Winning a championship is the dream, but walking away with the world series mvp trophy is something else entirely. It’s that weird, frantic moment on a makeshift stage in the middle of a diamond covered in confetti. You’ve probably seen it. The player is usually exhausted, covered in champagne, and trying to find the right words while a suit hands them a trophy that looks remarkably different than it did twenty years ago.
Honestly, the history of this thing is a bit of a mess. It didn’t even start as an official Major League Baseball award. Back in 1955, it was actually Sport magazine that came up with the idea. They just decided to start picking a winner, and for a long time, the "trophy" was basically whatever the magazine felt like handing over—often paired with a brand-new Corvette.
The Willie Mays Renaming and What It Actually Means
In 2017, the MLB finally did something that felt right but was also a little ironic. They officially named it the Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player Award. They announced this on September 29, which was the 63rd anniversary of "The Catch." You know the one—the 1954 over-the-shoulder grab in deep center field at the Polo Grounds.
The ironic part? Willie Mays never actually won the award.
He couldn't have. The award didn't exist in 1954. By the time the editors at Sport handed the first one to Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Johnny Podres in 1955, the Giants weren't in the Fall Classic. So, the greatest living player (at the time) became the namesake for a trophy he never had on his own mantel.
How the Design Kept Changing
If you look at old photos of winners like Reggie Jackson or Mike Schmidt, the world series mvp trophy they’re holding looks nothing like the one Freddie Freeman hoisted in 2024 or Yoshinobu Yamamoto in 2025.
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For a long time, the trophy was a bit of an afterthought compared to the Commissioner's Trophy.
- The Early Years (1950s-70s): It was often a wooden base with a metallic baseball or a plaque. Sometimes it looked like a high school debate trophy.
- The 1980s Transition: There was a weird period where it featured a metallic baseball surrounded by tiny flags, mimicking the championship trophy.
- The 1990s "Pyramid" Era: In the mid-90s, winners were handed a clear, pyramid-shaped block with a baseball embedded inside. It looked very... 1995.
- The Modern Era: Since 2018, the trophy has finally found a permanent identity. It’s a wooden pedestal topped with a bronze sculpture of Willie Mays making that iconic 1954 catch.
It’s heavy. It’s distinct. And unlike the "piece of metal" the Commissioner once called the World Series trophy, this one feels personal.
The One Guy Who Won It While Losing
There is a legendary bit of trivia that every baseball nerd knows, but it bears repeating because it highlights how high the stakes are for the world series mvp trophy.
In 1960, the New York Yankees lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in seven games. It was the Bill Mazeroski walk-off series. Despite the Yankees losing, Bobby Richardson was named the MVP. He drove in 12 runs in that series. To this day, he is the only player from a losing team to win the award.
Usually, the voting committee—which is a mix of media members and MLB officials—doesn't want to give it to the "best player." They want to give it to the player who "won" the series. It’s a distinction that creates a lot of arguments in the press box during Game 7.
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Who Makes the Thing?
While Tiffany & Co. is famous for crafting the Commissioner’s Trophy (the big one with the 30 flags), the production of the Willie Mays award has seen various hands over the decades. Currently, the focus is on that bronze sculpture.
The manufacturing process for the modern version is intense. They use a "lost-wax" casting process for the bronze figure of Mays. This ensures that every stitch on his jersey and the tension in his glove is captured. It’s not just a factory-stamped piece of plastic; it’s a legitimate piece of art.
Forget the Trophy—Give Me the Keys
For decades, the world series mvp trophy was basically the opening act for the car.
Chevrolet has been the long-time sponsor. Johnny Podres got a Corvette. In the 80s and 90s, the "Which car will he pick?" question was almost as big as the game itself. Players would often gift the car to their parents or the teammate who helped them out most.
In recent years, the focus has shifted back to the trophy and the legacy. Maybe because most of these guys are making $30 million a year and don't necessarily need a free Chevy, but there’s still something nostalgic about seeing a sweaty ballplayer standing next to a shiny SUV on the grass.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Voting
People think there’s a massive deliberation. Sorta.
The voting actually happens during the final game. If it’s a blowout in Game 5, the ballots are cast by the 7th or 8th inning. If it’s a tight Game 7, the voters are literally scribbling names while the final out is being recorded. This is why you sometimes get "narrative" winners—guys who had one huge moment late—over guys who were consistent the whole week.
It’s a high-pressure environment for the voters. They have to decide who gets immortalized before the champagne even starts flowing.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to get closer to the history of the world series mvp trophy, don't just look at the winners. Look at the context.
- Check the Hall of Fame: The original "The Catch" glove is in Cooperstown, but several MVP trophies are on loan from players in their respective team museums.
- Watch the "Willie Mays Award" wording: If you're buying memorabilia or cards, the 2017 cutoff is key. Anything before that is technically just the "World Series MVP." Post-2017, it’s the Willie Mays Award.
- Follow the Pitchers: Statistically, pitchers have a massive advantage. If a starter goes 2-0 with a low ERA, they’re almost guaranteed the hardware. If you’re betting on future MVPs, look at the Game 1 and Game 5 starters.
The trophy represents the pinnacle of a "hot streak." It’s not about who had the best career; it’s about who owned one specific week in October. That’s why the bronze image of Mays is so perfect. It captures a single second where everything went right.
Next Steps for the History Buff:
- Visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame website to view their digital archive of past MVP winners and the evolution of the trophy's physical design.
- Search for "The Catch" high-definition footage to see the exact moment the 2018-2026 trophy design is based on.
- Monitor the MLB's official awards page during the next Fall Classic to see real-time updates on the voting committee's selection process.