Bryce Harper – powering his way to a unanimous MVP selection.
In recently capturing all thirty first-place NL MVP votes, Nationals’ right fielder Bryce Harper became the fourth youngest MVP in MLB history, the youngest-ever unanimous MVP choice – and just the 18th unanimous MVP selection.
Despite the fact that the Nationals did not make the playoffs (all three NL MVP finalists came from teams that did not make the post season), Harper delivered the kind of season that has been expected from him since he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award (as teenager) back in 2012. Harper led the league in such traditional categories as runs scored, home runs, on base percentage and slugging percentage – as well as in such new metrics as Wins Above Replacement, Offensive Win Percentage and Runs Created. He was also in the NL’s top five in batting average, total bases, doubles, runs batted in and walks.
There are solid indications that, if you want to earn a unanimous MVP selection, the power game is a good place to start. The 18 unanimous MVP selections include the most league leaders in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage (ten each); followed by runs scored and total bases (eight league leaders each) – as opposed to four leaders in on base percentage and three batting champions.
In this post, BBRT will provide a brief snapshot of MLB’s 18 unanimous MVP’s – but first a few facts about those who have earned that honor:
- There have been ten unanimous MVP choices in the AL; eight in the NL.
- First base is the most popular position with five unanimous MVPs; followed by right field (four); center field and third base (three each); pitcher (two); left field (one).
- 14 unanimous MVPs came from first-place teams, the other four from second-place finishers. (The Nationals .512 winning percentage was the lowest ever for a team boasting a unanimous MVP.)
- While Bryce Harper was the youngest-ever unanimous MVP, the Giants’ Barry Bonds was the oldest ever – at age 37 (at the start of the 2002 season).
- The average age of unanimous MVP winners (at start of their MVP seasons) is 29. The most popular age is 24, with five of the eighteen unanimous MVP winners starting their award-winning season at age 24.
- The fourth MLB season seems to be the charm. It is the earliest point in a career that any player has earned a unanimous MVP selection – and more players have achieved unanimous MVP status in their fourth season (six of the eighteen) than any other career point. BBRT note: Hank Greenberg – counted among these six, essentially earned his unanimous MVP in three seasons. His first season included just one September plate appearance.
- Only four players have earned unanimous MVP status in their tenth season or later – Orlando Cepeda (10th); Ken Caminti (10th); Frank Robinson (11th); Barry Bonds (17th).
- Eight of the 18 unanimous MVP winners have won multiple MVP awards: Barry Bonds (seven); Albert Pujols, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt (three each); Hank Greenberg, Carl Hubbell, Frank Robinson; Frank Thomas (two each).
- Only two position players have earned 100 percent of the first place MVP votes without leading their league in any traditional offensive categories: Frank Thomas (AL, 1993) and Ken Caminiti (NL, 1996).
- The two pitchers to earn unanimous MVP selection both led their league in wins and winning percentage – Carl Hubbell, 1936 and Denny McLain, 1938.
- Three teams have had multiple unanimous MVP winners: The Tigers (Hank Greenberg, 1935 and Denny McLain, 1968); Giants (Carl Hubbell, 1936 and Barry Bonds, 2002); and the Cardinals (Orlando Cepeda, 1967 and Albert Pujols, 2009).
Now, here’s a “snap shot” of each of the eighteen unanimously selected MVPs. *=Hall of Famer
Hank Greenberg*, 1B, Tigers – 1935
Age (at start of MVP season): 24
MLB Season (in which the unanimous MVP was won): Fourth
Team Finish: First Place (93-58, .616)
MVP Awards: 1935, 1940
States … Games: 152 Avg.: .328 Hits: 203 Doubles: 46 Triples: 16 HRs: 36 Runs: 120 RBI: 168 Steals: 4
Led league in Home Runs (36); RBI (168); Total Bases (389)
_____
Carl Hubbell*, SP, Giants – 1936
Age: 32
MLB Season: Ninth
Team Finish: First Place (92-62, .597)
MVP Awards: 1933, 1936
Stat … W-L: 26-6 .813 ERA: 2:31 Innings Pitched: 304 Strikeouts: 123
Led League in: Wins (26); Winning Percentage. (813); ERA (2.31)
_____
Al Rosen, 3B, Indians – 1953
Age: 24
MLB Season: Seventh
Team Finish: Second Place (92-62, .597)
MVP Awards: 1953
Stats … Games: 155 Avg.: .336 Hits: 201 Doubles: 27 Triples: 5 HRs: 43 Runs: 115 RBI: 145 Steals: 8
Led league in: Home Runs (43); Runs (115); RBI (145); Total Bases (367); Slugging Percentage (.613)
_____
Mickey Mantle*, Center Field, Yankees – 1956
Age: 24
MLB Season: Sixth
Team Finish: First Place (97-57, .630)
MVP Awards: 1956, 1957, 1962
