World Series Most Valuable Player Award

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 by Sport magazine, but since 1985 has been officially presented by MLB. Mays never won the award himself.

Car and trophy

thumb|left|150px|Willie Mays, namesake of the award since 2017; he himself never won the honor.

The award winner has traditionally received a new car. Johnny Podres, the inaugural winner in 1955, received a Chevrolet Corvette. The 1977 winner, Reggie Jackson, received a Ford Thunderbird, while the 1983 winner, Rick Dempsey, received a Pontiac Firebird. Frank Viola, the 1987 MVP, received a Volvo 740.

Since 2004, General Motors had provided the vehicle.

A trophy has also been presented to the award winner since at least the late 1970s. In 1985, Major League Baseball (MLB) took over as the official award presenter from Sport magazine, although for a few years, MLB and Sport each presented different trophies to the winner. and last presented in 1984.

A tall wooden base with a metallic baseball on top, surrounded by a number of metallic flags; first presented in 1985, The text on this trophy read "Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award". apparently the MLB-awarded trophy.
A trapezoidal wooden base, which included the MLB logo, topped by a metallic baseball; first awarded in 1988.
A pyramid-shaped trophy with a dark base, clear body, and baseball on top; in use by 1995.
A scaled-down variant of the Commissioner's Trophy with a single large metallic pennant; last presented in 2017.
A wooden pedestal topped by a bronze sculpture of Willie Mays making "The Catch" in the 1954 World Series; in use since 2018.

Winners

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Key

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Year

|Links to an article about the corresponding World Series

!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|Other<br>awards

|Player also won, in the same season:

:ASG: All-Star Game MVP Award

:CY: Cy Young Award

:LCS: League Championship Series MVP Award

:MVP: Major League Baseball MVP Award

!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#ffffbb"|

|Inductee of the National Baseball Hall of Fame

!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#cfecec"|

|Player is still active in professional baseball

!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#fbd4ff"|#

|Player was a rookie that season

!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#ffbbbb"|§

|Player's team lost the World Series

!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background:#bbffbb"|^

|Multiple award winners in the same World Series

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;|(#)

|Number of times winning World Series MVP at that point (if more than one)

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col"| Player

! scope="col"| Team

! scope="col"| Position

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Selected statistics

! scope="col" | Other<br>awards

! scope="col" class="unsortable"|

! scope="row"|

|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

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|New York Yankees

|Starting pitcher

1–0 record over 2 games started; perfect game in Game 5
7 strikeouts
Pitched first no-hitter and only perfect game in World Series history

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|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

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|New York Yankees

|Pitcher

2–1 record and 1 save over 4 appearances (2 starts); 1 shutout
5 earned runs allowed over innings pitched
13 strikeouts

|CY

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#fbd4ff"|

|Los Angeles Dodgers

| Relief pitcher

2–0 record and 2 saves over 4 appearances
1 earned run allowed over innings pitched
5 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|bgcolor="#ffbbbb"| New York Yankees

|Second baseman

.367 batting average
1 grand slam
12 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|New York Yankees

|Starting pitcher

2–0 record over 2 games started; 1 shutout
14 scoreless innings pitched
7 strikeouts

|CY

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|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

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|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

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|St. Louis Cardinals

|Starting pitcher

2–1 record over 3 games started; 2 complete games
27 innings pitched
31 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"| (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

|CY

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Baltimore Orioles

|Outfielder

.286 batting average
2 home runs
3 runs batted in

|MVP

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"| (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

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|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

