It's 'Historical unanimous MVP duo', but Jersey 7th - Otani 27th, so who's No. 1? MLB.com All-time MVP Ranking

Nov 23, 2024

LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani takes off his helmet and responds to the standing ovation from fans and both teams before taking his first at-bat against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on September 21 (Korea time). He hit a historic 50 home runs and 50 steals against the Miami Marlins at Rondipo Park the day before. AP Yonhap News

New York Yankees Aaron Judge won his second MVP this season. AP Yonhap News

Since 1931, when the BBWAA (National Baseball Journalists Association) began to select MVP in both leagues on a score-voting basis, 189 players have been honored as the best player until this year. This number is odd because Keith Hernandez and Willie Starzel won the 1979 NL joint prize.

This season, NL LA Dodgers Ohtani and AL New York Yankees Aaron Judge received unanimous support and became the 188th and 189th MVP. Only 23 times have MVP been selected unanimously, with 100% of the vote.

Ohtani is the only MVP who has been unanimous more than two times. During his time with the Los Angeles Angels, he dominated the top spots in 2021 and 2023 and this year. In other words, a total of 90 reporters for three years voted for Ohtani. Judge was disappointed to receive the first-place vote from 28 out of 30 reporters in 2022 who hit the most 62 home runs in an AL season, but he was considered to have the best performance as a right-handed hitter in history this season and became a unanimous MVP along with Ohtani in both leagues.

So what is the best season out of 189 MVP seasons.

MLB.com evaluated and ranked 189 MVPs, including Ohtani and Judge, on the 22nd (Korea time). The media evaluated MVPs in a variety of ways. War, as well as the level and historical significance of the league in the year, were considered. Of course, it might be a wrong assessment, but let's look at the MVPs among them.

LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani roars after hitting a three-run home run in the second inning in Game 1 of the Division Series against the San Diego Padres on October 6 (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News

Right now, I saw the rankings of Ohtani and Judge this year. However, Judge ranked seventh, but Ohtani only ranked 27th, lower than expected. Reporter Will Leitch, who wrote the article, 'Jersey has four fewer home runs this year than in 2022, but he was much better in other areas. Right-handed hitters rated it as the best season in history.

Judge has 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, 1.159 OPS and 223 OPS+ this season, ranking first overall in both leagues in most offensive categories. The 2022 season, when Judge hit 62 home runs, was ranked eighth.

On Ohtani, who achieved his first 50 home runs and 50 steals in the Major League this season, reporter Leitch said, `He is a career high in terms of offense. However, he explained, "I didn't throw as a pitcher this season, so it should be considered lower than the previous two MVP seasons." Ohtani was ranked 15th in 2021, when he became the first MVP, and 20th in 2023. Reporter Leitch said 'Otani's season in 2021 felt unprecedented and impossible. It may be considered high in the ranking, but it is likely that the status will be higher over the years.'

In fact, Ohtani's combined pitching performance in 2021 was unexpected by anyone and was an unprecedented 'mythical achievement'. Babe Ruth overwhelmed the 1919 Tuta index. That year, Ohtani had 46 homers, OPS+158, eight triples, a 9-2 record, a 3.18 ERA, and 156 strikeouts. Ruth did not achieve that level of homeruns and strikeouts (29 homers, 30 strikeouts), which can be said to be the flower of batting and pitching in 1919.

Barry Bonds was named MVP in 2001 with 73 home runs, but it was not unanimous. AP Yonhap News

Then, who is the No. 1 player in 'MVP Season Rankings'. It's Barry Bonds in 2001. Reporter Leitch said '73 home runs would be a sufficient explanation. Don't you think so?' mentioned briefly. Bonds had a batting average of 0.328, 73 home runs, 137 RBIs, 129 runs, 177 walks, a on-base percentage of 0.515, a slugging percentage of 0.863, OPS 1.379, and bWAR 11.9 that year. Mark McGuire broke the record of 70 home runs in a major league season in 1998 in three years.

Bonds set a milestone of becoming NL MVP for four consecutive years from that year to 2004. Bonds' 2004 ranked third and 2002 ranked fifth, respectively. Three of Bonds' seven MVP seasons were included in the 'Top 10'. Reporter Leitch did not comment on the 'steroid scandal.'

Interestingly, Bonds, who hit the record for most home runs in 2001, did not win a unanimous vote. At that time, 30 people rated Bonds first in a vote of 32 reporters, but the other two gave Sammy Sosa the top vote. Sosa was not a steroid free player either.