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World Series Most Valuable Player Award facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids
Willie Mays World Series MVP Award
Johnny Podres - Los Angeles Dodgers - 1961.jpg
Johnny Podres was the inaugural winner in 1955 for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Sport Baseball
League Major League Baseball
Given for Annual most valuable player of the World Series
Country United States
Canada
Presented by Major League Baseball
History
First award 1955
Most recent Corey Seager (Texas Rangers)

The Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is given to the Major League Baseball (MLB) player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series, which is the final round of the MLB postseason. The award was first presented in 1955 as the SPORT Magazine Award, but is now decided during the final game of the Series by a committee of reporters and officials present at the game.

On September 29, 2017, it was renamed in honor of Willie Mays in remembrance of the 63rd anniversary of The Catch, which occurred the year before the award's debut; Mays never won the award himself.

Pitchers have been named Series MVP twenty-nine (29) times; four of them were relief pitchers. Twelve of the first fourteen World Series MVPs were won by pitchers; from 1969 until 1986, the proportion of pitcher MVPs declined—Rollie Fingers (1974) and Bret Saberhagen (1985) were the only two pitchers to win the award in this period. From 1987 until 1991, all of the World Series MVPs were pitchers, and, since 1995, pitchers have won the award nine times. The most recent pitcher to win the award is Stephen Strasburg, who won in 2019.

Trophy

Up until 2017, the World Series MVP trophy was similar to the Commissioner's Trophy, albeit scaled down and with a single large gold-plated flag. After being renamed to Willie Mays World Series MVP Award for the 2018 edition and onward, the trophy is a wooden pedestal topped by a bronze sculpture of Willie Mays making the iconic catch in the 1954 World Series.

General Motors has provided a vehicle to the World Series MVP winner for 14 straight seasons through 2018. Since 2019, Disney Parks, Products and Experiences has sponsored the award.

