Shohei Ohtani’s MVP Streak: Chasing History in Major League Baseball

Shohei Ohtani continues to make waves in Major League Baseball, not just as a standout player for the Los Angeles Dodgers but as a historic figure in the realm of MVP awards. After securing the National League MVP title in his first two seasons with the Dodgers, Ohtani achieved the remarkable feat of winning the American League MVP in 2023 with the Angels. This accomplishment marks a stunning streak of three consecutive MVP awards, and four in the last five years, making him a player to watch as he seeks to further cement his legacy.

Ohtani’s pursuit of greatness places him in an exclusive club, with Barry Bonds being the only other player in MLB history to win more than two MVP awards in succession. Bonds dominated the league from 2001 to 2004, winning four consecutive NL MVPs while posting an astonishing .349/.559/.809 batting line during his late career years. His prowess at the plate during this period has set a benchmark that few can aspire to.

In the history of the MVP award, 13 other players have achieved consecutive MVP honors, with Bonds himself also winning back-to-back awards in 1992 and 1993. In total, there have been 17 seasons where a player has attempted to capture a third straight MVP, with most of these seasons being exceptional. Notably, Bonds’ 2005 season was marred by injury, limiting him to just 14 games, yet the average performance across these 17 seasons is impressive, boasting a combined 6.8 bWAR and 7.0 fWAR.

Aside from Ohtani and Bonds, a few other players have come close to clinching a third consecutive MVP. Hal Newhouser stands out as the only pitcher to achieve this feat, winning the AL MVP in 1944 and 1945 with the Detroit Tigers. In 1946, he put together an outstanding season with a 1.94 ERA and 26 wins, leading the league in both categories. However, he fell short to Ted Williams, who delivered a stellar season of his own, resulting in a narrow MVP voting race.

Yogi Berra, another legendary figure, won three AL MVPs in five years, including consecutive awards in 1954 and 1955. His teammate Mickey Mantle followed, winning the triple crown and the MVP unanimously in 1956, while Berra finished second. Mantle secured another MVP in 1957 but saw a dip in performance in 1958, finishing fifth despite solid numbers.

Albert Pujols also left his mark, winning the NL MVP in 2008 and 2009, and although he had a stellar 2010 season with the Cardinals, he fell short to Joey Votto, who took home the hardware that year. Meanwhile, Aaron Judge, the recent AL MVP winner, has his eyes set on joining the ranks of those who have won three consecutive MVPs, with a potential shot at this milestone in 2026. As Ohtani embarks on another season, he aims not only to maintain his dominance but to join Bonds as the only player to win four MVPs in a row, bolstered by his return to full-time two-way status.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.