Most Valuable Player Award on Baseball Almanac

Most Valuable Player Award

There have been three different "official" most valuable player awards in Major League Baseball since 1911; the Chalmer's Award (1911-1914), the League Award (1922-1929), and this is the third, and currently awarded, version simply referred to as the Most Valuable Player Award.

This one was first awarded in 1931 and its full title is the Baseball Writers Most Valuable Player Award, or the M.V.P. by the rest of us, and it is presented annually by the Baseball Writers Association of America. It is considered by Major League Baseball as the only "official" most valuable player award and symbolizes the pinnacle of a player's personal achievement during any single season of play. Note: A bold faced entry denotes that the player / pitcher won the award unanimously (receiving all the possible first place votes).

"Those MVP's are really eating you up, aren't they?" - Robin Yount in a Miller Lite Commercial, "Yea, they are." - 1980 MVP Recipient & Hall of Famer George Brett

American League Most Valuable Player Award Winners BBWAA American League Most Valuable Player Award
Year	Name(s)	Team(s)	Position	Bats
1931	Lefty Grove⁽¹⁾	Philadelphia	P	L
1932	Jimmie Foxx⁽¹⁾	Philadelphia	1B	R
1933	Jimmie Foxx⁽²⁾	Philadelphia	1B	R
1934	Mickey Cochrane⁽¹⁾	Detroit	C	L
1935	Hank Greenberg⁽¹⁾	Detroit	1B	R
1936	Lou Gehrig⁽¹⁾	New York	1B	L
1937	Charlie Gehringer⁽¹⁾	Detroit	2B	L
1938	Jimmie Foxx⁽³⁾	Boston	1B	R
1939	Joe DiMaggio⁽¹⁾	New York	OF	R
1940	Hank Greenberg⁽²⁾	Detroit	OF	R
1941	Joe DiMaggio⁽²⁾	New York	OF	R
1942	Joe Gordon⁽¹⁾	New York	2B	R
1943	Spud Chandler⁽¹⁾	New York	P	R
1944	Hal Newhouser⁽¹⁾	Detroit	P	L
1945	Hal Newhouser⁽²⁾	Detroit	P	L
1946	Ted Williams⁽¹⁾	Boston	OF	L
1947	Joe DiMaggio⁽³⁾	New York	OF	R
1948	Lou Boudreau⁽¹⁾	Cleveland	SS	R
1949	Ted Williams⁽²⁾	Boston	OF	L
1950	Phil Rizzuto⁽¹⁾	New York	SS	R
1951	Yogi Berra⁽¹⁾	New York	C	L
1952	Bobby Shantz⁽¹⁾	Philadelphia	P	R
1953	Al Rosen⁽¹⁾	Cleveland	3B	R
1954	Yogi Berra⁽²⁾	New York	C	L
1955	Yogi Berra⁽³⁾	New York	C	L
1956	Mickey Mantle⁽¹⁾	New York	OF	B
