Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award

The Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Nippon Professional Baseball award given to two outstanding players, one each for the Central League and Pacific League.
Each league's award is voted on by national baseball writers. 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. 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. The most recent winners, in 2019, are Hayato Sakamoto, from the Central League, and Tomoya Mori, from the Pacific League. In 1940, Victor Starffin became the first player to win the award consecutively and multiple times. Eiji Sawamura and Kazuhisa Inao are the youngest players to receive the awards in 1937 and 1957, respectively, at the ages of 20. In 1988, Hiromitsu Kadota became the oldest player to receive the award at the age of 40.

Key

Winners

Japanese Baseball League (1937–1949)

Nippon Professional Baseball (1950–present)

Central League

Season	Player	Team	Position	Selected statistics	Notes
	*	Shochiku Robins	Outfielder	.355 batting average 51 home runs 161 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.377 batting average 27 doubles 81 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.94 earned run average 371 innings pitched 33-13 record in 52 appearances
		Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.86 earned run average 22 complete games 27-6 record in 43 appearances
	*	Chunichi Dragons	Pitcher	1.39 earned run average 395 innings pitched 32-12 record in 63 appearances
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.338 batting average 12 home runs 79 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.93 earned run average 26 complete games 27-15 record in 54 appearances
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.343 batting average 12 home runs 48 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.53 earned run average 359 innings pitched 29-13 record in 58 appearances
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.83 earned run average 24 complete games 27-11 record in 55 appearances
	*	Taiyo Whales	Pitcher	1.75 earned run average 262 innings pitched 21-10 record in 59 appearances
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.353 batting average 28 home runs 32 doubles
	*	Osaka Tigers	Pitcher	1.20 earned run average 366 innings pitched 25-14 record in 57 appearances
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.341 batting average 37 home runs 112 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.320 batting average 55 home runs 119 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.322 batting average 42 home runs 104 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.344 batting average 26 home runs 105 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.326 batting average 47 home runs 108 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.318 batting average 39 home runs 125 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.345 batting average 44 home runs 125 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.325 batting average 47 home runs 93 RBIs
	Shigeo Nagashima*	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.320 batting average 34 home runs 86 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	2.91 earned run average 26 complete games 26-9 record in 48 appearances
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.355 batting average 51 home runs 114 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.332 batting average 49 home runs 107 RBIs
	*	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.319 batting average 86 runs scored 84 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.325 batting average 49 home runs 123 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.324 batting average 50 home runs 124 RBIs
	*	Yakult Swallows	Outfielder	.341 batting average 100 runs scored 71 RBIs
		Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Relief pitcher	2.67 earned run average 22 saves 9-5 record in 55 appearances
	*	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.336 batting average 44 home runs 112 RBIs
		Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2.28 earned run average 20 complete games 20-6 record in 31 appearances
		Chunichi Dragons	Catcher	.282 batting average 18 home runs 47 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.302 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs
	*	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Infielder	.329 batting average 31 home runs 102 RBIs
		Hanshin Tigers	First baseman	.350 batting average 54 home runs 134 RBIs
	*	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Starting pitcher	2.43 earned run average 17 complete games 18-4 record in 30 games started
		Yomiuri Giants	Catcher	.273 batting average 22 home runs 66 RBIs
		Chunichi Dragons	Relief pitcher	1.95 earned run average 37 saves 7-6 record in 61 appearances
		Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.378 batting average 72 RBIs 33 doubles
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2.17 earned run average 19 complete games 20-5 record in 27 games started
		Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Starting pitcher	2.44 earned run average 240 innings pitched 17-9 record in 33 appearances
		Yakult Swallows	Third baseman	.331 batting average 87 RBIs 38 home runs
	*	Yakult Swallows	Catcher	.308 batting average 64.4 caught stealing percentage 90 runs scored
		Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2.52 earned run average 185 strikeouts 14-11 record in 28 appearances
		Yakult Swallows	First baseman	.302 batting average 31 home runs 87 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.314 batting average 38 home runs 97 runs scored
	*	Yakult Swallows	Catcher	.322 batting average 32 doubles 86 RBIs
	*	Yokohama BayStars	Relief pitcher	0.64 earned run average 45 saves 1-1 record in 51 appearances
		Chunichi Dragons	Starting pitcher	2.65 earned run average 203 innings pitched 19-7 record in 29 games started
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.316 batting average 42 home runs 108 RBIs
		Yakult Swallows	First baseman	.322 batting average 39 home runs 127 RBIs
	*	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.334 batting average 50 home runs 107 RBIs
		Hanshin Tigers	Starting pitcher	2.80 earned run average 206 innings pitched 20-5 record in 29 games started
		Chunichi Dragons	Starting pitcher	3.32 earned run average 192 innings pitched 17-7 record in 27 games started
	*	Hanshin Tigers	Outfielder	.327 batting average 40 home runs 120 runs scored
		Chunichi Dragons	Outfielder	.351 batting average 47 doubles 117 runs scored
		Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.313 batting average 31 home runs 95 runs scored
		Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.319 batting average 45 home runs 125 RBIs
		Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.322 batting average 31 home runs 103 RBIs
		Chunichi Dragons	Outfielder	.339 batting average 37 home runs 93 RBIs
		Chunichi Dragons	Relief pitcher	0.41 earned run average 45 holds 7-2 record in 79 appearances
		Yomiuri Giants	Catcher	.340 batting average 27 home runs 104 RBIs
		Tokyo Yakult Swallows	Outfielder	.330 batting average 60 home runs 131 RBIs
		Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2.33 earned run average 122 strikeouts 12-5 record in 23 games started
		Tokyo Yakult Swallows	Second baseman	.329 batting average 38 home runs 34 stolen bases
		Hiroshima Toyo Carp	First baseman	.300 batting average 19 home runs 101 RBIs
		Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.308 batting average 109 runs scored 92 RBIs
		Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.306 batting average 39 home runs 97 RBIs
		Yomiuri Giants	Shortstop	.312 batting average 40 home runs 94 RBIs

