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.
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.
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.
Year |
American League winner |
Team |
Position |
National League winner |
Team |
Position |
Ref |
---|
1931 |
Grove, LeftyLefty Grove† |
Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Athletics* |
LHP |
Frisch, FrankieFrankie Frisch† |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
2B |
|
1932 |
Foxx, JimmieJimmie Foxx† |
Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Athletics |
1B |
Klein Chuck Chuck Klein† |
Philadelphia Phillies |
OF |
|
1933 |
Foxx Jimmie Jimmie Foxx† (2) |
Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Athletics |
1B |
Hubbell, CarlCarl Hubbell† |
San Francisco Giants New York Giants* |
LHP |
|
1934 |
Cochrane, MickeyMickey Cochrane† (2) |
Detroit Tigers* |
C |
Dean, DizzyDizzy Dean† |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
RHP |
|
1935 |
Greenberg, HankHank Greenberg†§ |
Detroit Tigers* |
1B |
Hartnett, GabbyGabby Hartnett† |
Chicago Cubs* |
C |
|
1936 |
Gehrig, LouLou Gehrig† (2) |
New York Yankees* |
1B |
Hubbell, CarlCarl Hubbell†§ (2) |
San Francisco Giants New York Giants* |
LHP |
|
1937 |
Gehringer, CharlieCharlie Gehringer† |
Detroit Tigers |
2B |
Medwick, JoeJoe Medwick† |
St. Louis Cardinals |
OF |
|
1938 |
Foxx, JimmieJimmie Foxx† (3) |
Boston Red Sox |
1B |
Lombardi, ErnieErnie Lombardi† |
Cincinnati Reds |
C |
|
1939 |
DiMaggio, JoeJoe DiMaggio† |
New York Yankees* |
OF |
Walters, BuckyBucky Walters |
Cincinnati Reds* |
RHP |
|
1940 |
Greenberg, HankHank Greenberg† (2) |
Detroit Tigers* |
OF |
McCormick, FrankFrank McCormick |
Cincinnati Reds* |
1B |
|
1941 |
DiMaggio, JoeJoe DiMaggio† (2) |
New York Yankees* |
OF |
Camilli, DolphDolph Camilli |
Los Angeles Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers* |
1B |
|
1942 |
Gordon, JoeJoe Gordon† |
New York Yankees* |
2B |
Cooper, MortMort Cooper |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
RHP |
|
1943 |
Chandler, SpudSpud Chandler |
New York Yankees* |
RHP |
Musial, StanStan Musial† |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
OF |
|
1944 |
Newhouser, HalHal Newhouser† |
Detroit Tigers |
LHP |
Marion, MartyMarty Marion |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
SS |
|
1945 |
Newhouser, HalHal Newhouser† (2) |
Detroit Tigers* |
LHP |
Cavarretta, PhilPhil Cavarretta |
Chicago Cubs* |
1B |
|
1946 |
Williams, TedTed Williams† |
Boston Red Sox* |
OF |
Musial, StanStan Musial† (2) |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
1B |
|
1947 |
DiMaggio, JoeJoe DiMaggio† (3) |
New York Yankees* |
OF |
Elliott, BobBob Elliott |
Atlanta Braves Boston Braves |
3B |
|
1948 |
Boudreau, LouLou Boudreau† |
Cleveland Indians* |
SS |
Musial, StanStan Musial† (3) |
St. Louis Cardinals |
OF |
|
1949 |
Williams, TedTed Williams† (2) |
Boston Red Sox |
OF |
Robinson, JackieJackie Robinson† |
Los Angeles Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers* |
2B |
|
1950 |
Rizzuto, PhilPhil Rizzuto† |
New York Yankees* |
SS |
Konstanty, JimJim Konstanty |
Philadelphia Phillies* |
RHP |
|
1951 |
Berra, YogiYogi Berra† |
New York Yankees* |
C |
Campanella, RoyRoy Campanella† |
Los Angeles Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers |
C |
|
1952 |
Shantz, BobbyBobby Shantz |
Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Athletics |
LHP |
Sauer, HankHank Sauer |
Chicago Cubs |
OF |
|
1953 |
Rosen, AlAl Rosen§ |
Cleveland Indians |
3B |
Campanella, RoyRoy Campanella† (2) |
Los Angeles Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers* |
C |
|
1954 |
Berra, YogiYogi Berra† (2) |
New York Yankees |
C |
Mays, WillieWillie Mays† |
San Francisco Giants New York Giants* |
OF |
|
1955 |
Berra, YogiYogi Berra† (3) |
New York Yankees* |
C |
