World Series Most Valuable Player Award facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willie Mays World Series MVP Award
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 prior to 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 winner is Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager, who won the award in 2023.

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
	Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
	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	Note
1955	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	Larsen, DonDon Larsen	New York Yankees	Starting pitcher	1–0 record over 2 games started; 1 perfect game in Game 5 7 strikeouts Pitched first no-hitter in World Series history
1957	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	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+1⁄3 innings pitched 13 strikeouts
1959	Sherry, LarryLarry Sherry#	Los Angeles Dodgers	Relief pitcher	2–0 record and 2 saves over 4 appearances 1 earned run allowed over 12+2⁄3 innings pitched 5 strikeouts
1960	Richardson, BobbyBobby Richardson	New York Yankees§	Second baseman	.367 batting average 1 grand slam 12 runs batted in
1961	Ford, WhiteyWhitey Ford	New York Yankees	Starting pitcher	2–0 record over 2 games started; 1 shutout 14 scoreless innings pitched 7 strikeouts
1962	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	Koufax, SandySandy Koufax	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	Gibson, BobBob Gibson	St. Louis Cardinals	Starting pitcher	2–1 record over 3 games started; 2 complete games 27 innings pitched 31 strikeouts
1965	Koufax, SandySandy Koufax (2)	Los Angeles Dodgers	Starting pitcher	2–1 record over 3 games started; 2 shutouts 1 earned run allowed over 24 innings pitched 29 strikeouts
1966	Robinson, FrankFrank Robinson	Baltimore Orioles	Outfielder	.286 batting average 2 home runs 3 runs batted in
1967	Gibson, BobBob Gibson (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	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	Clendenon, DonnDonn Clendenon	New York Mets	First baseman	.357 batting average 3 home runs 4 runs batted in
1970	Robinson, BrooksBrooks Robinson	Baltimore Orioles	Third baseman	.429 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs batted in
1971	Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clemente	Pittsburgh Pirates	Outfielder	.414 batting average 2 home runs 4 runs batted in
1972	Tenace, GeneGene Tenace	Oakland Athletics	Catcher	.348 batting average 4 home runs 9 runs batted in
1973	Jackson, ReggieReggie Jackson	Oakland Athletics	Outfielder	.310 batting average 1 home run 6 runs batted in
1974	Fingers, RollieRollie Fingers	Oakland Athletics	Relief pitcher	1–0 record and 2 saves over 4 appearances 2 earned runs allowed over 9+1⁄3 innings pitched 6 strikeouts
1975	Rose, PetePete Rose	Cincinnati Reds	Third baseman	.370 batting average 10 hits 2 runs batted in
1976	Bench, JohnnyJohnny Bench	Cincinnati Reds	Catcher	.533 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs batted in
1977	Jackson, ReggieReggie Jackson (2)	New York Yankees	Outfielder	.450 batting average 5 home runs (3 in Game 6) 8 runs batted in
1978	Dent, BuckyBucky Dent	New York Yankees	Shortstop	.417 batting average 10 hits 7 runs batted in
1979*	Stargell, WillieWillie Stargell	Pittsburgh Pirates	First baseman	.400 batting average 7 extra-base hits 7 runs batted in
1980	Schmidt, MikeMike Schmidt	Philadelphia Phillies	Third baseman	.381 batting average 2 home runs 7 runs batted in
1981^	Cey, RonRon Cey	Los Angeles Dodgers	Third baseman	.350 batting average 1 home run 6 runs batted in
	Guerrero, PedroPedro Guerrero		Outfielder	.333 batting average 4 extra-base hits 7 runs batted in
	Yeager, SteveSteve Yeager		Catcher	.286 batting average 2 home runs 4 runs batted in
1982*	Porter, DarrellDarrell Porter	St. Louis Cardinals	Catcher	.286 batting average 1 home run 5 runs batted in
1983	Dempsey, RickRick Dempsey	Baltimore Orioles	Catcher	.385 batting average 5 hits; all were extra-base hits- (4 doubles and 1 home run) 2 runs batted in
1984	Trammell, AlanAlan Trammell	Detroit Tigers	Shortstop	.450 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs batted in
1985	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	Knight, RayRay Knight	New York Mets	Third baseman	.391 batting average Series-winning home run in 7th inning of Game 7 5 runs batted in
1987	Viola, FrankFrank Viola	Minnesota Twins	Starting pitcher	2–1 record over 3 games started 8 earned runs allowed over 19+1⁄3 innings pitched 16 strikeouts
