Jesus David Castellano / @_JDCastellano
Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are the leading MVP candidates in their respective Leagues and both are heading to their first World Series after disposing of the Guardians and Mets in five and six games in the championship rounds of both circuits.
The Yankees and Dodgers had the best records of the American and National Leagues in the season, with both leaving tremendous marks and leading several impact departments, which even though it was very different in the postseason (with Judge very cold and Ohtani on), It doesn’t stop making this World Series; at least in the previous one a very attractive clash.
Now, only one of the two could join an exclusive brotherhood in the history of the Majors if they win the top honors and of course end up winning the award in November.
Winning an MVP is undoubtedly a reward for all the effort of six months of the season, but prevailing in the Fall Classic is unique and if combined with the prestigious individual award it takes you to another level.
In the entire Divisional Era (since 1969), 12 players have been recognized with the MVP after being awarded the World Series title in October, that being the definitive combination of collective and individual performance.
Mookie Betts and José Altuve were the most recent
The most recent on that list is Mookie Betts, who won it all with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. He even had the luxury of being a batting champion (.346; MLB leader), leading the Majors in runs scored (129). Additionally, he won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger.
José Altuve did the same in 2017, leading the entire MLB in average (.346), hits (204) and leaving an OPS of .957). In that postseason he hit .310, with seven home runs – two in the MLB against the Dodgers – and 14 RBIs, in what was the first pennant for the Astros franchise.
The list is completed by:
- 2016: Kris Bryant, Dogs
- 2012: Buster Posey, Giants
- 1988: Kirk Gibson, Dodgers
- 1984: Guillermo “Willie” Hernández, Tigres
- 1983: Cal Ripken Jr., Orioles
- 1980: Mike Schmidt, Phillies
- 1979: Willie Stargell, Piratas
- 1976: Joe Morgan, Reds
- 1975: Joe Morgan, Reds
- 1973: Reggie Jackson, Athletics
- 1970: Boog Powell, Orioles
Follow the coverage in El Extrabase
