American League Most Valuable Player Award Winners

The Baseball Writers' Association of America was tasked in 1931 with picking Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player Awards, and the American League's MVP winners have ranged from rookie outfielders to reinvigorated relief pitchers. 

2010 to 2016

Mike Trout officially arrived, as the L.A. Angels' center fielder won his second MVP when he was just 25, hitting .315 with 29 homers in 2016. Detroit first baseman/designated hitter won back-to-back MVP awards and was the first triple crown winner in 45 years after leading the AL with a .330 average, 44 home runs and 139 runs batted in (RBI) in 2012.

• 2016: Mike Trout, L.A. Angels
• 2015: Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
• 2014: Mike Trout, L.A. Angels
• 2013: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
• 2012: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
• 2011: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
• 2010: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

2000 to 2009

Alex Rodriguez won all three of his MVP awards after 2000, one as a shortstop with the Texas Rangers and a pair as a third baseman with the Yankees. Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki became the first rookie to win AL MVP in 26 years, taking the AL batting crown with a .350 average to win a close 2001 vote over Oakland first baseman/designated hitter Jason Giambi.

• 2009: Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
• 2008: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
• 2007: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
• 2006: Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins
• 2005: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
• 2004: Vladimir Guerrero, Anaheim Angels
• 2003: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers
• 2002: Miguel Tejada, Oakland Athletics
• 2001: Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners
• 2000: Jason Giambi, Oakland Athletics

1990 to 1999

Frank Thomas won back-to-back MVPs, hitting .353 with 38 home runs in the strike-shortened 1994 season, while the Texas Rangers boasted the MVP in three of four seasons: Juan Gonzalez won in 1996 and 1998 by hitting 46 and 48 home runs, respectively, while Ivan Rodriguez took the award in 1999 by hitting .332 with 35 home runs.

• 1999: Ivan Rodriguez, Texas Rangers
• 1998: Juan Gonzalez, Texas Rangers
• 1997: Ken Griffey Jr., Seattle Mariners
• 1996: Juan Gonzalez, Texas Rangers
• 1995: Mo Vaughn, Boston Red Sox
• 1994: Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox
• 1993: Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox
• 1992: Dennis Eckersley, Oakland Athletics
• 1991: Cal Ripken, Baltimore Orioles
• 1990: Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics

1980 to 1989

The Brewers of Milwaukee came alive in the 80s, taking home the AL MVP three times. Rollie Fingers, a star of the '70s Oakland A’s, became the first relief pitcher to win the AL MVP by saving 28 games in the strike-shortened 1981 season, while shortstop Robin Yount followed in 1982 and finished the decade with his second MVP.

• 1989: Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers
• 1988: Jose Canseco, Oakland Athletics
• 1987: George Bell, Toronto Blue Jays
• 1986: Roger Clemens, Boston Red Sox
• 1985: Don Mattingly, New York Yankees
• 1984: Willie Hernandez, Detroit Tigers
• 1983: Cal Ripken, Baltimore Orioles
• 1982: Robin Yount, Milwaukee Brewers
• 1981: Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers
• 1980: George Brett, Kansas City Royals

1970 to 1979

Vida Blue and Reggie Jackson led Oakland in the '70s, as Blue went 24-8 with a 1.82 ERA in 1971, and Jackson had 32 homers and 117 RBI. Fred Lynn, who played centerfield for the Boston Red Sox, became the first rookie to win the MVP when he hit .331 in 1975.

• 1979: Don Baylor, California Angels
• 1978: Jim Rice, Boston Red Sox
• 1977: Rod Carew, Minnesota Twins
• 1976: Thurman Munson, New York Yankees
• 1975: Fred Lynn, Boston Red Sox
• 1974: Jeff Burroughs, Texas Rangers
• 1973: Reggie Jackson, Oakland Athletics
• 1972: Dick Allen, Chicago White Sox
• 1971: Vida Blue, Oakland Athletics
• 1970: Boog Powell, Baltimore Orioles

1960 to 1969

New York’s Roger Maris was MVP twice, the second thanks to his historic 61-home runs in 1961. Yankee teammates Mickey Mantle and Elston Howard followed with awards of their own, while Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski took home the MVP with the last triple crown of the 20th century, hitting .326 with 44 homers and 121 RBI in 1967.

• 1969: Harmon Killebrew, Minnesota Twins
• 1968: Denny McLain, Detroit Tigers
• 1967: Carl Yastrzemski, Boston Red Sox
• 1966: Frank Robinson, Baltimore Orioles
• 1965: Zoilo Versalles, Minnesota Twins
• 1964: Brooks Robinson, Baltimore Orioles
• 1963: Elston Howard, New York Yankees
• 1962: Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees
• 1961: Roger Maris, New York Yankees
• 1960: Roger Maris, New York Yankees

1950 to 1959

Phil Rizzuto started the Yankees' streak in 1950 when the shortstop hit .324, and teammate Yogi Berra won three MVPs in five seasons while anchoring the Yankees behind the plate. Mantle had back-to-back awards, finishing with 52 homers in 1956 and hitting .365 in 1957.

• 1959: Nellie Fox, Chicago White Sox
• 1958: Jackie Jensen, Boston Red Sox
• 1957: Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees
• 1956: Mickey Mantle, New York Yankees
• 1955: Yogi Berra, New York Yankees
• 1954: Yogi Berra, New York Yankees
• 1953: Al Rosen, Cleveland Indians
• 1952: Bobby Shantz, Philadelphia Athletics
• 1951: Yogi Berra, New York Yankees
• 1950: Phil Rizzuto, New York Yankees

1940 to 1949

Joe DiMaggio grabbed the second and third MVP of his storied Yankees career, while Detroit’s Hal Newhouser took back-to-back awards by winning 54 games in two seasons. Ted Williams brought the MVP back to Boston in the same decade he became the last player of the 20th century to hit .400 (which he did in 1941 when DiMaggio took home the MVP with a .357 average, 30 homers and 125 RBI). 

• 1949: Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox
• 1948: Lou Boudreau, Cleveland Indians
• 1947: Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees
• 1946: Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox
• 1945: Hal Newhouser, Detroit Tigers
• 1944: Hal Newhouser, Detroit Tigers
• 1943: Spud Chandler, New York Yankees
• 1942: Joe Gordon, New York Yankees
• 1941: Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees
• 1940: Hank Greenberg, Detroit Tigers

1930 to 1939

The Philadelphia Athletics kicked things off with three straight MVPs. Philadelphia pitcher Lefty Grove won a career-high 31 games with a 2.06 ERA to take the first-ever AL MVP. Teammate Jimmie Foxx, a slugging first baseman, won the award twice by hitting .364 with 58 home runs in 1932 and .356 with 48 homers in 1933. He won his third MVP by hitting 50 homers with Boston in 1938.

• 1939: Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees
• 1938: Jimmie Foxx, Boston Red Sox
• 1937: Charley Gehringer, Detroit Tigers
• 1936: Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees
• 1935: Hank Greenberg, Detroit Tigers
• 1934: Mickey Cochrane, Detroit Tigers
• 1933: Jimmie Foxx, Philadelphia Athletics
• 1932: Jimmie Foxx, Philadelphia Athletics
• 1931: Lefty Grove, Philadelphia Athletics