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|New York Mets

|First baseman

.357 batting average
3 home runs
4 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Baltimore Orioles

|Third baseman

.429 batting average
2 home runs
6 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Pittsburgh Pirates

|Outfielder

.414 batting average
2 home runs
4 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Oakland Athletics

|Catcher

.348 batting average
4 home runs
9 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Oakland Athletics

|Outfielder

.310 batting average
1 home run
6 runs batted in

|MVP

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Oakland Athletics

|Relief pitcher

1–0 record and 2 saves over 4 appearances
2 earned runs allowed over innings pitched
6 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Cincinnati Reds

|Third baseman

.370 batting average
10 hits
2 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Cincinnati Reds

|Catcher

.533 batting average
2 home runs
6 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"| (2)

|New York Yankees

|Outfielder

.450 batting average
5 home runs (3 in Game 6)
8 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|New York Yankees

|Shortstop

.417 batting average
10 hits
7 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Pittsburgh Pirates

|First baseman

.400 batting average
7 extra-base hits
7 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Philadelphia Phillies

|Third baseman

.381 batting average
2 home runs
7 runs batted in

|MVP

|align=center|

| rowspan="3" bgcolor="#bbffbb" |^

! scope="row"|

| rowspan="3" |Los Angeles Dodgers

|Third baseman

.350 batting average
1 home run
6 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Outfielder

.333 batting average
4 extra-base hits
7 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Baltimore Orioles

|Catcher

.385 batting average
5 hits; all were extra-base hits- (4 doubles and 1 home run)
2 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Detroit Tigers

|Shortstop

.450 batting average
2 home runs
6 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|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

|CY

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|New York Mets

|Third baseman

.391 batting average
Series-winning home run in 7th inning of Game 7
5 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Minnesota Twins

|Starting pitcher

2–1 record over 3 games started
8 earned runs allowed over innings pitched
16 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|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

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Oakland Athletics

|Starting pitcher

2–0 record over 2 games started; 1 shutout
3 earned runs allowed over 16 innings pitched
14 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Cincinnati Reds

|Starting pitcher

2–0 record over 2 games started
1 earned run allowed over innings pitched
14 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|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

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Toronto Blue Jays

|Catcher

.450 batting average
1 home run
3 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Toronto Blue Jays

|Designated hitter,<br />first baseman,<br />third baseman

.500 batting average
12 hits; 6 extra-base hits
8 runs batted in/10 runs scored

|

|align=center|

|align=center colspan=6|Series canceled due to player's strike

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Atlanta Braves

|Starting pitcher

2–0 record over 2 games started
2 earned runs allowed over 14 innings pitched
11 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|New York Yankees

|Relief pitcher

4 saves over 5 appearances
1 earned run allowed over innings pitched
6 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#fbd4ff"|

|Florida Marlins

|Starting pitcher

2–0 record over 2 games started
innings pitched
7 strikeouts

|LCS

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|New York Yankees

|Third baseman

.471 batting average
2 home runs in Game 3
6 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|New York Yankees

|Relief pitcher

1–0 record and 2 saves in 3 appearances
scoreless innings pitched
3 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|New York Yankees

|Shortstop

.409 batting average
2 home runs/ 19 total bases
6 runs scored

|ASG

|align=center|

| rowspan="2" bgcolor="#bbffbb" |^

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

| rowspan="2" |Arizona Diamondbacks

|Pitcher

3–0 record over 3 appearances (2 starts); 1 shutout
2 earned runs allowed over innings pitched
19 strikeouts

|CY

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Starting pitcher

1–0 record over 3 games started
4 earned runs allowed over innings pitched
26 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Anaheim Angels

|Third baseman

.385 batting average
3 home runs
8 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Florida Marlins

|Starting pitcher

1–1 record over 2 games started; 1 shutout
2 earned runs allowed over innings pitched
19 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Boston Red Sox

|Outfielder

.412 batting average
1 home run
4 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Chicago White Sox

|Outfielder

.438 batting average
1 home run
3 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|St. Louis Cardinals

|Shortstop

.364 batting average
8 hits
4 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Boston Red Sox

|Third baseman

.400 batting average
1 home run
4 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" |

|Philadelphia Phillies

|Starting pitcher

1–0 record over 2 games started
4 earned runs allowed over 13 innings pitched
8 strikeouts

|LCS

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|New York Yankees

|Designated hitter

.615 batting average
3 home runs
8 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|San Francisco Giants

|Shortstop

.412 batting average
2 home runs
6 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|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

