{"id":115065,"date":"2026-03-03T21:35:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T02:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=115065"},"modified":"2026-03-03T21:35:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T02:35:21","slug":"mlb-most-obscure-mvps-part-two","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/03\/03\/mlb-most-obscure-mvps-part-two\/","title":{"rendered":"Who\u2019s That Dude? Some of MLB\u2019s Most Obscure MVPs (Part Two)"},"content":{"rendered":"

To be named the Most Valuable Player in any professional sport is probably the most prestigious individual honor an athlete can receive to validate their greatness. Major League Baseball first named an MVP in both the American and National Leagues in 1911. <\/span>Besides a small gap around the time of World War I, this exalted award has been given to one player in each league since 1924<\/a><\/span> (<\/span>or two players<\/a> in one rare case<\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

If you scan the list of all-time MVP winners, you will see tons of Hall of Famers and household names. However, you\u2019ll also notice some unfamiliar players. For every <\/span><\/span><\/a>Babe Ruth<\/a>, there is a <\/span>Bob O\u2019Farrell<\/span>. If you throw out <\/span><\/span><\/a>Mickey Mantle<\/a>, there is always <\/span><\/span><\/a>Zoilo Versalles<\/a>. <\/span><\/span><\/a>Hank Aaron<\/a> won the award once, but <\/span><\/span><\/a>George Bell<\/a> also has one.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the legends get most of the fanfare, <\/span>let\u2019s give a little love to some of the guys who don\u2019t have a place in Cooperstown<\/span>. This series is in two sections<\/a>, in chronological order. Here’s the conclusion to our brief two-part series discussing some of MLB\u2019s most obscure MVPs<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lightning in a Bottle: MLB’s Most Obscure MVPs (Part Two)<\/h2>\n

Willie Hernandez (1984 American League MVP)<\/b><\/h3>\n

In 1984, the <\/span>Detroit Tigers<\/span> had a special season that included <\/span>104 wins and a World Series title, their most recent to date<\/span>. Journeyman reliever <\/span>Willie Hernandez<\/a><\/span> was a huge contributor \u2026 winning both the <\/span><\/span><\/a>Cy Young Award and <\/span>AL MVP<\/span><\/a>. Hernandez had an AL-best 80 appearances and 68 games finished to the roar of 32 saves, a 1.92 ERA, and a o.941 WHIP.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Willie Hernandez holds up the ball before throwing the ceremonial pitch during Detroit Tigers Opening Day game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on Thursday, April 4, 2019. Credit: \u00a9 Mandi Wright, Detroit Free Press<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Terry Pendleton<\/b> (1991 National League MVP)<\/b><\/h3>\n

Terry Pendleton<\/a><\/span> helped the <\/span>Atlanta Braves<\/span> go from worst to first in <\/span>1991<\/span><\/a>. He edged some guy named <\/span>Bonds<\/span><\/a> for the <\/span>NL MVP<\/span><\/a> with league highs in hits (187), batting average (.319), and total bases (303). This third baseman and his teammates lost an excruciating <\/span>Fall Classic<\/span><\/a>, but this season sparked Atlanta\u2019s reign of dominance<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

June 20, 1991 | Mets at Braves<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this marks the first time in Terry Pendleton\u2019s career he\u2019s ever hit two home runs in one game in the Major Leagues!\u201d – Pete Van Wieren pic.twitter.com\/RknWd8VOUf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Braves on TBS (@BravesOnWTBS) June 20, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n