1957	Mickey Mantle⁽²⁾	New York	OF	B
1958	Jackie Jensen⁽¹⁾	Boston	OF	R
1959	Nellie Fox⁽¹⁾	Chicago	2B	L
1960	Roger Maris⁽¹⁾	New York	OF	L
1961	Roger Maris⁽²⁾	New York	OF	L
1962	Mickey Mantle⁽³⁾	New York	OF	B
1963	Elston Howard⁽¹⁾	New York	C	R
1964	Brooks Robinson⁽¹⁾	Baltimore	3B	R
1965	Zoilo Versalles⁽¹⁾	Minnesota	SS	R
1966	Frank Robinson⁽²⁾	Baltimore	OF	R
1967	Carl Yastrzemski⁽¹⁾	Boston	OF	L
1968	Denny McLain⁽¹⁾	Detroit	P	R
1969	Harmon Killebrew⁽¹⁾	Minnesota	3B	R
1970	Boog Powell⁽¹⁾	Baltimore	1B	L
1971	Vida Blue⁽¹⁾	Oakland	P	B
1972	Dick Allen⁽¹⁾	Chicago	1B	R
1973	Reggie Jackson⁽¹⁾	Oakland	OF	L
1974	Jeff Burroughs⁽¹⁾	Texas	OF	R
1975	Fred Lynn⁽¹⁾	Boston	OF	L
1976	Thurman Munson⁽¹⁾	New York	C	R
1977	Rod Carew⁽¹⁾	Minnesota	1B	L
1978	Jim Rice⁽¹⁾	Boston	OF	R
1979	Don Baylor⁽¹⁾	California	DH	R
1980	George Brett⁽¹⁾	Kansas City	3B	L
1981	Rollie Fingers⁽¹⁾	Milwaukee	P	R
1982	Robin Yount⁽¹⁾	Milwaukee	SS	R
1983	Cal Ripken, Jr.⁽¹⁾	Baltimore	SS	R
1984	Willie Hernandez⁽¹⁾	Detroit	P	L
1985	Don Mattingly⁽¹⁾	New York	1B	L
1986	Roger Clemens⁽¹⁾	Boston	P	R
1987	George Bell⁽¹⁾	Toronto	OF	R
1988	Jose Canseco⁽¹⁾	Oakland	OF	R
1989	Robin Yount⁽²⁾	Milwaukee	OF	R
1990	Rickey Henderson⁽¹⁾	Oakland	OF	R
1991	Cal Ripken, Jr.⁽²⁾	Baltimore	SS	R
1992	Dennis Eckersley⁽¹⁾	Oakland	P	R
1993	Frank Thomas⁽¹⁾	Chicago	1B	R
1994	Frank Thomas⁽²⁾	Chicago	1B	R
1995	Mo Vaughn⁽¹⁾	Boston	1B	L
1996	Juan Gonzalez⁽¹⁾	Texas	OF	R
1997	Ken Griffey, Jr.⁽¹⁾	Seattle	OF	L
1998	Juan Gonzalez⁽²⁾	Texas	OF	R
1999	Ivan Rodriguez⁽¹⁾	Texas	C	R
2000	Jason Giambi⁽¹⁾	Oakland	1B	L
2001	Ichiro Suzuki⁽¹⁾	Seattle	OF	L
2002	Miguel Tejada⁽¹⁾	Oakland	SS	R
2003	Alex Rodriguez⁽¹⁾	Texas	SS	R
2004	Vladimir Guerrero⁽¹⁾	Anaheim	OF	R
2005	Alex Rodriguez⁽²⁾	New York	3B	R
2006	Justin Morneau⁽¹⁾	Minnesota	1B	L
2007	Alex Rodriguez⁽³⁾	New York	3B	R
2008	Dustin Pedroia⁽¹⁾	Boston	2B	R
2009	Joe Mauer⁽¹⁾	Minnesota	C	L
2010	Josh Hamilton⁽¹⁾	Texas	OF	L
2011	Justin Verlander⁽¹⁾	Detroit	P	R
2012	Miguel Cabrera⁽¹⁾	Detroit	3B	R
2013	Not Yet Announced^(11-2013)	--	--	--
Year	Name(s)	Team(s)	Position	Bats
A.L. Most Valuable Player Award \| Bold=Unanimous

