Sadaharu Oh, nine-time winner—more wins than any other player
Each league's award is voted on by national baseball writers.[1] Each voter selects three players: a first-place selection is given five points, a second-place selection three points, and a third-place selection one point. The award goes to the player who receives the most overall points.[2] The winners are announced every year in November during Nippon Professional Baseball's awards ceremony called NBP Awards.
The first recipient of the award was Eiji Sawamura.[3] The most recent winners, in 2022, are Munetaka Murakami, from the Central League, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto , from the Pacific League.[4] In 1940, Victor Starffin became the first player to win the award consecutively and multiple times.[3] Eiji Sawamura and Kazuhisa Inao are the youngest players to receive the awards in 1937 and 1957, respectively, at the ages of 20.[5] In 1988, Hiromitsu Kadota became the oldest player to receive the award at the age of 40.[6]
A majority of the MVP awards were given to players who played on the pennant winning team. There are a few cases where the MVP was awarded to a player who was not on the pennant winning team, however. These include 2 of Oh's MVP seasons in 1964 and 1974, Wladimir Balentien in 2013, Hisashi Iwakuma in 2008, and Hiromitsu Kadota in 1988. Only twice was the award given to a foreigner in both leagues; in 1989 with Ralph Bryant in the Pacific League and Warren Cromartie in the Central League, and in 2001 with Tuffy Rhodes in the Pacific League and Roberto Petagine in the Central League.
There have been 22 players who have won the award multiple times. Sadaharu Oh currently holds the record for the most awards won, with nine. Hisashi Yamada (1976–1978) and Ichiro Suzuki (1994–1996) share the record for the most consecutive awards won. Yutaka Enatsu and Michihiro Ogasawara are the only players to have won the award in both the Central League and Pacific League. Alex Ramírez is the only non-Japanese player receive the award multiple times after the formation of two league system.
^Nagatsuka, Kaz (15 November 2006). "Ogasawara, Fukudome given MVP awards for 2006 season". The Japan Times. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
^"2018年度 表彰選手 投票結果（最優秀選手）" [2018 Player Awards Voting Results (Most Valuable Player)]. Nippon Professional Baseball (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 November 2018.
^ ab１リーグ 最優秀選手 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
^"Japan baseball stars Munetaka Murakami and Yoshinobu Yamamoto earn MVP honors". japannews.yomiuri.co.jp. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
^"Darvish, Ogasawara earn MVP honors". The Japan Times. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
Johnson, Daniel E. (July 2006). Japanese Baseball: A Statistical Handbook. McFarland & Company. ISBN978-0-7864-2841-0.
January 01, 1970
nippon, professional, baseball, most, valuable, player, award, most, valuable, player, award, 最優秀選手, saiyūshūsenshu, annual, nippon, professional, baseball, award, given, outstanding, players, each, central, league, pacific, league, sadaharu, nine, time, winne. The Most Valuable Player MVP Award 最優秀選手 Saiyushusenshu is an annual Nippon Professional Baseball NPB award given to two outstanding players one each for the Central League CL and Pacific League PL Sadaharu Oh nine time winner more wins than any other player Each league s award is voted on by national baseball writers 1 Each voter selects three players a first place selection is given five points a second place selection three points and a third place selection one point The award goes to the player who receives the most overall points 2 The winners are announced every year in November during Nippon Professional Baseball s awards ceremony called NBP Awards The first recipient of the award was Eiji Sawamura 3 The most recent winners in 2022 are Munetaka Murakami from the Central League and Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the Pacific League 4 In 1940 Victor Starffin became the first player to win the award consecutively and multiple times 3 Eiji Sawamura and Kazuhisa Inao are the youngest players to receive the awards in 1937 and 1957 respectively at the ages of 20 5 In 1988 Hiromitsu Kadota became the oldest player to receive the award at the age of 40 6 A majority of the MVP awards were given to players who played on the pennant winning team There are a few cases where the MVP was awarded to a player who was not on the pennant winning team however These include 2 of Oh s MVP seasons in 1964 and 1974 Wladimir Balentien in 2013 Hisashi Iwakuma in 2008 and Hiromitsu Kadota in 1988 Only twice was the award given to a foreigner in both leagues in 1989 