MLB MVPs who played for only one team

Akron, OH native Thurman Munson debuted for the Yankees in 1969 and wasted little time growing right into a rock behind the plate within the Bronx. He was named the American League Rookie of the 12 months in 1970, earned journeys to seven All-Star Video games, gained three Gold Gloves, and helped New York win a pair of World Sequence championships. Most related to this dialog, he additionally gained the AL MVP award in 1976 when he slashed .302/.337/.432 with 17 homers and 105 RBI — virtually unprecedented offensive manufacturing from a catcher. An avid pilot throughout his taking part in days, Munson was training taking off and touchdown on August 2, 1979 and tragically was killed in a small airplane crash on the age of 32. Had that not occurred he undoubtedly would have achieved much more in a Yankees uniform, however even nonetheless, it is protected to say his reminiscence and legacy will dwell within the Bronx eternally. 

The Crimson Sox have been lucky sufficient to have a number of big-time stars play in Boston through the franchise’s illustrious historical past, however one man I’ve all the time felt has been underrated a bit is outfielder Jim Rice. The precise-handed slugger performed all 16 of his main league seasons in Boston, slashing .298/.352/.502 with 382 homers, 1,451 RBI, and 373 doubles. One of the best season of his profession got here in 1978, when he led the majors in homers, RBI, triples, SLG, and OPS, and he was simply named the MVP of the American League on the conclusion of the marketing campaign. 

Longtime Pirates first baseman Willie Stargell was the primary attraction in Pittsburgh for greater than twenty years and the driving power behind two Pirates championship groups. The person identified affectionately as ‘Pops’ debuted in 1962 and shortly blossomed into some of the constant offensive forces within the Nationwide League. Throughout 21 seasons within the majors, Stargell slashed .282/.360/.529 with 475 homers, 1,540 RBI, and 423 doubles. He is the franchise’s all-time chief in a number of offensive classes, and when he was named the co-MVP of the Nationwide League in 1979 together with St. Louis’ Keith Hernandez, his legacy in western Pennsylvania solely grew. 

Third baseman Mike Schmidt is as synonymous with the Philadelphia Phillies group as any participant that is ever known as the Metropolis of Brotherly Love dwelling. The Dayton, Ohio native performed each certainly one of his 2,404 profession video games in a Phillies uniform and holds a plethora of the franchise’s offensive data. Schmidt led the Nationwide League in dwelling runs seven instances and paced the senior circuit in RBI on 4 totally different events. He helped Philadelphia declare the World Sequence in 1980 and most related to this checklist, gained the NL MVP award in 1980, 1981, and 1986. 

Enjoying throughout the identical period, the whole lot Mike Schmidt was to the Phillies is what George Brett was for Kansas Metropolis. Additionally a 3rd baseman, Brett starred for 21 years, and basically wrote the Royals’ offensive document e-book. In simply over 2,700 video games with the membership, he slashed an impressive .305/.369/.487 with 317 homers and 1,596 RBI. He was by no means higher than in 1980, when he gained the batting title with an eye-opening .390 clip, and led the league in OBP, SLG, and OPS. He crushed 24 dwelling runs that 12 months, knocked in 118 RBI, and completed with 33 doubles, and on the conclusion of the season he was the plain alternative for AL MVP. 

Robin Yount is probably the most recognizable determine within the historical past of the Milwaukee Brewers franchise, and is well the very best participant to ever put on the workforce’s uniform. The Danville, In poor health. native owns practically each Brewers offensive document and was a fixture in the course of the workforce’s lineup for twenty years. Yount was an All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger winner, and a Gold Glove recipient, and most related to this checklist, a two-time Nationwide League MVP. The precise-handed slugger gained the award in each ’82 and ’88, and was particularly dominant in 1982 when he led the league in hits, doubles, SLG%, and OPS. 

Cal Ripken Jr. was destined to turn out to be a fan favourite in Baltimore from the second the membership drafted the hometown child within the second spherical of the 1978 Novice Draft, and that is precisely how issues performed out. Ripken Jr. gained AL Rookie of the 12 months in his first full season and by no means appeared again, happening to star in Attraction Metropolis for 21 seasons and placing collectively one hell of a Corridor of Fame resume. He was named the AL MVP award winner in each 1983 and 1991, and at the moment is most remembered for his iconic consecutive video games performed streak. 

