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 one of the better-implemented awards in baseball.

Table of contents

1 Chalmers Award (1911-1914)
2 League Awards (1922-1929)
3 BBWAA Awards (1931-present)

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 Napoleon 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

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 one 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

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 each league. 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 Elliot, 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	Ivan Rodriguez, 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

†Denotes unanimous decision.