World Series MVP Guide (1970-1984)
Fall Classic Most Valuable Players from 1970 to 1984
From Brooks Robinson to Allan Trammell, these are the best players from each annual Fall Classic from 1970 through 1984.
1970. Brooks Robinson. Baltimore Orioles 3B. The Human Vacuum Cleaner led the Orioles five game drubbing of the Cincinnati Reds by hitting .429 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI. He also put together a defensive highlight film for the ages in Game 3, making three incomparable stops at third base that saved at least four runs. He became the second Baltimore Oriole named Mr. Robinson to win the Series MVP in five years (Frank won in 1966).
1971. Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates OF. Clemente showcased all of his five tools in this classic seven-game series. He hit for average (12-29, a .429 clip), hit for power (2 homers and 6 RBI), played splendid defense, and threw out runners left and right. After the Series, Clemente quipped "pitch me outside and I will hit .400; pitch me inside and you won't find the ball."
1972. Gene Tenace, Oakland A's Catcher (.429, 4 HR, 9 RBI). Tenace was the first player to hit home runs in each of his first two World series at-bats, a record that was matched by Andruw Jones in 1996. The Oakland catcher went on to have one of the best Series ever, tying Babe Ruth's record for most dingers in a series with four, as he led the A's franchise to its first title since 1930.
1973. Reggie Jackson, Oakland A's Outfileder (.310, 1 HR, 6 RBI). Reginald Martinez Jackson began his Mr. October legend this year, leading the postseason A's in hitting, on-base percentage, slugging average and RBI as the Athletics knocked off the New York Mets in seven games.
1974. Rollie Fingers, Oakland A's Relief Pitcher (1-0, 2 Saves, 1.93 ERA). The man with the handlebar mustache was masterful in the 1974 Fall Classic against the Dodgers. His one win, two saves, and his clutch pitching in tight situations made him the hands-down favorite for the MVP award.
1975. Pete Rose, Cincinnati Red 3B (.350 BA) Cincinnati Pete played remarkably well considering he had three large on the BoSox.
1976. Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds C (.533, 2 HR, 6 RBI). It's too bad for Johnny Bench that the Yankees didn't put up a better fight in the 1976 World Series. Because if it had gone more than four games, Bench might have broken some all-time records. As it was, in those four games, Bench collected 8 hits, a .533 average, a double, a triple, two dingers and six RBI. He also slugged a Bonds-like 1.133. It was the high point of a Hall of Fame career for Mr. Bench.
1977. Reggie Jackson, New York Yankees OF (.450, 5 HR, 9 RBI). Even without his remarkable performance in Game 6, Reggie was in the running for MVP honors in the 1977 Series. But in the final contest, Reggie did things that had never been done in World Series play. He hit three consecutive home runs off three different pitchers, and he hit each of them on the first pitch of each at-bat. Three pitchers, three pitches, three swings, three home runs. MVP.
1978. Bucky Dent, New York Yankees SS (.417, 10 Hits, 6 RBI). Dent and his journeyman double play partner Brian Doyle gave the Los Angeles Dodgers fits in the 1978 World Series. In six games, the diminutive infielders reached base 19 times and scored nine runs, prompting Dodgers' manager Tommy LaSorda to compare them with "Pie Traynor and Lloyd Waner," who were the pesky pair that led the Pittsburgh Pirates to the 1927 National League pennant. Although either man could have won the award, the voters went with Dent, the hero of the 1978 one-game playoff against the Red Sox in Fenway Park just three weeks earlier.
1979. Wilie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates (.400 BA, 3 HR, 7 RBI). The 39-year -old Willie "Pops" Stargell led the Pirates back from a three-games-to-one deficit in the 1979 Series by batting .400 with 12 hits, four doubles, three home runs and seven RBI. In the deciding game, Stargell smacked a two-run homer in the sixth inning that put Pittsburgh ahead for good. The Pirates won the Series and Pops won the MVP.
1980. Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies 3B (.381, 2 HR, 7 RBI). After a lifetime of postseason struggles, Michael Jack Schmidt finally broke through in October, 1980 with his bat and his glove, leading the Phillies to the club's first World Series title in almost 100 years of existence.
1981. Steve Yeager, Pedro Guerrero, and Ron Cey, Los Angeles Dodgers. They gave out three MVP awards, which was okay, a little bit much, but that's fine. There was only one problem: Steve Garvey may have had a better World Series than the three winners. Just thought it was worth mentioning.
1982. Darrell Porter, St. Louis Cardinals (.286 1 HR, 5 RBI). Porter's timely hitting and great defensive play made the difference in this seven-game war between the Cards and the Brew Crew.
1983. Rick Dempsey, Orioles Catcher (.385, 4 doubles, 1 HR). On a team laden with sluggers like Cal Ripken, Eddie Murray and Kenny Singleton, it was a light-hitting catcher that made the difference in Baltimore's five game win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Dempsy had a .900 slugging percentage from his five extra base hits, one of which was big home run in the Series clincher, Game 5.
1984. Allan Trammel, Detroit Tigers SS (.450 2 HR, 6 RBI). Trammell barely edged out Kirk Gibson (.357, 2 HR, 7 RBI) in the vote. He deserved it. Trammel and his double play partner Lou Whittaker held the singles-hitting Padres inside the infield for all five games, turning five double plays in the series.
