League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award
The League Championship Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players deemed to have the most impact on their teams' performances in each of the two respective League Championship Series that comprise the penultimate round of the MLB postseason. The award is given separately for a player in both the American League Championship Series and the National League Championship Series.[1] It has been presented in the National League (NL) since 1977, and in the American League (AL) since 1980.[2] Dusty Baker won the inaugural award in 1977 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Frank White won the first AL award in 1980 with the Kansas City Royals. The ten Hall of Famers to win LCS MVPs include Roberto Alomar, George Brett, Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson, Kirby Puckett, Ozzie Smith, Willie Stargell, John Smoltz, Iván Rodríguez, and Mariano Rivera.
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
League | Major League Baseball |
Awarded for | Annual most valuable players of the two League Championship Series |
Country | United States, Canada |
Presented by | American League, National League |
History | |
First award | 1977 (NL), 1980 (AL) |
Most recent | Jeremy Peña (AL) Bryce Harper (NL) |
Three players have won the award twice: Steve Garvey (1978, 1984), Dave Stewart (1990, 1993), and Orel Hershiser (1988, 1995). Incidentally, all three of these players won their two awards with two different teams. Seven players have gone on to win the World Series MVP Award in the same season in which they won the LCS MVP—all of them in the NL. Three players have won while playing for the losing team in the series: Fred Lynn played for the 1982 California Angels;[3] Mike Scott pitched for the 1986 Houston Astros;[4] and Jeffrey Leonard played for the 1987 San Francisco Giants.[5] Two players have shared the award in the same year three times, all in the NL; Rob Dibble and Randy Myers for the 1990 Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester and Javier Báez in 2016, and Chris Taylor and Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017.
Garvey, Leonard, Albert Pujols, and Randy Arozarena hit four home runs in their winning series—Garvey in his first win.[6][7][8][9] Adam Kennedy won the 2002 ALCS MVP when he hit 3 home runs in 1 game;[10] he had hit 7 during the regular season and hit 80 in his 14-year career.[11] David Ortiz had 11 runs batted in (RBIs) during the 2004 ALCS[12] and Iván Rodríguez had 10 during the 2003 NLCS[13]—the only two players to reach double-digit RBIs in the series in the history of the award. From the pitcher's mound, Steve Avery threw 16+1⁄3 innings without giving up a run in the 1991 NLCS,[14] and John Smoltz amassed 19 strikeouts the following year.[15] Liván Hernández won the 1997 NLCS MVP after winning his only start and earning a win out of the bullpen in relief; he struck out 16 in 10+2⁄3 innings. Daniel Murphy won the 2015 NLCS MVP after hitting home runs in six consecutive games, setting a major league record.[16]
Liván Hernández (1997, NL) and his half-brother Orlando Hernández (1999, AL) are the only family pair to have won the award.[17] The only rookies to have won the award are Mike Boddicker (1983, AL), Liván Hernández (1997, NL), Michael Wacha (2013, NL), Randy Arozarena (2020, AL) and Jeremy Peña (2022, AL).[18][9]
Key
Year | Links to the article about that corresponding ALCS or NLCS |
† | Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame |
* | Indicates that the player won the World Series MVP Award the same year |
§ | Indicates losing team in the series |
^ | Indicates multiple award winners in the same year |
(#) | Indicates number of times winning League Championship Series MVP at that point (if he won multiple times) |
American League winners
Year | Player | Team | Position | Selected statistics | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Frank White | Kansas City Royals | Second baseman |
|
[19] |
1981 | Graig Nettles | New York Yankees | Third baseman |
|
[20] |
1982 | Fred Lynn | California Angels§ | Outfielder |
|
[21] |
1983 | Mike Boddicker | Baltimore Orioles | Starting pitcher |
|
[22] |
1984 | Kirk Gibson | Detroit Tigers | Outfielder |
|
[23] |
1985 | George Brett† | Kansas City Royals | Third baseman |
|
[24] |
1986 | Marty Barrett | Boston Red Sox | Second baseman |
|
[25] |
1987 | Gary Gaetti | Minnesota Twins | Third baseman |
|
[26] |
1988 | Dennis Eckersley† | Oakland Athletics | Relief pitcher |
|
[27] |
