League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award
Introduction alt=The '''League Championship Series Most Valuable Player''' ('''MVP''') '''Award''' is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players deemed to have the most impact on their teams' performances in each of the two respective League Championship Series that comprise the penultimate round of the MLB postseason. The award is given separately for a player in both the American League Championship Series and the National League Championship Series. It has been presented in the National League (NL) since 1977, and in the American League (AL) since 1980.Dusty Baker won the inaugural award in 1977 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Frank White won the first AL award in 1980 with the Kansas City Royals. The ten Hall of Famers to win LCS MVPs include Roberto Alomar, George Brett, Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson, Kirby Puckett, Ozzie Smith, Willie Stargell, John Smoltz, Iván Rodríguez, and Mariano Rivera.Three players have won the award twice: Steve Garvey (1978, 1984), Dave Stewart (1990, 1993), and Orel Hershiser (1988, 1995). Incidentally, all three of these players won their two awards with two different teams. Nine players have gone on to win the World Series MVP Award in the same season in which they won the LCS MVP—eight from the NL and one from the AL. Three players have won while playing for the losing team in the series: Fred Lynn played for the 1982 California Angels; Mike Scott pitched for the 1986 Houston Astros; and Jeffrey Leonard played for the 1987 San Francisco Giants. Two players have shared the award in the same year three times, all in the NL; Rob Dibble and Randy Myers for the 1990 Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester and Javier Báez in 2016, and Chris Taylor and Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017.Nelson Cruz won the award in the 2011 ALCS after hitting 6 home runs in the series. Adolis García won the award after having 15 RBIs during the 2023 ALCS. Adam Kennedy won the 2002 ALCS MVP when he hit 3 home runs in 1 game; he had hit 7 during the regular season and hit 80 in his 14-year career. From the pitcher's mound, Steve Avery threw  innings without giving up a run in the 1991 NLCS, and John Smoltz amassed 19 strikeouts the following year. Liván Hernández won the 1997 NLCS MVP after winning his only start and earning a win out of the bullpen in relief; he struck out 16 in  innings. Daniel Murphy won the 2015 NLCS MVP after hitting home runs in six consecutive games (including the final two games of the preceding division series), setting a major league record for consecutive postseason games with a home run.Liván Hernández (1997, NL) and his half-brother Orlando Hernández (1999, AL) are the only family pair to have won the award. The only rookies to have won the award are Mike Boddicker (1983, AL), Liván Hernández (1997, NL), Michael Wacha (2013, NL), Randy Arozarena (2020, AL) and Jeremy Peña (2022, AL).
Key  '''Year'''  Links to the article about that corresponding ALCS or NLCS   Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame   Indicates that the player won the World Series MVP Award the same year   Indicates losing team in the series   Indicates multiple award winners in the same year  Indicates number of times winning League Championship Series MVP at that point (if he won multiple times)
American League winners Adolis Garcia (2023 ALCS MVP)Yordan Álvarez (2021 ALCS MVP)Randy Arozarena (2020 ALCS MVP)José Altuve (2019 ALCS MVP)Jackie Bradley Jr. (2018 ALCS MVP) Year Player Team Position Selected statistics Ref   Kansas City Royals Second baseman *.545 batting average*1 home run*3 runs batted in    New York Yankees Third baseman *.500 batting average*3 extra-base hits*9 runs batted in    California Angels§ Outfielder *.611 batting average*11 hits*5 runs batted in    Baltimore Orioles Starting pitcher *1–0 record over 1 start; 1 shutout*9 scoreless innings pitched*14 strikeouts    Detroit Tigers Outfielder *.417 batting average*1 home run*2 runs batted in   † Kansas City Royals Third baseman *.348 batting average*3 home runs*5 runs batted in    Boston Red Sox Second baseman *.367 batting average*11 hits*5 runs batted in    Minnesota Twins Third baseman *.300 batting average*2 home runs*5 runs batted in   † Oakland Athletics Relief pitcher *4 saves over 4 appearances*6 scoreless innings pitched*5 