with Ralph Bryant in the Pacific League and Warren Cromartie in the Central League and in 2001 with Tuffy Rhodes in the Pacific League and Roberto Petagine in the Central League Contents 1 Key 2 Winners 2 1 Japanese Baseball League 1937 1949 2 2 Nippon Professional Baseball 1950 present 2 2 1 Central League 2 2 2 Pacific League 2 3 Multiple winners 3 Notes 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesKey editPositionplayers RBIs Runs batted in AVG Batting average Pitchers Record Record of decisions tie games are omitted Saves Number of saves B ERA Earned run average Indicates number of times winning MVP Award if multiple winner Elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame 7 Winners editJapanese Baseball League 1937 1949 edit nbsp Eiji Sawamura won the first Japanese Baseball League MVP award before NPB was formed in 1950 nbsp Victor Starffin was the first player to win multiple MVP awards nbsp Tetsuharu Kawakami was one of only two players to win the award before and after the formation of NPB Season Player Team Position Selected statistics Notes 1937 Spring Eiji Sawamura Tokyo Kyojin Pitcher 0 81 earned run average 196 strikeouts 24 4 record in 30 appearances 24 games started 8 1937 Fall Harris McGalliard Korakuen Eagles Catcher 310 batting average 24 runs scored 17 doubles 9 1938 Spring Hisanori Karita Tokyo Senators Second baseman 299 batting average 5 home runs 11 doubles 10 1938 Fall Haruyasu Nakajima Tokyo Kyojin Outfielder 361 batting average 10 home runs 38 RBIs 11 1939 Victor Starffin Tokyo Kyojin Pitcher 282 strikeouts 38 complete games 42 15 record in 68 appearances 41 games started 12 1940 Victor Starffin 2 Tokyo Kyojin Pitcher 0 97 earned run average 16 shutouts 38 12 record in 55 appearances 42 games started 12 1941 Tetsuharu Kawakami Tokyo Kyojin First baseman 310 batting average 21 doubles 57 RBIs 13 1942 Shigeru Mizuhara Tokyo Kyojin Second baseman 225 batting average 10 doubles 16 RBIs 14 1943 Shosei Go Tokyo Kyojin Outfielder 300 batting average 68 runs scored 54 stolen bases 15 1944 Tadashi Wakabayashi Hanshin Baseball Club Pitcher 1 56 earned run average 24 complete games 22 4 record in 31 appearances 24 games started 16 1945 Season canceled C 1946 Kazuto Tsuruoka Great Ring Infielder 314 batting average 95 RBIs 32 stolen bases 17 1947 Tadashi Wakabayashi 2 Osaka Tigers Pitcher 2 09 earned run average 10 shutouts 26 12 record in 43 appearances 35 games started 16 1948 Kazuto Tsuruoka 2 Nankai Hawks Third baseman 305 batting average 68 RBIs 23 stolen bases 17 1949 Fumio Fujimura Osaka Tigers Third baseman 332 batting average 46 home runs 142 RBIs 18 Nippon Professional Baseball 1950 present edit Central League edit nbsp Michihiro Ogasawara is one of only two players to win the award in the Central and Pacific Leagues nbsp Masumi Kuwata 1994 CL winner nbsp Kei Igawa 2003 CL winner nbsp Kosuke Fukudome 2006 CL winner Season Player Team Position Selected statistics Notes 1950 Makoto Kozuru Shochiku Robins Outfielder 355 batting average 51 home runs 161 RBIs 19 1951 Tetsuharu Kawakami 2 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 377 batting average 27 doubles 81 RBIs 13 1952 Takehiko Bessho Yomiuri Giants Pitcher 1 94 earned run average 3711 3 innings pitched 33 13 record in 52 appearances 41 games started 20 1953 Takumi Otomo Yomiuri Giants Pitcher 1 86 earned run average 22 complete games 27 6 record in 43 appearances 29 games started 21 1954 Shigeru Sugishita Chunichi Dragons Pitcher 1 39 earned run average 3951 3 innings pitched 32 12 record in 63 appearances 32 games started 22 1955 Tetsuharu Kawakami 3 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 338 batting average 12 home runs 79 RBIs 13 1956 Takehiko Bessho 2 Yomiuri Giants Pitcher 1 93 earned run average 26 complete games 27 15 record in 54 appearances 35 games started 20 1957 Wally Yonamine Yomiuri Giants Outfielder 343 batting average 12 home runs 48 RBIs 23 1958 Motoshi Fujita Yomiuri Giants Pitcher 1 53 earned run average 359 innings pitched 29 13 record in 58 appearances 36 games started 24 1959 Motoshi Fujita 2 Yomiuri Giants Pitcher 1 83 earned run average 24 complete games 27 11 record in 55 appearances 35 games started 24 1960 Noboru Akiyama Taiyo Whales Pitcher 1 75 earned run average 2621 3 innings pitched 21 10 record in 59 appearances 26 games started 25 1961 Shigeo Nagashima Yomiuri Giants Third baseman 353 batting average 28 home runs 32 doubles 26 1962 Minoru Murayama Osaka Tigers Pitcher 1 20 earned run average 3661 3 innings pitched 25 14 record in 57 appearances 38 games started 27 1963 Shigeo Nagashima 2 Yomiuri Giants Third baseman 341 batting average 37 home runs 112 RBIs 26 1964 Sadaharu Oh Yomiuri Giants First baseman 320 batting average 55 home runs 119 RBIs 28 