1988*	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	Stewart, DaveDave Stewart	Oakland Athletics	Starting pitcher	2–0 record over 2 games started; 1 shutout 3 earned runs allowed over 16 innings pitched 14 strikeouts
1990	Rijo, JoséJosé Rijo	Cincinnati Reds	Starting pitcher	2–0 record over 2 games started 1 earned run allowed over 15+1⁄3 innings pitched 14 strikeouts
1991	Morris, JackJack Morris	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	Borders, PatPat Borders	Toronto Blue Jays	Catcher	.450 batting average 1 home run 3 runs batted in
1993	Molitor, PaulPaul Molitor	Toronto Blue Jays	Designated hitter, first baseman, third baseman	.500 batting average 12 hits; 6 extra-base hits 8 runs batted in/ 10 runs scored
1994	Series cancelled due to player's strike
1995	Glavine, TomTom Glavine	Atlanta Braves	Starting pitcher	2–0 record over 2 games started 2 earned runs allowed over 14 innings pitched 11 strikeouts
1996	Wetteland, JohnJohn Wetteland	New York Yankees	Relief pitcher	4 saves over 5 appearances 1 earned run allowed over 4+1⁄3 innings pitched 6 strikeouts
1997*	Hernández, LivánLiván Hernández#	Florida Marlins	Starting pitcher	2–0 record over 2 games started 13+2⁄3 innings pitched 7 strikeouts
1998	Brosius, ScottScott Brosius	New York Yankees	Third baseman	.471 batting average 2 home runs in Game 3 6 runs batted in
1999	Rivera, MarianoMariano Rivera	New York Yankees	Relief pitcher	1–0 record and 2 saves in 3 appearances 4+2⁄3 scoreless innings pitched 3 strikeouts
2000	Jeter, DerekDerek Jeter	New York Yankees	Shortstop	.409 batting average 2 home runs/ 19 total bases 6 runs scored
2001^	Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson	Arizona Diamondbacks	Pitcher	3–0 record over 3 appearances (2 starts); 1 shutout 2 earned runs allowed over 17+1⁄3 innings pitched 19 strikeouts
	Schilling, CurtCurt Schilling		Starting pitcher	1–0 record over 3 games started 4 earned runs allowed over 21+1⁄3 innings pitched 26 strikeouts
2002	Glaus, TroyTroy Glaus	Anaheim Angels	Third baseman	.385 batting average 3 home runs 8 runs batted in
2003	Beckett, JoshJosh Beckett	Florida Marlins	Starting pitcher	1–1 record over 2 games started; 1 shutout 2 earned runs allowed over 16+1⁄3 innings pitched 19 strikeouts
2004	Ramirez, MannyManny Ramirez	Boston Red Sox	Outfielder	.412 batting average 1 home run 4 runs batted in
2005	Dye, JermaineJermaine Dye	Chicago White Sox	Outfielder	.438 batting average 1 home run 3 runs batted in
2006	Eckstein, DavidDavid Eckstein	St. Louis Cardinals	Shortstop	.364 batting average 8 hits 4 runs batted in
2007	Lowell, MikeMike Lowell	Boston Red Sox	Third baseman	.400 batting average 1 home run 4 runs batted in
2008*	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	Matsui, HidekiHideki Matsui	New York Yankees	Designated hitter	.615 batting average 3 home runs 8 runs batted in
2010	Rentería, EdgarEdgar Rentería	San Francisco Giants	Shortstop	.412 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs batted in
2011*	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	Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval	San Francisco Giants	Third baseman	.500 batting average 3 home runs in Game 1 4 runs batted in
2013	Ortiz, DavidDavid Ortiz	Boston Red Sox	Designated hitter	.688 batting average 2 home runs / 4 intentional walks 6 runs batted in
2014*	Bumgarner, MadisonMadison Bumgarner	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	Pérez, SalvadorSalvador Pérez	Kansas City Royals	Catcher	.364 batting average 51 innings caught in 5 games played 3 runs scored
2016	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	Springer, GeorgeGeorge Springer	Houston Astros	Outfielder	.379 batting average 5 home runs, 7 runs batted in 8 runs scored, 11 hits
2018	Pearce, SteveSteve Pearce	Boston Red Sox	First baseman	.333 batting average 3 home runs, 8 runs batted in 1.167 slugging percentage
2019	Strasburg, StephenStephen Strasburg	Washington Nationals	Starting pitcher	2–0 record over 2 games started 4 earned runs allowed over 14 innings pitched 14 strikeouts
2020*	Seager, CoreyCorey Seager	Los Angeles Dodgers	Shortstop	.400 batting average 2 home runs 5 runs batted in
2021	Soler, JorgeJorge Soler	Atlanta Braves	Right fielder, designated hitter	.300 batting average 3 go-ahead home runs 6 runs batted in
2022*	Peña, JeremyJeremy Peña#	Houston Astros	Shortstop	.400 batting average 10 hits, including go-ahead home run in the fourth inning of Game 5 1.023 on-base plus slugging
2023	Seager, CoreyCorey Seager (2)	Texas Rangers	Shortstop	3 home runs, including game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 1 6 runs batted in 1.137 on-base plus slugging

See also

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