Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award

The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is a Major League Baseball (MLB) award given each year to one outstanding player in the American and National Leagues. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The winner receives the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Memorial Baseball Award. The award is named in honor of the first MLB commissioner. Landis served from 1920 to 1944. MVP voting takes place before the postseason. The results are not announced until after the World Series. The BBWAA began asking three writers in each league city in 1938. They made that number two per league city in 1961.

First basemen, with 34 winners, have won the most MVPs among infielders. This is followed by second basemen (16), third basemen (15), and shortstops (15). Of the twenty-four pitchers who have won the award, fifteen are right-handed while nine are left-handed. Walter Johnson, Carl Hubbell, and Hal Newhouser are the only pitchers to win more than once. Newhouser won his in back-to-back seasons, 1944 and 1945. Stan Musial, Alex Rodriguez, and Robin Yount have won at different positions. Rodriguez is the only player to win the award with two different teams at two different positions. Barry Bonds has won the most often (seven times). He has also won it the most times in a row (2001–2004). Jimmie Foxx was the first player to win more than once. Nine players have won three times and 19 have won twice.

The award's only tie occurred in the National League in 1979 when Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell received the same amount of points. There have been 17 unanimous winners, meaning they received all the first-place votes. The New York Yankees have the most winning players with 22. The St. Louis Cardinals have the second most with 17 winners. Five teams have not had a winner. The most recent winners are Aaron Judge in the American League and Paul Goldschmidt in the National League.

Key

†	Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
^	Shows a player who is still active
§	Unanimous selection
P	Pitcher (RHP means right-handed; LHP means left-handed)
C	Catcher
1B	First baseman
2B	Second baseman
3B	Third baseman
SS	Shortstop
OF	Outfielder
DH	Designated hitter

Chalmers Award (1911–1914)

Ty Cobb won the first American League Chalmers Award in 1911 and was at the center of the controversy over the previous season's award.

Before the 1910 season, Hugh Chalmers of Chalmers Automobile announced he would present a Chalmers Model 30 automobile to the player with the highest batting average in Major League Baseball at the end of the season. The 1910 race for best average in the American League was between the Detroit Tigers' widely disliked Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie of the Cleveland Indians. On the last day of the season, Lajoie overtook Cobb's batting average with seven bunt hits against the St. Louis Browns. American League President Ban Johnson said a recalculation showed that Cobb had won the race anyway. Chalmers ended up giving cars to both players.

The following season, Chalmers created the Chalmers Award. A committee of baseball writers were to come together after the season to determine the "most important and useful player to the club and to the league". Since the award was not as useful at advertising as Chalmers had hoped, it was discontinued after 1914.

Year	American League winner	Team	Position	National League winner	Team	Position	Ref
1911	Cobb Ty Ty Cobb†§	Detroit Tigers	OF	Schulte Frank Frank Schulte	Chicago Cubs	OF
1912	Speaker Tris Tris Speaker†	Boston Red Sox	OF	Doyle Larry Larry Doyle	New York Giants New York Giants	2B
1913	Johnson Walter Walter Johnson†	Washington Senators Washington Senators	RHP	Daubert Jake Jake Daubert	Brooklyn Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers	1B
1914	Collins Eddie Eddie Collins†	Philadelphia Athletics Philadelphia Athletics	2B	Evers Johnny Johnny Evers†	Boston Braves Boston Braves	2B

League Awards (1922–1929)

Babe Ruth was ineligible for the award in his famous 1927 season by the rules of the American League award because he had previously won in 1923.

In 1922 the American League created a new award to honor "the baseball player who is of the greatest all-around service to his club". Winners, voted on by a committee of eight baseball writers chaired by James Crusinberry, received a bronze medal and a cash prize. Voters were required to select one player from each team. Player-managers and prior award winners were could not win. These problems resulted in the award's being dropped after 1928. The National League award, without these restrictions, lasted from 1924 to 1929.