1965 Sadaharu Oh 2 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 322 batting average 42 home runs 104 RBIs 28 1966 Shigeo Nagashima 3 Yomiuri Giants Third baseman 344 batting average 26 home runs 105 RBIs 26 1967 Sadaharu Oh 3 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 326 batting average 47 home runs 108 RBIs 28 1968 Shigeo Nagashima 4 Yomiuri Giants Third baseman 318 batting average 39 home runs 125 RBIs 26 1969 Sadaharu Oh 4 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 345 batting average 44 home runs 125 RBIs 28 1970 Sadaharu Oh 5 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 325 batting average 47 home runs 93 RBIs 28 1971 Shigeo Nagashima 5 Yomiuri Giants Third baseman 320 batting average 34 home runs 86 RBIs 26 1972 Tsuneo Horiuchi Yomiuri Giants Pitcher 2 91 earned run average 26 complete games 26 9 record in 48 appearances 34 games started 29 1973 Sadaharu Oh 6 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 355 batting average 51 home runs 114 RBIs 28 1974 Sadaharu Oh 7 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 332 batting average 49 home runs 107 RBIs 28 1975 Koji Yamamoto Hiroshima Toyo Carp Outfielder 319 batting average 86 runs scored 84 RBIs 30 1976 Sadaharu Oh 8 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 325 batting average 49 home runs 123 RBIs 28 1977 Sadaharu Oh 9 Yomiuri Giants First baseman 324 batting average 50 home runs 124 RBIs 28 1978 Tsutomu Wakamatsu Yakult Swallows Outfielder 341 batting average 100 runs scored 71 RBIs 31 1979 Yutaka Enatsu Hiroshima Toyo Carp Relief pitcher 2 67 earned run average 22 saves 9 5 record in 55 appearances 32 1980 Koji Yamamoto 2 Hiroshima Toyo Carp Outfielder 336 batting average 44 home runs 112 RBIs 30 1981 Suguru Egawa Yomiuri Giants Starting pitcher 2 28 earned run average 20 complete games 20 6 record in 31 appearances 30 games started 32 1982 Takayoshi Nakao Chunichi Dragons Catcher 282 batting average 18 home runs 47 RBIs 33 1983 Tatsunori Hara Yomiuri Giants Third baseman 302 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs 34 1984 Sachio Kinugasa Hiroshima Toyo Carp Infielder 329 batting average 31 home runs 102 RBIs 35 1985 Randy Bass Hanshin Tigers First baseman 350 batting average 54 home runs 134 RBIs 36 1986 Manabu Kitabeppu Hiroshima Toyo Carp Starting pitcher 2 43 earned run average 17 complete games 18 4 record in 30 games started 37 1987 Kazuhiro Yamakura Yomiuri Giants Catcher 273 batting average 22 home runs 66 RBIs 38 1988 Genji Kaku Chunichi Dragons Relief pitcher 1 95 earned run average 37 saves 7 6 record in 61 appearances 39 1989 Warren Cromartie Yomiuri Giants Outfielder 378 batting average 72 RBIs 33 doubles 40 1990 Masaki Saito Yomiuri Giants Starting pitcher 2 17 earned run average 19 complete games 20 5 record in 27 games started 41 1991 Shinji Sasaoka Hiroshima Toyo Carp Starting pitcher 2 44 earned run average 240 innings pitched 17 9 record in 33 appearances 31 games started 42 1992 Jack Howell Yakult Swallows Third baseman 331 batting average 87 RBIs 38 home runs 43 1993 Atsuya Furuta Yakult Swallows Catcher 308 batting average 64 4 caught stealing percentage 90 runs scored 44 45 1994 Masumi Kuwata Yomiuri Giants Starting pitcher 2 52 earned run average 185 strikeouts 14 11 record in 28 appearances 27 games started 46 1995 Tom O Malley Yakult Swallows First baseman 302 batting average 31 home runs 87 RBIs 47 1996 Hideki Matsui Yomiuri Giants Outfielder 314 batting average 38 home runs 97 runs scored 48 1997 Atsuya Furuta 2 Yakult Swallows Catcher 322 batting average 32 doubles 86 RBIs 44 1998 Kazuhiro Sasaki Yokohama BayStars Relief pitcher 0 64 earned run average 45 saves 1 1 record in 51 appearances 49 1999 Shigeki Noguchi Chunichi Dragons Starting pitcher 2 65 earned run average 2032 3 innings pitched 19 7 record in 29 games started 50 2000 Hideki Matsui 2 Yomiuri Giants Outfielder 316 batting average 42 home runs 108 RBIs 48 2001 Roberto Petagine Yakult Swallows First baseman 322 batting average 39 home runs 127 RBIs 51 2002 Hideki Matsui 3 Yomiuri Giants Outfielder 334 batting average 50 home runs 107 RBIs 48 2003 Kei Igawa Hanshin Tigers Starting pitcher 2 80 earned run average 206 innings pitched 20 5 record in 29 games started 52 2004 Kenshin Kawakami Chunichi Dragons Starting pitcher 3 32 earned run average 1921 3 innings pitched 17 7 record in 27 games started 53 2005 Tomoaki Kanemoto Hanshin Tigers Outfielder 327 batting average 40 home runs 120 runs scored 54 2006 Kosuke Fukudome Chunichi Dragons Outfielder 351 batting average 47 doubles 117 runs scored 55 2007 Michihiro Ogasawara 2 Yomiuri Giants Third baseman 313 batting average 31 home runs 95 runs scored 56 2008 Alex Ramirez Yomiuri Giants Outfielder 319 batting average 45 home