Winners

Key
Year Links to the article about that corresponding World Series
dagger Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
double-dagger Active player
# Indicates rookie
* Indicates player also won the LCS MVP Award in the same postseason
§ Indicates losing team in the World Series
^ Indicates multiple award winners in the same World Series
(#) Indicates number of times winning World Series MVP at that point (if he won multiple times)
Year Player Team Position Selected statistics Ref.
1955 United States Podres, JohnnyJohnny Podres Brooklyn Dodgers Starting pitcher
  • 2–0 record over 2 games started; both were complete games- 1 shutout
  • 2 earned runs allowed over 18 innings pitched
  • 10 strikeouts
1956 United States Larsen, DonDon Larsen New York Yankees Starting pitcher
1957 United States Burdette, LewLew Burdette Milwaukee Braves Starting pitcher
  • 3–0 record over 3 games started; all were complete games- 2 shutouts
  • 2 earned runs allowed over 27 innings pitched
  • 13 strikeouts
1958 United States Turley, BobBob Turley New York Yankees Pitcher
  • 2–1 record and 1 save over 4 appearances (2 starts); 1 shutout
  • 5 earned runs allowed over 16+13 innings pitched
  • 13 strikeouts
1959 United States Sherry, LarryLarry Sherry# Los Angeles Dodgers Relief pitcher
  • 2–0 record and 2 saves over 4 appearances
  • 1 earned run allowed over 12+23 innings pitched
  • 5 strikeouts
1960 United States Richardson, BobbyBobby Richardson New York Yankees§ Second baseman
1961 United States Ford, WhiteyWhitey Forddagger New York Yankees Starting pitcher
1962 United States Terry, RalphRalph Terry New York Yankees Starting pitcher
  • 2–1 record over 3 games started; 2 complete games- 1 shutout
  • 5 earned runs allowed over 25 innings pitched
  • 16 strikeouts
1963 United States Koufax, SandySandy Koufaxdagger Los Angeles Dodgers Starting pitcher
  • 2–0 record over 2 games started; both were complete games
  • 3 earned runs allowed over 18 innings pitched
  • 23 strikeouts
1964 United States Gibson, BobBob Gibsondagger St. Louis Cardinals Starting pitcher
  • 2–1 record over 3 games started; 2 complete games
  • 27 innings pitched
  • 31 strikeouts
1965 United States Koufax, SandySandy Koufaxdagger (2) Los Angeles Dodgers Starting pitcher
1966 United States Robinson, FrankFrank Robinsondagger Baltimore Orioles Outfielder
1967 United States Gibson, BobBob Gibsondagger (2) St. Louis Cardinals Starting pitcher
  • 3–0 record over 3 games started; all were complete games; 1 shutout
  • 3 earned runs allowed over 27 innings pitched
  • 26 strikeouts
1968 United States Lolich, MickeyMickey Lolich Detroit Tigers Starting pitcher
  • 3–0 record over 3 games started; all were complete games
  • 5 earned runs allowed over 27 innings pitched
  • 21 strikeouts
1969 United States Clendenon, DonnDonn Clendenon New York Mets First baseman
1970 United States Robinson, BrooksBrooks Robinsondagger Baltimore Orioles Third baseman
1971 Puerto Rico Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clementedagger Pittsburgh Pirates Outfielder
1972 United States Tenace, GeneGene Tenace Oakland Athletics Catcher
1973 United States Jackson, ReggieReggie Jacksondagger Oakland Athletics Outfielder
1974 United States Fingers, RollieRollie Fingersdagger Oakland Athletics Relief pitcher
  • 1–0 record and 2 saves over 4 appearances
  • 2 earned runs allowed over 9+13 innings pitched
  • 6 strikeouts
1975 United States Rose, PetePete Rose Cincinnati Reds Third baseman
1976 United States Bench, JohnnyJohnny Benchdagger Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1977 United States Jackson, ReggieReggie Jacksondagger (2) New York Yankees Outfielder
1978 United States Dent, BuckyBucky Dent New York Yankees Shortstop
1979* United States Stargell, WillieWillie Stargelldagger Pittsburgh Pirates First baseman
1980 United States Schmidt, MikeMike Schmidtdagger Philadelphia Phillies Third baseman
1981^ United States Cey, RonRon Cey Los Angeles Dodgers Third baseman
Dominican Republic Guerrero, PedroPedro Guerrero Outfielder
United States Yeager, SteveSteve Yeager Catcher
1982* United States Porter, DarrellDarrell Porter St. Louis Cardinals Catcher
1983 United States Dempsey, RickRick Dempsey Baltimore Orioles Catcher
1984 United States Trammell, AlanAlan Trammelldagger Detroit Tigers Shortstop
1985 United States Saberhagen, BretBret Saberhagen Kansas City Royals Starting pitcher
  • 2–0 record over 2 games started; both were complete games- 1 shutout
  • 1 earned run allowed over 18 innings pitched
  • 10 strikeouts
1986 United States Knight, RayRay Knight New York Mets Third baseman
1987 United States Viola, FrankFrank Viola Minnesota Twins Starting pitcher
  • 2–1 record over 3 games started
  • 8 earned runs allowed over 19+13 innings pitched
  • 16 strikeouts
1988* United States Hershiser, OrelOrel Hershiser Los Angeles Dodgers Starting pitcher
  • 2–0 record over 2 games started; both were complete games- 1 shutout
  • 1.000 batting average; 2 doubles; 2.667 OPS
  • 17 strikeouts