Pacific League

Season	Player	Team	Position	Selected statistics	Notes
	*	Mainichi Orions	Outfielder	.335 batting average 43 home runs 105 RBIs
	*	Nankai Hawks	Second baseman	.311 batting average 21 doubles 58 RBIs
		Nankai Hawks	Pitcher	1.91 earned run average 104 strikeouts 19-7 record in 40 appearances
		Nankai Hawks	Second baseman	.318 batting average 19 home runs 77 RBIs
	*	Nishitetsu Lions	Outfielder	.321 batting average 22 home runs 88 RBIs
	*	Nankai Hawks	Outfielder	.310 batting average 42 stolen bases 75 RBIs
	*	Nishitetsu Lions	Third baseman	.325 batting average 29 home runs 95 RBIs
	*	Nishitetsu Lions	Pitcher	1.37 earned run average 373 innings pitched 35-6 record in 68 appearances
	*	Nishitetsu Lions	Pitcher	1.42 earned run average 373 innings pitched 33-10 record in 72 appearances
	*	Nankai Hawks	Pitcher	1.40 earned run average 336 strikeouts 38-4 record in 69 appearances
	*	Daimai Orions	Outfielder	.313 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs
	*	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.296 batting average 29 home runs 89 RBIs
	*	Toei Flyers	Outfielder	.333 batting average 31 home runs 99 RBIs
	*	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.291 batting average 52 home runs 135 RBIs
		Nankai Hawks	Pitcher	2.40 earned run average 172 strikeouts 26-7 record in 47 appearances
	*	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.320 batting average 42 home runs 110 RBIs
	*	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.312 batting average 34 home runs 97 RBIs
		Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	1.75 earned run average 17 complete games 20-10 record in 43 appearances
	*	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	2.79 earned run average 22 complete games 29-13 record in 63 appearances
		Hankyu Braves	Outfielder	.316 batting average 41 home runs 101 RBIs
		Lotte Orions	Pitcher	2.53 earned run average 20 complete games 21-10 record in 42 appearances
		Hankyu Braves	Outfielder	.317 batting average 40 home runs 114 RBIs
	*	Hankyu Braves	Outfielder	.301 batting average 106 stolen bases 99 runs
	*	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.309 batting average 28 stolen bases 96 RBIs
		Lotte Orions	Pitcher	2.90 earned run average 138 strikeouts 16-7 record in 36 appearances
		Hankyu Braves	First baseman	.309 batting average 32 home runs 97 RBIs
	*	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	2.39 earned run average 23 complete games 26-7 record in 39 appearances
	*	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	2.28 earned run average 20 complete games 16-10 record in 44 appearances
	*	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	2.66 earned run average 20 complete games 18-4 record in 35 appearances
		Kintetsu Buffaloes	Outfielder	.324 batting average 37 home runs 94 RBIs
		Nippon Ham Fighters	Pitcher	2.28 earned run average 225 strikeouts 22-8 record in 40 appearances
		Nippon Ham Fighters	Pitcher	2.82 earned run average 25 saves 3-6 record in 45 appearances
	*	Lotte Orions	Second baseman	.325 batting average 32 home runs 99 RBIs
	*	Seibu Lions	Pitcher	2.92 earned run average 213 innings pitched 18-9 record in 32 appearances
		Hankyu Braves	First baseman	.355 batting average 37 home runs 130 RBIs
	*	Lotte Orions	Infielder	.367 batting average 52 home runs 146 RBIs
		Seibu Lions	Shortstop	.329 batting average 91 runs 27 home runs
	*	Seibu Lions	Starting pitcher	3.27 earned run average 17 complete games 15-9 record in 28 appearances
	*	Nankai Hawks	Outfielder	.311 batting average 44 home runs 125 RBIs
		Kintetsu Buffaloes	Outfielder	.283 batting average 49 home runs 121 RBIs
	*	Kintetsu Buffaloes	Starting pitcher	2.91 earned run average 235 innings pitched 18-8 record in 29 appearances
		Seibu Lions	Starting pitcher	2.59 earned run average 12 complete games 15-6 record in 24 appearances
		Seibu Lions	Pitcher	1.94 earned run average 148 innings pitched 15-3 record in 27 appearances
