Chalmers Award : Most Valuable Player Award on Baseball Almanac

Chalmers Award : Most Valuable Player Award

There have been three different "most valuable player" awards in baseball since 1911. The Chalmers Award was the first of those three and it was presented by between 1911 and 1914 by Chalmers Automotive — a Detroit based automobile company.

By 1915 the Chalmers Award was no longer considered popular. Rumors about possible cheating and the inability for any player to win more than once were factors which led to its demise.

"I am glad that something besides medals and trophies is offered for the championship in batting. I think the offer of a Chalmers '30' is simply great and I hope to be lucky enough to own a new Chalmers next fall." - Ty Cobb

Most Valuable Player Award Chalmers Award
Year	American League	Team	Year	National League	Team
1911	Ty Cobb	Detroit	1911	Frank Schulte	Chicago
1912	Tris Speaker	Boston	1912	Larry Doyle	New York
1913	Walter Johnson	Washington	1913	Jake Daubert	Brooklyn
1914	Eddie Collins	Philadelphia	1914	Johnny Evers	Boston
Year	American League	Team	Year	National League	Team
Most Valuable Player Award : Chalmers Award

Throughout 1910, there was a controversy surrounding the scoring of games involving Ty Cobb and Nap Lajoie who were both chasing the Chalmers Award. At the end of the season, both players were given cars and Cobb was given the award.

The Chalmers Award was not brought back in 1915 mainly because the company would not allow the same player to win twice and the public simply lost interest.

Did you know that the winner of Chalmers Award was given a brand new Chalmers "30" roadster, and when Ty Cobb won in 1910 he already owned one of the automobiles?

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