World Series Most Valuable Player Award

World Series Most Valuable Player Award
Awarded for	Annual Most Valuable Player of the World Series
Presented by	Major League Baseball
Country	United States
First awarded	1955
Currently held by	Pablo Sandoval, 2012 San Francisco Giants

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Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson won the 1973 and 1977 World Series MVPs. Jackson hit five home runs in the 1977 World Series, and took the nickname "Mr. October".

The World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is given to the player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series, which is the final round of the Major League Baseball (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.

The series follows a best-of-seven playoff format, and occurs after the Division Series and the League Championship Series (LCS). It is played by the winners of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and the American League Championship Series (ALCS). The most recent champions are the San Francisco Giants, who won in the 2012 World Series.

Pitchers have been named Series MVP twenty-six 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 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 eight times.

Winners

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Don Larsen won the World Series MVP in the 1956 World Series with the New York Yankees. Larsen is the only pitcher to pitch a perfect game in World Series history.

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Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson won the 1970 World Series MVP, becoming the first third baseman to win the award.

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Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers won the 1974 World Series MVP with the Oakland Athletics.

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Pete Rose won the 1975 World Series MVP with the Cincinnati Reds, and became the second third baseman to win the award.

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Hall of Famer Johnny Bench won the World Series MVP in the 1976 World Series, becoming the second catcher to win the award.

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Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt won the 1980 World Series MVP with the Philadelphia Phillies.

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Steve Yeager was one of the three 1981 World Series MVPs for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Orel Hershiser won the NL Cy Young Award, the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP, all in the 1988 season.

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Dave Stewart won the 1989 World Series MVP with the Oakland Athletics.

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Tom Glavine won the World Series MVP in the 1995 World Series with the Atlanta Braves.

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Mariano Rivera won the 1999 World Series MVP with the New York Yankees.

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Randy Johnson (top) and Curt Schilling combined for all four of Arizona Diamondback's wins in the 2001 World Series. Both of them shared the World Series MVP.

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Mike Lowell won the World Series MVP in the 2007 World Series with the Boston Red Sox.

File:Cole Hamels pitching 2010.jpg

Cole Hamels, the 2008 World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP), was a player to win both this award and the League Championship Series MVP in the same season.

File:Hideki Matsui in USA-7.jpg

In 2009, Hideki Matsui became the first Japanese-born player, as well as the first full-time designated hitter, to win the award.

File:DSC04779 David Freese.jpg

David Freese won the award and the National League Championship Series MVP in the same year for the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals.

File:Pablo Sandoval on July 15, 2010.jpg

Pablo Sandoval was MVP in 2012 after hitting a record three home runs in Game 1 for the San Francisco Giants.

