Pitchers In Recent MVP Voting

SI Staff | Sep 19, 2011

Pitchers In Recent MVP Voting

Dennis Eckersley

A.J. Lovero/SI

It's been 19 years since the last time a pitcher won an AL or NL MVP award. In 1992, Dennis Eckersley, 37, beat out Kirby Puckett and Joe Carter for the AL MVP. By then the A's closer, Eckersley led the majors with 51 saves. He recorded a 1.91 ERA while pitching 80 innings, enough domination for voters to award him 15 of 28 first-place votes over two hitters that each played in at least 158 games. It's the yearly conundrum of MVP voting -- can starting pitchers and closers be more valuable than everyday position players? Tigers ace Justin Verlander (24-5, 2.29 ERA, 244 Ks) could win the pitching triple crown this year, but can he become the first pitcher since 1992 to win the MVP? Eleven other pitchers have garnered top-six consideration since Eckersley in 1992. *MVP voting results via Baseball-Reference.com

Greg Maddux

Al Tielemans/SI

1994 1. Jeff Bagwell (HOU) 2. Matt Williams (SF) 3. Moises Alou (MON) 4. Barry Bonds (SF) 5. Maddux (ATL) -- 16-6, 1.56 ERA, 156 Ks 1995 1. Barry Larkin (CIN) 2. Dante Bichette (COL) 3. Maddux (ATL) -- 19-2, 1.63 ERA, 181 Ks

Jimmy Key

Chuck Solomon/SI

1. Frank Thomas (CHW) 2. Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA) 3. Albert Belle (CLE) 4. Kenny Lofton (CLE) 5. Paul O'Neill (NYY) 6. Key (NYY) -- 17-4, 3.27 ERA, 97 Ks

Jose Mesa

David Liam Kyle/SI

1. Mo Vaughn (BOS) 2. Albert Belle (CLE) 3. Edgar Martinez (SEA) 4. Mesa (CLE) -- 46 saves, 1.13 ERA, 58 Ks

Randy Johnson

Al Tielemans/SI

1. Mo Vaughn (BOS) 2. Albert Belle (CLE) 3. Edgar Martinez (SEA) 4. Mesa (CLE) -- 46 saves, 1.13 ERA, 58 Ks 5. Jay Buhner (SEA) 6. Johnson (SEA) -- 18-2, 2.48 ERA, 294 Ks

Randy Myers

Ronald C. Modra/SI

1. Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA) 2. Tino Martinez (NYY) 3. Frank Thomas (CHW) 4. Myers (BAL) -- 45 saves, 1.51 ERA, 56 Ks

Pedro Martinez

Walter Iooss, Jr./SI

1999 1. Ivan Rodriguez (TEX) 2. Martinez (BOS) -- 23-4, 2.07 ERA, 313 Ks 2000 1. Jason Giambi (OAK) 2. Frank Thomas (CHW) 3. Alex Rodriguez (SEA) 4. Carlos Delgado (TOR) 5. Martinez (BOS) -- 18-6, 1.74 ERA, 284 Ks

Eric Gagne

Tom DiPace/SI

1. Barry Bonds (SF) 2. Albert Pujols (STL) 3. Gary Sheffield (ATL) 4. Jim Thome (PHI) 5. Javy Lopez (ATL) 6. Gagne (LAD) -- 55 saves, 1.20 ERA, 137 Ks

Johan Santana

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

1. Vladimir Guerrero (ANA) 2. Gary Sheffield (NYY) 3. Manny Ramirez (BOS) 4. David Ortiz (BOS) 5. Miguel Tejada (OAK) 6. Santana (MIN) -- 20-6, 2.61 ERA, 265 Ks

Francisco Rodriguez

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

1. Dustin Pedroia (BOS) 2. Justin Morneau (MIN) 3. Kevin Youkilis (BOS) 4. Joe Mauer (MIN) 5. Carlos Quentin (CHW) 6. Rodriguez (LAA) -- 62 saves, 2.24 ERA, 77 Ks

CC Sabathia

John Biever/SI

1. Albert Pujols (STL) 2. Ryan Howard (PHI) 3. Ryan Braun (MIL) 4. Manny Ramirez (LAD) 5. Lance Berkman (HOU) 6. Sabathia (MIL) -- 11-2, 1.65 ERA, 128 Ks (after trade from CLE)

Roy Halladay

Brad Mangin/SI

1. Joey Votto (CIN) 2. Albert Pujols (STL) 3. Carlos Gonzalez (COL) 4. Adrian Gonzalez (SD) 5. Troy Tulowitzki (COL) 6. Halladay (PHI) -- 21-10, 2.44 ERA, 219 Ks