Year	American League winner	Team	Position	National League winner	Team	Position	Ref
1922	Sisler George George Sisler†	St. Louis Browns St. Louis Browns	1B	-01 —	-01 —	-01 —
1923	Ruth Babe Babe Ruth†§	New York Yankees	OF	-02 —	-02 —	-02 —
1924	Johnson Walter Walter Johnson†	Washington Senators Washington Senators	RHP	Vance Dazzy Dazzy Vance†	Brooklyn Robins Brooklyn Robins	RHP
1925	Peckinpaugh Roger Roger Peckinpaugh	Washington Senators Washington Senators	SS	Hornsby Rogers Rogers Hornsby†	St. Louis Cardinals	2B
1926	Burns George George Burns	Cleveland Indians	1B	O'Farrell Bob Bob O'Farrell	St. Louis Cardinals	C
1927	Gehrig Lou Lou Gehrig†	New York Yankees	1B	Waner Paul Paul Waner†	Pittsburgh Pirates	OF
1928	Cochrane Mickey Mickey Cochrane†	Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Athletics	C	Bottomley Jim Jim Bottomley†	St. Louis Cardinals	2B
1929	-01 —	-01 —	-01 —	Hornsby Rogers Rogers Hornsby†	Chicago Cubs	2B

Baseball Writers Association of America's Most Valuable Player (1931–present)

The BBWAA first awarded the modern MVP after the 1931 season, took the format the National League used to distribute its league award. One writer in each city with a team filled out a ten-place ballot. Ten points were given for the recipient of a first-place vote, nine for a second-place vote, and so on. In 1938, the BBWAA raised the amount of voters to three per city and gave 14 points for a first-place vote. The only significant change since then happened in 1961, when the number of voters was lowered to two per league city.

Jimmie Foxx was the first player to win three MVP awards.

Willie Mays won the award in 1954 and 1965 with the same team in different cities.

Barry Bonds' seven MVPs are the most for any individual player.

Alex Rodriguez won the award with two different teams at two different positions.

