Honestly, if you look at the list of American League MVPs, you’re not just looking at names on a plaque. You're looking at the evolution of baseball itself. It’s a wild ride from the "dead-ball" era leftovers to the modern-day titans who look like they were built in a lab.
But here’s the thing. Most people think the MVP has always been this stable, prestigious award. It wasn't. Back in the early 1920s, the American League had this weird rule where you couldn't win the award more than once. Imagine telling Babe Ruth he’s ineligible because he was already too good last year. Basically, the league wanted to spread the love, which sounds nice but is objectively hilarious when you’re trying to identify the actual most valuable player.
The modern era we recognize—the one run by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA)—didn't even start until 1931.
The Judge and Ohtani Era: 2020 to 2025
We just witnessed something historic. In 2025, Aaron Judge snagged his third American League MVP, narrowly beating out Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. It was tight. A 17-13 split in first-place votes. That win put Judge in an elite club of three-time winners, joining the likes of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio.
Then you have Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani is a glitch in the matrix. He won in 2021 and 2023 with the Angels before heading over to the National League to continue his dominance. His 2021 and 2023 wins were unanimous. Let that sink in. He is the only player to ever win multiple MVPs by a unanimous vote in the American League.
The list of recent winners looks like this:
- 2025: Aaron Judge (NYY)
- 2024: Aaron Judge (NYY)
- 2023: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
- 2022: Aaron Judge (NYY)
- 2021: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
- 2020: José Abreu (CHW)
It's been a pinstripe-heavy decade, clearly.
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Why the 1990s and 2000s Were Pure Chaos
If you grew up watching baseball in the 90s, the list of American League MVPs felt like a daily argument at a sports bar. You had Frank Thomas winning back-to-back in '93 and '94. The Big Hurt was just... massive. Then came the era of the shortstops and the sluggers.
Ken Griffey Jr. finally got his due in 1997. It’s actually kind of crazy he only won one. You’d think the face of baseball would have a shelf full of them.
Then there’s Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod is the only player to win the award at two different positions for two different teams in the AL. He won as a shortstop for the Rangers in 2003 and then as a third baseman for the Yankees in 2005 and 2007. Say what you want about his legacy, but the guy was a statistical monster.
The Mid-Century Legends (1940s-1960s)
This is where the New York Yankees basically owned the award. Between 1941 and 1962, a Yankee won the AL MVP 13 times.
Yogi Berra won it three times ('51, '54, '55). People forget Yogi wasn't just a guy who said funny things; he was a defensive wizard who could hit anything near the plate. Mickey Mantle also took home three ('56, '57, '62).
And don't forget Ted Williams. He won it in 1946 and 1949. But honestly? He probably should have won five or six. The writers famously disliked him because he wasn't exactly "warm" to the press. In 1941, Williams hit .406—the last time anyone hit over .400—and he lost the MVP to Joe DiMaggio because Joe had a 56-game hitting streak.
It’s one of the greatest "what if" debates in sports history.
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The Pitcher Problem: Can They Actually Win?
There is a long-standing beef among baseball purists about whether pitchers should be on the list of American League MVPs. The argument is that they have their own award: the Cy Young.
But sometimes, a pitcher is so dominant you just can't ignore them.
Justin Verlander did it in 2011. He was 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA. Before him, you have to go back to Dennis Eckersley in 1992, who was a closer. And then Roger Clemens in 1986.
It takes a truly special, "earth-shattering" season for a pitcher to break through the hitter bias. Vida Blue did it as a 21-year-old in 1971. Denny McLain did it in 1968 when he won 31 games. We will probably never see a 30-game winner again. Like, ever.
The Early Years and the "New" Award
When the BBWAA took over in 1931, the first winner was Lefty Grove. He was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics.
The 1930s were dominated by Jimmie Foxx. He won three times ('32, '33, '38). Foxx was essentially the right-handed version of Babe Ruth. He hit 58 home runs in 1932. If he played in a modern park, he might have hit 70.
Here is how the early list shook out:
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- 1931: Lefty Grove (PHA)
- 1932: Jimmie Foxx (PHA)
- 1933: Jimmie Foxx (PHA)
- 1934: Mickey Cochrane (DET)
- 1935: Hank Greenberg (DET)
- 1936: Lou Gehrig (NYY)
Lou Gehrig winning in 1936 was a massive moment. He had been playing in Ruth's shadow for so long, and that year he finally stood alone at the top.
Surprising Facts Most People Forget
- Frank Robinson is still the only player to win the MVP in both the American League ('66) and the National League ('61).
- Ichiro Suzuki and Fred Lynn are the only two guys to win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season. Ichiro did it in 2001 and basically saved baseball in Seattle.
- George Brett won in 1980 while hitting .390. He was flirtatious with .400 for almost the entire summer.
- The Minnesota Twins had a weird run in the 2000s with Justin Morneau (2006) and Joe Mauer (2009). It was a good time to be in the Twin Cities.
How to Use This Knowledge
If you're a collector or a fantasy baseball nerd, understanding the list of American League MVPs gives you a roadmap of greatness.
1. Study the "Unanimous" winners.
When the writers agree 100%, you’re looking at a season for the ages. Names like Ohtani (twice!), Judge (2024), and Mike Trout (2014) are the gold standard.
2. Watch the "Contract Year" phenomenon.
A lot of these guys put up MVP numbers right before they hit free agency. It’s a real thing.
3. Look at the WAR (Wins Above Replacement).
In the modern era, the MVP almost always goes to the WAR leader. If you want to predict the 2026 winner, just watch who leads the league in WAR by the All-Star break.
The American League MVP isn't just a trophy. It’s a snapshot of who defined the game in a specific moment of time. Whether it was the power of Jimmie Foxx or the sheer "how-is-this-possible" athleticism of Shohei Ohtani, these winners are the heartbeat of baseball history.