World Series Most Valuable Player Award facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player Award
Ben Zobrist holding his 2016 World Series MVP trophy
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 (since 1985)
History
First award	1955
Most recent	Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles Dodgers)

The Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is a special prize given to the baseball player who helps their team the most during the World Series. The World Series is the final championship round of Major League Baseball (MLB) each year.

This award was first given out in 1955 by Sport magazine. Since 1985, MLB has officially presented the award. A group of reporters and officials decide the winner during the last game of the World Series.

On September 29, 2017, the award was renamed to honor Willie Mays. This was done to remember the 63rd anniversary of his famous play called "The Catch". Interestingly, Willie Mays himself never won this award.

Cool Prizes and Trophies

Willie Mays, the baseball legend the award is named after. He never won it himself.

Winners of the World Series MVP award have often received a brand new car! For example, Johnny Podres, who won the first award in 1955, got a Chevrolet Corvette. Later, in 1977, Reggie Jackson received a Ford Thunderbird. In 1983, Rick Dempsey won a Pontiac Firebird. Frank Viola, the 1987 MVP, drove home a Volvo 740.

Since 2004, the car has usually come from General Motors. Some recent winners and their cars include David Ortiz (2013) with a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado truck, Ben Zobrist (2016) with a 2017 Chevrolet Camaro convertible, and Corey Seager (2020) with a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV.

Besides a car, winners also get a trophy. MLB took over presenting the award from Sport magazine in 1985. For a few years, both MLB and Sport magazine gave out different trophies. Over the years, the trophy has changed its look many times:

• An early trophy (used until 1984) had a metal baseball inside a hoop on a wooden base.
• From 1985 to 1988, a tall wooden base with a metal baseball and flags on top was used.
• By 1987, MLB started giving out its own trophy, which looked like a metal bowl on a wooden base.
• A new design appeared in 1988: a metal baseball on a trapezoid-shaped wooden base with the MLB logo.
• Around 1995, a pyramid-shaped trophy with a dark base and a baseball on top was used.
• Until 2017, the trophy was a smaller version of the Commissioner's Trophy, which is given to the World Series winning team.
• Since 2018, the trophy has been a wooden stand with a bronze sculpture of Willie Mays making "The Catch".

Award Winners

Key to the Table

Year	Links to an article about that year's World Series
Other awards	Player also won another big award in the same season: ASG: All-Star Game MVP Award (best player in the All-Star Game) CY: Cy Young Award (best pitcher) LCS: League Championship Series MVP Award (best player in the series before the World Series) MVP: Major League Baseball MVP Award (best player in the whole league)
	Player is in the Baseball Hall of Fame
	Player is still playing baseball
#	Player was a rookie (first year playing) that season
§	Player was on the team that lost the World Series
^	More than one player won the MVP award in the same World Series
(#)	Number of times the player has won this award (if more than once)