1989 United States Stewart, DaveDave Stewart Oakland Athletics Starting pitcher
1990 Dominican Republic Rijo, JoséJosé Rijo Cincinnati Reds Starting pitcher
  • 2–0 record over 2 games started
  • 1 earned run allowed over 15+13 innings pitched
  • 14 strikeouts
1991 United States Morris, JackJack Morrisdagger Minnesota Twins Starting pitcher
  • 2–0 record over 3 games started; 10-inning shutout in Game 7
  • 3 earned runs allowed over 23 innings pitched
  • 15 strikeouts
1992 United States Borders, PatPat Borders Toronto Blue Jays Catcher
1993 United States Molitor, PaulPaul Molitordagger Toronto Blue Jays Designated hitter,
first baseman,
third baseman
1994 Series cancelled due to player's strike
1995 United States Glavine, TomTom Glavinedagger Atlanta Braves Starting pitcher
  • 2–0 record over 2 games started
  • 2 earned runs allowed over 14 innings pitched
  • 11 strikeouts
1996 United States Wetteland, JohnJohn Wetteland New York Yankees Relief pitcher
  • 4 saves over 5 appearances
  • 1 earned run allowed over 4+13 innings pitched
  • 6 strikeouts
1997* Cuba Hernández, LivánLiván Hernández# Florida Marlins Starting pitcher
1998 United States Brosius, ScottScott Brosius New York Yankees Third baseman
1999 Panama Rivera, MarianoMariano Riveradagger New York Yankees Relief pitcher
  • 1–0 record and 2 saves in 3 appearances
  • 4+23 scoreless innings pitched
  • 3 strikeouts
2000 United States Jeter, DerekDerek Jeterdagger New York Yankees Shortstop
2001^ United States Johnson, RandyRandy Johnsondagger Arizona Diamondbacks Pitcher
  • 3–0 record over 3 appearances (2 starts); 1 shutout
  • 2 earned runs allowed over 17+13 innings pitched
  • 19 strikeouts
United States Schilling, CurtCurt Schilling Starting pitcher
  • 1–0 record over 3 games started
  • 4 earned runs allowed over 21+13 innings pitched
  • 26 strikeouts
2002 United States Glaus, TroyTroy Glaus Anaheim Angels Third baseman
2003 United States Beckett, JoshJosh Beckett Florida Marlins Starting pitcher
2004 Dominican Republic Ramirez, MannyManny Ramirez Boston Red Sox Outfielder
2005 United States Dye, JermaineJermaine Dye Chicago White Sox Outfielder
2006 United States Eckstein, DavidDavid Eckstein St. Louis Cardinals Shortstop
2007 United States Lowell, MikeMike Lowell Boston Red Sox Third baseman
2008* United States Hamels, ColeCole Hamels Philadelphia Phillies Starting pitcher
  • 1–0 record over 2 games started
  • 4 earned runs allowed over 13 innings pitched
  • 8 strikeouts
2009 Japan Matsui, HidekiHideki Matsui New York Yankees Designated hitter
2010 Colombia Rentería, EdgarEdgar Rentería San Francisco Giants Shortstop
2011* United States Freese, DavidDavid Freese St. Louis Cardinals Third baseman
  • .348 batting average
  • Game tying triple in the 9th and Walk-off home run in 11th inning of Game 6
  • 7 runs batted in
2012 Venezuela Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval San Francisco Giants Third baseman
2013 Dominican Republic Ortiz, DavidDavid Ortizdagger Boston Red Sox Designated hitter
2014* United States Bumgarner, MadisonMadison Bumgarnerdouble-dagger San Francisco Giants Starting pitcher
  • 2–0 record and 1 save over 3 appearances (2 starts); 1 shutout
  • 1 earned run allowed over 21 innings pitched
  • 17 strikeouts
2015 Venezuela Pérez, SalvadorSalvador Pérezdouble-dagger Kansas City Royals Catcher
  • .364 batting average
  • 51 innings caught in 5 games played
  • 3 runs scored
2016 United States Zobrist, BenBen Zobrist Chicago Cubs Outfielder
  • .357 batting average
  • 10 hits, including go-ahead RBI double in 10th inning of Game 7
  • 5 runs scored
2017 United States Springer, GeorgeGeorge Springerdouble-dagger Houston Astros Outfielder
  • .379 batting average
  • 5 home runs, 7 runs batted in
  • 8 runs scored, 11 hits
2018

United States Pearce, SteveSteve Pearce

Boston Red Sox First baseman
  • .333 batting average
  • 3 home runs, 8 runs batted in
  • 1.167 slugging percentage
2019 United States Strasburg, StephenStephen Strasburgdouble-dagger Washington Nationals Starting pitcher
  • 2–0 record over 2 games started
  • 4 earned runs allowed over 14 innings pitched
  • 14 strikeouts
2020* United States Seager, CoreyCorey Seagerdouble-dagger Los Angeles Dodgers Shortstop
2021 Cuba Soler, JorgeJorge Solerdouble-dagger Atlanta Braves Right fielder, designated hitter
2022* Dominican Republic Peña, JeremyJeremy Peña#double-dagger Houston Astros Shortstop
  • .400 batting average
  • 10 hits, including a go-ahead home run in the fourth inning of Game 5
  • 1.023 on-base plus slugging
2023 United States Seager, CoreyCorey Seagerdouble-dagger (2) Texas Rangers Shortstop
  • 3 home runs, including a game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 1
  • 6 runs batted in
  • 1.137 on-base plus slugging

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: MVP de la Serie Mundial de Béisbol para niños

  • Babe Ruth Award
  • List of Major League Baseball awards
  • Baseball awards in the United States
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