World Series Mvp List: Complete History Of Winners

The Willie Mac Award, the Cy Young, and the MVP trophies all carry heavy weight, but nothing matches the single-series prestige of the World Series Most Valuable Player award. Established officially by Major League Baseball in 1955, this honor pinpoints the player who performed at their absolute peak during the Fall Classic. From dominant starting pitchers who threw complete-game shutouts to clutch hitters who launched walk-off homers, tracking this historical roster reveals how championships are truly won under the brightest lights.

The Origins and Evolution of the Fall Classic MVP

Before 1955, media panels and commissioners occasionally handed out informal awards or commemorative trophies, but Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick authorized the official Babe Ruth Award and the World Series MVP tradition starting with the Brooklyn Dodgers' victory in 1955. Johnny Podres took home that inaugural hardware by shutting down the mighty New York Yankees in Game 7.

Over the decades, voting rules shifted. Writers from the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) vote alongside broadcasters at the conclusion of the final game. While the award usually goes to a member of the winning franchise, rare exceptions and incredible losing-side performances almost happened, though voters have kept the honor exclusively with the champions since its inception.

Year-by-Year World Series MVP List

Reviewing the complete historical ledger highlights decades of postseason brilliance.

2025: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers)
2024: Freddie Freeman (First Baseman, Los Angeles Dodgers)
2023: Corey Seager (Shortstop, Texas Rangers)
2022: Jeremy Peña (Shortstop, Houston Astros)
2021: Jorge Soler (Outfielder, Atlanta Braves)
2020: Corey Seager (Shortstop, Los Angeles Dodgers)
2019: Stephen Strasburg (Pitcher, Washington Nationals)
2018: Steve Pearce (First Baseman, Boston Red Sox)
2017: George Springer (Outfielder, Houston Astros)
2016: Ben Zobrist (Outfielder, Chicago Cubs)
2015: Salvador Pérez (Catcher, Kansas City Royals)
2014: Madison Bumgarner (Pitcher, San Francisco Giants)
2013: David Ortiz (Designated Hitter, Boston Red Sox)
2012: Pablo Sandoval (Third Baseman, San Francisco Giants)
2011: David Freese (Third Baseman, St. Louis Cardinals)
2010: Edgar Renteria (Shortstop, San Francisco Giants)
2009: Hideki Matsui (Designated Hitter, New York Yankees)
2008: Cole Hamels (Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies)
2007: Mike Lowell (Third Baseman, Boston Red Sox)
2006: David Eckstein (Shortstop, St. Louis Cardinals)
2005: Jermaine Dye (Outfielder, Chicago White Sox)
2004: Manny Ramirez (Outfielder, Boston Red Sox)
2003: Josh Beckett (Pitcher, Florida Marlins)
2002: Troy Glaus (Third Baseman, Anaheim Angels)
2001: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling (Pitchers, Arizona Diamondbacks)
2000: Derek Jeter (Shortstop, New York Yankees)
1999: Mariano Rivera (Pitcher, New York Yankees)
1998: Scott Brosius (Third Baseman, New York Yankees)
1997: Liván Hernández (Pitcher, Florida Marlins)
1996: John Wetteland (Pitcher, New York Yankees)
1995: Tom Glavine (Pitcher, Atlanta Braves)
1994: None (Player strike canceled the Fall Classic)
1993: Paul Molitor (Designated Hitter, Toronto Blue Jays)
1992: Pat Borders (Catcher, Toronto Blue Jays)
1991: Jack Morris (Pitcher, Minnesota Twins)
1990: José Rijo (Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds)
1989: Dave Stewart (Pitcher, Oakland Athletics)
1988: Orel Hershiser (Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers)
1987: Frank Viola (Pitcher, Minnesota Twins)
1986: Ray Knight (Third Baseman, New York Mets)
1985: Bret Saberhagen (Pitcher, Kansas City Royals)
1984: Alan Trammell (Shortstop, Detroit Tigers)
1983: Rick Dempsey (Catcher, Baltimore Orioles)
1982: Darrell Porter (Catcher, St. Louis Cardinals)
1981: Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager (Los Angeles Dodgers)
1980: Mike Schmidt (Third Baseman, Philadelphia Phillies)
1979: Willie Stargell (First Baseman, Pittsburgh Pirates)
1978: Bucky Dent (Shortstop, New York Yankees)
1977: Reggie Jackson (Outfielder, New York Yankees)
1976: Johnny Bench (Catcher, Cincinnati Reds)
1975: Pete Rose (Third Baseman, Cincinnati Reds)
1974: Rollie Fingers (Pitcher, Oakland Athletics)
1973: Reggie Jackson (Outfielder, Oakland Athletics)
1972: Gene Tenace (Catcher, Oakland Athletics)
1971: Roberto Clemente (Outfielder, Pittsburgh Pirates)
1970: Brooks Robinson (Third Baseman, Baltimore Orioles)
1969: Donn Clendenon (First Baseman, New York Mets)
1968: Mickey Lolich (Pitcher, Detroit Tigers)
1967: Bob Gibson (Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals)
1966: Frank Robinson (Outfielder, Baltimore Orioles)
1965: Sandy Koufax (Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers)
1964: Bob Gibson (Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals)
1963: Sandy Koufax (Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers)
1962: Ralph Terry (Pitcher, New York Yankees)
1961: Whitey Ford (Pitcher, New York Yankees)
1960: Bobby Richardson (Second Baseman, New York Yankees)
1959: Larry Sherry (Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers)
1958: Bob Turley (Pitcher, New York Yankees)
1957: Lew Burdette (Pitcher, Milwaukee Braves)
1956: Don Larsen (Pitcher, New York Yankees)
1955: Johnny Podres (Brooklyn Dodgers)