National League Most Valuable Player Award Winners BBWAA National League Most Valuable Player Award
Year	Name(s)	Team(s)	Position	Bats
1931	Frankie Frisch⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	2B	B
1932	Chuck Klein⁽¹⁾	Philadelphia	OF	L
1933	Carl Hubbell⁽¹⁾	New York	P	R
1934	Dizzy Dean⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	P	R
1935	Gabby Hartnett⁽¹⁾	Chicago	C	R
1936	Carl Hubbell⁽²⁾	New York	P	R
1937	Joe Medwick⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	OF	R
1938	Ernie Lombardi⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	C	R
1939	Bucky Walters⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	P	R
1940	Frank McCormick⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	1B	R
1941	Dolph Camilli⁽¹⁾	Brooklyn	1B	L
1942	Mort Cooper⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	P	R
1943	Stan Musial⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	OF	L
1944	Marty Marion⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	SS	R
1945	Phil Cavarretta⁽¹⁾	Chicago	1B	L
1946	Stan Musial⁽²⁾	St. Louis	1B	L
1947	Bob Elliott⁽¹⁾	Boston	3B	R
1948	Stan Musial⁽³⁾	St. Louis	OF	L
1949	Jackie Robinson⁽¹⁾	Brooklyn	2B	R
1950	Jim Konstanty⁽¹⁾	Philadelphia	P	R
1951	Roy Campanella⁽¹⁾	Brooklyn	C	R
1952	Hank Sauer⁽¹⁾	Chicago	OF	R
1953	Roy Campanella⁽²⁾	Brooklyn	C	R
1954	Willie Mays⁽¹⁾	New York	OF	R
1955	Roy Campanella⁽³⁾	Brooklyn	C	R
1956	Don Newcombe⁽¹⁾	Brooklyn	P	L
1957	Hank Aaron⁽¹⁾	Milwaukee	OF	R
1958	Ernie Banks⁽¹⁾	Chicago	SS	R
1959	Ernie Banks⁽²⁾	Chicago	SS	R
1960	Dick Groat⁽¹⁾	Pittsburgh	SS	R
1961	Frank Robinson⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	OF	R
1962	Maury Wills⁽¹⁾	Los Angeles	SS	B
1963	Sandy Koufax⁽¹⁾	Los Angeles	P	R
1964	Ken Boyer⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	3B	R
1965	Willie Mays⁽²⁾	San Francisco	OF	R
1966	Roberto Clemente⁽¹⁾	Pittsburgh	OF	R
1967	Orlando Cepeda⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	1B	R
1968	Bob Gibson⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	P	R
1969	Willie McCovey⁽¹⁾	San Francisco	1B	L
1970	Johnny Bench⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	C	R
1971	Joe Torre⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	3B	R
1972	Johnny Bench⁽²⁾	Cincinnati	C	R
1973	Pete Rose⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	OF	B
1974	Steve Garvey⁽¹⁾	Los Angeles	1B	R
1975	Joe Morgan⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	2B	L
1976	Joe Morgan⁽²⁾	Cincinnati	2B	L
1977	George Foster⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	OF	R
1978	Dave Parker⁽¹⁾	Pittsburgh	OF	L
1979	Keith Hernandez⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	1B	L
1979	Willie Stargell⁽¹⁾	Pittsburgh	1B	L
1980	Mike Schmidt⁽¹⁾	Philadelphia	3B	R
1981	Mike Schmidt⁽²⁾	Philadelphia	3B	R
1982	Dale Murphy⁽¹⁾	Atlanta	OF	R
1983	Dale Murphy⁽²⁾	Atlanta	OF	R
1984	Ryne Sandberg⁽¹⁾	Chicago	2B	R
1985	Willie McGee⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	OF	B
1986	Mike Schmidt⁽³⁾	Philadelphia	3B	R
1987	Andre Dawson⁽¹⁾	Chicago	OF	R
1988	Kirk Gibson⁽¹⁾	Los Angeles	OF	L
1989	Kevin Mitchell⁽¹⁾	San Francisco	OF	R
1990	Barry Bonds⁽¹⁾	Pittsburgh	OF	L
1991	Terry Pendleton⁽¹⁾	Atlanta	3B	B
1992	Barry Bonds⁽²⁾	Pittsburgh	OF	L
1993	Barry Bonds⁽³⁾	San Francisco	OF	L
1994	Jeff Bagwell⁽¹⁾	Houston	1B	R
1995	Barry Larkin⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	SS	R
1996	Ken Caminiti⁽¹⁾	San Diego	3B	B
1997	Larry Walker⁽¹⁾	Colorado	OF	L
1998	Sammy Sosa⁽¹⁾	Chicago	OF	R
1999	Chipper Jones⁽¹⁾	Atlanta	3B	B
2000	Jeff Kent⁽¹⁾	San Francisco	2B	R
2001	Barry Bonds⁽⁴⁾	San Francisco	OF	L
2002	Barry Bonds⁽⁵⁾	San Francisco	OF	L
2003	Barry Bonds⁽⁶⁾	San Francisco	OF	L
2004	Barry Bonds⁽⁷⁾	San Francisco	OF	L
2005	Albert Pujols⁽¹⁾	St. Louis	1B	R
2006	Ryan Howard⁽¹⁾	Philadelphia	1B	L
2007	Jimmy Rollins⁽¹⁾	Philadelphia	SS	B
2008	Albert Pujols⁽²⁾	St. Louis	1B	R
2009	Albert Pujols⁽³⁾	St. Louis	1B	R
2010	Joey Votto⁽¹⁾	Cincinnati	1B	L
2011	Ryan Braun⁽¹⁾	Milwaukee	OF	R
2012	Buster Posey⁽¹⁾	San Francisco	C	R
2013	Not Yet Announced^(11-2013)	--	--	--
Year	Name(s)	Team(s)	Position	Bats
N.L. Most Valuable Player Award \| Bold=Unanimous

Did you know that Don Newcombe was the first player to win a Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player Award AND he did it during the same season (1956)?

Frank Robinson was the first, and still the only, player to win a Most Valuable Player Award from both the American and National League.

During the 1975 season Fred Lynn became the first rookie to win a Most Valuable Player Award — a feat that remained unmatched until Ichiro Suzuki won in 2001.

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