strikeouts   † Oakland Athletics Outfielder *.400 batting average*2 home runs*8 stolen bases    Oakland Athletics Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*2 runs allowed over 16 innings*0.63 WHIP   † Minnesota Twins Outfielder *.429 batting average*2 home runs*5 runs batted in   † Toronto Blue Jays Second baseman *.423 batting average*2 home runs*4 runs batted in     Toronto Blue Jays Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*3 runs allowed over  innings*8 strikeouts  Series cancelled due to player's strike     Cleveland Indians Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*2 earned runs allowed over 14 innings*15 strikeouts    New York Yankees Outfielder *.474 batting average*2 home runs*6 runs batted in    Cleveland Indians Outfielder *Game-winning home run in 8th inning of Game 2*6 hits*3 stolen bases    New York Yankees Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*5 runs allowed over  innings*18 strikeouts    New York Yankees Starting pitcher *1–0 record over 2 games started*3 earned runs allowed over 15 innings*13 strikeouts    New York Yankees Outfielder *.824 on-base plus slugging*2 home runs*8 runs batted in    New York Yankees Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*4 runs allowed over  innings*8 strikeouts    Anaheim Angels Second baseman *.357 batting average*3 home runs *5 runs batted in   † New York Yankees Relief pitcher *1 win and 2 saves over 4 appearances*1 run allowed over 8 innings*6 strikeouts   † Boston Red Sox Designated hitter *.387 batting average*3 home runs*11 runs batted in    Chicago White Sox First baseman *.286 batting average*2 home runs*7 runs batted in    Detroit Tigers Second baseman *.529 batting average*9 hits*2 runs batted in    Boston Red Sox Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*3 runs allowed over 14 innings*18 strikeouts    Tampa Bay Rays Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*2 runs allowed over 13 innings*14 strikeouts    New York Yankees Starting pitcher*2–0 record over 2 games started*2 runs allowed over 16 innings*12 strikeouts    Texas Rangers Outfielder*.350 batting average*4 home runs*7 runs batted in    Texas Rangers Outfielder*.364 batting average*6 home runs*13 runs batted in    Detroit Tigers Designated hitter*.353 batting average*2 home runs*5 runs batted in    Boston Red Sox Relief pitcher*1 win and 3 saves over 5 appearances*6 scoreless innings pitched*9 strikeouts    Kansas City Royals Outfielder*.533 batting average*5 runs scored*8 hits    Kansas City Royals Shortstop*.478 batting average*11 hits*6 runs scored   Cleveland Indians Relief pitcher*1 save in 4 appearances *0 runs allowed over  innings*14 strikeouts   Houston Astros Starting pitcher*2–0 record over 2 games started; 1 complete game*1 run allowed over 16 innings*21 strikeouts  Jackie Bradley Jr. Boston Red Sox Center fielder*9 runs batted in*2 home runs*1.067 OPS  José Altuve Houston Astros Second baseman*Series-winning walk-off home run*.348 batting average*6 runs scored / 3 runs batted in  Randy Arozarena Tampa Bay Rays Outfielder*4 home runs*.321 batting average*1.152 OPS  Yordan Álvarez Houston Astros Designated hitter*7 runs scored / 6 runs batted in*.522 batting average*1.408 OPS * Jeremy Peña Houston Astros Shortstop*7 runs scored / 5 runs batted in*.353 batting average*.991 OPS  Adolis García Texas Rangers Outfielder*5 home runs*1 grand slam*15 runs batted in
National League winners Ketel Marte (2023 NLCS MVP)Bryce Harper (2022 NLCS MVP)Eddie Rosario (2021 NLCS MVP)Corey Seager (2020 NLCS MVP)Howie Kendrick (2019 NLCS MVP) Year Player Team Position Selected statistics Ref   Los Angeles Dodgers Outfielder *.357 batting average*2 home runs*8 runs batted in    Los Angeles Dodgers  First baseman *.389 batting average*4 home runs*7 runs batted in  * † Pittsburgh Pirates First baseman *.455 batting average*2 home runs*6 runs batted in    Philadelphia Phillies Second baseman *.381 batting average*8 hits*4 runs batted in    Los Angeles Dodgers Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*0 earned runs allowed over  innings*1.16 WHIP  *  St. Louis Cardinals Catcher *.556 batting average*5 hits; 3 doubles*5 walks    Philadelphia Phillies Outfielder *.429 batting average*3 home runs*8 runs batted in     San Diego Padres First baseman *.400 batting average*Walk-off home run in Game 4*7 runs batted in   † St. Louis Cardinals Shortstop *.435 batting average*Walk-off home run in Game 5*3 