The Exclusive Multi-Time Winners Club

Winning the award once secures a player's place in baseball lore, but capturing it multiple times elevates an athlete into legendary status. Only four players in MLB history have earned the World Series MVP award twice.

Sandy Koufax (1963, 1965): The dominant left-hander was unhittable for the Los Angeles Dodgers, famously refusing to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 series because it fell on Yom Kippur, before returning to throw shutouts later in the series.
Bob Gibson (1964, 1967): The St. Louis Cardinals powerhouse threw complete games in every single World Series start across his appearances, stifling opponents with high-velocity fastballs and sharp sliders.
Reggie Jackson (1973, 1977): Known as "Mr. October," Jackson earned the moniker by starring for two different franchises, hitting three consecutive home runs on three consecutive pitches in the 1977 clincher for the New York Yankees.
Corey Seager (2020, 2023): The modern era's premier clutch hitter joined this elite group by winning his first with the Dodgers and his second with the Texas Rangers, displaying elite plate discipline and immense power.

Position Breakdown and Trends

Pitchers historically dominated the early decades of the award. In the first 25 years, starting pitchers and relievers claimed the trophy more often than position players because a dominant arm could single-handedly control four games of a seven-game series.

However, modern roster construction and heavy reliance on bullpens mean complete-game gems are rare. Shortstops and outfielders now capture the hardware with greater frequency. Franchises like the New York Yankees lead all organizations with the highest total number of MVP awards, followed closely by the Dodgers.

Common Misconceptions About the Award

Fans often look at overall postseason numbers and assume the League Championship Series (LCS) stats roll over. Voters isolate their ballots strictly to the final round. A player can hit five home runs in the NLCS or ALCS, but if they go cold during the Fall Classic, they won't sniff the MVP trophy.

👉 See also: World Series Sweeps: History,

Another frequent point of confusion involves co-MVPs. Major League Baseball has only awarded co-MVPs twice in history: to the entire Los Angeles infield trio in 1981 (Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager) and to co-aces Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has a player from a losing team ever won the World Series MVP?

No. Every single winner in the history of the award has played for the franchise that hoisted the championship trophy at the end of the series.

Who was the first relief pitcher to win the award?

Larry Sherry of the Los Angeles Dodgers broke through as the first relief pitcher to win the honor back in 1959, picking up two wins and two saves across four appearances.

Can a designated hitter win the World Series MVP?

Yes. Sluggers like Paul Molitor (1993), Hideki Matsui (2009), and David Ortiz (2013) proved that players restricted to hitting can still carry an offense well enough to claim the award.

📖 Related: World Series Titles: Franchise