Youthful followers at the moment would possibly acknowledge Don Mattingly as the previous supervisor of each the Dodgers and Marlins, however lengthy earlier than that the primary baseman was some of the prolific hitters in baseball whereas starring within the Bronx. In 14 seasons with the Yankees, he slashed .307/.358/.471 with 222 homers, 1,099 RBI, and 442 doubles. Mattingly gained three Silver Sluggers, made six All-Star groups, gained a batting title, and earned 9 Gold Gloves, whereas most impressively incomes MVP honors in 1985. He hit .324 that season to go together with 35 homers and led the AL with each 145 RBI and 48 doubles.

First baseman Jeff Bagwell was really drafted by the Crimson Sox, however after a 1990 commerce despatched him to Houston whereas he was nonetheless a minor leaguer, he’d go on to turn out to be some of the outstanding figures in Astros historical past. In 15 seasons with Houston, the large right-handed slugger slashed .297/.408/.540 with 449 homers, 1,529 RBI, 488 doubles, and 202 stolen bases. One of the best season of his profession got here within the strike-shortened 1994 marketing campaign, when in solely 110 contests he slashed .368/.451/.750 with 39 homers and a league excessive 116 RBI on his method to simply successful the Nationwide League MVP award. 

The 12 months after Bagwell earned MVP honors, the award went to Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, who was some of the full gamers within the sport for practically twenty years. In 19 seasons in Cincinnati, Larkin slashed .295/.371/.444 with 715 extra-base hits, 960 RBI, and 379 stolen bases. In 1995, he did not lead the NL in any offensive classes, however did the whole lot properly, slashing .319/.394/.492 with 15 homers, 66 RBI, 29 doubles, six triples, and a formidable 51 steals. 

Swap-hitter Chipper Jones was the primary total choose within the 1990 draft, and the Braves merely couldn’t have requested for extra from the choice. In 19 seasons with Atlanta, Jones slashed a fabulous .303/.401/.529 with 468 dwelling runs, 1,623 RBI, 549 doubles, 38 triples, and 150 stolen bases. He made the All-Star workforce eight instances, gained two Silver Sluggers and a batting title, helped Atlanta win the 1995 World Sequence, and in 1999 was named the MVP of the Nationwide League. That 12 months, Jones hit .319 and reached base at an absurd .441 clip, whereas crushing 45 homers and driving in 110 runs. He added 41 doubles and stole 25 bases, and was the plain alternative for the award. 

Accidents sadly ended Arizona State product Dustin Pedroia’s profession lengthy earlier than it ought to have, however within the 1,512 video games he did go well with up for the Crimson Sox, the scrappy second baseman left a considerable mark. Pedroia completed with a lifetime slash line of .299/.365/.439 to associate with 549 extra-base hits, 725 RBI, and 138 stolen bases, and he was by no means higher than throughout his MVP season in 2008. That 12 months, he slashed an outstanding .326/.376/.493 with 17 homers, 83 RBI, and 20 steals, whereas main the league in hits (213), doubles (54), and runs (118). He additionally gained his first profession Gold Glove that 12 months. 

Left-handed swinging Joe Mauer would have undoubtedly turn out to be a star in any metropolis, however the connection he had with Minnesota made his tenure with the Twins rather more particular. Minnesota chosen the native child from St. Paul, MN first total in 2001, and it did not take him lengthy to turn out to be the brightest star on his hometown workforce. In 15 seasons with the Twins, Mauer put collectively a laundry checklist of accomplishments. He gained three batting titles, performed in six All-Star Video games, earned 5 Silver Sluggers, and took dwelling three Gold Gloves, however most significantly he was named the MVP of the American League in 2009. That 12 months, Mauer slashed an absurd .365/.444/.587 with 28 homers, 96 RBI, and 30 doubles. He led the league in batting common, OBP, SLG%, OPS, and OPS+ and was a runaway winner for he prestigious MVP award. 

First baseman Joey Votto continues to be very a lot an energetic participant in Cincinnati with a Reds workforce that has vastly outperformed their preseason expectations this season. And whereas at 39 years outdated he’s now roughly a complementary piece on a younger and thrilling up-and-coming membership, make no mistake about it — in his prime he was nearly as good a hitter as there was within the Nationwide League. Throughout his MVP season in 2010, Votto was virtually unstoppable, slashing .324/.424/.600 with 37 lengthy balls, 113 RBI, and 36 doubles. He led the league in OBP, SLG, and OPS, and led the Reds to an NL Central division championship. 

