank Robinson, Cincinnati Reds, OF
|
1962
|
Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees, OF
|
Maury Wills, Los Angeles Dodgers, SS
|
1963
|
Elston Howard, New York Yankees, C
|
Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers, P
|
1964
|
Brooks Robinson, Baltimore Orioles, 3B
|
Ken Boyer, St Louis Cardinals, 3B
|
1965
|
Zoilo Versalles , Minnesota Twins, SS
|
Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants, OF
|
1966
|
Frank Robinson†, Baltimore Orioles, OF
|
Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates, OF
|
1967
|
Carl Yastrzemski, Boston Red Sox, OF
|
Orlando Cepeda†, St Louis Cardinals, 1B
|
1968
|
Denny McLain†, Detroit Tigers, P
|
Bob Gibson, St Louis Cardinals, P
|
1969
|
Harmon Killebrew, Minnesota Twins, 3B
|
Willie McCovey, San Francisco Giants, 1B
|
1970
|
Boog Powell , Baltimore Orioles, 1B
|
Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds, C
|
1971
|
Vida Blue, Oakland Athletics, P
|
Joe Torre, St Louis Cardinals, 3B
|
1972
|
Dick Allen, Chicago White Sox, 1B
|
Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds, C
|
1973
|
Reggie Jackson†, Oakland Athletics, OF
|
Pete Rose, Cincinnati Reds, OF
|
1974
|
Jeff Burroughs , Texas Rangers, OF
|
Steve Garvey, Los Angeles Dodgers, 1B
|
1975
|
Fred Lynn, Boston Red Sox, OF
|
Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds, 2B
|
1976
|
Thurman Munson, New York Yankees, C
|
Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds, 2B
|
1977
|
Rod Carew, Minnesota Twins, 1B
|
George Foster, Cincinnati Reds, OF
|
1978
|
Jim Rice, Boston Red Sox, OF
|
Dave Parker, Pittsburgh Pirates, OF
|
1979
|
Don Baylor, California Angels, DH
|
Keith Hernandez, St. Louis Cardinals, 1B
Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates, 1B
|
1980
|
George Brett, Kansas City Royals, 3B
|
Mike Schmidt†, Philadelphia Phillies, 3B
|
1981
|
Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers, P
|
Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies, 3B
|
1982
|
Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers, SS
|
Dale Murphy, Atlanta Braves, OF
|
1983
|
Cal Ripken, Jr., Baltimore Orioles, SS
|
Dale Murphy, Atlanta Braves, OF
|
1984
|
Willie Hernandez , Detroit Tigers, P
|
Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs, 2B
|
1985
|
Don Mattingly, New York Yankees, 1B
|
Willie McGee, St. Louis Cardinals, OF
|
1986
|
Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox, P
|
Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies, 3B
|
1987
|
George Bell, Toronto Blue Jays, OF
|
Andre Dawson, Chicago Cubs, OF
|
1988
|
Jose Canseco†, Oakland Athletics, OF
|
Kirk Gibson, Los Angeles Dodgers, OF
|
1989
|
Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers, OF
|
Kevin Mitchell, San Francisco Giants, OF
|
1990
|
Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics, OF
|
Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh Pirates, OF
|
1991
|
Cal Ripken, Jr., Baltimore Orioles, SS
|
Terry Pendleton, Atlanta Braves, 3B
|
1992
|
Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics, P
|
Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh Pirates, OF
|
1993
|
Frank Thomas†, Chicago White Sox, 1B
|
Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants, OF
|
1994
|
Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox, 1B
|
Jeff Bagwell†, Houston Astros, 1B
|
1995
|
Mo Vaughn, Boston Red Sox, 1B
|
Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Reds, SS
|
1996
|
Juan Gonzalez, Texas Rangers, OF
|
Ken Caminiti†, San Diego Padres, 3B
|
1997
|
Ken Griffey, Jr.†, Seattle Mariners, OF
|
Larry Walker, Colorado Rockies, OF
|
1998
|
Juan Gonzalez, Texas Rangers, OF
|
Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs, OF
|
1999
|
Iván Rodríguez, Texas Rangers, C
|
Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves, 3B
|
2000
|
Jason Giambi, Oakland Athletics, 1B
|
Jeff Kent, San Francisco Giants, 2B
|
2001
|
Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners, OF
|
Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants, OF
|
2002
|
Miguel Tejada, Oakland Athletics, SS
|
Barry Bonds†, San Francisco Giants, OF
|
2003
|
Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers, SS
|
Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants, OF
|
2004
|
Vladimir Guerrero, Anaheim Angels, OF
|
Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants, OF
|
†Denotes unanimous decision.
Last updated: 08-27-2005 04:30:17
|
|
|
|
|
|