Year	Player	Team	Position	Key Stats	Other awards	Ref.
1955	Podres, JohnnyJohnny Podres	Brooklyn Dodgers	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Pitched 2 complete games (finished the whole game) Allowed only 2 earned runs (runs that weren't due to errors)
1956	Larsen, DonDon Larsen	New York Yankees	Starting pitcher	Pitched a perfect game (no one reached base) in Game 5 First and only perfect game in World Series history
1957	Burdette, LewLew Burdette	Milwaukee Braves	Starting pitcher	Won 3 games, no losses Pitched 3 complete games, including 2 shutouts (no runs allowed)
1958	Turley, BobBob Turley	New York Yankees	Pitcher	Won 2 games, 1 save (finished a close game) Pitched 1 shutout	CY
1959	Sherry, LarryLarry Sherry#	Los Angeles Dodgers	Relief pitcher	Won 2 games, 2 saves Allowed only 1 earned run
1960	Richardson, BobbyBobby Richardson§	New York Yankees	Second baseman	Hit .367 (got a hit 36.7% of the time) Hit 1 grand slam (home run with bases loaded) Had 12 runs batted in (RBI)
1961	Ford, WhiteyWhitey Ford	New York Yankees	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Pitched 1 shutout and 14 scoreless innings	CY
1962	Terry, RalphRalph Terry	New York Yankees	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, 1 shutout Pitched 2 complete games
1963	Koufax, SandySandy Koufax	Los Angeles Dodgers	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Pitched 2 complete games	CY MVP
1964	Gibson, BobBob Gibson	St. Louis Cardinals	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, pitched 2 complete games Had 31 strikeouts (got 31 batters out by throwing strikes)
1965	Koufax, SandySandy Koufax (2)	Los Angeles Dodgers	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, 2 shutouts Allowed only 1 earned run	CY
1966	Robinson, FrankFrank Robinson	Baltimore Orioles	Outfielder	Hit .286 Hit 2 home runs Had 3 runs batted in	MVP
1967	Gibson, BobBob Gibson (2)	St. Louis Cardinals	Starting pitcher	Won 3 games, no losses Pitched 3 complete games, 1 shutout
1968	Lolich, MickeyMickey Lolich	Detroit Tigers	Starting pitcher	Won 3 games, no losses Pitched 3 complete games
1969	Clendenon, DonnDonn Clendenon	New York Mets	First baseman	Hit .357 Hit 3 home runs
1970	Robinson, BrooksBrooks Robinson	Baltimore Orioles	Third baseman	Hit .429 Hit 2 home runs
1971	Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clemente	Pittsburgh Pirates	Outfielder	Hit .414 Hit 2 home runs
1972	Tenace, GeneGene Tenace	Oakland Athletics	Catcher	Hit .348 Hit 4 home runs Had 9 runs batted in
1973	Jackson, ReggieReggie Jackson	Oakland Athletics	Outfielder	Hit .310 Hit 1 home run	MVP
1974	Fingers, RollieRollie Fingers	Oakland Athletics	Relief pitcher	Won 1 game, 2 saves Allowed 2 earned runs
1975	Rose, PetePete Rose	Cincinnati Reds	Third baseman	Hit .370 Had 10 hits
1976	Bench, JohnnyJohnny Bench	Cincinnati Reds	Catcher	Hit .533 Hit 2 home runs
1977	Jackson, ReggieReggie Jackson (2)	New York Yankees	Outfielder	Hit .450 Hit 5 home runs (3 in Game 6!) Had 8 runs batted in
1978	Dent, BuckyBucky Dent	New York Yankees	Shortstop	Hit .417 Had 10 hits
1979	Stargell, WillieWillie Stargell	Pittsburgh Pirates	First baseman	Hit .400 Had 7 extra-base hits (doubles, triples, home runs)	LCS MVP
1980	Schmidt, MikeMike Schmidt	Philadelphia Phillies	Third baseman	Hit .381 Hit 2 home runs	MVP
1981^	Cey, RonRon Cey	Los Angeles Dodgers	Third baseman	Hit .350 Hit 1 home run
	Guerrero, PedroPedro Guerrero		Outfielder	Hit .333 Had 4 extra-base hits
	Yeager, SteveSteve Yeager		Catcher	Hit .286 Hit 2 home runs
1982	Porter, DarrellDarrell Porter	St. Louis Cardinals	Catcher	Hit .286 Hit 1 home run	LCS
1983	Dempsey, RickRick Dempsey	Baltimore Orioles	Catcher	Hit .385 All 5 hits were extra-base hits
1984	Trammell, AlanAlan Trammell	Detroit Tigers	Shortstop	Hit .450 Hit 2 home runs
1985	Saberhagen, BretBret Saberhagen	Kansas City Royals	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Pitched 2 complete games, 1 shutout	CY
1986	Knight, RayRay Knight	New York Mets	Third baseman	Hit .391 Hit the series-winning home run in Game 7
1987	Viola, FrankFrank Viola	Minnesota Twins	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, 1 loss Had 16 strikeouts
