The League Championship Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players deemed to have the most impact on their teams' performances in each of the two respective League Championship Series that comprise the penultimate round of the MLB postseason. The award is given separately for a player in both the American League Championship Series and the National League Championship Series. It has been presented in the National League (NL) since 1977, and in the American League (AL) since 1980. Dusty Baker won the inaugural award in 1977 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Frank White won the first AL award in 1980 with the Kansas City Royals. Twelve LCS MVP winners have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame: Roberto Alomar, George Brett, Dennis Eckersley, Rickey Henderson, David Ortiz, Kirby Puckett, CC Sabathia, Ozzie Smith, Mariano Rivera, Iván Rodríguez, John Smoltz, and Willie Stargell.
Three players have won the award twice: Steve Garvey (1978, 1984), Dave Stewart (1990, 1993), and Orel Hershiser (1988, 1995). Incidentally, all three of these players won their two awards with two different teams. Building off of this, Garvey is the only player to win NLCS MVP twice, Stewart the only player to win ALCS MVP twice, and Hershiser the only one to win in both leagues. Nine players have gone on to win the World Series MVP Award in the same season in which they won the LCS MVP—eight from the NL and one from the AL. Three players have won while playing for the losing team in the series: Fred Lynn played for the 1982 California Angels; Mike Scott pitched for the 1986 Houston Astros; and Jeffrey Leonard played for the 1987 San Francisco Giants. Two players have shared the award in the same year three times, all in the NL; Rob Dibble and Randy Myers for the 1990 Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester and Javier Báez in 2016, and Chris Taylor and Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017.
Adam Kennedy won the 2002 ALCS MVP when he hit three home runs in a single game; he had hit 7 during the regular season and hit 80 in his 14-year career. Nelson Cruz won the award in the 2011 ALCS after hitting six home runs in the series. Adolis García won the award after having 15 RBIs during the 2023 ALCS. From the pitcher's mound, Steve Avery threw innings without giving up a run in the 1991 NLCS, and John Smoltz amassed 19 strikeouts the following year to win MVP honours. Liván Hernández won the 1997 NLCS MVP after winning his only start and earning a win out of the bullpen in relief; he struck out 16 in innings. Daniel Murphy won the 2015 NLCS MVP after hitting home runs in six consecutive games (including the final two games of the preceding division series), setting a major league record for consecutive postseason games with a home run. Shohei Ohtani won the 2025 NLCS MVP after hitting three home runs and pitching six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in Game 4.
Liván Hernández (1997, NL) and his half-brother Orlando Hernández (1999, AL) are the only family pair to have won the award. The only rookies to have won the award are Mike Boddicker (1983, AL), Liván Hernández (1997, NL), Michael Wacha (2013, NL), Randy Arozarena (2020, AL) and Jeremy Peña (2022, AL).
Key Year Links to the article about that corresponding ALCS or NLCS Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame Indicates that the player won the World Series MVP Award the same year Indicates that the player's team lost the series Indicates multiple award winners in the same year Indicates number of times winning League Championship Series MVP at that point (if he won multiple times)
American League winners
Year Player Team Position Selected statistics Ref Kansas City Royals Second baseman .545 batting average 1 home run 3 runs batted in New York Yankees Third baseman.500 batting average 3 extra-base hits 9 runs batted in California Angels§ Outfielder.611 batting average 11 hits 5 runs batted in Baltimore Orioles Starting pitcher1–0 record over 1 start; 1 shutout 9 scoreless innings pitched 14 strikeouts Detroit Tigers Outfielder.417 batting average 1 home run 2 runs batted in † Kansas City Royals Third baseman.348 batting average 3 home runs 5 runs batted in Boston Red Sox Second baseman.367 batting average 11 hits 5 runs batted in Minnesota Twins Third baseman.300 batting average 2 home runs 5 runs batted in † Oakland Athletics Relief pitcher4 saves over 4 appearances 6 scoreless innings pitched 5 strikeouts † Oakland Athletics Outfielder.400 batting average 2 home runs 8 stolen bases Oakland Athletics Starting pitcher 2–0 record over 2 games started 2 runs allowed over 16 innings 0.63 WHIP † Minnesota Twins Outfielder.429 batting average 2 home runs 5 runs batted in † Toronto Blue Jays Second baseman.423 batting average 2 home runs 4 runs batted in Toronto Blue Jays Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 3 runs allowed over innings 8 strikeouts Series cancelled due to player's strike Cleveland Indians Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 2 earned runs allowed over 14 innings 15 strikeouts New York Yankees Outfielder.474 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs batted in Cleveland Indians OutfielderGame-winning home run in 8th inning of Game 2 6 hits 3 stolen bases New York Yankees Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 5 runs allowed over innings 18 strikeouts New York Yankees Starting pitcher1–0 record over 2 games started 3 earned runs allowed over 15 innings 13 strikeouts New York Yankees Outfielder.824 OPS 2 home runs 8 runs batted in New York Yankees Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 4 runs allowed over innings 8 strikeouts Anaheim Angels Second baseman.357 batting average 3 home runs 5 runs batted in † New York Yankees Relief pitcher1 win and 2 saves over 4 appearances 1 run allowed over 8 innings 6 strikeouts † Boston Red Sox Designated hitter.387 batting average 3 home runs 11 runs batted in Chicago White Sox First baseman.286 batting average 