|LCS

|align=center|

! scope="row" |

|San Francisco Giants

|Third baseman

.500 batting average
3 home runs in Game 1
4 runs batted in

|ASG

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#ffffbb"|

|Boston Red Sox

|Designated hitter

.688 batting average
2 home runs / 4 intentional walks
6 runs batted in

|ASG

|align=center|

!scope="row" |

|San Francisco Giants

|Pitcher

2–0 record and 1 save over 3 appearances (2 starts); 1 shutout
1 earned run allowed over 21 innings pitched
17 strikeouts

|LCS

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#cfecec"|

|Kansas City Royals

|Catcher

.364 batting average
51 innings caught in 5 games played
3 runs scored

|ASG

|align=center|

! scope="row" |

|Chicago Cubs

|Outfielder

.357 batting average
10 hits, including go-ahead RBI double in 10th inning of Game 7
5 runs scored

|ASG

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#cfecec"|

|Houston Astros

|Outfielder

.379 batting average
5 home runs, 7 runs batted in
8 runs scored, 11 hits

|ASG

|align=center|

! scope="row"|

|Boston Red Sox

|First baseman

.333 batting average
3 home runs, 8 runs batted in
1.167 slugging percentage

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" |

|Washington Nationals

|Starting pitcher

2–0 record over 2 games started
4 earned runs allowed over 14 innings pitched
14 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#cfecec"|

|Los Angeles Dodgers

|Shortstop

.400 batting average
2 home runs
5 runs batted in

|LCS

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#cfecec"|

|Atlanta Braves

|Outfielder, designated hitter

.300 batting average
3 go-ahead home runs
6 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#fbd4ff"|

|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

|LCS

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#cfecec"| (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

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#cfecec"|

|Los Angeles Dodgers

|First baseman

.300 batting average
4 home runs, including a game-winning grand slam in the tenth inning of Game 1
12 runs batted in

|

|align=center|

! scope="row" style="background:#cfecec"|

|Los Angeles Dodgers

|Pitcher

3–0 record over 2 games started (1 complete game) and 1 relief appearance
2 earned runs allowed over innings pitched, including 6 innings in Game 6 and innings in relief in Game 7
15 strikeouts

|

|align=center|

Winners by team and by position

thumb|right|150px|Bobby Richardson, the only second baseman to have won the award

From 1955 through 2025, a total of 71 seasons, there have been 70 editions of the World Series played (there was no World Series in ). In 68 editions, a single MVP was named; in 1981, three MVPs were named; and in 2001, two MVPs were named. Thus, there have been a total of 73 MVPs.

The position at which players have won the most MVPs is pitcher, 30 times. Four of those winners were exclusively relief pitchers, the most recent being Mariano Rivera in 1999. Twelve of the first 14 MVPs were pitchers. From 1969 through 1986, the prevalence of pitcher MVPs declined, as only two pitchers won the award during this period. From 1987 through 1991, all of the MVPs were pitchers. Since 1995, years ago, pitchers have won the award eleven times, the most recent being Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2025.

The most uncommon position for an MVP is second baseman, with only Bobby Richardson in 1960 winning at the position. Richardson is also the only MVP to be named from a losing World Series team.

Of the 30 current MLB franchises, 24 have had at least one MVP. The six that have not are the Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Rays. Of those six franchises, five have never won a World Series with Seattle never having been in a World Series and Cleveland last won in 1948, prior to the MVP award being established.

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" border="1" style="text-align:center"

|+ Winners by team

!scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Team

!scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Total

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|New York Yankees

|12

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers

|11

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|St. Louis Cardinals

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Boston Red Sox

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Oakland Athletics

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Baltimore Orioles

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Cincinnati Reds

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Atlanta/Milwaukee Braves

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|San Francisco Giants

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Arizona Diamondbacks

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Detroit Tigers

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Miami/Florida Marlins

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Houston Astros

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Kansas City Royals

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Minnesota Twins

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|New York Mets

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Philadelphia Phillies

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Pittsburgh Pirates

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Toronto Blue Jays

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Los Angeles/Anaheim Angels

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Chicago Cubs

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Chicago White Sox

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Texas Rangers

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Washington Nationals

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" border="1" style="text-align:center"

|+ Winners by position

!scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Position

!scope="col" style="text-align:center;"|Total

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Pitcher

|30

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Third baseman

|10

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Outfielder

|10

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Shortstop

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Catcher

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|First baseman

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Designated hitter

!scope="row" style="text-align:center;"|Second baseman

Note: When a player is listed at multiple positions in the main table, the first position is deemed to be his primary position, and he has been counted here as such.