1989 | Rickey Henderson† | Oakland Athletics | Outfielder |
|
[28] |
1990 | Dave Stewart | Oakland Athletics | Starting pitcher |
|
[29] |
1991 | Kirby Puckett† | Minnesota Twins | Outfielder |
|
[30] |
1992 | Roberto Alomar† | Toronto Blue Jays | Second baseman |
|
[31] |
1993 | Dave Stewart (2) | Toronto Blue Jays | Starting pitcher |
|
[32] |
1994 | Series cancelled due to player's strike | [33] | |||
1995 | Orel Hershiser (2) | Cleveland Indians | Starting pitcher |
|
[34] |
1996 | Bernie Williams | New York Yankees | Outfielder |
|
[35] |
1997 | Marquis Grissom | Cleveland Indians | Outfielder |
|
[36] |
1998 | David Wells | New York Yankees | Starting pitcher |
|
[37] |
1999 | Orlando Hernández | New York Yankees | Starting pitcher |
|
[38] |
2000 | David Justice | New York Yankees | Outfielder |
|
[39] |
2001 | Andy Pettitte | New York Yankees | Starting pitcher |
|
[40] |
2002 | Adam Kennedy | Anaheim Angels | Second baseman |
|
[10] |
2003 | Mariano Rivera† | New York Yankees | Relief pitcher |
|
[41] |
2004 | David Ortiz† | Boston Red Sox | Designated hitter |
|
[12] |
2005 | Paul Konerko | Chicago White Sox | First baseman |
|
[42] |
2006 | Plácido Polanco | Detroit Tigers | Second baseman |
|
[43] |
2007 | Josh Beckett | Boston Red Sox | Starting pitcher |
|
[44] |
2008 | Matt Garza | Tampa Bay Rays | Starting pitcher |
|
[45] |
2009 | CC Sabathia | New York Yankees | Starting pitcher |
|
[46] |
2010 | Josh Hamilton | Texas Rangers | Outfielder |
|
[47] |
2011 | Nelson Cruz | Texas Rangers | Outfielder |
|
[48] |
2012 | Delmon Young | Detroit Tigers | Designated hitter |
|
[49] |
2013 | Koji Uehara | Boston Red Sox | Relief pitcher |
|
[50] |
2014 | Lorenzo Cain | Kansas City Royals | Outfielder | [51] | |
2015 | Alcides Escobar | Kansas City Royals | Shortstop | [52] | |
2016 | Andrew Miller | Cleveland Indians | Relief pitcher |
|
[53] |
2017 | Justin Verlander | Houston Astros | Starting pitcher |
|
[54] |
2018 | Jackie Bradley Jr. | Boston Red Sox | Center fielder |
|
[55] |
2019 | José Altuve | Houston Astros | Second baseman |
|
[56] |
2020 | Randy Arozarena | Tampa Bay Rays | Outfielder |
|
[57] |
2021 | Yordan Álvarez | Houston Astros | Designated hitter |
|
[58] |
2022 | Jeremy Peña | Houston Astros | Shortstop |
|
[58] |
National League winners
Year | Player | Team | Position | Selected statistics | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | Dusty Baker | Los Angeles Dodgers | Outfielder |
|
[59] |
1978 | Steve Garvey | Los Angeles Dodgers | First baseman |
|
[6] |
1979* | Willie Stargell† | Pittsburgh Pirates | First baseman |
|
[60] |
1980 | Manny Trillo | Philadelphia Phillies | Second baseman |
|
[61] |
1981 | Burt Hooton | Los Angeles Dodgers | Starting pitcher |
|
[62] |
1982* | Darrell Porter | St. Louis Cardinals | Catcher | [63] | |
1983 | Gary Matthews | Philadelphia Phillies | Outfielder |
|
[64] |
1984 | Steve Garvey (2) | San Diego Padres | First baseman |
|
[65] |
1985 | Ozzie Smith† | St. Louis Cardinals | Shortstop |
|
[66] |
1986 | Mike Scott | Houston Astros§ | Starting pitcher |
|
[67] |
1987 | Jeffrey Leonard | San Francisco Giants§ | Outfielder |
|
[7] |
1988* | Orel Hershiser | Los Angeles Dodgers | Pitcher |
|
[68] |
1989 | Will Clark | San Francisco Giants | First baseman |
|
[69] |
1990^ | Rob Dibble | Cincinnati Reds | Relief pitcher |
|
[70] |
1990^ | Randy Myers | Cincinnati Reds | Relief pitcher |
|
[70] |
1991 | Steve Avery | Atlanta Braves | Starting pitcher |
|
[14] |
1992 | John Smoltz† | Atlanta Braves | Starting pitcher |
|
[15] |
1993 | Curt Schilling | Philadelphia Phillies | Starting pitcher |
|
[71] |
1994 | Series cancelled due to player's strike | [33] | |||
1995 | Mike Devereaux | Atlanta Braves | Outfielder |
|
[72] |
1996 | Javy López | Atlanta Braves | Catcher |
|
[73] |
1997* | Liván Hernández | Florida Marlins | Starting pitcher |
|
[74] |
1998 | Sterling Hitchcock | San Diego Padres | Starting pitcher |
|
[75] |
1999 | Eddie Pérez | Atlanta Braves | Catcher |
|
[76] |
2000 | Mike Hampton | New York Mets | Starting pitcher |
|
[77] |
2001 | Craig Counsell | Arizona Diamondbacks | Infielder |
|
[78] |
2002 | Benito Santiago | San Francisco Giants | Catcher |
|
[79] |
2003 | Iván Rodríguez† | Florida Marlins | Catcher |
|
[13] |
2004 | Albert Pujols | St. Louis Cardinals | First baseman |
|
[8] |
2005 | Roy Oswalt | Houston Astros | Starting pitcher |
|
[80] |
2006 | Jeff Suppan | St. Louis Cardinals | Starting pitcher | [81] | |
2007 | Matt Holliday | Colorado Rockies | Outfielder |
|
[82] |
2008* | Cole Hamels | Philadelphia Phillies | Starting pitcher |
|
[83] |