Ryan Braun’s presence on this checklist is greater than a bit controversial since he was suspended and later admitted to utilizing PED’s throughout his MVP-winning season of 2011. With the advantage of hindsight, that award ought to clearly have gone to the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp, but it surely may also be true that for 14 seasons Braun was a productive member of the Brewers membership. The Mission Hills, Calif. native completed his profession with a lifetime slash line of .296/.358/.532, and it is an actual disgrace that he tarnished his repute and legacy the best way he did. 

Catcher Buster Posey’s profession was comparatively quick in that he solely performed a dozen seasons within the massive leagues, however he certain left his mark within the Bay Space. In 1,371 video games with San Francisco, the Florida State product slashed .302/.372/.460 with 158 homers, 729 RBI, and 293 doubles. He was an instrumental a part of three Giants World Sequence-winning groups, gained the NL Rookie of the 12 months award in 2010, gained a batting title and a Gold Glove, earned 5 Silver Sluggers, and took part in seven All-Star Video games. He was additionally named the MVP of the Nationwide League in 2012. That 12 months, Posey hit .336 and set his private profession highs with 24 homers and 103 RBI. He additionally helped the Giants win their second championship in three years that October. 

It is greater than a bit uncommon for a beginning pitcher to win the MVP award contemplating they solely play in about 20 p.c of their workforce’s video games, however Clayton Kershaw was so dominant in 2014 that the award merely couldn’t have gone in a distinct route. That season, the longtime Dodgers ace was otherworldly, pitching to a 1.77 ERA with a 0.86 WHIP throughout 27 begins, whereas ending with a 21-3 document and putting out 239 hitters in 198.1 innings. He gained his fourth consecutive ERA title, his second straight Cy Younger award and third in 4 seasons, and sure, most related to this checklist, turned the primary Nationwide League pitcher to win MVP since Bob Gibson in 1968. 

For almost all of his profession, Angels outfielder Mike Trout has been thought of the very best participant in baseball, and whereas his personal teammate, Shohei Ohtani, has clearly supplanted him and everyone else for that title, Trout clearly stays an elite expertise. The Vineland, NJ native has been dominating the American League basically since he first debuted again in ’11, and has already put collectively a Corridor of Fame-like resume. Trout was named AL Rookie of the 12 months in 2012, has performed in 11 All-Star Video games, gained 9 Silver Sluggers, and was named the MVP of the American League in 2014, 2016, and 2019. 

Second baseman Jose Altuve has been among the many greatest total gamers in baseball for properly over a decade, and a real testomony to what arduous work and want can accomplish. At simply 5’6″, Altuve is sort of all the time the smallest man on the sector, but additionally, as a rule, tends to make the most important impression on the sport. In properly over 1,600 profession video games thus far, he owns a lifetime batting common over .300, and whereas he is gained a plethora of awards all through his profession, probably the most noteworthy is the AL MVP he took dwelling in 2017. That 12 months, he slashed .346/.410/.547 with 24 homers, 81 RBI, 39 doubles, and 32 steals, whereas main the American League in hits for the fourth straight 12 months. 

Shohei Ohtani is actually baseball’s unicorn, and whereas he clearly makes this checklist for now, Angels followers are going to spend your complete winter stressing over whether or not he’ll signal elsewhere as a free agent and have to be eliminated. The 29-year-old sensation is a famous person not like something baseball has seen earlier than, a legit MVP-caliber hitter who at the moment leads the sport in each dwelling runs and triples, whereas concurrently additionally being a bona fide primary ace-type beginning pitcher. In 2021, he launched 46 homers and drove in 100 runs whereas working to a 3.18 ERA in 23 begins on the mound. He is been even higher in each regards this season and can undoubtedly add a second AL MVP award to his resume in just a few months. However the place will he be taking part in subsequent spring?

Yankees outfielder Aaron Choose bested Ohtani for the AL MVP award a 12 months in the past, and it took a historic season to take action. In 157 video games in 2022, the hulking right-handed slugger slashed .311/.425/.686 with an unbelievable 62 dwelling runs and 131 RBI. The 62 bombs broke what many thought of to be the legit — pre-steroid period — single-season document and put Choose in a category of his personal when it comes to modern-day energy hitters. This season sadly has not gone practically as easily for him, as he missed an prolonged time frame as a consequence of damage, however armed with a considerable long-term contract he will not be leaving the Bronx anytime quickly.