Notable accomplishments

Four players have won the award twice: Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965), Bob Gibson (1964, 1967), Reggie Jackson (1973, 1977), and Corey Seager (2020, 2023). Jackson and Seager are the only players to have won the award with two different teams, while Seager is the first player to win the award in both leagues. Additionally, Koufax, Gibson, and Jackson all won their first MVP's playing against a team that Yogi Berra either played or managed (1963 - played for the Yankees, 1964 - managed the Yankees, and 1973 - managed the Mets).

A total of 13 players born outside of the United States have been named World Series MVP, with Pedro Guerrero, a native of the Dominican Republic, being the first to win it in 1981. Of players born outside the U.S., the Dominican Republic has produced the most World Series MVP winners, with five. Venezuela, Cuba, and Japan have produced two each, and Colombia, and Panama have each produced one. California-born Freddie Freeman, the 2024 MVP, holds dual citizenship in both the U.S. and Canada.

Pitchers

Johnny Podres won the inaugural award in 1955, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Podres, with a 9–10 win–loss record during the regular season, beat the Yankees twice in the series; both victories were complete games.
Bruce Hurst of the Boston Red Sox had been voted MVP of the 1986 World Series during Game 6, before the New York Mets staged a comeback and went on to win in seven games, with Ray Knight being named the MVP.
1989 winner Dave Stewart was the first pitcher to win two games each in a League Championship Series and a World Series in the same postseason.
1996 winner John Wetteland set a World Series record with four saves.
The 2001 co-MVPs, Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, combined for all four of Arizona's wins in the Series.

Position players

Bobby Richardson, winner of the 1960 award, had 12 runs batted in, a World Series record. Jackson had a total of five home runs in the series, a World Series record.
Willie Stargell won the 1979 award at the age of 39, and remains the oldest player to be named World Series MVP.
Barry Bonds was voted the 2002 World Series MVP the day before the Anaheim Angels staged a comeback in Game 6 and won in seven games, resulting in Troy Glaus being named the MVP.
Hideki Matsui, the 2009 winner, batted in six runs in the sixth game of the 2009 World Series, tying Richardson's record for most runs batted in for a single World Series game. Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to win the award and the first player to win it as a full-time designated hitter. He is also the only player named both a World Series MVP and a Japan Series MVP.

Other awards

thumb|right|150px|[[Willie Stargell was named MLB MVP, LCS MVP, and World Series MVP in 1979.]]

Six pitchers have 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). The Cy Young Award was initiated in 1956, as one award for all of MLB; it has been awarded in both leagues since 1967.

Nine players have been named both a 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), and Jeremy Peña (2022). The LCS MVP was first awarded in 1977 for the National League and in 1980 for the American League.

To date, 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. An All-Star Game MVP has been named since 1962.

Five players have received both a Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award and the World Series MVP Award in the same season: Sandy Koufax (1963), Frank Robinson (1966), Reggie Jackson (1973), Willie Stargell (1979), and Mike Schmidt (1980). The MLB MVP has been awarded to a player in each league since 1931.

Three players have won a World Series MVP plus two of the above awards in the same season:

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

References

External links

Postseason Awards: World Series MVP
World Series Most Valuable Player Award at Baseball Almanac
MLB Postseason: Willie Mays World Series MVP Award Winners at Baseball-Reference

Car and trophy

Winners

Winners by team and by position

Notable accomplishments

Pitchers

Position players

Other awards

See also

References

External links