runs 125 RBIs 57 2009 Alex Ramirez 2 Yomiuri Giants Outfielder 322 batting average 31 home runs 103 RBIs 57 58 2010 Kazuhiro Wada Chunichi Dragons Outfielder 339 batting average 37 home runs 93 RBIs 59 2011 Takuya Asao Chunichi Dragons Relief pitcher 0 41 earned run average 45 holds 7 2 record in 79 appearances 60 61 2012 Shinnosuke Abe Yomiuri Giants Catcher 340 batting average 27 home runs 104 RBIs 62 2013 Wladimir Balentien Tokyo Yakult Swallows Outfielder 330 batting average 60 home runs 131 RBIs 63 2014 Tomoyuki Sugano Yomiuri Giants Starting pitcher 2 33 earned run average 122 strikeouts 12 5 record in 23 games started 64 2015 Tetsuto Yamada Tokyo Yakult Swallows Second baseman 329 batting average 38 home runs 34 stolen bases 65 2016 Takahiro Arai Hiroshima Toyo Carp First baseman 300 batting average 19 home runs 101 RBIs 66 2017 Yoshihiro Maru Hiroshima Toyo Carp Outfielder 308 batting average 109 runs scored 92 RBIs 67 2018 Yoshihiro Maru 2 Hiroshima Toyo Carp Outfielder 306 batting average 39 home runs 97 RBIs 67 2019 Hayato Sakamoto Yomiuri Giants Shortstop 312 batting average 40 home runs 94 RBIs 68 69 2020 Tomoyuki Sugano 2 Yomiuri Giants Pitcher 14 wins 1 97 ERA 131 strikeouts 70 2021 Munetaka Murakami Tokyo Yakult Swallows Third baseman 39 HR 112 RBI 106 BB citation needed 2022 Munetaka Murakami 2 Tokyo Yakult Swallows Third baseman 56 HR 134 RBI 458 OBP citation needed 2023 Shōki Murakami Hanshin Tigers Pitcher 10 wins 1 75 ERA 137 strikeouts 71 Pacific League edit nbsp Hiromitsu Ochiai two time PL winner nbsp Nobuhiko Matsunaka two time PL winner nbsp Hideo Nomo 1990 PL winner nbsp Kenji Johjima 2003 PL winner nbsp Yu Darvish 2007 PL winner nbsp Shohei Ohtani 2016 PL winner Season Player Team Position Selected statistics Notes 1950 Kaoru Betto Mainichi Orions Outfielder 335 batting average 43 home runs 105 RBIs 72 1951 Kazuto Tsuruoka 3 Nankai Hawks Second baseman 311 batting average 21 doubles 58 RBIs 17 1952 Susumu Yuki Nankai Hawks Pitcher 1 91 earned run average 104 strikeouts 19 7 record in 40 appearances 17 games started 73 1953 Isami Okamoto Nankai Hawks Second baseman 318 batting average 19 home runs 77 RBIs 74 1954 Hiroshi Oshita Nishitetsu Lions Outfielder 321 batting average 22 home runs 88 RBIs 75 1955 Tokuji Iida Nankai Hawks Outfielder 310 batting average 42 stolen bases 75 RBIs 76 1956 Futoshi Nakanishi Nishitetsu Lions Third baseman 325 batting average 29 home runs 95 RBIs 77 1957 Kazuhisa Inao Nishitetsu Lions Pitcher 1 37 earned run average 3732 3 innings pitched 35 6 record in 68 appearances 33 games started 78 1958 Kazuhisa Inao 2 Nishitetsu Lions Pitcher 1 42 earned run average 373 innings pitched 33 10 record in 72 appearances 31 games started 78 1959 Tadashi Sugiura Nankai Hawks Pitcher 1 40 earned run average 336 strikeouts 38 4 record in 69 appearances 35 games started 79 1960 Kazuhiro Yamauchi Daimai Orions Outfielder 313 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs 80 1961 Katsuya Nomura Nankai Hawks Catcher 296 batting average 29 home runs 89 RBIs 81 1962 Isao Harimoto Toei Flyers Outfielder 333 batting average 31 home runs 99 RBIs 82 1963 Katsuya Nomura 2 Nankai Hawks Catcher 291 batting average 52 home runs 135 RBIs 81 1964 Joe Stanka Nankai Hawks Pitcher 2 40 earned run average 172 strikeouts 26 7 record in 47 appearances 43 games started 83 1965 Katsuya Nomura 3 Nankai Hawks Catcher 320 batting average 42 home runs 110 RBIs 81 1966 Katsuya Nomura 4 Nankai Hawks Catcher 312 batting average 34 home runs 97 RBIs 81 1967 Mitsuhiro Adachi Hankyu Braves Pitcher 1 75 earned run average 17 complete games 20 10 record in 43 appearances 29 games started 84 1968 Tetsuya Yoneda Hankyu Braves Pitcher 2 79 earned run average 22 complete games 29 13 record in 63 appearances 43 games started 85 1969 Tokuji Nagaike Hankyu Braves Outfielder 316 batting average 41 home runs 101 RBIs 86 1970 Masaaki Kitaru Lotte Orions Pitcher 2 53 earned run average 20 complete games 21 10 record in 42 appearances 35 games started 87 1971 Tokuji Nagaike 2 Hankyu Braves Outfielder 317 batting average 40 home runs 114 RBIs 86 1972 Yutaka Fukumoto Hankyu Braves Outfielder 301 batting average 106 stolen bases 99 runs 88 1973 Katsuya Nomura 5 Nankai Hawks Catcher 309 batting average 28 stolen bases 96 RBIs 81 1974 Tomehiro Kaneda Lotte Orions Pitcher 2 90 earned run average 138 strikeouts 16 7 record in 36 appearances 29 games started 89 1975 Hideji Kato Hankyu Braves First baseman 309 batting average 32 home runs 97 RBIs 90 1976 Hisashi Yamada Hankyu Braves Pitcher 2 39 earned run average 23 complete games 26 7 record in 39 appearances 27 games started 91 1977 Hisashi Yamada 2 Hankyu Braves Pitcher 2 28 earned run average 20 complete games 16 10 record in 44 appearances 25 games started 91 