13 Times an MVP Won the World Series Since 1970
Aaron Judge has an MVP award but has yet to reach a World Series. Shohei Ohtani has two MVP awards but has never even made it to the postseason until this year. They are heavy favorites to add to their MVP collections this season, and their teams are among the best in their respective leagues. One of them could join this club of players who won the MVP and World Series in the same year.
Boog Powell, Orioles (1970)
The Orioles’ glory days of that era elicit thoughts of Brooks and Frank Robinson or a Jim Palmer-led pitching staff. But Powell was the league’s MVP in 1970 when the Birds beat the Reds in the Fall Classic. (Frank, of course, was MVP four years earlier, when the Orioles won the Series.)
These days, Powell is a different kind of MVP: most valuable pit beef mogul. Since Camden Yards opened, Boog’s BBQ has been one of its most popular concessions. Fans lined up to get an autograph from the slugger and a mouthwatering sandwich.
Reggie Jackson, A’s (1973)
Reggie became known as Mr. October thanks largely to his heroics in the 1977 World Series with the Yankees. But while he was a world champion and World Series MVP that year, he completed the trifecta in his earlier days with Oakland: AL MVP, World Series MVP and world champion.
Jackson won five World Series in all, three with Oakland and two with the Yankees. His five home runs in the ’77 series remain a record (though it has since been tied), and his 10 career World Series homers rank fifth all-time.
Joe Morgan, Reds (1975)
Cincinnati reached four World Series in the 1970s and accounted for six of the decade’s MVPs, so a Big Red Machine member was bound to make this list. Johnny Bench was MVP in 1970 and 1972, the years the Reds lost the World Series. Pete Rose (1973) and George Foster (1977) won in years the Reds missed the Series.
That leaves Morgan, who was MVP in 1975, the year Cincy toppled the Red Sox. That classic may be remembered for Boston’s Carlton Fisk waving his home run fair in a wild Game 6. But Morgan and company prevailed in Game 7.
Joe Morgan, Reds (1976)
The Reds weren’t done, and neither was Morgan. His offensive numbers in 1976 were staggering, whether you like new school (slash line of .320/.444/.576) or old (27 homers, 111 RBIs and 60 steals). That was good enough for back-to-back MVPs, though teammates Foster (second place) and Rose (fourth) gave him a run for his money.
This time, though, the championship didn’t require as much drama. The Yankees had no answer for the potent Big Red Machine offense. With Morgan, Bench and Foster leading the way, the Reds swept New York in four straight.
Willie Stargell, Pirates (1979)
Stargell’s name should be higher on this list. He had arguably his best season in 1971. His case for MVP was strong, but he finished second in the voting. That year, the Pirates finished off the Orioles in seven games to win the World Series.
He wouldn’t be denied in ‘79. Stargell’s regular season wasn’t outstanding, and he shared the MVP with Keith Hernandez. But he almost single-handedly took care of the postseason, batting over .400 and hitting five homers across two playoff series. He became the first player to win LCS, World Series and regular season MVP in the same year.
Mike Schmidt, Phillies (1980)
Schmidt was among the best players in the 1980s, if not the best. He won three MVPs, six Silver Sluggers and six Gold Gloves, and belted more homers in the decade than anyone else.
Schmidt kicked off the decade in style, winning the first of his three MVPs in 1980 and leading Philly to the NL East title. He outdueled AL MVP George Brett in the World Series as the Phils beat the Royals four games to two. Schmidt added to his hardware, earning World Series MVP after hitting .381 and driving in seven runs.
Cal Ripken Jr., Orioles (1983)
Ripken was the Rookie of the Year in 1982, when he switched from third base to shortstop and started his consecutive games streak. But the Orioles lost a winner-take-all game on the last day of the regular season and missed the playoffs.
There would be no sophomore jinx. In ‘83, Ripken topped the league with 211 hits, batting .318 with 27 home runs and 102 RBI. He and MVP runner-up Eddie Murray led the Birds to the postseason. When they finished off the Phillies in five games, Ripken fittingly caught the last out to begin the celebration.
Willie Hernandez, Tigers (1984)
Hernandez was a decent relief pitcher for the Cubs and Phillies in the ’70s and early ’80s. Then, just before the 1984 season, he was traded to the Tigers, and everything fell into place.
Detroit ran away with the AL East that year, cruised through the ALCS and disposed of the Padres to win the World Series. Hernandez saved 32 games (with only one blown save) while winning nine and posting a microscopic 1.92 ERA. Even more impressive, he threw 140.1 innings, which is unheard of now for a reliever. That earned him both the AL Cy Young and MVP awards.
Kirk Gibson, Dodgers (1988)
Gibson could barely walk by the time the 1988 World Series began. The league MVP was on the bench to start Game 1 against the A’s. But down one with two outs in the 9th, the Dodgers turned to their star to pinch hit against A’s closer Dennis Eckersley.
What followed is one of the most dramatic and memorable moments in baseball history—an improbable game-winning home run and the enduring image of Gibson hobbling around the bases, pumping his fist. That was Gibson’s only at-bat in that World Series. His teammates took care of the rest.
Buster Posey, Giants (2012)
Kevin Mitchell was MVP in 1989 when the Giants lost to Oakland in the World Series. One of Barry Bonds’ many MVP seasons was 2002, when the Angels defeated San Francisco in the Series. But in 2012, the Giants finally took the trophy and put someone on this list.
Posey was Rookie of the Year two years earlier when he earned his first ring. He’d win another two years later and 2012 was the sweet spot. He set career highs in homers and RBIs and led the league with a .336 average. The Giants finished off the Tigers in a World Series sweep.
Kris Bryant, Cubs (2016)
It takes something special to break a 108-year World Series drought. For the 2016 Cubs, it was an award-winning season from their young third baseman. (Not to mention a comeback from down three games to one and some extra-inning heroics in Game 7.)
Like Ripken 33 years earlier, Bryant went from Rookie of the Year to MVP and world champ in his second season. Also like Ripken, the final out of the World Series was a ball hit to Bryant. He threw to first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who then famously pocketed the baseball while the players piled on each other.
Jose Altuve, Astros (2017)
Put an asterisk by this one if you want. But in the official record books, the Astros are still the 2017 champs. And no banging trash cans are taking away Altuve’s MVP award, either.
Before it was tainted, this was a feel-good story. A few years removed from three straight 100-plus loss seasons, the Astros completed a total rebuild to win the franchise’s first championship. In a stacked lineup, no hitter came up bigger than the littlest one. The 5-foot-6 Altuve led the league in hits for the fourth straight year and won his third batting crown, hitting .346.
Mookie Betts, Red Sox (2018)
The Red Sox ended their famous World Series drought in 2004 and then made a habit of winning for a while. The most recent title was in 2018. Betts was one of many offensive stars on that team and a defensive standout, which helped him edge Mike Trout to win MVP.
Betts almost accomplished this feat a second time. In 2020, he led the Dodgers to the championship but would finish second to Freddie Freeman in the MVP race. He scored some measure of revenge; the Dodgers eliminated Freeman’s Braves in the NLCS.
Betts and Freeman are now teammates and perennial MVP candidates in LA, hoping to be the next name on this list. However, Ohtani may have something to say about that.