1988	Hershiser, OrelOrel Hershiser	Los Angeles Dodgers	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Pitched 2 complete games, 1 shutout	CY LCS
1989	Stewart, DaveDave Stewart	Oakland Athletics	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Pitched 1 shutout
1990	Rijo, JoséJosé Rijo	Cincinnati Reds	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Allowed only 1 earned run
1991	Morris, JackJack Morris	Minnesota Twins	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Pitched a 10-inning shutout in Game 7
1992	Borders, PatPat Borders	Toronto Blue Jays	Catcher	Hit .450 Hit 1 home run
1993	Molitor, PaulPaul Molitor	Toronto Blue Jays	Designated hitter, first baseman, third baseman	Hit .500 Had 12 hits, including 6 extra-base hits
1994	Series canceled due to a player strike
1995	Glavine, TomTom Glavine	Atlanta Braves	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Allowed 2 earned runs
1996	Wetteland, JohnJohn Wetteland	New York Yankees	Relief pitcher	Had 4 saves (a World Series record) Allowed 1 earned run
1997	Hernández, LivánLiván Hernández#	Florida Marlins	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Had 7 strikeouts	LCS
1998	Brosius, ScottScott Brosius	New York Yankees	Third baseman	Hit .471 Hit 2 home runs in Game 3
1999	Rivera, MarianoMariano Rivera	New York Yankees	Relief pitcher	Won 1 game, 2 saves Pitched 4.2 scoreless innings
2000	Jeter, DerekDerek Jeter	New York Yankees	Shortstop	Hit .409 Hit 2 home runs	ASG
2001^	Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson	Arizona Diamondbacks	Pitcher	Won 3 games, no losses Pitched 1 shutout Had 19 strikeouts	CY
	Schilling, CurtCurt Schilling		Starting pitcher	Won 1 game, no losses Had 26 strikeouts
2002	Glaus, TroyTroy Glaus	Anaheim Angels	Third baseman	Hit .385 Hit 3 home runs Had 8 runs batted in
2003	Beckett, JoshJosh Beckett	Florida Marlins	Starting pitcher	Won 1 game, 1 loss Pitched 1 shutout
2004	Ramirez, MannyManny Ramirez	Boston Red Sox	Outfielder	Hit .412 Hit 1 home run
2005	Dye, JermaineJermaine Dye	Chicago White Sox	Outfielder	Hit .438 Hit 1 home run
2006	Eckstein, DavidDavid Eckstein	St. Louis Cardinals	Shortstop	Hit .364 Had 8 hits
2007	Lowell, MikeMike Lowell	Boston Red Sox	Third baseman	Hit .400 Hit 1 home run
2008	Hamels, ColeCole Hamels	Philadelphia Phillies	Starting pitcher	Won 1 game, no losses Had 8 strikeouts	LCS
2009	Matsui, HidekiHideki Matsui	New York Yankees	Designated hitter	Hit .615 Hit 3 home runs Had 8 runs batted in
2010	Rentería, EdgarEdgar Rentería	San Francisco Giants	Shortstop	Hit .412 Hit 2 home runs
2011	Freese, DavidDavid Freese	St. Louis Cardinals	Third baseman	Hit .348 Hit a game-tying triple and a walk-off home run (ended the game) in Game 6	LCS
2012	Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval	San Francisco Giants	Third baseman	Hit .500 Hit 3 home runs in Game 1
2013	Ortiz, DavidDavid Ortiz	Boston Red Sox	Designated hitter	Hit .688 Hit 2 home runs Had 6 runs batted in
2014	Bumgarner, MadisonMadison Bumgarner	San Francisco Giants	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, 1 save Pitched 1 shutout Allowed only 1 earned run	LCS
2015	Pérez, SalvadorSalvador Pérez	Kansas City Royals	Catcher	Hit .364 Caught 51 innings in 5 games
2016	Zobrist, BenBen Zobrist	Chicago Cubs	Outfielder	Hit .357 Had 10 hits, including the go-ahead double in Game 7
2017	Springer, GeorgeGeorge Springer	Houston Astros	Outfielder	Hit .379 Hit 5 home runs, 7 runs batted in
2018	Pearce, SteveSteve Pearce	Boston Red Sox	First baseman	Hit .333 Hit 3 home runs, 8 runs batted in
2019	Strasburg, StephenStephen Strasburg	Washington Nationals	Starting pitcher	Won 2 games, no losses Had 14 strikeouts
2020	Seager, CoreyCorey Seager	Los Angeles Dodgers	Shortstop	Hit .400 Hit 2 home runs Had 5 runs batted in	LCS
2021	Soler, JorgeJorge Soler	Atlanta Braves	Outfielder, designated hitter	Hit .300 Hit 3 go-ahead home runs
2022	Peña, JeremyJeremy Peña#	Houston Astros	Shortstop	Hit .400 Had 10 hits, including a go-ahead home run in Game 5	LCS
2023	Seager, CoreyCorey Seager (2)	Texas Rangers	Shortstop	Hit 3 home runs, including a game-tying home run in Game 1 Had 6 runs batted in
2024	Freeman, FreddieFreddie Freeman	Los Angeles Dodgers	First baseman	Hit .300 Hit 4 home runs, including a game-winning grand slam in Game 1 Had 12 runs batted in

