Here recently, we’ve been diving into each of the MVP races from the past decade or so to try and determine if the winners in both leagues were worthy or not. This week, we’re gonna be taking a break from that to look at the five greatest MVP seasons of all time. This is somewhat apropos, as we are getting down to the end of the season, and MVP battles are heating up throughout the league. That being said, it has also been over 110 years since the MVP award was established (1911, to be exact). So, it seems like a good time to see who had the absolute best and brightest.
In our search for the greatest MVP seasons, much as with our recent jaunts, we will be going by WAR according to Baseball Reference. Other criteria to be included on this writer’s list is that the player in question must never have been linked to steroids or other performance enhancers. Now that we’ve gotten some of the formalities out of the way, let’s dive in and see who had the greatest MVP seasons.
Bob Gibson, 1968
(11.9 WAR, 22-9, 1.12 ERA, 0.853 WHIP, 258 ERA+, 268 K, 304 2/3 IP)
Hall of Famer Bob Gibson had many great seasons in his 17 years with the St. Louis Cardinals. None were greater than his 1968 campaign, which lands him on this list of greatest MVP seasons. Not only did he win MVP honors, but he also took home the Cy Young Award. The fact that he only gave up 38 earned runs all year is incredible enough. What’s even more astounding is that he only allowed 11 homers. He threw 28 complete games, with a staggering 13 shutouts. His longevity, precision, and total control over his entire arsenal helped lead him to this amazing feat.
Hal Newhouser, 1945
(12.2 WAR, 25-9, 1.81 ERA, 1.114 WHIP, 195 ERA+, 212 K, 313 1/3 IP)
Much like Gibson, Hal Newhouser spent 17 years in the big leagues. Unlike Gibson, Newhouser played for more than one franchise. However, he did spend his first 15 years with the Detroit Tigers. Out of all of those, 1945 was his ticket onto the greatest MVP seasons list. His domination helped lead him to his second consecutive MVP campaign and his fourth straight All-Star Game. If the Cy Young would have been in existence, he most likely would have won that as well. His ultimate claim to the MVP is just like Gibson’s, only a bit more mind-bending. Newhouser only gave up five homers all season.
Carl Yastrzemski-1967
(12.4 WAR, .326 AVG, 44 HR, 121 RBI, 189 H, 112 R, 1.040 OPS, 193 OPS+)
Our first podium spot in this greatest MVP seasons list belongs to a true legend. Surprisingly enough, Carl Yastrzemski only won one MVP in his 23 years with the Boston Red Sox. However, his award-winning season was something special; namely, a Triple Crown. Ironically enough, his was the second of back-to-back Triple Crowns, with Frank Robinson winning in 1966. It would be the last until Miguel Cabrera in 2012. Not only did Yastrzemski win the Triple Crown, but he also led the league in hits and runs scored. His patience at the plate was notable as well, as he walked 91 times while only striking out 69 times. The bottom line is that there have been very few seasons which have held such a unique combination of striking offensive power and a perfectly balanced approach.
Babe Ruth, 1923
(14.1 WAR, .393 AVG, 41 HR, 130 RBI, 205 H, 151 R, 1.309 OPS, 239 OPS+)
Babe Ruth only won a single MVP award in his illustrious career. Fortunately, it was enough to earn him a spot on the greatest MVP seasons list. True, there were years when the New York Yankees legend had more power or more precision. However, he was never as truly balanced as he was in 1923. He set career highs in walks (170) and OPS. Though he led the league in strikeouts, it was still less than 100. Finally, he added 45 doubles, 13 triples, and even 17 stolen bases to this all-around offensive smorgasbord. It’s one of the best years of all time and a definite contender here.
Honorable Mentions
Mickey Mantle, 1957
Mickey Mantle had another outstanding season with the Yankees in 1957. He hit .365 while crushing 34 homers and posting an 11.3 WAR. Though that’s not high enough to land him on the list properly, he deserves a mention.
Cal Ripken Jr., 1991
Cal Ripken Jr. continued his Hall of Fame trajectory with the Baltimore Orioles in 1991. He took home his second MVP by hitting .323 with 34 homers and racking up 368 total bases. His defense was dazzling as well, netting a Gold Glove and a league-best 3.5 dWAR.
Lou Gehrig, 1927
Lou Gehrig’s 11.8 WAR just barely kept him off this list. However, he had a year for the history books. He hit .373 with 47 homers, 173 RBI, and a .765 slugging average. It was his first of two career MVPs and his first time in the top five in voting.
Now, without further ado, our number one greatest MVP season belongs to…
Walter Johnson, 1913
(16.5 WAR, 36-7, 1.14 ERA, 0.780 WHIP, 259 ERA+, 243 K, 346 IP)
If Cy Young is the greatest pitcher ever, Walter Johnson is a close second. His 1913 was legendary and it deserves the top spot on our list of greatest MVP seasons. Some might say that the Dead Ball Era impacts some of his statistics positively, and that is true. However, no matter the era, it’s very difficult to argue with a season like Johnson’s. His workload was staggering, as he completed 29 of his 36 starts and hurled 11 shutouts. He even came in as a reliever in some games, picking up a couple of saves along the way. Though he did pitch at a time when pitchers had a definite advantage, Johnson deserves every ounce of the top spot on this list.
Photo Credit: Herb Scharfman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images