	*	Seibu Lions	Starting pitcher	2.06 earned run average 170 innings pitched 15-3 record in 24 appearances
		Orix BlueWave	Outfielder	.385 batting average 41 doubles 111 runs
		Orix BlueWave	Outfielder	.342 batting average 49 stolen bases 104 runs
		Orix BlueWave	Outfielder	.356 batting average 35 stolen bases 104 runs
		Seibu Lions	Pitcher	3.12 earned run average 207 innings pitched 15-5 record in 32 appearances
		Seibu Lions	Shortstop	.311 batting average 92 runs 38 doubles
	*	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	Starting pitcher	2.38 earned run average 196 innings pitched 11-7 record in 26 games started
		Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	First baseman	.312 batting average 33 home runs 106 RBIs
		Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes	Outfielder	.327 batting average 55 home runs 137 runs
		Seibu Lions	First baseman	.336 batting average 55 home runs 115 RBIs
		Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	Catcher	.330 batting average 34 home runs 119 RBIs
		Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	First baseman	.358 batting average 44 home runs 120 RBIs
		Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Starting pitcher	2.11 earned run average 218 strikeouts 18-4 record in 26 games started
		Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	First baseman	.313 batting average 32 home runs 100 RBIs
		Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Starting pitcher	1.82 earned run average 210 strikeouts 15-5 record in 26 games started
		Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles	Starting pitcher	1.87 earned run average 201 innings pitched 21-4 record in 28 games started
		Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Pitcher	1.73 earned run average 8 complete games 15-5 record in 23 games started
		Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Starting pitcher	3.14 earned run average 169 strikeouts 17-8 record in 26 games started
		Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	First baseman	.338 batting average 12 home runs 74 RBIs
		Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Starting pitcher	1.71 earned run average 158 strikeouts 14-5 record in 25 games started
		Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles	Starting pitcher	1.71 earned run average 212 innings pitched 24-0 record in 28 appearances
		Orix Buffaloes	Pitcher	1.98 earned run average 199 strikeouts 16-5 record in 26 games started
		Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Outfielder	.363 batting average 34 home runs 110 runs
		Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Starting pitcher/Designated hitter	.322 batting average 1.86 earned run average 10-4 record in 21 appearances
		Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Pitcher	1.09 earned run average 54 saves 2-2 record in 66 appearances
		Saitama Seibu Lions	First baseman	.281 batting average 47 home runs 124 RBIs
		Saitama Seibu Lions	Catcher	.329 batting average 23 home runs 105 RBIs

Multiple winners

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 and Ichiro Suzuki 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.
, three-time consecutive winner
, three-time winner

Player	League	# of Awards	Seasons
*	Central	9	1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977
*	Central	5	1961, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1971
*	Pacific	5	1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1973
*	JBL/Pacific	3	1946, 1948, 1951
*	JBL/Central	3	1941, 1951, 1955
*	Pacific	3	1976, 1977, 1978
	Pacific	3	1994, 1995, 1996
	Central	3	1996, 2000, 2002
*	JBL	2	1939, 1940
*	JBL	2	1944, 1947
*	Central	2	1952, 1956
*	Pacific	2	1957, 1958
*	Central	2	1958, 1959
	Pacific	2	1969, 1971
*	Central	2	1975, 1980
	Both	2	1979, 1981
	Pacific	2	1982, 1985
	Pacific	2	1983, 1987
	Central	2	1993, 1997
	Pacific	2	1993, 1999
	Pacific	2	2000, 2004
	Both	2	2006, 2007
	Pacific	2	2007, 2009
	Central	2	2008, 2009
	Central	2	2017, 2018

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