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When MLB announces its Most Valuable Player winners each November, many fans wonder: Does Major League Baseball award one MVP for the entire league, or separate MVPs for the American League and National League?
The answer is clear — MLB awards two MVPs every year, one for each league.
This article breaks down exactly how the MVP process works, why the leagues vote separately, and how MLB’s award structure has evolved.
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MLB Awards Two MVPs: One for the AL and One for the NL
Since 1931, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) has chosen two MVP winners each season:
- American League MVP
- National League MVP
The voting for each league is completely independent. Writers who cover AL teams vote for the AL MVP, and writers who cover NL teams vote for the NL MVP. This means two players—often with very different statistics, positions, and storylines—are honored as the most valuable in their respective leagues.
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Why MLB Uses Two MVP Awards
MLB’s award structure comes from the sport’s history. For more than a century, the American League and National League operated as separate leagues, each with its own:
- Teams
- Schedules
- Umpires
- Rule sets (such as the DH used only in the AL until 2022)
Even though MLB functions more unified today under the Commissioner’s Office, the tradition of league-based awards has remained.
This two-league format ensures:
- Players are compared only against others in the same league
- The voting pool stays balanced and fair
- Historic award continuity remains intact
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Are There Any MLB-Wide Awards?
Yes — while the MVPs are league-specific, several awards are MLB-wide and recognize players across both leagues. Some of the biggest include:
- Roberto Clemente Award
Given to a single MLB player for outstanding character, community involvement, and philanthropy.
- All-MLB Team
An end-of-season roster recognizing the best players at each position across the entire league.
- Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award
Awarded irregularly to players who make extraordinary contributions to baseball.
Other awards, like the Hank Aaron Award, still give one winner per league — but they represent MLB-wide recognition of offensive excellence.
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Will MLB Ever Move to a Single MVP System?
So far, MLB has not signaled any intention to merge the MVP awards into a single MLB-wide honor.
Two MVPs remain:
- A long-standing tradition
- A way to honor more players
- A reflection of the league’s dual structure
The two-award format is deeply rooted in baseball’s identity and remains popular among writers, teams, and fans.
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Conclusion
To summarize:
- MLB awards two MVPs every season — one for the American League and one for the National League.
- This tradition dates back to 1931 and reflects baseball’s dual-league structure.
- While many awards today are MLB-wide, the MVP remains strictly league-specific.