Albert Pujols won the award three times, all at first base with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Year	American League winner	Team	Position	National League winner	Team	Position	Ref
1931	Grove Lefty Lefty Grove†	Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Athletics	LHP	Frisch Frankie Frankie Frisch†	St. Louis Cardinals	2B
1932	Foxx Jimmie Jimmie Foxx†	Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Athletics	1B	Klein Chuck Chuck Klein†	Philadelphia Phillies	OF
1933	Foxx Jimmie Jimmie Foxx†	Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Athletics	1B	Hubbell Carl Carl Hubbell†	New York Giants New York Giants	LHP
1934	Cochrane Mickey Mickey Cochrane†	Detroit Tigers	C	Dean Dizzy Dizzy Dean†	St. Louis Cardinals	RHP
1935	Greenberg Hank Hank Greenberg†§	Detroit Tigers	1B	Hartnett Gabby Gabby Hartnett†	Chicago Cubs	C
1936	Gehrig Lou Lou Gehrig†	New York Yankees	1B	Hubbell Carl Carl Hubbell†§	New York Giants New York Giants	LHP
1937	Gehringer Charlie Charlie Gehringer†	Detroit Tigers	2B	Medwick Joe Joe Medwick†	St. Louis Cardinals	OF
1938	Foxx Jimmie Jimmie Foxx†	Boston Red Sox	1B	Lombardi Ernie Ernie Lombardi†	Cincinnati Reds	C
1939	DiMaggio Joe Joe DiMaggio†	New York Yankees	OF	Walters Bucky Bucky Walters	Cincinnati Reds	RHP
1940	Greenberg Hank Hank Greenberg†	Detroit Tigers	OF	McCormick Frank Frank McCormick	Cincinnati Reds	1B
1941	DiMaggio Joe Joe DiMaggio†	New York Yankees	OF	Camilli Dolph Dolph Camilli	Brooklyn Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers	1B
1942	Gordon Joe Joe Gordon†	New York Yankees	2B	Cooper Mort Mort Cooper	St. Louis Cardinals	RHP
1943	Chandler Spud Spud Chandler	New York Yankees	RHP	Musial Stan Stan Musial†	St. Louis Cardinals	OF
1944	Newhouser Hal Hal Newhouser†	Detroit Tigers	LHP	Marion Marty Marty Marion	St. Louis Cardinals	SS
1945	Newhouser Hal Hal Newhouser†	Detroit Tigers	LHP	Cavarretta Phil Phil Cavarretta	Chicago Cubs	1B
1946	Williams Ted Ted Williams†	Boston Red Sox	OF	Musial Stan Stan Musial†	St. Louis Cardinals	1B
1947	DiMaggio Joe Joe DiMaggio†	New York Yankees	OF	Elliott Bob Bob Elliott	Boston Braves Boston Braves	3B
1948	Boudreau Lou Lou Boudreau†	Cleveland Indians	SS	Musial Stan Stan Musial†	St. Louis Cardinals	OF
1949	Williams Ted Ted Williams†	Boston Red Sox	OF	Robinson Jackie Jackie Robinson†	Brooklyn Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers	2B
1950	Rizzuto Phil Phil Rizzuto†	New York Yankees	SS	Konstanty Jim Jim Konstanty	Philadelphia Phillies	RHP
1951	Berra Yogi Yogi Berra†	New York Yankees	C	Campanella Roy Roy Campanella†	Brooklyn Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers	C
1952	Shantz Bobby Bobby Shantz	Philadelphia Athletics Philadelphia Athletics	LHP	Sauer Hank Hank Sauer	Chicago Cubs	OF
1953	Rosen Al Al Rosen§	Cleveland Indians	3B	Campanella Roy Roy Campanella†	Brooklyn Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers	C
1954	Berra Yogi Yogi Berra†	New York Yankees	C	Mays Willie Willie Mays†	New York Giants New York Giants	OF
1955	Berra Yogi Yogi Berra†	New York Yankees	C	Campanella Roy Roy Campanella†	Brooklyn Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers	C
1956	Mantle Mickey Mickey Mantle†§	New York Yankees	OF	Newcombe Don Don Newcombe	Brooklyn Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers	RHP
1957	Mantle Mickey Mickey Mantle†	New York Yankees	OF	Aaron Hank Hank Aaron†	Milwaukee Braves Milwaukee Braves	C
1958	Jensen Jackie Jackie Jensen	Boston Red Sox	OF	Banks Ernie Ernie Banks†	Chicago Cubs	SS
1959	Fox Nellie Nellie Fox†	Chicago White Sox	2B	Banks Ernie Ernie Banks†	Chicago Cubs	SS
