Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award (最優秀選手, Saiyūshūsenshu) is an annual Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) award given to two outstanding players, one each for the Central League (CL) and Pacific League (PL).
![Sadaharu Oh standing wearing a Japan national baseball team uniform during the 2006 World Baseball Classic](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/WBC2006_Sadaharu_Oh.jpg/170px-WBC2006_Sadaharu_Oh.jpg)
Each league's award is voted on by national baseball writers.[1] Each voter selects three players: a first-place selection is given five points, a second-place selection three points, and a third-place selection one point. The award goes to the player who receives the most overall points.[2] The winners are announced every year in November during Nippon Professional Baseball's awards ceremony called NBP Awards.
The first recipient of the award was Eiji Sawamura.[3] The most recent winners, in 2023, are Shōki Murakami, from the Central League, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, from the Pacific League.[4] In 1940, Victor Starffin became the first player to win the award consecutively and multiple times.[3] Eiji Sawamura and Kazuhisa Inao are the youngest players to receive the awards in 1937 and 1957, respectively, at the ages of 20.[5] In 1988, Hiromitsu Kadota became the oldest player to receive the award at the age of 40.[6]
A majority of the MVP awards were given to players who played on the pennant winning team. There are a few cases where the MVP was awarded to a player who was not on the pennant winning team, however. These include 2 of Oh's MVP seasons in 1964 and 1974, Wladimir Balentien in 2013, Hisashi Iwakuma in 2008, and Hiromitsu Kadota in 1988. Only twice was the award given to a foreigner in both leagues; in 1989 with Ralph Bryant in the Pacific League and Warren Cromartie in the Central League, and in 2001 with Tuffy Rhodes in the Pacific League and Roberto Petagine in the Central League.
Key
editPosition players |
RBIs | Runs batted in |
AVG | Batting average | |
Pitchers | Record | Record of decisions (tie games are omitted) |
Saves | Number of saves[B] | |
ERA | Earned run average | |
(#) | Indicates number of times winning MVP Award (if multiple winner) | |
* | Elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame[7] |
Winners
editJapanese Baseball League (1937–1949)
editNippon Professional Baseball (1950–present)
editCentral League
editPacific League
editMultiple winners
editThere have been 22 players who have won the award multiple times. Sadaharu Oh currently holds the record for the most awards won, with nine. Hisashi Yamada (1976–1978) and Ichiro Suzuki (1994–1996) share the record for the most consecutive awards won. Yutaka Enatsu and Michihiro Ogasawara are the only players to have won the award in both the Central League and Pacific League. Alex Ramírez is the only non-Japanese player receive the award multiple times after the formation of two league system.
Notes
edit- B The save statistic was not formally recorded in the NPB until the 1974 season.[128]
- C The 1945 Japanese Baseball League was cancelled due to World War II.[129]
- D After 1958, Kazuto Yamamoto became known as Kazuto Tsuruoka.
- E Tetsuharu Kawakami received his first MVP award in 1941, nine years before the formation of Nippon Professional Baseball.
See also
editNotes
edit- General
- "最優秀選手(1リーグ)" [MVPs (1 League)] (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- "セ・リーグ歴代MVP" [Central League Past MVPs]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- "パ・リーグ歴代MVP" [Pacific League Past MVPs]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- "List of Hall of Famers". The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- Specific
- ^ Nagatsuka, Kaz (15 November 2006). "Ogasawara, Fukudome given MVP awards for 2006 season". The Japan Times. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
- ^ "2018年度 表彰選手 投票結果(最優秀選手)" [2018 Player Awards Voting Results (Most Valuable Player)]. Nippon Professional Baseball (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ a b 1リーグ 最優秀選手 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
- ^ "Japan baseball stars Munetaka Murakami and Yoshinobu Yamamoto earn MVP honors". japannews.yomiuri.co.jp. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
- ^ "Darvish, Ogasawara earn MVP honors". The Japan Times. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
- ^ "Kadota, Hiromitsu". The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- ^ "Hall of Famers List". The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- ^ "Eiji Sawamura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Bucky Harris Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Hisanori Karita Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Haruyasu Hakajima Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Victor Starfin Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Tetsuharu Kawakami Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Shigeru Mizuhara Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Shosei Go Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Tadashi Wakabayashi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Kazuto Tsuruoka Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Fumio Fujimura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Makoto Kozuru Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Takehiko Bessho Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Takumi Otomo Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Shigeru Sugishita Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Wally Yonamine Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Motoshi Fujita Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
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- ^ a b c d e "Shigeo Nagashima Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Minoru Murayama Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sadaharu Oh Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Tsuneo Horiuchi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Koji Yamamoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Tsutomu Wakamatsu Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Yutaka Enatsu Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Takayoshi Nakao Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Tatsunori Hara Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
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- ^ a b "Atsuya Furuta Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
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- ^ "Roberto Petagine Minor, Japanese, Mexican & Korean Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
- ^ "Kei Igawa Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Kenshin Kawakami Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
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- ^ a b "Michihiro Ogasawara Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Álex Ramírez Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ セ・リーグ 最優秀選手 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
- ^ "Kazuhiro Wada Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
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- ^ "2011 Central League Qualifiers for Earned-Run Average Title & Top Relief Pitchers". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Shinnosuke Abe Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Wladimir Balentien Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Tomoyuki Sugano Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Tetsuto Yamada Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Takahiro Arai Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Yoshihiro Maru Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ a b Coskrey, Jason (26 November 2019). "Hayato Sakamoto, Tomoya Mori named league MVPs". Japan Times. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Hayato Sakamoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Tomoyuki Sugano Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
- ^ "Tigers rookie Murakami and Orix ace Yamamoto named MVPS". japantimes.co.jp. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Kaoru Betto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
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- ^ "Isami Okamoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Hiroshi Oshita Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Tokuji Iida Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Futoshi Nakanishi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Kazuhisa Inao Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Tadashi Sugiura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Kazuhiro Yamauchi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Katsuya Nomura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Isao Harimoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Joe Stanka Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
- ^ "Mitsuhiro Adachi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Tetsuya Yoneda Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Atsushi Nagaike Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Masaaki Kitaru Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Yutaka Fukumoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Tamehiro Kaneda Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Hideji Kato Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Hisashi Yamada Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Charlie Manuel Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
- ^ "Isamu Kida Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Hiromitsu Ochiai Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Osamu Higashio Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Greg Wells Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Hiromichi Ishige Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Hiromitsu Kadota Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Ralph Bryant Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Hideo Nomo Japanese, Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Taigen Kaku Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Takehiro Ishii Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Kimiyasu Kudo Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Ichiro Suzuki Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
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- ^ a b "Nobuhiko Matsunaka Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
- ^ "Tuffy Rhodes Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
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- ^ "Kenji Johjima Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Toshiya Sugiuchi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Yu Darvish Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Hisashi Iwakuma Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ パ・リーグ 最優秀選手 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
- ^ "Tsuyoshi Wada Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Seiichi Uchikawa Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
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- ^ "Hotaka Yamakawa Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
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- ^ 1974年 (in Japanese). Nippon Professional Baseball. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- ^ Fitts, Robert K. (September 2008). Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball. University of Nebraska Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-8032-1381-4.
References
edit- Johnson, Daniel E. (July 2006). Japanese Baseball: A Statistical Handbook. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-2841-0.