1978 Hisashi Yamada 3 Hankyu Braves Pitcher 2 66 earned run average 20 complete games 18 4 record in 35 appearances 25 games started 91 1979 Charlie Manuel Kintetsu Buffaloes Outfielder 324 batting average 37 home runs 94 RBIs 92 1980 Isamu Kida Nippon Ham Fighters Pitcher 2 28 earned run average 225 strikeouts 22 8 record in 40 appearances 26 games started 93 1981 Yutaka Enatsu 2 Nippon Ham Fighters Pitcher 2 82 earned run average 25 saves 3 6 record in 45 appearances 32 1982 Hiromitsu Ochiai Lotte Orions Second baseman 325 batting average 32 home runs 99 RBIs 94 1983 Osamu Higashio Seibu Lions Pitcher 2 92 earned run average 213 innings pitched 18 9 record in 32 appearances 29 games started 95 1984 Greg Wells Hankyu Braves First baseman 355 batting average 37 home runs 130 RBIs 96 1985 Hiromitsu Ochiai 2 Lotte Orions Infielder 367 batting average 52 home runs 146 RBIs 94 1986 Hiromichi Ishige Seibu Lions Shortstop 329 batting average 91 runs 27 home runs 97 1987 Osamu Higashio 2 Seibu Lions Starting pitcher 3 27 earned run average 17 complete games 15 9 record in 28 appearances 27 games started 95 1988 Hiromitsu Kadota Nankai Hawks Outfielder 311 batting average 44 home runs 125 RBIs 98 1989 Ralph Bryant Kintetsu Buffaloes Outfielder 283 batting average 49 home runs 121 RBIs 99 1990 Hideo Nomo Kintetsu Buffaloes Starting pitcher 2 91 earned run average 235 innings pitched 18 8 record in 29 appearances 27 games started 100 1991 Taigen Kaku Seibu Lions Starting pitcher 2 59 earned run average 12 complete games 15 6 record in 24 appearances 23 games started 101 1992 Takehiro Ishii Seibu Lions Pitcher 1 94 earned run average 1481 3 innings pitched 15 3 record in 27 appearances 19 games started 102 1993 Kimiyasu Kudo Seibu Lions Starting pitcher 2 06 earned run average 170 innings pitched 15 3 record in 24 appearances 23 games started 103 1994 Ichiro Suzuki Orix BlueWave Outfielder 385 batting average 41 doubles 111 runs 104 1995 Ichiro Suzuki 2 Orix BlueWave Outfielder 342 batting average 49 stolen bases 104 runs 104 1996 Ichiro Suzuki 3 Orix BlueWave Outfielder 356 batting average 35 stolen bases 104 runs 104 1997 Fumiya Nishiguchi Seibu Lions Pitcher 3 12 earned run average 2072 3 innings pitched 15 5 record in 32 appearances 26 games started 105 1998 Kazuo Matsui Seibu Lions Shortstop 311 batting average 92 runs 38 doubles 106 1999 Kimiyasu Kudo 2 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks Starting pitcher 2 38 earned run average 1961 3 innings pitched 11 7 record in 26 games started 103 2000 Nobuhiko Matsunaka Fukuoka Daiei Hawks First baseman 312 batting average 33 home runs 106 RBIs 107 2001 Tuffy Rhodes Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes Outfielder 327 batting average 55 home runs 137 runs 108 2002 Alex Cabrera Seibu Lions First baseman 336 batting average 55 home runs 115 RBIs 109 2003 Kenji Johjima Fukuoka Daiei Hawks Catcher 330 batting average 34 home runs 119 RBIs 110 2004 Nobuhiko Matsunaka 2 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks First baseman 358 batting average 44 home runs 120 RBIs 107 2005 Toshiya Sugiuchi Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Starting pitcher 2 11 earned run average 218 strikeouts 18 4 record in 26 games started 111 2006 Michihiro Ogasawara Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters First baseman 313 batting average 32 home runs 100 RBIs 56 2007 Yu Darvish Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters Starting pitcher 1 82 earned run average 210 strikeouts 15 5 record in 26 games started 112 2008 Hisashi Iwakuma Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Starting pitcher 1 87 earned run average 2012 3 innings pitched 21 4 record in 28 games started 113 2009 Yu Darvish 2 Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters Pitcher 1 73 earned run average 8 complete games 15 5 record in 23 games started 112 114 2010 Tsuyoshi Wada Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Starting pitcher 3 14 earned run average 169 strikeouts 17 8 record in 26 games started 115 2011 Seiichi Uchikawa Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks First baseman 338 batting average 12 home runs 74 RBIs 116 2012 Mitsuo Yoshikawa Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters Starting pitcher 1 71 earned run average 158 strikeouts 14 5 record in 25 games started 117 2013 Masahiro Tanaka Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles Starting pitcher 1 71 earned run average 212 innings pitched 24 0 record in 28 appearances 27 games started 118 2014 Chihiro Kaneko Orix Buffaloes Pitcher 1 98 earned run average 199 strikeouts 16 5 record in 26 games started 119 2015 Yuki Yanagita Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Outfielder 363 batting average 