Who Won The World Series Mvp: A Complete History Of Every Award Winner
The World Series Most Valuable Player award recognizes the individual who makes the single biggest impact on the outcome of the championship series each October. From legendary sluggers to unexpected heroes, the trophy has been awarded to players who embodied clutch performance on the grandest stage. This article provides a comprehensive look at every recipient, the context of their award-winning performance, and the evolution of the honor since its inception.
The concept of a Most Valuable Player in the World Series dates back to 1955, though the official recognition and naming of the award came later. Initially, the award was not always consistent in its presentation, with some years seeing multiple honors or variations in naming. The official Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series MVP award, as we know it today, has been consistently presented since 1969. Over the decades, the list of winners reads like a who's who of baseball history, featuring icons from the New York Yankees' dynasty to modern superstars.
The award is decided by a combination of fan voting, media votes, and player votes, ensuring a broad representation of perspectives on the series' impact. Fans get a direct say through online balloting, while the media and players provide professional insight into the statistical and strategic contributions that defined the championship run. This multifaceted voting process aims to capture the essence of performance under the brightest lights in sports.
Here is a detailed look at the winners, organized by era, showcasing the evolution of the game and the players who defined it.
**Early Years and the Establishment of the Award (1955–1968)**
Before the official MLB award, newspapers and fans often identified their own "MVP" of the World Series. In 1955, the first official World Series was held, and Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella was widely recognized as the standout performer. He batted .316 with two home runs and was the emotional leader of a team that finally brought a championship to Brooklyn.
* **1955: Roy Campanella (BRO)** – The Brooklyn Dodgers' catcher was the heart and soul of their first world championship.
* **1956: Don Larsen (NYY)** – The Yankees' pitcher threw the only perfect game in World Series history in a Game 5 victory.
* **1957: Lew Burdette (MIL)** – The right-hander was the workhorse and ace for the Braves, winning three games including the clincher.
* **1959: Larry Sherry (LAA)** – The Los Angeles Dodgers' reliever was instrumental in their sweep of the Chicago White Sox, earning two saves.
* **1960: Bobby Richardson (NYY)** – A rare offensive performance from a second baseman, scoring 12 runs and driving in 10 for the losing Yankees.
* **1961: Roger Maris (NYY)** – Maris hit two home runs in the series, helping the Yankees defeat the Cincinnati Reds.
* **1962: Ralph Terry (NYY)** – The Yankees' pitcher secured the series with a complete-game victory in the decisive Game 7 against the Giants.
* **1963: Sandy Koufax (LAD)** – The Dodgers' legendary southpaw pitched three shutouts, including a complete-game triumph in the finale.
* **1964: Bob Gibson (STL)** – Gibson, who posted a microscopic 1.12 ERA during the series, led the Cardinals to a seven-game win over the Yankees.
* **1965: Sandy Koufax (LAD)** – Koufax repeated as winner with a masterful performance, striking out 15 in a complete-game shutout during the sweep of the Twins.
* **1966: Frank Robinson (BAL)** – The slugging outfielder powered the Orioles to a four-game sweep of the Dodgers with two home runs and six RBIs.
* **1967: Carl Yastrzemski (BOS)** – "Yaz" was the unlikely hero for the Red Sox, batting .400 with a record-tying 18 hits in a losing cause against the Cardinals.
* **1968: Bob Gibson (STL)** – Gibson again delivered for the Cardinals, winning three games, including the clincher, against the Tigers.
**The Modern Era of the Official Award (1969–Present)**
In 1969, Major League Baseball officially named the award the "Commissioner's Trophy," and the winner has been a permanent, singular focus of the series finale. This era has seen a mix of power hitters, slick fielders, and dominant pitchers claim the top honor.
* **1969: Donn Clendenon (PIT)** – The Pirates' first baseman hit .417 with two home runs to lead the Bucs to their first title in 11 years.
* **1970: Brooks Robinson (BAL)** – The legendary third baseman of the Orioles delivered a .429 batting average performance in the sweep of the Reds.
* **1971: Roberto Clemente (PIT)** – The Hall of Fame outfielder became the first Latin American player to win the award, leading the Pirates to victory in Game 7.
* **1972: Gene Tenace (OAK)** – The catcher was the offensive engine for the A's, hitting a home run in each of the first two games of the series against the Reds.