2 home runs 7 runs batted in Detroit Tigers Second baseman.529 batting average 9 hits 2 runs batted in Boston Red Sox Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 3 runs allowed over 14 innings 18 strikeouts Tampa Bay Rays Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 2 runs allowed over 13 innings 14 strikeouts † New York Yankees Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 2 runs allowed over 16 innings 12 strikeouts Texas Rangers Outfielder.350 batting average 4 home runs 7 runs batted in Texas Rangers Outfielder.364 batting average 6 home runs 13 runs batted in Detroit Tigers Designated hitter.353 batting average 2 home runs 5 runs batted in Boston Red Sox Relief pitcher1 win and 3 saves over 5 appearances 6 scoreless innings pitched 9 strikeouts Kansas City Royals Outfielder.533 batting average 5 runs scored 8 hits Kansas City Royals Shortstop.478 batting average 11 hits 6 runs scored Cleveland Indians Relief pitcher1 save in 4 appearances 0 runs allowed over innings 14 strikeouts Houston Astros Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started; 1 complete game 1 run allowed over 16 innings 21 strikeouts Boston Red Sox Center fielder9 runs batted in 2 home runs 1.067 OPS Houston Astros Second basemanSeries-winning walk-off home run .348 batting average 6 runs scored / 3 runs batted in Tampa Bay Rays Outfielder.321 batting average 4 home runs 1.152 OPS Houston Astros Designated hitter.522 batting average 7 runs scored / 6 runs batted in 1.408 OPS * Houston Astros Shortstop.353 batting average 7 runs scored / 5 runs batted in .991 OPS Texas Rangers Outfielder5 home runs 1 grand slam 15 runs batted in New York Yankees Designated hitter4 home runs 7 runs batted in 1.222 OPSToronto Blue JaysFirst baseman 3 home runs .385 batting average 1.330 OPS
National League winners
Year Player Team Position Selected statistics Ref Los Angeles Dodgers Outfielder.357 batting average 2 home runs 8 runs batted in Los Angeles Dodgers First baseman.389 batting average 4 home runs 7 runs batted in * † Pittsburgh Pirates First baseman.455 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs batted in Philadelphia Phillies Second baseman.381 batting average 8 hits 4 runs batted in Los Angeles Dodgers Starting pitcher 2–0 record over 2 games started 0 earned runs allowed over innings 1.16 WHIP * St. Louis Cardinals Catcher.556 batting average 5 hits; 3 doubles 5 walks Philadelphia Phillies Outfielder.429 batting average 3 home runs 8 runs batted in San Diego Padres First baseman.400 batting average Walk-off home run in Game 4 7 runs batted in † St. Louis Cardinals Shortstop.435 batting average Walk-off home run in Game 5 3 runs batted in Houston Astros§ Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started; both were complete games - 1 shutout 1 run allowed over 18 innings 19 strikeouts San Francisco Giants§ Outfielder.417 batting average 4 home runs 5 runs batted in * Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher1–0 record and 1 save over 4 appearances; 3 starts - 1 shutout 3 earned runs allowed over innings 15 strikeouts San Francisco Giants First baseman.650 batting average 13 hits 8 runs batted in ^ Cincinnati Reds Relief pitcher1 save over 4 appearances 5 scoreless innings pitched 10 strikeouts ^ Cincinnati Reds Relief pitcher3 saves over 4 appearances scoreless innings pitched 7 strikeouts Atlanta Braves Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started scoreless innings pitched 17 strikeouts † Atlanta Braves Starting pitcher2–0 record over 3 games started 6 earned runs allowed over innings 19 strikeouts Philadelphia Phillies Starting pitcher2 no-decisions over 2 games started 3 earned runs allowed over 16 innings pitched 19 strikeouts Series cancelled due to player's strike Atlanta Braves Outfielder.308 batting average 1 home run 5 runs batted in Atlanta Braves Catcher.542 batting average 5 doubles/ 2 home runs 6 runs batted in * Florida Marlins Starting pitcher2 wins over 2 appearances; 1 relief appearance and 1 start which was a complete game 1 run allowed over innings 16 strikeouts San Diego Padres Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 1 run allowed over 10 innings 14 strikeouts Atlanta Braves Catcher.500 batting average 2 home runs 5 runs batted in New York Mets Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started; 1 shutout 16 scoreless innings pitched 12 strikeouts Arizona Diamondbacks Infielder.381 batting average 4 runs batted in 5 runs scored San Francisco Giants Catcher.300 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs batted in † Florida Marlins Catcher.321 batting average 2 home runs 10 runs batted in St. Louis Cardinals First baseman.500 batting average 4 home runs 9 runs batted in Houston Astros Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 2 runs allowed over 14 innings 12 strikeouts St. Louis Cardinals Starting pitcher1–0 record over 2 games started 1 run allowed over 15 innings 1 home run hit in Game 3 Colorado Rockies Outfielder.333 batting average 2 home runs 4 runs batted in * Philadelphia Phillies Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started 3 runs allowed over 14 innings 13 strikeouts Philadelphia Phillies First baseman.333 batting average 2 home runs and 8 runs batted in Tied Lou Gehrig's record for most consecutive postseason games with a run batted in (8) San Francisco Giants Outfielder.350 batting average 3 home runs 5 runs batted in * St. Louis Cardinals Third baseman.545 batting average 3 home runs 9 runs batted in San Francisco Giants Second baseman.500 batting average 14 hits 4 runs batted in St. Louis Cardinals Starting pitcher2–0 record over 2 games started scoreless innings pitched 13 strikeouts * San Francisco Giants Starting pitcher1–0 record over 2 games started 3 runs allowed over innings 12 strikeouts New York MetsInfielder.529 batting average 4 home runs 6 runs batted in Major league record for hitting home runs in 6 consecutive playoff games. ^ Chicago CubsStarting pitcher 1–0 record over 2 games started 2 runs allowed over 13 innings