Campanella, RoyRoy Campanella† (3) |
Los Angeles Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers* |
C |
|
1956 |
Mantle, MickeyMickey Mantle†§ |
New York Yankees* |
OF |
Newcombe, DonDon Newcombe |
Los Angeles Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers* |
RHP |
|
1957 |
Mantle, MickeyMickey Mantle† (2) |
New York Yankees* |
OF |
Aaron, HankHank Aaron† |
Atlanta Braves Milwaukee Braves* |
OF |
|
1958 |
Jensen, JackieJackie Jensen |
Boston Red Sox |
OF |
Banks, ErnieErnie Banks† |
Chicago Cubs |
SS |
|
1959 |
Fox, NellieNellie Fox† |
Chicago White Sox* |
2B |
Banks, ErnieErnie Banks† (2) |
Chicago Cubs |
SS |
|
1960 |
Maris, RogerRoger Maris |
New York Yankees* |
OF |
Groat, DickDick Groat |
Pittsburgh Pirates* |
SS |
|
1961 |
Maris, RogerRoger Maris (2) |
New York Yankees* |
OF |
Robinson, FrankFrank Robinson† |
Cincinnati Reds* |
OF |
|
1962 |
Mantle, MickeyMickey Mantle† (3) |
New York Yankees* |
OF |
Wills, MauryMaury Wills |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
SS |
|
1963 |
Howard, ElstonElston Howard |
New York Yankees* |
C |
Koufax, SandySandy Koufax† |
Los Angeles Dodgers* |
LHP |
|
1964 |
Robinson, BrooksBrooks Robinson† |
Baltimore Orioles |
3B |
Boyer, KenKen Boyer |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
3B |
|
1965 |
Versalles, ZoiloZoilo Versalles |
Minnesota Twins* |
SS |
Mays, WillieWillie Mays† (2) |
San Francisco Giants |
OF |
|
1966 |
Robinson, FrankFrank Robinson†§ (2) |
Baltimore Orioles* |
OF |
Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clemente† |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
OF |
|
1967 |
Yastrzemski, CarlCarl Yastrzemski† |
Boston Red Sox* |
OF |
Cepeda, OrlandoOrlando Cepeda†§ |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
1B |
|
1968 |
McLain, DennyDenny McLain§ |
Detroit Tigers* |
RHP |
Gibson, BobBob Gibson† |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
RHP |
|
1969 |
Killebrew, HarmonHarmon Killebrew† |
Minnesota Twins |
3B |
McCovey, WillieWillie McCovey† |
San Francisco Giants |
1B |
|
1970 |
Powell, BoogBoog Powell |
Baltimore Orioles* |
1B |
Bench, JohnnyJohnny Bench† |
Cincinnati Reds* |
C |
|
1971 |
Blue, VidaVida Blue |
Oakland Athletics |
LHP |
Torre, JoeJoe Torre† |
St. Louis Cardinals |
3B |
|
1972 |
Allen, DickDick Allen |
Chicago White Sox |
1B |
Bench, JohnnyJohnny Bench† (2) |
Cincinnati Reds* |
C |
|
1973 |
Jackson, ReggieReggie Jackson†§ |
Oakland Athletics* |
OF |
Rose, PetePete Rose |
Cincinnati Reds |
OF |
|
1974 |
Burroughs, JeffJeff Burroughs |
Texas Rangers |
OF |
Garvey, SteveSteve Garvey |
Los Angeles Dodgers* |
1B |
|
1975 |
Lynn, FredFred Lynn |
Boston Red Sox* |
OF |
Morgan, JoeJoe Morgan† |
Cincinnati Reds* |
2B |
|
1976 |
Munson, ThurmanThurman Munson |
New York Yankees* |
C |
Morgan, JoeJoe Morgan† (2) |
Cincinnati Reds* |
2B |
|
1977 |
Carew, RodRod Carew† |
Minnesota Twins |
1B |
Foster, GeorgeGeorge Foster |
Cincinnati Reds |
OF |
|
1978 |
Rice, JimJim Rice† |
Boston Red Sox |
OF |
Parker, DaveDave Parker |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
OF |
|
1979 |
Baylor, DonDon Baylor |
Los Angeles Angels California Angels |
LF/DH |
Hernandez, KeithKeith Hernandez |
St. Louis Cardinals |
1B |
|
Stargell, WillieWillie Stargell† |
Pittsburgh Pirates* |
1B |
1980 |
Brett, GeorgeGeorge Brett† |
Kansas City Royals* |
3B |
Schmidt, MikeMike Schmidt†§ |
Philadelphia Phillies* |
3B |
|
1981 |
Fingers, RollieRollie Fingers† |
Milwaukee Brewers |
RHP |
Schmidt, MikeMike Schmidt† (2) |
Philadelphia Phillies |
3B |
|
1982 |
Yount, RobinRobin Yount† |
Milwaukee Brewers* |
SS |
Murphy, DaleDale Murphy |
Atlanta Braves |
OF |
|
1983 |
Ripken, Jr., CalCal Ripken, Jr.† |
Baltimore Orioles* |
SS |
Murphy, DaleDale Murphy (2) |
Atlanta Braves |
OF |
|
1984 |
Hernandez, WillieWillie Hernández |
Detroit Tigers* |
LHP |