34 home runs 110 runs 120 2016 Shohei Ohtani Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters Starting pitcher Designated hitter 322 batting average 1 86 earned run average 10 4 record in 21 appearances 20 games started 121 2017 Dennis Sarfate Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Pitcher 1 09 earned run average 54 saves 2 2 record in 66 appearances 122 2018 Hotaka Yamakawa Saitama Seibu Lions First baseman 281 batting average 47 home runs 124 RBIs 123 2019 Tomoya Mori Saitama Seibu Lions Catcher 329 batting average 23 home runs 105 RBIs 68 124 2020 Yuki Yanagita 2 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Outfielder 342 batting average 29 home runs 86 RBIs 125 126 2021 Yoshinobu Yamamoto Orix Buffaloes Pitcher 18 5 record 206 K 193 2 IP 1 39 ERA citation needed 2022 Yoshinobu Yamamoto 2 Orix Buffaloes Pitcher 15 5 record 193 IP 1 68 ERA citation needed 2023 Yoshinobu Yamamoto 3 Orix Buffaloes Pitcher 16 6 record 164 IP 1 69 ERA 127 Multiple winners edit There have been 22 players who have won the award multiple times Sadaharu Oh currently holds the record for the most awards won with nine Hisashi Yamada 1976 1978 and Ichiro Suzuki 1994 1996 share the record for the most consecutive awards won Yutaka Enatsu and Michihiro Ogasawara are the only players to have won the award in both the Central League and Pacific League Alex Ramirez is the only non Japanese player receive the award multiple times after the formation of two league system nbsp Ichiro Suzuki three time consecutive winner nbsp Hideki Matsui three time winner Player League of Awards Seasons Sadaharu Oh Central 9 1964 1965 1967 1969 1970 1973 1974 1976 1977 Shigeo Nagashima Central 5 1961 1963 1966 1968 1971 Katsuya Nomura Pacific 5 1961 1963 1965 1966 1973 Kazuto Yamamoto JBL Pacific D 3 1946 1948 1951 Tetsuharu Kawakami JBL Central E 3 1941 1951 1955 Hisashi Yamada Pacific 3 1976 1977 1978 Ichiro Suzuki Pacific 3 1994 1995 1996 Hideki Matsui Central 3 1996 2000 2002 Yoshinobu Yamamoto Pacific 3 2021 2022 2023 Victor Starffin JBL 2 1939 1940 Tadashi Wakabayashi JBL 2 1944 1947 Takehiko Bessho Central 2 1952 1956 Kazuhisa Inao Pacific 2 1957 1958 Motoshi Fujita Central 2 1958 1959 Tokuji Nagaike Pacific 2 1969 1971 Koji Yamamoto Central 2 1975 1980 Yutaka Enatsu Both 2 1979 1981 Hiromitsu Ochiai Pacific 2 1982 1985 Osamu Higashio Pacific 2 1983 1987 Atsuya Furuta Central 2 1993 1997 Kimiyasu Kudo Pacific 2 1993 1999 Nobuhiko Matsunaka Pacific 2 2000 2004 Michihiro Ogasawara Both 2 2006 2007 Yu Darvish Pacific 2 2007 2009 Alex Ramirez Central 2 2008 2009 Yoshihiro Maru Central 2 2017 2018 Tomoyuki Sugano Central 2 2014 2020 Yuki Yanagita Pacific 2 2015 2020 Munetaka Murakami Central 2 2021 2022Notes editB The save statistic was not formally recorded in the NPB until the 1974 season 128 C The 1945 Japanese Baseball League was cancelled due to World War II 129 D After 1958 Kazuto Yamamoto became known as Kazuto Tsuruoka E Tetsuharu Kawakami received his first MVP award in 1941 nine years before the formation of Nippon Professional Baseball See also editNippon Professional Baseball Awards Baseball awards Japan List of Nippon Professional Baseball earned run average champions Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize Athlete of the Year Most valuable player Player of the year awardNotes editGeneral 最優秀選手 １リーグ MVPs 1 League in Japanese Nikkan Sports Retrieved 5 February 2020 セ リーグ歴代ＭＶＰ Central League Past MVPs Sankei Sports in Japanese Sankei Shimbun Retrieved 5 February 2020 パ リーグ歴代ＭＶＰ Pacific League Past MVPs Sankei Sports in Japanese Sankei Shimbun Retrieved 5 February 2020 List of Hall of Famers The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Retrieved 5 February 2020 Specific Nagatsuka Kaz 15 November 2006 Ogasawara Fukudome given MVP awards for 2006 season The Japan Times Retrieved 6 September 2009 2018年度 表彰選手 投票結果 最優秀選手 2018 Player Awards Voting Results Most Valuable Player Nippon Professional Baseball in Japanese Retrieved 1 November 2018 a b １リーグ 最優秀選手 in Japanese Sports Hochi Retrieved 6 September 2009 Japan baseball stars Munetaka Murakami and Yoshinobu Yamamoto earn MVP honors japannews yomiuri co jp Retrieved 23 September 2023 Darvish Ogasawara earn MVP honors The Japan Times 21 November 2007 Retrieved 6 September 2009 Kadota Hiromitsu The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Retrieved 8 September 2009 Hall of Famers List The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Retrieved 8 September 2009 Eiji Sawamura Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Bucky Harris Minor amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Hisanori Karita Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Haruyasu Hakajima Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b