What is an MVP in Baseball?
In baseball, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) is an award given to the player who is deemed to have had the most impact on their team’s success throughout the course of a season. The award is given to one player in both the American League (AL) and National League (NL) every year. It is one of the most prestigious awards in Major League Baseball (MLB).
What Criteria is Used to Determine an MVP?
Each season, the MLB awards the MVP to the player who contributes the most to their team’s success. This could be a combination of offensive and defensive performance, as well as how well the player works with their teammates. Other factors that may be considered include the player’s leadership qualities, and whether they have any awards or accolades such as All-Star appearances.
How Many MVPs Have Been Awarded?
Since the award was first introduced in 1911, there have been a total of 189 MVPs awarded in MLB history. This includes both male and female players who have won the award in either the AL or NL. There have been a total of 95 AL MVPs and 94 NL MVPs.
Notable MVPs in MLB History
Throughout the years, there have been some truly remarkable MVPs in MLB history. Some of the most notable include:
- Babe Ruth (1923) – One of the most famous baseball players of all time, Ruth won the MVP award in 1923 after leading the AL in home runs and RBIs.
- Barry Bonds (2001-2004) – Bonds won the MVP award four times in a row, making him the only player to achieve this feat.
- Mike Trout (2014-2016) – Trout has won the MVP award three times, and is widely considered to be one of the best all-around players in the game today.
Who Has Won the Most MVPs?
The player who has won the most MVP awards in MLB history is Barry Bonds, who won the award four times in a row between 2001 and 2004. Other players who have won the award multiple times include Stan Musial (3), Yogi Berra (3), Mike Trout (3), and Ted Williams (2).
Youngest MVP in MLB History
The youngest MVP in MLB history is Frank Robinson, who won the award in 1961 at the age of 21. Other notable young MVPs include Fred Lynn (23 in 1975), Willie Mays (24 in 1954), and Mike Trout (23 in 2014).
Most Recent MVPs
The most recent MVPs in MLB history are Cody Bellinger (NL in 2019) and Mike Trout (AL in 2019). Bellinger and Trout are two of the most prominent players in today’s game, and both were deserved winners of the award.
MVPs by Position
Although the MVP award is typically given to the player who has had the most overall impact on their team’s success, there have been some MVPs who have been awarded for their performance at certain positions. The most common positions for MVPs are:
Pitchers
- Bob Gibson (1968) – Gibson won the MVP award in 1968 after leading the NL in ERA, strikeouts, and shutouts.
- Roger Clemens (1986) – Clemens won the MVP award in 1986 after leading the AL in wins, strikeouts, and ERA.
- Max Scherzer (2013) – Scherzer won the MVP award in 2013 after leading the AL in strikeouts and ERA.
Hitters
- Joe Morgan (1975-1976) – Morgan won the MVP award in 1975 and 1976 after leading the NL in runs and stolen bases.
- Carl Yastrzemski (1967) – Yastrzemski won the MVP award in 1967 after leading the AL in home runs and RBIs.
- Miguel Cabrera (2012-2013) – Cabrera won the MVP award in 2012 and 2013 after leading the AL in batting average and RBIs.
Longest MVP Streak
The longest MVP streak in MLB history belongs to Barry Bonds, who won the award four times in a row between 2001 and 2004. Other players who have won the award multiple times in a row include Stan Musial (3), Yogi Berra (3), and Mike Trout (3).
Conclusion
In summation, there have been a total of 189 MVPs awarded in MLB history, with 95 in the AL and 94 in the NL. Some of the most notable and successful players to win the award include Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Mike Trout, and Carl Yastrzemski. Barry Bonds holds the record for most MVP awards won with four, and Frank Robinson holds the record for youngest MVP at 21 years old.