Shohei Ohtani wins 2024 National League MVP Award |
Ohtani, who earned MVP honors in the American League in 2021 and 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels, becomes the second player in history to win the award in both leagues. The first was Frank Robinson, the National League MVP in 1961 with the Cincinnati Reds and the AL MVP in 1966 with the Baltimore Orioles. Ohtani is the only designated hitter to be named MVP. The DH rule was created by the AL in 1973 and adopted by the NL in 2022.
All three of Ohtani’s victories have been by a unanimous vote. He is the only player to have won the award unanimously more than once. He is the ninth unanimous winner in the NL, joining Orlando Cepeda (1967), Mike Schmidt (1980), Jeff Bagwell (1994), Ken Caminiti (1996), Barry Bonds (2002), Albert Pujols (2009), Bryce Harper (2015) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (2023). There have been 13 unanimous winners in the AL, including this year’s MVP, Aaron Judge, and Ohtani himself twice. Ohtani is the 12th player to be named MVP at least three times. Bonds is the all-time record-holder with seven MVP Awards, all in the NL (1990, 1992-93, 2001-04). Other three-time winners in the NL: Stan Musial (1943, 1946, 1948), Roy Campanella (1951, 1953, 1955), Schmidt (1980-81, 1986) and Pujols (2005, 2008-09). Three-time winners in the AL: Jimmie Foxx (1932-33, 1938), Joe DiMaggio (1939, 1941, 1947), Yogi Berra (1951, 1954-55), Mickey Mantle (1956-57, 1962), Alex Rodriguez (2003, 2005, 2007) and Mike Trout (2014, 2016, 2019). This is the 18th time a player has won the award in back-to-back years. Bonds did it four times in the NL (1992-93, 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04). The other NL consecutive winners were Ernie Banks (1958-59), Joe Morgan (1975-76), Schmidt (1980-81), Dale Murphy (1982-83) and Pujols (2008-09). AL back-to-back winners were Foxx (1932-33), Hal Newhouser (1944-45), Berra (1954-55), Mantle (1956-57), Maris (1960-61), Frank Thomas (1993-94) and Miguel Cabrera (2012-13). Ohtani, whose victory is the 13th MVP for the Dodgers, has finished first or second in the past four MVP elections, one year shy of the record shared by Bonds and Trout. Bonds was NL MVP from 2001-04 after having finished second to San Francisco Giants teammate Jeff Kent in 2000. Trout won the AL award in 2014 and ‘16 and was the runner-up in 2012, ’13 and ’15. Stan Musial also finished 1-2 in four straight NL elections from 1948-51. The New York Mets have never had a player win the MVP Award. Lindor became the fourth Mets player to finish second in the voting. He joins Tom Seaver (1969), Keith Hernandez (1984) and Darryl Strawberry (1988). The Arizona Diamondbacks have also been shut out in MVP voting. Paul Goldschmidt was the runner-up in 2013 and ‘15 with Arizona and won the award in 2022 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Marte is the fourth D-backs player to finish third in the voting along with Matt Williams (1999), Luis Gonzalez (2001) and Goldschmidt (2017). Previous winners (+-Unanimous): 2023 +Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves; 2022 Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals; 2021 Bryce Harper, Phillies; 2020 Freddie Freeman, Braves; 2019 Cody Bellinger, Dodgers; 2018 Christian Yelich, Brewers; 2017 Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins; 2016 Kris Bryant, Cubs; 2015 +Bryce Harper, Nationals; 2014 Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers; 2013 Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; 2012 Buster Posey, Giants; 2011 Ryan Braun, Brewers; 2010 Joey Votto, Reds; 2009 +Albert Pujols, Cardinals; 2008 Albert Pujols, Cardinals; 2007 Jimmy Rollins, Phillies; 2006 Ryan Howard, Phillies; 2005 Albert Pujols, Cardinals; 2004 Barry Bonds, Giants; 2003 Barry Bonds, Giants; 2002 +Barry Bonds, Giants; 2001 Barry Bonds, Giants; 2000 Jeff Kent, Giants; 1999 Chipper Jones, Braves; 1998 Sammy Sosa, Cubs; 1997 Larry Walker, Rockies; 1996 +Ken Caminiti, Padres; 1995 Barry Larkin, Reds; 1994 +Jeff Bagwell, Astros; 1993 Barry Bonds, Giants; 1992 Barry Bonds, Pirates; 1991 Terry Pendleton, Braves; 1990 Barry Bonds, Pirates; 1989 Kevin Mitchell, Giants; 1988 Kirk Gibson, Dodgers; 1987 Andre Dawson, Cubs; 1986 Mike Schmidt, Phillies; 1985 Willie McGee, Cardinals; 1984 Ryne Sandberg, Cubs; 1983 Dale Murphy, Braves; 1982 Dale Murphy, Braves; 1981 Mike Schmidt, Phillies; 1980 +Mike Schmidt, Phillies; 1979 (Tie) Keith Hernandez, Cardinals, and Willie Stargell, Pirates; 1978 Dave Parker, Pirates; 1977 George Foster, Reds; 1976 Joe Morgan, Reds; 1975 Joe Morgan, Reds; 1974 Steve Garvey, Dodgers; 1973 Pete Rose, Reds; 1972 Johnny Bench, Reds; 1971 Joe Torre, Cardinals; 1970 Johnny Bench, Reds; 1969 Willie McCovey, Giants; 1968 Bob Gibson, Cardinals; 1967 +Orlando Cepeda, Cardinals; 1966 Roberto Clemente, Pirates; 1965 Willie Mays, Giants; 1964 Ken Boyer, Cardinals; 1963 Sandy Koufax, Dodgers; 1962 Maury Wills, Dodgers; 1961 Frank Robinson, Reds; 1960 Dick Groat, Pirates; 1959 Ernie Banks, Cubs; 1958 Ernie Banks, Cubs; 1957 Henry Aaron, Braves; 1956 Don Newcombe, Dodgers; 1955 Roy Campanella, Dodgers; 1954 Willie Mays, Giants; 1953 Roy Campanella, Dodgers; 1952 Hank Sauer, Cubs; 1951 Roy Campanella, Dodgers; 1950 Jim Konstanty, Phillies; 1949 Jackie Robinson, Dodgers; 1948 Stan Musial, Cardinals; 1947 Bob Elliott, Braves; 1946 Stan Musial, Cardinals; 1945 Phil Cavarretta, Cubs; 1944 Marty Marion, Cardinals; 1943 Stan Musial, Cardinals; 1942 Mort Cooper, Cardinals; 1941 Dolph Camilli, Dodgers; 1940 Frank McCormick, Reds; 1939 Bucky Walters, Reds; 1938 Ernie Lombardi, Reds; 1937 Joe Medwick, Cardinals; 1936 Carl Hubbell, Giants; 1935 Gabby Hartnett, Cubs; 1934 Dizzy Dean, Cardinals; 1933 Carl Hubbell, Giants; 1932 Chuck Klein, Phillies; 1931 Frankie Frisch, Cardinals.