runs batted in    Houston Astros§ Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started; both were complete games- 1 shutout*1 run allowed over 18 innings*19 strikeouts    San Francisco Giants§ Outfielder *.417 batting average*4 home runs*5 runs batted in  *  Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher *1–0 record and 1 save over 4 appearances; 3 starts-1 shutout*3 earned runs allowed over  innings*15 strikeouts   San Francisco Giants First baseman *.650 batting average*13 hits*8 runs batted in  ^  Cincinnati Reds Relief pitcher *1 save over 4 appearances*5 scoreless innings pitched*10 strikeouts  ^  Cincinnati Reds Relief pitcher *3 saves over 4 appearances* scoreless innings pitched*7 strikeouts    Atlanta Braves Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started* scoreless innings pitched*17 strikeouts   † Atlanta Braves Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 3 games started*6 earned runs allowed over  innings*19 strikeouts    Philadelphia Phillies Starting pitcher *2 no-decisions over 2 games started*3 earned runs allowed over 16 innings pitched*19 strikeouts  Series cancelled due to player's strike    Atlanta Braves Outfielder *.308 batting average*1 home run*5 runs batted in    Atlanta Braves Catcher *.542 batting average*5 doubles/ 2 home runs*6 runs batted in  *  Florida Marlins Starting pitcher *2 wins over 2 appearances; 1 relief appearance and 1 start which was a complete game*1 run allowed over  innings *16 strikeouts     San Diego Padres Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*1 run allowed over 10 innings*14 strikeouts    Atlanta Braves Catcher *.500 batting average*2 home runs*5 runs batted in    New York Mets Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started; 1 shutout*16 scoreless innings pitched*12 strikeouts    Arizona Diamondbacks Infielder *.381 batting average*4 runs batted in*5 runs scored    San Francisco Giants Catcher *.300 batting average*2 home runs*6 runs batted in   † Florida Marlins Catcher *.321 batting average*2 home runs*10 runs batted in    St. Louis Cardinals First baseman *.500 batting average*4 home runs*9 runs batted in    Houston Astros Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*2 runs allowed over 14 innings*12 strikeouts    St. Louis Cardinals Starting pitcher *1–0 record over 2 games started*1 run allowed over 15 innings*1 home run hit in Game 3    Colorado Rockies Outfielder *.333 batting average*2 home runs*4 runs batted in  *  Philadelphia Phillies Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started*3 runs allowed over 14 innings*13 strikeouts    Philadelphia Phillies First baseman *.333 batting average*2 home runs and 8 runs batted in*Tied Lou Gehrig's record for most consecutive postseason games with a run batted in (8)    San Francisco Giants Outfielder *.350 batting average*3 home runs*5 runs batted in  *  St. Louis Cardinals Third baseman *.545 batting average*3 home runs*9 runs batted in    San Francisco Giants Second baseman *.500 batting average*14 hits*4 runs batted in    St. Louis Cardinals Starting pitcher *2–0 record over 2 games started* scoreless innings pitched*13 strikeouts  *  San Francisco Giants Starting pitcher *1–0 record over 2 games started*3 runs allowed over  innings*12 strikeouts New York MetsInfielder *.529 batting average*4 home runs*6 runs batted in*Major league record for hitting home runs in 6 consecutive playoff games. ^ Chicago CubsStarting pitcher  *1–0 record over 2 games started*2 runs allowed over 13 innings*9 strikeouts ^Chicago CubsInfielder *.368 batting average*7 hits; 4 doubles*5 runs batted in ^  Los Angeles Dodgers Third baseman *1.402 OPS*6 runs batted in*Walk-off home run to win Game 2  ^  Los Angeles Dodgers Outfielder *1.221 OPS*3 runs batted in*2 home runs    Los Angeles Dodgers First baseman *1 home run*4 runs batted in*.591 OPS  Washington Nationals Second baseman *.333 batting average (5-for-15)*4 runs batted in*4 runs scored *  Los Angeles Dodgers Shortstop *11 runs batted in*5 home runs   Atlanta Braves Outfielder *.560 batting average*9 runs batted in*3 home runs *1.647 OPS  Philadelphia Phillies Designated hitter *.400 batting average*5 runs batted in*2 home runs *1.250 OPS  Arizona Diamondbacks Second baseman *.387 batting average*3 runs batted in*.987 OPS*Walk-off single to win Game 3
References ;General*;Inline citations
Further reading *
External links * Playoff and World Series Stats at Baseball-Reference