Key

Year	Links to the article about that corresponding World Series
	Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
	Active player
*	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 in 2 games started; both were complete games 2 earned runs allowed in 18 innings pitched 10 strikeouts
1956	Larsen, DonDon Larsen	New York Yankees	Starting pitcher	1–0 record in 2 games started; one perfect game—only no-hitter in World Series history 0 earned runs allowed in 10 2⁄3 innings pitched 7 strikeouts
1957	Burdette, LewLew Burdette	Milwaukee Braves	Starting pitcher	3–0 record in 3 games started; all were complete games 2 earned runs allowed in 27 innings pitched 13 strikeouts
1958	Turley, BobBob Turley	New York Yankees	Pitcher	2–1 record and 1 save in 4 appearances (2 starts); one complete game 5 earned runs allowed in 16 1⁄3 innings pitched 13 strikeouts
1959	Sherry, LarryLarry Sherry	Los Angeles Dodgers	Relief pitcher	2–0 record and 2 saves in 4 appearances 1 earned run in 12 2⁄3 innings pitched 5 strikeouts
1960	Richardson, BobbyBobby Richardson	New York Yankees§	Second baseman	.367 batting average 11 hits 12 runs batted in
1961	Ford, WhiteyWhitey Ford	New York Yankees	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started; one complete game 14 scoreless innings pitched 7 strikeouts
1962	Terry, RalphRalph Terry	New York Yankees	Starting pitcher	2–1 record in 3 games started; two complete games 5 earned runs in 25 innings pitched 16 strikeouts
1963	Koufax, SandySandy Koufax	Los Angeles Dodgers	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started; both were complete games 3 earned runs in 18 innings pitched 23 strikeouts
1964	Gibson, BobBob Gibson	St. Louis Cardinals	Starting pitcher	2–1 record in 3 games started; one complete game 9 earned runs in 27 innings pitched 31 strikeouts
1965	Koufax, SandySandy Koufax (2)	Los Angeles Dodgers	Starting pitcher	2–1 record in 3 games started; two shutouts 1 earned run in 24 innings pitched 29 strikeouts
1966	Robinson, FrankFrank Robinson	Baltimore Orioles	Outfielder	.857 slugging percentage 2 home runs 3 runs batted in
1967	Gibson, BobBob Gibson (2)	St. Louis Cardinals	Starting pitcher	3–0 record in 3 games started; all were complete games 3 earned run in 27 innings pitched 26 strikeouts
1968	Lolich, MickeyMickey Lolich	Detroit Tigers	Starting pitcher	3–0 record in 3 games started; all were complete games 5 earned run in 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 9 hits 6 runs batted in
1971	Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clemente	Pittsburgh Pirates	Outfielder	.414 batting average 12 hits 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 9 hits 6 runs batted in
1974	Fingers, RollieRollie Fingers	Oakland Athletics	Relief pitcher	1–0 record and 2 saves in 4 appearances 2 earned run in 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 8 hits 6 runs batted in
1977	Jackson, ReggieReggie Jackson (2)	New York Yankees	Outfielder	.450 batting average 5 home runs 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 12 hits 7 runs batted in
1980	Schmidt, MikeMike Schmidt	Philadelphia Phillies	Third baseman	.381 batting average 8 hits 7 runs batted in
1981^	Cey, RonRon Cey	Los Angeles Dodgers	Third baseman	.350 batting average 7 hits 6 runs batted in
1981^	Guerrero, PedroPedro Guerrero	Los Angeles Dodgers	Outfielder	.333 batting average 2 home runs 7 runs batted in
1981^	Yeager, SteveSteve Yeager	Los Angeles Dodgers	Catcher	.286 batting average 2 home runs 4 runs batted in
1982*	Porter, DarrellDarrell Porter	St. Louis Cardinals	Catcher	.286 batting average 8 hits 5 runs batted in
1983	Dempsey, RickRick Dempsey	Baltimore Orioles	Catcher	.385 batting average 4 doubles 2 runs batted in
1984	Trammell, AlanAlan Trammell	Detroit Tigers	Shortstop	.450 batting average 9 hits 6 runs batted in
1985	Saberhagen, BretBret Saberhagen	Kansas City Royals	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started; both were complete games 1 earned run in 18 innings pitched 10 strikeouts
1986	Knight, RayRay Knight	New York Mets	Third baseman	.391 batting average 9 hits 5 runs batted in
1987	Viola, FrankFrank Viola	Minnesota Twins	Starting pitcher	2–1 record in 3 games started 8 earned runs in 19 1⁄3 innings pitched 16 strikeouts
1988*	Hershiser, OrelOrel Hershiser	Los Angeles Dodgers	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started; both were complete games 2 earned runs in 18 innings pitched 17 strikeouts
1989	Stewart, DaveDave Stewart	Oakland Athletics	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started; one complete game 3 earned runs in 16 innings pitched 14 strikeouts
1990	Rijo, JoséJosé Rijo	Cincinnati Reds	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started 1 earned run in 15 innings pitched 14 strikeouts
1991	Morris, JackJack Morris	Minnesota Twins	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 3 games started; one shutout 3 earned run in 23 innings pitched 9 strikeouts
1992	Borders, PatPat Borders	Toronto Blue Jays	Catcher	.450 batting average 9 hits 3 runs batted in
1993	Molitor, PaulPaul Molitor	Toronto Blue Jays	Third baseman/ Designated hitter	.500 batting average 12 hits 8 runs batted in
1994	—	—	—	Series cancelled due to player's strike
1995	Glavine, TomTom Glavine	Atlanta Braves	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started 2 earned run in 14 innings pitched 11 strikeouts
1996	Wetteland, JohnJohn Wetteland	New York Yankees	Relief pitcher	4 saves in 5 appearances 1 earned run in 4 1⁄3 innings pitched 6 strikeouts
1997*	Hernández, LivánLiván Hernández	Florida Marlins	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started 8 earned run in 13 2⁄3 innings pitched 7 strikeouts
1998	Brosius, ScottScott Brosius	New York Yankees	Third baseman	.471 batting average 8 hits 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 9 hits 2 home runs
2001^	Johnson, RandyRandy Johnson	Arizona Diamondbacks	Pitcher	3–0 record in 3 appearances (2 starts); one shutout 2 earned runs in 17 1⁄3 innings pitched 19 strikeouts
2001^	Schilling, CurtCurt Schilling	Arizona Diamondbacks	Starting pitcher	1–0 record in 3 games started 4 earned runs in 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 in 2 games started; one complete game 2 earned runs in 16 1⁄3 innings pitched 19 strikeouts
2004	Ramirez, MannyManny Ramirez	Boston Red Sox	Outfielder	.412 batting average 7 hits 4 runs batted in
2005	Dye, JermaineJermaine Dye	Chicago White Sox	Outfielder	.438 batting average 7 hits 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 6 hits 4 runs batted in
2008*	Hamels, ColeCole Hamels	Philadelphia Phillies	Starting pitcher	1–0 record in 2 games started 4 earned runs in 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 1 Walk-off home run 7 runs batted in
2012	Sandoval, PabloPablo Sandoval	San Francisco Giants	Third baseman	.500 batting average 3 home runs 4 runs batted in