Sandberg, RyneRyne Sandberg† |
Chicago Cubs |
2B |
|
1985 |
Mattingly, DonDon Mattingly |
New York Yankees |
1B |
McGee, WillieWillie McGee |
St. Louis Cardinals* |
OF |
|
1986 |
Clemens, RogerRoger Clemens |
Boston Red Sox* |
RHP |
Schmidt, MikeMike Schmidt† (3) |
Philadelphia Phillies |
3B |
|
1987 |
Bell, GeorgeGeorge Bell |
Toronto Blue Jays |
OF |
Dawson, AndreAndre Dawson† |
Chicago Cubs |
OF |
|
1988 |
Canseco, JoseJose Canseco§ |
Oakland Athletics* |
OF |
Gibson, KirkKirk Gibson |
Los Angeles Dodgers* |
OF |
|
1989 |
Yount, RobinRobin Yount† (2) |
Milwaukee Brewers |
OF |
Mitchell, KevinKevin Mitchell |
San Francisco Giants* |
OF |
|
1990 |
Henderson, RickeyRickey Henderson† |
Oakland Athletics* |
OF |
Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
OF |
|
1991 |
Ripken, Jr., CalCal Ripken, Jr.† (2) |
Baltimore Orioles |
SS |
Pendleton, TerryTerry Pendleton |
Atlanta Braves* |
3B |
|
1992 |
Eckersley, DennisDennis Eckersley† |
Oakland Athletics |
RHP |
Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (2) |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
OF |
|
1993 |
Thomas, FrankFrank Thomas†§ |
Chicago White Sox |
1B |
Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (3) |
San Francisco Giants |
OF |
|
1994 |
Thomas, FrankFrank Thomas† (2) |
Chicago White Sox |
1B |
Bagwell, JeffJeff Bagwell†§ |
Houston Astros |
1B |
|
1995 |
Vaughn, MoMo Vaughn |
Boston Red Sox |
1B |
Larkin, BarryBarry Larkin† |
Cincinnati Reds |
SS |
|
1996 |
Gonzalez, JuanJuan González |
Texas Rangers |
OF |
Caminiti, KenKen Caminiti§ |
San Diego Padres |
3B |
|
1997 |
Griffey, Jr., KenKen Griffey, Jr.†§ |
Seattle Mariners |
OF |
Walker, LarryLarry Walker |
Colorado Rockies |
OF |
|
1998 |
Gonzalez, JuanJuan González (2) |
Texas Rangers |
OF |
Sosa, SammySammy Sosa |
Chicago Cubs |
OF |
|
1999 |
Rodriguez, IvanIván Rodríguez† |
Texas Rangers |
C |
Jones, ChipperChipper Jones† |
Atlanta Braves* |
3B |
|
2000 |
Giambi, JasonJason Giambi |
Oakland Athletics |
1B |
Kent, JeffJeff Kent |
San Francisco Giants |
2B |
|
2001 |
Suzuki, IchiroIchiro Suzuki |
Seattle Mariners |
OF |
Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (4) |
San Francisco Giants |
OF |
|
2002 |
Tejada, MiguelMiguel Tejada |
Oakland Athletics |
SS |
Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds§ (5) |
San Francisco Giants* |
OF |
|
2003 |
Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez |
Texas Rangers |
SS |
Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (6) |
San Francisco Giants |
OF |
|
2004 |
Guerrero, VladimirVladimir Guerrero† |
Los Angeles Angels Anaheim Angels |
OF |
Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (7) |
San Francisco Giants |
OF |
|
2005 |
Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez (2) |
New York Yankees |
3B |
Pujols, AlbertAlbert Pujols^ |
St. Louis Cardinals |
1B |
|
2006 |
Morneau, JustinJustin Morneau |
Minnesota Twins |
1B |
Howard, RyanRyan Howard^ |
Philadelphia Phillies |
1B |
|
2007 |
Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez (3) |
New York Yankees |
3B |
Rollins, JimmyJimmy Rollins |
Philadelphia Phillies |
SS |
|
2008 |
Pedroia, DustinDustin Pedroia^ |
Boston Red Sox |
2B |
Pujols, AlbertAlbert Pujols^ (2) |
St. Louis Cardinals |
1B |
|
2009 |
Mauer, JoeJoe Mauer^ |
Minnesota Twins |
C |
Pujols, AlbertAlbert Pujols^§ (3) |
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^ (2) |
Detroit Tigers |
3B |
McCutchen, AndrewAndrew McCutchen^ |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
OF |
|
2014 |
Trout, MikeMike Trout^§ |
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim |
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 Anaheim |
OF |
Bryant, KrisKris Bryant^ |
Chicago Cubs* |
3B/OF |
|
2017 |
Altuve, JoséJosé Altuve^ |
Houston Astros* |
2B |
Stanton, GiancarloGiancarlo Stanton^ |
Miami Marlins |
OF |
|