1960	Maris Roger Roger Maris	New York Yankees	OF	Groat Dick Dick Groat	Pittsburgh Pirates	SS
1961	Maris Roger Roger Maris	New York Yankees	OF	Robinson Frank Frank Robinson†§	Cincinnati Reds	OF
1962	Mantle Mickey Mickey Mantle†	New York Yankees	OF	Wills Maury Maury Wills	Los Angeles Dodgers	SS
1963	Howard Elston Elston Howard	New York Yankees	C	Koufax Sandy Sandy Koufax†	Los Angeles Dodgers	LHP
1964	Robinson Brooks Brooks Robinson†	Baltimore Orioles	3B	Boyer Ken Ken Boyer	St. Louis Cardinals	3B
1965	Versalles Zoilo Zoilo Versalles	Minnesota Twins	SS	Mays Willie Willie Mays†	San Francisco Giants	OF
1966	Robinson Frank Frank Robinson†§	Baltimore Orioles	OF	Clemente Roberto Roberto Clemente†	Pittsburgh Pirates	OF
1967	Yastrzemski Carl Carl Yastrzemski†	Boston Red Sox	OF	Cepeda Orlando Orlando Cepeda†§	St. Louis Cardinals	1B
1968	McLain Denny Denny McLain§	Detroit Tigers	RHP	Gibson Bob Bob Gibson†	St. Louis Cardinals	RHP
1969	Killebrew Harmon Harmon Killebrew†	Minnesota Twins	3B	McCovey Willie Willie McCovey†	San Francisco Giants	1B
1970	Powell Boog Boog Powell	Baltimore Orioles	1B	Bench Johnny Johnny Bench†	Cincinnati Reds	C
1971	Blue Vida Vida Blue	Oakland Athletics	LHP	Torre Joe Joe Torre	St. Louis Cardinals	3B
1972	Allen Dick Dick Allen	Chicago White Sox	1B	Bench Johnny Johnny Bench†	Cincinnati Reds	C
1973	Jackson Reggie Reggie Jackson†§	Oakland Athletics	OF	Rose Pete Pete Rose	Cincinnati Reds	OF
1974	Burroughs Jeff Jeff Burroughs	Texas Rangers	OF	Garvey Steve Steve Garvey	Los Angeles Dodgers	1B
1975	Lynn Fred Fred Lynn	Boston Red Sox	OF	Morgan Joe Joe Morgan†	Cincinnati Reds	2B
1976	Munson Thurman Thurman Munson	New York Yankees	C	Morgan Joe Joe Morgan†	Cincinnati Reds	2B
1977	Carew Rod Rod Carew†	Minnesota Twins	1B	Foster George George Foster	Cincinnati Reds	OF
1978	Rice Jim Jim Rice†	Boston Red Sox	OF	Parker Dave Dave Parker	Pittsburgh Pirates	OF
1979	Don Baylor Don Baylor	California Angels California Angels	DH	Hernandez Keith Keith Hernandez	St. Louis Cardinals	1B
1979	-01 —	-01 —	-01 —	Stargell Willie Willie Stargell†	Pittsburgh Pirates	1B
1980	Brett George George Brett†	Kansas City Royals	3B	Schmidt Mike Mike Schmidt†§	Philadelphia Phillies	3B
1981	Fingers Rollie Rollie Fingers†	Milwaukee Brewers	RHP	Schmidt Mike Mike Schmidt†	Philadelphia Phillies	3B
1982	Yount Robin Robin Yount†	Milwaukee Brewers	SS	Murphy Dale Dale Murphy	Atlanta Braves	OF
1983	Ripken Cal Jr. Cal Ripken, Jr.†	Baltimore Orioles	SS	Murphy Dale Dale Murphy	Atlanta Braves	OF
1984	Hernandez Willie Willie Hernández	Detroit Tigers	LHP	Sandberg Ryne Ryne Sandberg†	Chicago Cubs	2B
1985	Mattingly Don Don Mattingly	New York Yankees	1B	McGee Willie Willie McGee	St. Louis Cardinals	OF
1986	Clemens Roger Roger Clemens	Boston Red Sox	RHP	Schmidt Mike Mike Schmidt†	Philadelphia Phillies	3B
1987	Bell George George Bell	Toronto Blue Jays	OF	Dawson Andre Andre Dawson†	Chicago Cubs	OF
1988	Canseco Jose José Canseco	Oakland Athletics	OF	Gibson Kirk Kirk Gibson§	Los Angeles Dodgers	OF
1989	Yount Robin Robin Yount†	Milwaukee Brewers	OF	Mitchell Kevin Kevin Mitchell	San Francisco Giants	OF
1990	Henderson Rickey Rickey Henderson†	Oakland Athletics	OF	Bonds Barry Barry Bonds	Pittsburgh Pirates	OF
1991	Ripken Cal Jr. Cal Ripken, Jr.†	Baltimore Orioles	SS	Pendleton Terry Terry Pendleton	Atlanta Braves	3B
1992	Eckersley Dennis Dennis Eckersley†	Oakland Athletics	RHP	Bonds Barry Barry Bonds	Pittsburgh Pirates	OF
1993	Thomas, FrankFrank Thomas§	Chicago White Sox	1B	Bonds Barry Barry Bonds	San Francisco Giants	OF
