Awards

All-Star Game Most Valuable Players

By Patrick Mondout

The first All-Star game was played in 1933, but it wasn't until 1962 that an official Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy was awarded. It was named the "Arch Ward Memorial Award" after the Chicago Tribune sportswriter who came up with the idea of the All-Star game. It later became known as the Commissioner's Trophy, but is now known as the Ted Williams Award.

*A few notes about the listings above: There were two All-Star games played each year from 1959-1962 resulting in two MVPs the first year the trophy was awarded. The voters couldn't decide between Madlock and Matlock in '75, so they named them co-MVPs - the only time that has happened. There was no MVP awarded in 2002 after Bud Selig decided to call off the All-Star game just as it was getting interesting.