Victor Starfin Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b c Tetsuharu Kawakami Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Shigeru Mizuhara Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Shosei Go Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b Tadashi Wakabayashi Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b c Kazuto Tsuruoka Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Fumio Fujimura Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Makoto Kozuru Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b Takehiko Bessho Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Takumi Otomo Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Shigeru Sugishita Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Wally Yonamine Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b Motoshi Fujita Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Noboru Akiyama Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b c d e Shigeo Nagashima Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Minoru Murayama Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b c d e f g h i Sadaharu Oh Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Tsuneo Horiuchi Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b Koji Yamamoto Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Tsutomu Wakamatsu Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b c Yutaka Enatsu Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Takayoshi Nakao Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Tatsunori Hara Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Sachio Kinugasa Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Randy Bass Minor amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Manabu Kitabeppu Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Kazuhiro Yamakura Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Genji Kaku Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Warren Cromartie Minor Japanese amp Independent Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Masaki Saito Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Shinji Sasaoka Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Jack Howell Minor amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b Atsuya Furuta Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 古田超えだ 巨人 小林 鬼肩 で盗塁阻止率の記録更新に意欲 Sankei Sports in Japanese Sankei Shimbun 17 December 2014 Retrieved 23 October 2019 Masumi Kuwata Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Tom O Malley Minor Japanese amp Independent Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 a b c Hideki Matsui Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Kazuhiro Sasaki Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Shigeki Noguchi Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Roberto Petagine Minor Japanese Mexican amp Korean Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Kei Igawa Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 Kenshin Kawakami Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 Tomoaki Kanemoto Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 Kosuke Fukudome Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 a b Michihiro Ogasawara Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 a b Alex Ramirez Minor amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 セ リーグ 最優秀選手 in Japanese Sports Hochi Archived from the original on 12 August 2010 Retrieved 6 September 2009 Kazuhiro Wada Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 Kazuhiro Wada Japanese amp Winter Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 2011 Central League Qualifiers for Earned Run Average Title amp Top Relief Pitchers Nippon Professional Baseball Retrieved 24 October 2019 Shinnosuke Abe Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 Wladimir Balentien Minor Winter amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 Tomoyuki Sugano Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 Tetsuto Yamada Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 Takahiro Arai Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 a b Yoshihiro Maru Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 24 October 2019 a b Coskrey Jason 26 November 2019 Hayato Sakamoto Tomoya Mori named league MVPs Japan Times Archived from the original on 28 November 2019 Retrieved 3 December 2019 Hayato Sakamoto Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 3 December 2019 Tomoyuki Sugano Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 3 November 2021 Tigers rookie Murakami and Orix ace Yamamoto named MVPS japantimes co jp 29 November 2023 Retrieved 1 April 2024 Kaoru Betto Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 23 October 2019 Susumu Yuki Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 Isami