The American Association Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) was an annual award given to the best player in Minor League Baseball's American Association based on their regular-season performance. Though the league was established in 1902, the award was not created until 1929. It continued to be issued through the 1962 season, after which the league disbanded. In 1969, both the league and the award were revived, and the honor continued to be given until the league disbanded for a second time after the 1997 season.

First basemen, with 18 winners, won the most among infielders and all positions, followed by third baseman (10), shortstops (7), and second basemen (3). Fifteen winners were outfielders. Seven pitchers and three catchers won the award.

Eight players who won the MVP Award also won the American Association Rookie of the Year Award in the same season: Jerry Witte (1946), Herb Score (1954), Jack Smith (1962), Barry Larkin (1986), Lance Johnson (1987), Juan González (1990), Eric Owens (1995), and Magglio Ordóñez (1997). From 1929 to 1962, pitchers were eligible to win the MVP Award as no award was designated for pitchers. In 1969, the American Association established a Most Valuable Pitcher Award. No player won both awards.

Eleven players from the Denver Zephyrs were selected for the MVP Award, more than any other team in the league, followed by the Indianapolis Indians (9); the Minneapolis Millers and Wichita Aeros (6); the Milwaukee Brewers and Omaha Royals (4); the Oklahoma City 89ers and St. Paul Saints (3); the Columbus Red Birds, Kansas City Blues, Louisville Colonels, and Toledo Mud Hens (2); and the Charleston Senators, Fort Worth Cats, Iowa Cubs, Louisville Redbirds, Nashville Sounds, Omaha Dodgers, Toledo Sox, Tulsa Oilers, and Wichita Braves (1).

Six players from the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations each won the award, more than any others, followed by the Montreal Expos organization (5); the Milwaukee Braves, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers organizations (4); the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Giants, and New York Yankees organizations (3); the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Browns organizations (2); and the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations (1). Five award winners played for teams that were not affiliated with any MLB organization.

Winners

+KeyPositionIndicates the player's primary position^Indicates multiple award winners in the same year

YearWinnerTeamOrganizationPosition 1929St. Paul Saints—Shortstop1930Louisville Colonels—Shortstop19311932Columbus Red BirdsSt. Louis CardinalsFirst baseman1933Minneapolis Millers—First baseman1934Minneapolis Millers—Catcher1935Columbus Red BirdsSt. Louis CardinalsPitcher1936Milwaukee BrewersDetroit TigersFirst baseman1937Minneapolis MillersBoston Red SoxShortstop1938^St. Paul SaintsChicago White SoxSecond basemanMilwaukee BrewersCleveland IndiansPitcher1939St. Paul SaintsChicago White SoxThird baseman1940Kansas City BluesNew York YankeesShortstop1941Louisville ColonelsBoston Red SoxShortstop1942Milwaukee BrewersChicago CubsShortstop1943Indianapolis Indians—Catcher1944Toledo Mud HensSt. Louis BrownsOutfielder1945Indianapolis IndiansBoston BravesOutfielder1946Toledo Mud HensSt. Louis BrownsFirst baseman1947Minneapolis MillersNew York GiantsPitcher1948Indianapolis IndiansPittsburgh PiratesFirst baseman1949Indianapolis IndiansPittsburgh PiratesThird baseman1950Minneapolis MillersNew York GiantsThird baseman1951Milwaukee BrewersBoston BravesCatcher1952Kansas City BluesNew York YankeesFirst baseman1953Toledo SoxMilwaukee BravesPitcher1954Indianapolis IndiansCleveland IndiansPitcher1955Minneapolis MillersNew York GiantsThird baseman1956Denver BearsNew York YankeesFirst baseman1957Wichita BravesMilwaukee BravesPitcher1958Charleston SenatorsDetroit TigersSecond baseman1959Fort Worth CatsChicago CubsOutfielder1960Denver BearsDetroit TigersThird baseman1961Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsThird baseman1962Omaha DodgersLos Angeles DodgersPitcher1969Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsOutfielder1970Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsOutfielder1971Denver BearsWashington SenatorsOutfielder1972Wichita AerosChicago CubsFirst baseman1973Denver BearsHouston AstrosFirst baseman1974Wichita AerosChicago CubsFirst baseman1975Tulsa OilersSt. Louis CardinalsThird baseman1976Denver BearsMontreal ExposFirst baseman1977Denver BearsMontreal ExposFirst baseman1978Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsOutfielder1979Wichita AerosChicago CubsOutfielder1980Denver BearsMontreal ExposFirst baseman1981Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThird baseman1982Wichita AerosMontreal ExposFirst baseman1983Wichita AerosMontreal ExposFirst baseman1984Wichita AerosCincinnati RedsFirst baseman1985Oklahoma City 89ersTexas RangersThird baseman1986Denver ZephyrsCincinnati RedsShortstop1987Louisville RedbirdsSt. Louis CardinalsOutfielder1988Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsFirst baseman1989Denver ZephyrsMilwaukee BrewersOutfielder1990Oklahoma City 89ersTexas RangersOutfielder1991Denver ZephyrsMilwaukee BrewersOutfielder1992Denver ZephyrsMilwaukee BrewersThird baseman1993Iowa CubsChicago CubsOutfielder1994Omaha RoyalsKansas City RoyalsOutfielder1995Indianapolis IndiansCincinnati RedsSecond baseman1996Oklahoma City 89ersTexas RangersFirst baseman1997Nashville SoundsChicago White SoxOutfielder

Wins by team

Team Award(s) Year(s)Denver Zephyrs (Denver Bears)111956, 1960, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992Indianapolis Indians91943, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1954, 1961, 1969, 1978, 1995Minneapolis Millers61933, 1934, 1937, 1947, 1950, 1955Wichita Aeros1972, 1974, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984Milwaukee Brewers41936, 1938, 1942, 1951Omaha Royals1970, 1981, 1988, 1994Oklahoma City 89ers31985, 1990, 1996St. Paul Saints1929, 1938, 1939Columbus Red Birds21932, 1935Kansas City Blues1940, 1952Louisville Colonels1930, 1941Toledo Mud Hens1944, 1946Charleston Senators11958Fort Worth Cats1959Iowa Cubs1993Louisville Redbirds1987Nashville Sounds1997Omaha Dodgers1962Toledo Sox1953Tulsa Oilers1975Wichita Braves1957

Wins by organization

Organization Award(s) Year(s)Chicago Cubs61942, 1959, 1972, 1974, 1979, 1993Cincinnati Reds1961, 1969, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1995Montreal Expos51976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983Milwaukee Braves (Boston Braves)41945, 1951, 1953, 1957Kansas City Royals1970, 1981, 1988, 1994St. Louis Cardinals1932, 1935, 1975, 1987Texas Rangers (Washington Senators)1971, 1985, 1990, 1996Chicago White Sox31938, 1939, 1997Detroit Tigers1936, 1958, 1960Milwaukee Brewers1989, 1991, 1992New York Giants1947, 1950, 1955New York Yankees1940, 1952, 1956Boston Red Sox21937, 1941Cleveland Indians1938, 1954Pittsburgh Pirates1948, 1949St. Louis Browns1944, 1946Houston Astros11973Los Angeles Dodgers1962

References Specific

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