The BBBWARAOAAE congratulates Mike Trout and Clayton Kershaw

The BBWAA finally got it right in the American League, unanimously crowning Mike Trout as the Most Valuable Player in 2014. In addition to his BBWAA hardware, the slugging outfielder takes home his second virtual trophy from the blogging community in 2014; he was named Rookie of the Year in 2012. He may have won an award in 2013 as well, had the chairman of the BBBWARAOAAE remembered to send out the ballots. Trout is only the tenth player ever to be listed first on all BBWAA ballots for the MVP; Albert Pujols was the last unanimous winner in 2009 for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was one vote away from unanimity from the BBBWARAOAAE as well; one voter listed Chicago rookie Jose Abreu above Trout.

In the National League, the debate whether a pitcher should win MVP raged on, but in the end both the BBWAA and the BBBWARAOAAE selected Clayton Kershaw as the Most Valuable Player. Hotly contested until the very end of the season, Giancarlo Stanton‘s injuries may have cost him the award. Of course, the early season front-runner was Troy Tulowitzki; no BBBWARAOAAE listed the shortstop on their ballot, but one kind BBWAA member recognized Tulo and listed him in last place.

AMERICAN LEAGUE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

NAME	FIRST PLACE VOTES	BBBWARAOAAE POINTS	BBWAA (place)
1. Mike Trout	18	94	420 (1)
2. Victor Martinez	–	36	229 (2)
3. Jose Abreu	1	24	145 (4)
4. Robinson Cano	–	16	124 (6)
5. Michael Brantley	–	13	185 (3)
6. Nelson Cruz	–	12	102 (7)
7. Josh Donaldson	–	11	96 (8)
8. Felix Hernandez	–	10	48 (10)
9. Miguel Cabrera	–	7	82 (9)
10. Jose Altuve	–	6	41 (13)
11t. Corey Kluber	–	4	45 (11)
11t. Jose Bautista	–	4	128 (5)
13t. Alex Gordon	–	2	44 (12)
13t. Adam Jones	–	2	34 (14)
15t. Steve Pearce	–	1	n/a
15t. Kyle Seager	–	1	1 (20)
15t. Adrian Beltre	–	1	22 (15)
x. Greg Holland	–	n/a	13 (16)
x. Albert Pujols	–	n/a	5 (17)
x. Howie Kendrick	–	n/a	3 (18t)
x. James Shields	–	n/a	3 (18t)

NATIONAL LEAGUE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

NAME	FIRST PLACE VOTES	BBBWARAOAAE POINTS	BBWAA (place)
1. Clayton Kershaw	12	77	355 (1)
2. Giancarlo Stanton	5	56	298 (2)
3. Andrew McCutchen	1	53	271 (3)
4. Jonathan Lucroy	–	13	167 (4)
5. Anthony Rendon	–	7	155 (5)
6t. Johnny Cueto	–	3	22 (12)
6t. Anthony Rizzo	–	3	37 (10)
6t. Buster Posey	–	3	152 (6)
9t. Yasiel Puig	–	2	8 (19t)
9t. Justin Morneau	–	2	2 (23t)
9t. Carlos Gomez	–	2	13 (16)
12t. Devin Mesoraco	–	1	5 (21)
12t. Ben Revere	–	1	n/a
x. Adrian Gonzalez	–	n/a	57 (7)
x. Adam Wainwright	–	n/a	53 (8)
x. Josh Harrison	–	n/a	52 (9)
x. Hunter Pence	–	n/a	34 (11)
x. Russell Martin	–	n/a	21 (13)
x. Matt Holliday	–	n/a	17 (14t)
x. Jhonny Peralta	–	n/a	17 (14t)
x. Justin Upton	–	n/a	10 (17)
x. Jayson Werth	–	n/a	9 (18)
x. Denard Span	–	n/a	8 (19t)
x. Lucas Duda	–	n/a	3 (22)
x. Freddie Freeman	–	n/a	2 (23t)
x. Dee Gordon	–	n/a	1 (25t)
x. Troy Tulowitzki	–	n/a	1 (25t)