10 MVPs – 5 Hitters and 5 Pitchers – Who Defined the World Series This Century
Winning a World Series is the pinnacle of achievement for any MLB player. But being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) as well? That’s a dream come true.
Since 2000, a mix of players — from unexpected stars to future Hall of Famers — have earned the title of World Series MVP. Sometimes it’s a player who had a solid week or delivered a key hit. Other times, they deliver a legendary performance that becomes part of World Series lore.
JUMP TO: Top 5 MVP Hitters | Top 5 MVP Pitchers
The Top 5 World Series MVPs (Hitters)
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Hideki Matsui (2009)
Designated Hitter, New York Yankees
(Photo by Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Matsui is the only World Series MVP of this century to record an OPS over 2.000, hitting jili88 download free.615/.643/1.385 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs in the seven-game 2009 World Series. The Yankees won all three games in which Matsui homered, and in Game 7, he drove in six of his total RBIs for the series, leading the Yankees to a 7-3 victory and a championship. Surprisingly, before the World Series, Matsui had not been hitting particularly well during that postseason, posting a .233/.395/.367 line in the ALDS and ALCS. -
David Ortiz (2013)
Designated Hitter, Boston Red Sox
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The accomplishments of Matsui and Ortiz in 2009 and 2013, respectively, are remarkable. While Matsui hit one more homer than Ortiz, Boston’s DH posted an astonishing .688/.760/1.188 with two home runs and 6 RBIs in six games against the Cardinals. Ortiz has been at the center of debates on whether clutch hitting is a real phenomenon, and his performance in the World Series proved just that. free 100 pesos casino His gameplay in the preceding rounds was strong as well, batting .385/.556/.923 against the Rays in the ALDS. -
George Springer (2017)
Center Fielder, Houston Astros
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
George Springer is among the all-time great postseason performers. 11wowph In the 2017 ALDS against the Red Sox, he batted .412/.474/.706 with a homer and 4 runs scored. In the World Series against the Dodgers, Springer hit five home runs in seven games, finishing with a .379/.471/1.000 line, 5 HRs, and 7 RBIs. By October 23, he had established himself among the top five all-time in postseason homers. -
Freddie Freeman (2024)
First Baseman, Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
While Freeman may not have had the same home run totals as others, he made his hits count. In 2024, though he had “just” six hits in five games, four of them were home runs, driving in 12 runs, nearly half of the Dodgers’ total. His walk-off grand slam in Game 1 is the only one in World Series history, underscoring his clutch performance. -
Pablo Sandoval (2012)
Third Baseman, San Francisco Giants
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Despite winning World Series MVP in a four-game sweep against the Royals with a .500/.529/1.125 line, Sandoval’s performance throughout the postseason deserves recognition. Overall, he hit .364/.386/.712 with six homers and 13 RBIs, playing a key role in the Giants’ second championship within three seasons.
Honorable Mentions: Steve Pearce (2018 Red Sox), Derek Jeter (2000 Yankees), Troy Glaus (2002 Angels)
The Top 5 World Series MVPs (Pitchers)
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Madison Bumgarner (2014)
Pitcher, San Francisco Giants
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Bumgarner was pivotal in the 2014 World Series, starting two games and coming in as a reliever for another. His five innings of relief in Game 7 helped secure the Giants’ third title since 2010, with an unbelievable ERA of 0.43 over 21 innings pitched. -
Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling (2001)
Pitchers, Arizona Diamondbacks
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Johnson and Schilling were co-MVPs in 2001 for their dominating performances against the Yankees. Johnson pitched in three games, posting an impressive 1.04 ERA, while Schilling had a 1. phbet 1169 ERA over 21.1 innings. -
Josh Beckett (2003)
Pitcher, Florida Marlins
(Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post)
Beckett’s dominance helped the Marlins secure their second World Series championship, amassing 16.1 innings pitched with a 1.10 ERA and striking out 19 Yankees in the process. -
Stephen Strasburg (2019)
Pitcher, Washington Nationals
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
In what would be his last postseason performance, Strasburg excelled against the Astros, pitching 14.1 innings with a 2.51 ERA, leading the Nationals to victory. www.365ph
What are your thoughts on these standout MVP performances throughout the years?
