*MVP Award Discussion Thread*

[julusnc]

What player in Major League Baseball history deserved the most MVP awards in his career?

I know many have won multiple MVP awards and many years there was no award given but with research who deserved the most awards?

I know Barry Bonds has won seven MVP awards but did he really deserve them all?

Did Mickey Mantle get knocked out of several awards because voters hated to vote for him every year?
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[BoSox Rule]

Barry Bonds deserved the following MVP's.

2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1998
1993
1992
1991
1990

[Ubiquitous]

Barry's performance deserved more MVPS. At the very least 1 more (1991), and an argument could be made that had 1994 been a full season he could have been the MVP of that year as well. Bagwell would not have won that award in a full season. Leaving him and Matt williams as main contenders, and Williams would only go as far as his homers would. 1995 is another weird year as well as 1996 and 1997.

Another player that got shafter was Mike Schmidt. That guy should have gotten more then just 3 MVP's.

[Ubiquitous]

Barry Bonds deserved the following MVP's.

2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1998
1993
1992
1991
1990

1998 he deserved as well?

[abacab]

What player in Major League Baseball history deserved the most MVP awards in his career?

I know many have won multiple MVP awards and many years there was no award given but with research who deserved the most awards?

Probably Honus Wagner. He might have won the MVP for 10 straight years, 1900-1909. He was definitely the best position player in the NL every year, so the only other players that could have won the award would have been pitchers.

I know Barry Bonds has won seven MVP awards but did he really deserve them all?

Putting aside the "S" word, yes he did, and maybe deserved two more.

Did Mickey Mantle get knocked out of several awards because voters hated to vote for him every year?

Yogi took three away from Mantle, but he also got credit for leadership. Maris and Mantle put up almost exactly the same numbers in '60. Mantle was actually better in '61 but Maris got all the attention and ended up with the award. I have no idea how Jackie Jenson or Bobby Shantz won it over Mantle.

[west coast orange and black]

the answer to your question is "barry bonds".

even if one can come up with a valid argument that he did not deserve the 7 that he has received and take away 1 or 2 or 3 -- in the face of others arguing that he actually has deserved more -- he still would have the most deserved mvp awards.

[RuthMayBond]

Depending upon how you define MVP award. If you go by Best Position Player, I've got Ruth and Bonds tied with eleven. If you go by the usual definition and the guy practically HAS to be on a playoff team, I've got Ruth with nine.

[KCGHOST]

I know Barry Bonds has won seven MVP awards but did he really deserve them all?

I think a very respectable percentage of fans would say he didn't deserve his last four awards.


Honus Wagner could certainly make a claim for 1900, 1902-09, 1911-12. That would be eleven.

[538280]

Willie Mays probably deserved 7 MVP awards (1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1965, and 1966), but he only won two in 1954 and 1965. He was snubbed a number of times. The worst one was probably in 1958, when Ernie Banks just plain robbed him.

[Blackout]

nobody is going to mention Babe Ruth?

1916
1919
1920 (only arguement is Sisler)
1921
1923 (he got it)
1924 (no longer valid for MVPs after 23)
1926 (who's going to argue George Burns had a better year than Ruth?)
1927 (remember, Gehrig only won because Ruth wasnt eligable)

and then I'll mention 1931 although Gehrig has an arguement for that too

[Blackout]

the answer to your question is "barry bonds".

even if one can come up with a valid argument that he did not deserve the 7 that he has received and take away 1 or 2 or 3 -- in the face of others arguing that he actually has deserved more -- he still would have the most deserved mvp awards.

he could've gotten 1991

so that would be 8

then you minus 4 for

thats 4. still a nice total

[jpenrod]

Barry Bonds deserved the following MVP's.

2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1998
1993
1992
1991
1990

I personally disagree with at least two of these years. 1998 and 1991. in 1998 Sammy Sosa lead Bonds n every statistical category and was the leader of that went to the playoffs. In 1991 Pendleton hit 27 points higher while Bonds had 33 more SB, but to me the key was that Pendleton was THE leader on a very Young Braves team that had finished dead last the year before, The pirates had a very balanced team that year. Go back and look at the line ups Pittsburgh had 3 SP hovering at a 3.00 ERA, and 4 guys hit 15+ homers and the lowest BA of their starters that year was .265. By contrast the Braves had Tom Glavines sub 3.00 ERA and the had 3 guys hit 15+ homers and only 3 players hit over .265.

[Appling]

nobody is going to mention Babe Ruth?

1916
1919
1920 (only arguement is Sisler)
1921
1923 (he got it)
1924 (no longer valid for MVPs after 23)
1926 (who's going to argue George Burns had a better year than Ruth?)
1927 (remember, Gehrig only won because Ruth wasnt eligable)

I agree -- Ruth should have (would have?) been voted MVP for 1920 and 1921 for sure -- except there was an MVP "blackout" from 1915 thru 1921.

The crazy rule that "same player can't be chosen in multiple years" kept Ruth from winning again in 1924, 1926 and 1927. Maybe Johnson would have won anyway in 1924, but Ruth deserved MVP in 1926 and 1927.

1916 is an interesting thought. Ruth was the star pitcher on the World Championship team.
I'm sure no player was ever voted MVP both as pitcher and then as a position player. (Maybe Roy Hobbs?)

[RuthMayBond]

1916 is an interesting thought. I'm sure no player was ever voted MVP both as pitcher and then as a position player. (Maybe Roy Hobbs?)

Probably not even Cy Seymour or Guy Hecker

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Until Bonds recent run of four straight MVPs, the MVP voters have historically been hesitant to keep giving the MVP to the same guy year after year. Stan Musial and Mickey Mantle were two that should have won a lot more MVP than they did.