Key

Year	Links to the article about that corresponding World Series
	Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
	Active player
*	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)

Notes

• Johnny Podres won the inaugural award in 1955 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Podres, with nine wins and ten losses during the regular season, beat the Yankees twice in the series; both victories were complete games.
• Don Larsen won the 1956 World Series MVP after pitching the only no-hitter in World Series history, in the fifth game of the series; the no-hitter was also a perfect game.
• Bobby Richardson won the 1960 World Series MVP while playing for the losing team in the series, the New York Yankees, and had 12 runs batted in, a World Series record; he is also the only second baseman to win the World Series MVP.
• Depending upon definitions, the first non-American to win the award was either Roberto Clemente in 1971 or Pedro Guerrero in 1981.
• In 1977, Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in the deciding game, taking the nickname "Mr. October", in which October is the month of the MLB postseason; Jackson had a total of five home runs in the series, a World Series record.
• Willie Stargell won the 1979 World Series MVP at the age of 39, and is the oldest World Series MVP.
• In 1996, John Wetteland won the World Series MVP, setting a World Series record with four saves.
• Twelve World Series MVPs were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; Paul Molitor (1993) is the only Hall of Famer to have won the World Series MVP since 1981. Molitor is also the first designated hitter to win the World Series MVP.
• Hideki Matsui, the 2009 winner, batted in six runs in the sixth game of the 2009 World Series, tying Richardson's record of most runs batted in for a single World Series game. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to win the award, as well as the first player to win it as a full-time designated hitter. He is also the only player named both a World Series and a Japan Series MVP.

File:Sandy Koufax.jpg

Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax won the award twice.

• Three players have won the award twice: Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965), Gibson (1964, 1967), and Jackson (1973, 1977); Jackson is the only player to have won the award with two different teams. There have been two occasions on which multiple winners were awarded in the same World Series: Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager in 1981, and Johnson and Schilling in 2001. The duo of Johnson and Schilling combined for all four of Arizona's wins in the 2001 World Series; Johnson had three of them.

• Twelve of the fifty-eight World Series MVPs have also won the MLB MVP, the Cy Young Award, or the LCS MVP in the same season. Koufax (1963), Frank Robinson (1966), Jackson (1973), Stargell, and Mike Schmidt (1980) are the only players to have won the MLB MVP and the World Series MVP. A total of six players won the Cy Young Award and the World Series MVP in the same season: Bob Turley (1958), Whitey Ford (1961), Koufax (1963, 1965), Bret Saberhagen (1985), Orel Hershiser (1988), and Johnson (2001). Six players have won the World Series MVP in the same season in which they won the LCS MVP: Stargell (1979), Darrell Porter (1982), Hershiser (1988), Liván Hernández (1997), Cole Hamels (2008), and David Freese (2011)—all of them were the NLCS MVPs. Koufax (1963) is the only person to have won the Cy Young Award, the MLB MVP, and the World Series MVP in the same season, while Stargell (1979) is the only person to have won the MLB MVP, the LCS MVP and the World Series MVP in the same season. Hershiser (1988) won the Cy Young Award, the LCS MVP and the World Series MVP in the same season.

See also

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

References

General

• "World Series History: Most Valuable Players". Major League Baseball. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws.jsp?feature=mvp. Retrieved October 3, 2009.
• "Post-Season Awards & All-Star Game MVP Award Winners". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/postmvp.shtml. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
• "Playoff and World Series Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/. Retrieved September 24, 2009.

Specific