Winners by Team and Position

Bobby Richardson, the only second baseman to win the award.

From 1955 to 2024, there have been 69 World Series played (the 1994 series was canceled). In most years, one MVP was chosen. But in 1981, three players shared the award, and in 2001, two players did. This means a total of 72 MVPs have been named!

The position that has won the most MVP awards is pitcher, with 29 winners. Four of these pitchers were "relief pitchers," who come into the game later. The most recent relief pitcher to win was Mariano Rivera in 1999. Early on, 12 of the first 14 MVPs were pitchers.

The rarest position to win MVP is second baseman. Only Bobby Richardson won it in 1960. He is also the only MVP who was on the team that lost the World Series.

Out of the 30 current MLB teams, 24 have had at least one player win the MVP award. The six teams that haven't had an MVP winner are the Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Rays. Most of these teams have never won a World Series. The Seattle Mariners have never even played in a World Series!

Amazing Achievements

Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson, and Corey Seager are the only players who have won the World Series MVP award twice.

Only four players have won the World Series MVP award twice:

• Sandy Koufax (in 1963 and 1965)
• Bob Gibson (in 1964 and 1967)
• Reggie Jackson (in 1973 and 1977)
• Corey Seager (in 2020 and 2023)

Jackson and Seager are the only players to win the award with two different teams. Corey Seager is also the first player to win the award in both the American League and the National League.

Many players born outside the United States have won the MVP award. A total of 12 international players have been named World Series MVP. Pedro Guerrero from the Dominican Republic was the first in 1981. The Dominican Republic has had the most winners (five). Venezuela and Cuba have had two winners each, while Japan, Colombia, and Panama have each had one. Freddie Freeman, the 2024 MVP, was born in California but also has Canadian citizenship.

Pitcher Highlights

• Johnny Podres won the very first award in 1955. Even though he had a regular season record of 9 wins and 10 losses, he beat the Yankees twice in the World Series, pitching complete games both times.
• Don Larsen won in 1956 after pitching the only no-hitter in World Series history. A no-hitter means the other team gets no hits! His was even more special because it was a perfect game, meaning no one from the other team even reached base.
• In 1986, Bruce Hurst was almost the MVP, but the New York Mets made a big comeback, and Ray Knight ended up winning the award instead.
• Dave Stewart (1989 winner) was the first pitcher to win two games in both the League Championship Series and the World Series in the same year.
• John Wetteland (1996 winner) set a World Series record with four saves. A save is when a relief pitcher finishes a close game without letting the other team score too much.
• In 2001, co-MVPs Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling were both pitchers. They combined to win all four of their team's games in the Series.
• Stephen Strasburg, the 2019 winner, is the only player picked first in the Major League Baseball draft to win this award.

Position Player Highlights

• Bobby Richardson, the 1960 winner, set a World Series record with 12 runs batted in (RBI). This means he helped score 12 runs for his team.
• Reggie Jackson, the 1977 winner, hit three home runs in the final game of the Series! He earned the nickname "Mr. October" because the MLB postseason is mostly in October. He hit a total of five home runs in that series, which was a World Series record.
• Willie Stargell won the 1979 award when he was 39 years old. He is still the oldest player to be named World Series MVP.
• Hideki Matsui, the 2009 winner, had six runs batted in during Game 6, tying Richardson's record for a single World Series game. Matsui was the first player from Japan to win the award. He was also the first player to win it as a "designated hitter," a player who only bats and doesn't play a defensive position.

More Awards Won

Willie Stargell won the MLB MVP, LCS MVP, and World Series MVP in 1979.

Six pitchers have won both the Cy Young Award (best pitcher) and the World Series MVP in the same season:

• Bob Turley (1958)
• Whitey Ford (1961)
• Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965)
• Bret Saberhagen (1985)
• Orel Hershiser (1988)
• Randy Johnson (2001)

Nine players have won both the League Championship Series MVP and the World Series MVP in the same postseason:

• Willie Stargell (1979)
• Darrell Porter (1982)
• Orel Hershiser (1988)
• Liván Hernández (1997)
• Cole Hamels (2008)
• David Freese (2011)
• Madison Bumgarner (2014)
• Corey Seager (2020)
• Jeremy Peña (2022)

Only one World Series MVP has also won the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award in the same season: Derek Jeter in 2000.

Five players have received both the Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (best player in the league) and the World Series MVP Award in the same season:

• Sandy Koufax (1963)
• Frank Robinson (1966)
• Reggie Jackson (1973)
• Willie Stargell (1979)
• Mike Schmidt (1980)

Three players have won the World Series MVP plus two other major awards in the same season:

• Sandy Koufax – MLB MVP, Cy Young, and World Series MVP in 1963
• Willie Stargell – MLB MVP, LCS MVP, and World Series MVP in 1979
• Orel Hershiser – Cy Young, LCS MVP, and World Series MVP in 1988

See also

In Spanish: MVP de la Serie Mundial de Béisbol para niños

• Babe Ruth Award
• List of Major League Baseball awards