2009 | Ryan Howard | Philadelphia Phillies | First baseman |
|
[84] |
2010 | Cody Ross | San Francisco Giants | Outfielder |
|
[85] |
2011* | David Freese | St. Louis Cardinals | Third baseman |
|
[86] |
2012 | Marco Scutaro | San Francisco Giants | Second baseman |
|
[87] |
2013 | Michael Wacha | St. Louis Cardinals | Starting pitcher |
|
[88] |
2014* | Madison Bumgarner | San Francisco Giants | Starting pitcher |
|
[89] |
2015 | Daniel Murphy | New York Mets | Infielder |
|
[90] |
2016^ | Jon Lester | Chicago Cubs | Starting pitcher |
|
[91] |
2016^ | Javier Báez | Chicago Cubs | Infielder |
|
[91] |
2017^ | Justin Turner | Los Angeles Dodgers | Third baseman |
|
[92] |
2017^ | Chris Taylor | Los Angeles Dodgers | Outfielder |
|
[92] |
2018 | Cody Bellinger | Los Angeles Dodgers | First baseman |
|
[93] |
2019 | Howie Kendrick | Washington Nationals | Second baseman |
|
[94] |
2020* | Corey Seager | Los Angeles Dodgers | Shortstop |
|
[95] |
2021 | Eddie Rosario | Atlanta Braves | Outfielder |
|
[96] |
2022 | Bryce Harper | Philadelphia Phillies | Designated hitter |
|
[97] |
References
- General
- "Post-Season Awards & All-Star Game MVP Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
- Inline citations
- Rand, Michael (September 3, 2009). "Thursday (Derek Jeter over Joe Mauer for MVP?) edition: Wha' Happened?". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Retrieved September 12, 2009.
- Gillette, Gary; Palmer, Pete, eds. (2006). The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia. Sterling. p. 1656. ISBN 1-4027-3625-8.
- "1982 California Angels Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
- "1986 Houston Astros Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
- "1987 San Francisco Giants Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
- "1978 League Championship Series – LAD vs. PHI". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
- "1987 League Championship Series – STL vs. SFG". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2004 League Championship Series – STL vs. HOU". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- Bob Nightengale (October 18, 2020). "With four ALCS homers, Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena named series MVP". USAToday.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- "2002 League Championship Series – ANA vs. MIN". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "Adam Kennedy Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
- "2004 League Championship Series – BOS vs. NYY". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2003 League Championship Series – FLA vs. CHC". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1991 League Championship Series – ATL vs. PIT". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1992 League Championship Series – ATL vs. PIT". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "Mets' Daniel Murphy sets mark with homer in sixth straight playoff game". ESPN.com. 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
- "Orlando Hernández Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
- Michael Wacha named NLCS MVP
- "1980 League Championship Series – KCR vs. NYY". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
- "1981 League Championship Series – NYY vs. OAK". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1982 League Championship Series – MIL vs. CAL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1983 League Championship Series – BAL vs. CHW". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1984 League Championship Series – DET vs. KCR". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1985 League Championship Series – KCR vs. TOR". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1986 League Championship Series – BOS vs. CAL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1987 League Championship Series – MIN vs. DET". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1988 League Championship Series – OAK vs. BOS". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1989 League Championship Series – OAK vs. TOR". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1990 League Championship Series – OAK vs. BOS". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1991 League Championship Series – MIN vs. TOR". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1992 League Championship Series – TOR vs. OAK". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1993 League Championship Series – TOR vs. CHW". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- Bryant, Howard (2005). Juicing the Game. Penguin Group. p. 53. ISBN 0-670-03445-2.