1994	Thomas, FrankFrank Thomas	Chicago White Sox	1B	Bagwell Jeff Jeff Bagwell§	Houston Astros	1B
1995	Vaughn Mo Mo Vaughn	Boston Red Sox	1B	Larkin Barry Barry Larkin	Cincinnati Reds	SS
1996	Gonzales Juan Juan González	Texas Rangers	OF	Caminiti Ken Ken Caminiti§	San Diego Padres	3B
1997	Griffey, Jr., KenKen Griffey, Jr.§	Seattle Mariners	OF	Walker Larry Larry Walker	Colorado Rockies	OF
1998	Gonzales Juan Juan González	Texas Rangers	OF	Sosa Sammy Sammy Sosa	Chicago Cubs	OF
1999	Rodríguez, IvánIván Rodríguez	Texas Rangers	C	Jones, ChipperChipper Jones	Atlanta Braves	3B
2000	Giambi Jason Jason Giambi^	Oakland Athletics	1B	Kent Jeff Jeff Kent	San Francisco Giants	2B
2001	Suzuki Ichiro Ichiro Suzuki^	Seattle Mariners	OF	Bonds Barry Barry Bonds	San Francisco Giants	OF
2002	Tejada Miguel Miguel Tejada^	Oakland Athletics	SS	Bonds Barry Barry Bonds	San Francisco Giants	OF
2003	Rodriguez Alex Alex Rodriguez^	Texas Rangers	SS	Bonds Barry Barry Bonds	San Francisco Giants	OF
2004	Guerrero Vladimir Vladimir Guerrero^	Anaheim Angels Anaheim Angels	OF	Bonds Barry Barry Bonds	San Francisco Giants	OF
2005	Rodriguez Alex Alex Rodriguez^	New York Yankees	3B	Pujols Albert Albert Pujols^	St. Louis Cardinals	1B
2006	Morneau Justin Justin Morneau^	Minnesota Twins	1B	Howard Ryan Ryan Howard^	Philadelphia Phillies	1B
2007	Rodriguez Alex Alex Rodriguez^	New York Yankees	3B	Rollins Jimmy Jimmy Rollins^	Philadelphia Phillies	SS
2008	Pedroia Dustin Dustin Pedroia^	Boston Red Sox	2B	Pujols Albert Albert Pujols^	St. Louis Cardinals	1B
2009	Mauer, JoeJoe Mauer^	Minnesota Twins	C	Pujols, AlbertAlbert Pujols^§	St. Louis Cardinals	1B
2010	Hamilton, JoshJosh Hamilton^	Texas Rangers	OF	Votto, JoeyJoey Votto^	Cincinnati Reds	1B
2011	Verlander, JustinJustin Verlander^	Detroit Tigers	RHP	Braun, RyanRyan Braun^	Milwaukee Brewers	OF
2012	Cabrera, MiguelMiguel Cabrera^	Detroit Tigers	3B	Posey, BusterBuster Posey^	San Francisco Giants	C
2013	Cabrera, MiguelMiguel Cabrera^	Detroit Tigers	3B	McCutchen, AndrewAndrew McCutchen^	Pittsburgh Pirates	OF
2014	Trout, MikeMike Trout^§	Los Angeles Angels	OF	Kershaw, ClaytonClayton Kershaw^	Los Angeles Dodgers	LHP
2015	Donaldson, JoshJosh Donaldson^	Toronto Blue Jays	3B	Harper, BryceBryce Harper^§	Washington Nationals	OF
2016	Trout, MikeMike Trout^ (2)	Los Angeles Angels	OF	Bryant, KrisKris Bryant^	Chicago Cubs	3B/OF
2017	Altuve, JoséJosé Altuve^	Houston Astros	2B	Stanton, GiancarloGiancarlo Stanton^	Miami Marlins	OF
2018	Betts, MookieMookie Betts^	Boston Red Sox	OF	Yelich, ChristianChristian Yelich^	Milwaukee Brewers	OF
2019	Trout, MikeMike Trout^ (3)	Los Angeles Angels	OF	Bellinger, CodyCody Bellinger^	Los Angeles Dodgers	OF
2020	Abreu, JoséJosé Abreu^	Chicago White Sox	1B	Freeman, FreddieFreddie Freeman^	Atlanta Braves	1B
2021	Ohtani, ShoheiShohei Ohtani^§	Los Angeles Angels	RHP/DH	Harper, BryceBryce Harper^ (2)	Philadelphia Phillies	OF
2022	Judge, AaronAaron Judge^§	New York Yankees	OF	Goldschmidt, PaulPaul Goldschmidt^	St. Louis Cardinals	1B

Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award Media

• 

  Hall of Famer and 2-time MVP Hank Greenberg was the first player to win the award at two different fielding positions (1B and OF)

• 

  Jim Konstanty, to date the only National League relief pitcher to be named MVP won it in 1950.

• 

  Miguel Cabrera was the winner of back-to-back AL Awards from 2012–13.

Notes

• ^a  A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.
• ^b  A unanimous victory indicates that the player received all possible first-place votes.
• ^c  Hernandez and Stargell both received 216 points in the 1979 voting.