Stats … Games: 150 Avg.: .353 Hits: 188 Doubles: 22 Triples: 5 HRs: 52 Runs: 132 RBI: 130 Steals: 10
Led league in: Average (.353); Home Runs (52); Runs (132); RBI (130); Total Bases (376); Slugging Percentage (.705)
_____
Frank Robinson*, Orioles – 1966
Age: 30
MLB Season: Eleventh
Team Finish: First Place (97-63, .606)
MVP Awards: 1961, 1966
Stats … Games: 155 Avg.: .316 Hits: 182 Doubles: 34 Triples: 2 HRs: 49 Runs: 122 RBI: 122 Steals: 8
Led league in: Average (.316); Home Runs (49); Runs (122); RBI (122); Total Bases (367); On Base Percentage (.410); Slugging Percentage (.637)
______
Orlando Cepeda*, First Base, Cardinals – 1967
Age: 29
MLB Season: Tenth
Team Finish: First Place (101-60, .627)
MVP Awards: 1967
Stats … Games: 151 Avg.: .325 Hits: 183 Doubles: 37 Triples: 0 HRs: 525 Runs: 91 RBI: 111 Steals: 11
Led league in: RBI (111); HBP (12)
______
Denny McLain, SP, Tigers – 1968
Age: 24
MLB Season: Sixth
Team Finish: First Place (103-59, .636)
MVP Awards: 1968
Stats … W-L: 31-6, .838 ERA: 1.96 Innings Pitched: 336 Strikeouts: 280
Led league in: Wins (31); Winning Percentage. (.838); Innings Pitched (336); Starts (41); CG (28)
_____
Reggie Jackson*, RF, A’s – 1973
Age: 26
MLB Season: Seventh
Team Finish: First Place (94-68, .580)
MVP Awards: 1973
Stats … Games: 151 Avg.: .293 Hits: 158 Doubles: 28 Triples: 2 HRs: 32 Runs: 99 RBI: 117 Steals: 22
Led league in: Home Runs (32); Runs (99); RBI (117); Slugging Percentage (.531)
_____
Mike Schmidt*, 3B. Phillies – 1980
Age: 30
MLB Season: Ninth
Team Finish: First Place (91-71, .562)
MVP Awards: 1980, 1981, 1986
Stats .. Games: 150 Avg.: .286 Hits: 157 Doubles: 25 Triples: 8 HRs: 48 Runs: 104 RBI: 21 Steals: 12
Led league in: Home Runs (48); RBI (121); Total Bases (342); Slugging Percentage (.624); Gold Glove
______
Jose Canseco, Right Field, A’s 1988
Age: 23
MLB Season: Fourth
Team Finish: First Place (104-58, .642)
MVP Awards: 1988
Stats … Games: 158 Avg.: .307 Hits: 187 Doubles: 34 Triples: 0 HRs: 42 Runs: 120 RBI: 124 Steals: 40
Led league in: Home Runs (42); RBI (124); Slugging. Percentage (.569)
______
Frank Thomas*, First Base, White Sox – 1993
Age: 24
Major League Season: Fourth
Team Finish: First Place (94-68, .580)
MVP Awards: 1993, 1994
Stats … Games: 153 Avg.: .317 Hits: 174 Doubles: 36 Triples: 0 HRs: 41 Runs: 106 RBI: 128 Steals: 4
Led league in: No traditional offensive categories.
______
Jeff Bagwell, First Base, Astros – 1994
Age: 26
MLB Season: Fourth
Team Finish: Second Place (66-49, .574)
MVP Awards: 1994
Stats … Games: 110 Avg.: .368 Hits: 147 Doubles: 32 Triples: 2 HRs: 39 Runs: 104 RBI: 116 Steals: 15
Led league in: Runs (104); RBI (116); Total Bases (300); Slugging Percentage (.750); Gold Glove
______
Ken Caminiti, Third Base, Padres – 1996
Age: 32
MLB Season: Tenth
Team Finish: First Place (91-71, .562)
MVP Awards: 1996
Stats … Games: 146 Avg.: .326 Hits: 178 Doubles: 37 Triples: 2 HRs: 40 Runs: 109 RBI: 130 Steals: 11
Led league in: No traditional offensive categories; Gold Glove
______
Ken Griffey, Jr., Center Field, Mariners – 1997
Age: 27
MLB Season: Ninth
Team Finish: First Place (90-72, .556)
MVP Awards: 1997
Stats … Games: 157 Avg.: .304 Hits: 185 Doubles: 34 Triples: 3 HRs: 56 Runs: 99 RBI: 147 Steals: 15
Led league in: Home Runs (56); Runs (125); RBI (147); Total Bases (393); Slugging Percentage (.646); Gold Glove
______
Barry Bonds, Left Field, Giants – 2002
Age: 37
MLB Season: Seventeenth
Team Finish: Second Place (95-66, .590)
MVP Awards: 1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Stats … Games: 143 Avg.: .370 Hits: 149 Doubles: 31 Triples: 2 HRs: 46 Runs: 117 RBI: 110 Steals: 9
Led league in: Average (.370); On Base Percentage (.582); Slugging Percentage (.799)
______
Albert Pujols, First Base, Cardinals – 2009
Age: 29
MLB Season: Ninth
Team Finish: First Place (91-71, .562)
MVP Awards: 2005, 2008, 2009
Stats … Games: 160 Avg.: .327 Hits: 186 Doubles: 45 Triples: 1 HRs: 47 Runs: 124 RBI: 135 Steals: 16
Led league in: Home Runs (47); Runs (124); On Base Percentage (.443); Slugging Percentage (.658); Total Bases (374)
______
Mike Trout, Center Field, Angels – 2014
Age: 22
MLB Season: Fourth
Team Finish: First Place (98-64, .605)
MVP Awards: 2014
Stats … Games: 157 Avg.: .287 Hits: 173 Doubles: 39 Triples: 9 HRs: 36 Runs: 115 RBI: 111 Steals: 33
Led league in: Runs (115); RBI (111); Total Bases (338)
______
Bryce Harper, Right Field, Nationals – 2015
Age: 22
MLB Season (in which MVP earned): Fourth
Team Finish: Second Place (83-79, .512)
MVP Awards: 2015
Stats … Games: 153 Avg.: .330 Hits: 172 Doubles: 38 Triples: 1 HRs: 42 Runs: 118 RBI: 99 Steals: 6
Led league in: Home runs (42); Runs (118); On Base Percentage (.460); Slugging Percentage (.649)
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT
Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; Baseball Bloggers Alliance