- "1995 League Championship Series – CLE vs. SEA". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1996 League Championship Series – NYY vs. BAL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1997 League Championship Series – CLE vs. BAL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1998 League Championship Series – NYY vs. CLE". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1999 League Championship Series – NYY vs. BOS". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2000 League Championship Series – NYY vs. SEA". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2001 League Championship Series – NYY vs. SEA". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2003 League Championship Series – NYY vs. BOS". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2005 League Championship Series – CHW vs. LAA". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2004 League Championship Series – DET vs. OAK". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2007 League Championship Series – BOS vs. CLE". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2008 League Championship Series – TBR vs. BOS". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2008 League Championship Series – NYY vs. LAA". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
- "2010 League Championship Series – NYY vs. TEX". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- "2011 League Championship Series – DET vs. TEX". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
- "2012 League Championship Series – DET vs. NYY". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
- "2013 League Championship Series – DET vs. BOS". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
- "2014 League Championship Series – KC vs. BAL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- "2015 League Championship Series – TOR vs. KC". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- "2017 League Championship Series – CLE vs. TOR". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
- "2017 League Championship Series – HOU vs. NYY". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
- "2017 League Championship Series – BOS vs. HOU". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- "Astros' Jose Altuve named MVP of AL Championship Series". ESPN. October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- Cassavell, AJ (October 18, 2020). "Arozarena slugs way to ALCS MVP honors". MLB.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
- Kramer, Daniel (October 22, 2021). "MVP Alvarez (.522) unstoppable in ALCS". MLB.com. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- "1977 League Championship Series – LAD vs. PHI". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
- "1979 League Championship Series – PIT vs. CIN". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1980 League Championship Series – PHI vs. HOU". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1981 League Championship Series – LAD vs. MON". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1982 League Championship Series – STL vs. ATL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1983 League Championship Series – PHI vs. LAD". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1984 League Championship Series – SDP vs. CHC". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1985 League Championship Series – STL vs. LAD". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1986 League Championship Series – NYM vs. HOU". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1988 League Championship Series – LAD vs. NYM". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1989 League Championship Series – SFG vs. CHC". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1990 League Championship Series – CIN vs. PIT". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1993 League Championship Series – PHI vs. ATL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1995 League Championship Series – ATL vs. CIN". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1996 League Championship Series – ATL vs. STL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1997 League Championship Series – FLA vs. ATL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1998 League Championship Series – SDP vs. ATL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "1999 League Championship Series – ATL vs. NYM". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2000 League Championship Series – NYM vs. STL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2001 League Championship Series – ARI vs. ATL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2002 League Championship Series – SFG vs. STL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2005 League Championship Series – HOU vs. STL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2006 League Championship Series – STL vs. NYM". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2007 League Championship Series – COL vs. ARI". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2008 League Championship Series – PHI vs. LAD". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
- "2009 League Championship Series – LAD vs. PHI". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 22, 2009.
- "2010 League Championship Series – SF vs. PHI". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- "2011 League Championship Series – STL vs. MIL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
- "2012 League Championship Series – STL vs. SF". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
- "2013 League Championship Series – LAD vs. STL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
- "2014 League Championship Series – SF vs. STL". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
- "2015 League Championship Series – CHC vs. NYM". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- "2016 League Championship Series – CHC vs. LAD". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
- "2017 NLCS: Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago Cubs (4-1)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
- Stephen, Eric (October 20, 2018). "Cody Bellinger named NLCS MVP". SB Nation. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- Kasabian, Paul (October 15, 2019). "Howie Kendrick Named NLCS MVP After Nationals Sweep Cardinals". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- Gurnick, Ken (October 19, 2020). "Seager (5 HRs, 11 RBIs) wins NLCS MVP". MLB.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- DiComo, Anthony (October 24, 2021). "Eddie again! MVP Rosario homers in clincher". MLB.com. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- "Harper garners 2022 NLCS MVP Award". MLB.com. October 23, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
Further reading
- Lubbers, Jeff (October 29, 2011). "A New Way to Select Series MVPs". YardBarker.com. Baseball Daily Digest. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
External links
- Playoff and World Series Stats at Baseball-Reference