* **1973: Reggie Jackson (OAK)** – "Mr. October" lived up to his nickname with a dominant performance, hitting three home runs in the A's sweep of the Mets.
* **1974: Rollie Fingers (OAK)** – The A's won again, and Fingers was the winning pitcher in the decisive Game 7 against the Dodgers.
* **1975: Fred Stanley (CIN)** – An unusual choice for a losing team, the Yankees' shortstop was the offensive star in a series that went to seven games.
* **1976: Johnny Bench (CIN)** – The Hall of Fame catcher led the "Big Red Machine" to a sweep of the Yankees with his bat and glove.
* **1977: Reggie Jackson (NYY)** – Jackson cemented his "Mr. October" status by hitting five home runs in a single series for the Yankees' championship.
* **1978: Bucky Dent (NYY)** – The unlikely hero was the Yankees' shortstop, who hit a crucial home run in the one-game playoff and was named MVP of the series.
* **1979: Willie Stargell (PIT)** – "Pops" led the Pirates to another championship, hitting two home runs in the decisive Game 7.
* **1980: Mike Boddicker (BAL)** – The Orioles' pitcher was nearly unhittable, winning two games and holding the Phillies to a .219 team batting average.
* **1981: Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager (LAD)** – The Dodgers shared the award for their World Series victory over the Yankees, with Cey providing leadership, Guerrero hitting .417, and Yeager batting .429.
* **1982: Darrell Porter (STL)** – The Cardinals' catcher was the difference-maker, hitting two home runs and driving in the winning run in Game 6 against the Brewers.
* **1983: Rick Dempsey (BAL)** – The backstop for the Orioles was a steady presence, batting .400 with two home runs in the sweep of the Phillies.
* **1984: Alan Trammell (DET)** – The Tigers' shortstop delivered in the clutch, batting .300 with a home run in the five-game win over the Padres.
* **1985: Babe Ruth (STL)** – In a controversial series, the Cardinals' outfielder was named MVP after hitting .429 and scoring the go-ahead run in the famous "safe" call game.
* **1986: Ray Knight (NYM)** – The Mets' second baseman was the offensive spark in their seven-game victory over the Red Sox, hitting two home runs.
* **1987: Dave Winfield (MIN)** – The Twins' outfielder hit two home runs and drove in five runs in the seven-game win over the Twins.
* **1988: Orel Hershiser (LAD)** – The Dodgers' ace pitcher won Games 2 and 5, including a complete-game shutout in the finale, to secure the title.
* **1989: Rick Honeycutt (OAK)** – The Athletics' veteran pitcher got the win in Game 3, helping the Bay Bridge Series victory over the Giants.
* **1990: José Rijo (CIN)** – The Reds' pitcher was nearly flawless, winning two games and holding the Athletics to a .171 batting average in the sweep.
* **1991: Jack Morris (MIN)** – "Jack the Grim" pitched a complete game, shutout victory on two days' rest to lead the Twins to their second championship.
* **1992: Pat Borders (TOR)** – The Blue Jays' catcher was the unlikely but deserved MVP of their first championship, batting .450.
* **1993: Paul Molitor (TOR)** – Molitor, in his first full season after signing as a free agent, hit .455 with two home runs to lead the Blue Jays to a repeat.
* **1994: *No award given – the season was canceled by a players' strike.*
* **1995: Maddux, Glavine, and Rivera** – In a controversial move, the award was shared by Atlanta's Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, and New York's Mariano Rivera.
* **1996: John Wetteland (NYY)** – The Yankees' closer was dominant in the four-game sweep of the Braves, earning three saves.
* **1997: Liván Hernández (FLA)** – The rookie pitcher for the Marlins was the star of their first championship, winning two games.
* **1998: Scott Brosius (NYY)** – Brosius provided clutch hitting and defense for the Yankees in their four-game victory.
* **1999: Mariano Rivera (NYY)** – Rivera was the ultimate closer, earning three saves on his way to a sweep of the Braves.
* **2000: Derek Jeter (NYY)** – "Mr. November" delivered a walk-off hit in Game 2 and was the offensive leader in the sweep of the Mets.
* **2001: Randy Johnson (AZ)** – The dominant left-hander won two games for the Diamondbacks in their seven-game triumph.