Okamoto Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 Hiroshi Oshita Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 Tokuji Iida Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 Futoshi Nakanishi Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 a b Kazuhisa Inao Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 Tadashi Sugiura Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 Kazuhiro Yamauchi Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 a b c d e Katsuya Nomura Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 Isao Harimoto Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 Joe Stanka Minor amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 27 October 2019 Mitsuhiro Adachi Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 28 October 2019 Tetsuya Yoneda Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 28 October 2019 a b Atsushi Nagaike Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 28 October 2019 Masaaki Kitaru Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 28 October 2019 Yutaka Fukumoto Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 28 October 2019 Tamehiro Kaneda Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 28 October 2019 Hideji Kato Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 28 October 2019 a b c Hisashi Yamada Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 28 October 2019 Charlie Manuel Minor Winter amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 28 October 2019 Isamu Kida Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 a b Hiromitsu Ochiai Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 a b Osamu Higashio Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Greg Wells Minor amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Hiromichi Ishige Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Hiromitsu Kadota Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Ralph Bryant Minor amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Hideo Nomo Japanese Minor amp Winter Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Taigen Kaku Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Takehiro Ishii Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 a b Kimiyasu Kudo Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 a b c Ichiro Suzuki Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Fumiya Nishiguchi Japanese amp Independent Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Kazuo Matsui Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 a b Nobuhiko Matsunaka Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Tuffy Rhodes Minor amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 29 October 2019 Alex Cabrera Minor Mexican Japanese amp Winter Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Kenji Johjima Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Toshiya Sugiuchi Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 a b Yu Darvish Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Hisashi Iwakuma Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 パ リーグ 最優秀選手 in Japanese Sports Hochi Archived from the original on 12 August 2010 Retrieved 6 September 2009 Tsuyoshi Wada Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Seiichi Uchikawa Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Mitsuo Yoshikawa Japanese amp Winter Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Masahiro Tanaka Japanese amp Minor Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Chihiro Kaneko Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Yuki Yanagita Winter amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Shohei Ohtani Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Dennis Sarfate Minor Fall Winter amp Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Hotaka Yamakawa Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 31 October 2019 Tomoya Mori Japanese Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com Retrieved 3 December 2019 Tomoyuki Sugano and Yuki Yanagita win MVP honors in NPB Japan Times 17 December 2020 Retrieved 18 December 2020 Players Nippon Professional Baseball Retrieved 18 December 2020 Tigers rookie Murakami and Orix ace Yamamoto named MVPS japantimes co jp 29 November 2023 Retrieved 1 April 2024 1974年 in Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball Archived from the original on 1 June 2009 Retrieved 8 September 2009 Fitts Robert K September 2008 Wally Yonamine The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball University of Nebraska Press p 3 ISBN 978 0 8032 1381 4 References editJohnson Daniel E July 2006 Japanese Baseball A Statistical Handbook McFarland amp Company ISBN 978 0 7864 2841 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award amp oldid 1216828484, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