* **2002: Troy Glaus (ANA)** – The Angels' third baseman was the offensive force in their five-game win over the Giants.
* **2003: Jim Edmonds (STL)** – The Cardinals' center fielder provided timely hitting and defense in the seven-game victory over the Tigers.
* **2004: Manny Ramírez (BOS)** – Ramírez was the star of the Red Sox's historic comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the Cardinals.
* **2005: Albert Pujols (STL)** – Pujols hit two home runs and drove in five runs as the Cardinals won their 10th championship.
* **2006: David Eckstein (STL)** – The Cardinals' shortstop was the emotional leader and defensive wizard in their series-clinching win.
* **2007: Mike Lowell (BOS)** – Lowell hit two home runs for the Red Sox in their sweep of the Rockies.
* **2008: Cole Hamels (PHI)** – The Phillies' ace pitcher earned two wins, including the clincher, in the five-game victory over the Rays.
* **2009: Hideki Matsui (NYY)** – "Godzilla" became the first player to hit a home run in his first World Series at-bat, leading the Yankees to their 27th title.
* **2010: Edwin Encarnación (TB)** – The utility player hit a walk-off home run in Game 5 to give the Rays a dramatic series victory.
* **2011: David Freese (STL)** – Freese became a legend in St. Louis by hitting a game-tying home run in the 9th inning of Game 6 and a walk-off blast in Game 7 against the Rangers.
* **2012: Buster Posey (SF)** – The catcher was the heart and soul of the Giants' eight-run Game 1 performance and a steady presence throughout their seven-game win.
* **2013: Koji Uehara (BOS)** – The Yankees' reliever was dominant in the Red Sox's five-game victory, earning two saves.
* **2014: Madison Bumgarner (SF)** – The Giants' pitcher was unstoppable, winning three games, including the clinching complete-game shutout.
* **2015: Sal Pace (KC)** – A rare award for a losing team, as the Royals' center fielder provided key hits in their seven-game win over the Mets.
* **2016: Ben Zobrist (CHC)** – The "Zorilla" was the catalyst for the Cubs' historic championship, batting .412 with a home run in their first title in 108 years.
* **2017: George Springer (HOU)** – Springer overcame adversity to hit two home runs in the Astros' five-game victory over the Dodgers.
* **2018: Steve Pearce (BOS)** – The Red Sox's first baseman was the offensive juggernaut in their four-game win over the Dodgers.
* **2019: Alex Cora (BOS)** – While the award usually goes to a player, the Red Sox manager was honored for guiding the team to a thrilling title victory over the Nationals.
* **2020: Aaron Judge (NYY)** – The Yankees' slugger provided a much-needed spark with a home run in the series-clinching Game 6 win over the Dodgers.
* **2021: Jorge Soler (ATL)** – Soler was the hero of the Braves' title run, hitting two home runs, including the walk-off blast in Game 6.
* **2022: Randy Arozarena (TB)** – The Rays' outfielder was a one-man wrecking crew, hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs in the five-game win.
* **2023: Corbin Carroll (ARI)** – The Diamondbacks' young star electrified the series with his bat and defense, leading the team to a championship in just his second year.
Looking at the winners, a clear pattern emerges regarding the nature of winning performances. While power hitting is often celebrated, the award frequently goes to players whose contributions are not always quantifiable in traditional stats.
* **Clutch Hitting:** Players like Derek Jeter and David Freese delivered in the absolute highest-pressure moments, changing the trajectory of the series with singular plays.
* **Pitching Dominance:** A significant portion of MVPs are pitchers, a testament to the foundational role they play in winning a championship. Names like Gibson, Hershiser, and Bumgarner represent excellence on the mound.
* **Unexpected Heroes:** The award has a history of going to players who stepped up when it mattered most. Sal Pace in 2015 and Randy Arozarena in 2021 are prime examples of role players becoming supernovas on the biggest stage.
The trophy itself, the Commissioner's Trophy, is a symbol of this achievement. Standing over two feet tall and weighing roughly 30 pounds, it is the only professional sports trophy that is not passed from player to player at season's end. Instead, it remains with the winning organization, a permanent emblem of their supremacy. The list of World Series MVPs is, therefore, more than just a collection of names; it is a historical record of excellence, resilience, and the defining moments that shape a championship legacy.
