Ranking MLB's Top 50 Players Who Never Won an MVP

Few things in baseball generate more debate than the yearly MVP honors, and this season is shaping up to be no different, with Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera the clear favorites in the AL and a wide-open field in the NL.

The MVP award as we know it began in 1931. Before that, there was the Chalmers Award (1911-1914) and League Awards (1922-1929) that were essentially the same thing.

What follows is a list of the 50 best players to never win an MVP award. My stipulations were that the player has to have played after 1931, when the award began to be handed out annually to a player in each league, and that any active players included on the list have to have been in the league for at least 10 seasons.

I also stuck strictly to hitters, since it is rare that a pitcher who only plays in a fraction of his team's game deserves to win the award.

Enjoy.

CF Eric Davis

Best MVP Finish

1987: (.293 BA, 37 HR, 100 RBI, 50 SB, ninth in voting)
Winner: Andre Dawson (.287 BA, 49 HR, 137 RBI)

1989: (.281 BA, 34 HR, 101 RBI, 21 SB, ninth in voting)
Winner: Kevin Mitchell (.291 BA, 47 HR, 125 RBI) 

Career Overview

Injuries kept Eric Davis from reaching his seemingly unlimited potential. But when healthy, Davis possessed one of the greatest combinations of tools that the game has ever seen. He was the true definition of a five-tool player.

For the handful of years in his prime when he played full seasons, his production was rivaled by no one.

His 1987 season ranks as the third-best power-speed season in baseball history, according to Baseball Reference, yet he finished just ninth in MVP voting. That was largely a result of playing for the Reds, who  made the postseason just once during his time with the team. 

1B Will Clark

Best MVP Finish

1989: (.333 BA, 23 HR, 111 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Kevin Mitchell (.291 BA, 47 HR, 125 RBI)

Career Overview

A phenom from the time he first stepped into the Giants lineup, Clark was everything a team could ask for in a first baseman in the days before they started launching 50 home runs per season.

His 137 OPS+ ranks him in the top 100 all time, and while his career numbers fall short of the usual Hall of Fame benchmarks, his career is an underrated one. His best MVP vote finish saw him come in second to teammate Kevin Mitchell, and from 1987-1991, he finished in the top five in voting four of five years. 

RF Dwight Evans

Best MVP Finish

1981: (.296 BA, 22 HR, 71 RBI. third in voting)
Winner: Rollie Finger (47 G, 28 Saves, 1.04 ERA, 7.0 K/9

Career Overview

The Red Sox everyday right fielder by the age of 21, Evans consistently put up solid numbers throughout his 20-year career. He had 20-plus home runs 11 times and led the league with 22 during the strike-shortened 1981 season.

He was more than just power, though. He had a solid career slash line of .272/.370/.470 and was also a slick fielder with eight Gold Gloves to his credit. In the end, all of that made for a solid MLB career but one short of single-season dominance.

1B Fred McGriff

Best MVP Finish

1993: (.291 BA, 37 HR, 101 RBI, fourth in voting)
Winner: Barry Bonds (.336 BA, 46 HR, 123 RBI)

Career Overview

A steady producer throughout his 19-year career, McGriff finished just shy of the 500 home-run plateau with a career line of .284 BA, 493 HR, 1,550 RBI.

His best MVP finish was fourth place in 1993, as he came to the Braves from the Padres at the deadline and hit .310 with 19 home runs and 55 RBI in 68 games down the stretch to help Atlanta make the postseason. 

LF Tim Raines

Best MVP Finish

1983: (.298 BA, 11 HR, 71 RBI, 90 SB, fifth in voting)
Winner: Dale Murphy (.302 BA, 36 HR, 121 RBI)

Career Overview

One of the best table-setters in baseball history, Raines swiped 808 bases and posted a .385 career on-base percentage. He played primarily for the Expos before bouncing around later in his career, and it was with Montreal that he posted six straight seasons with at least 70 steals.

Over the span of his first six full seasons, Raines hit .306 and stole 454 bases. That was enough for him to earn MVP votes five of those six seasons, but he never had that dominant season or the successful enough team around him to earn the award. 

2B Lou Whitaker

Best MVP Finish

1983: (.320 BA, 12 HR, 72 RBI, eighth in voting)
Winner: Cal Ripken Jr. (.318 BA, 27 HR, 102 RBI)

Career Overview

Whitaker played second base for the Tigers for 19 seasons, winning the 1978 AL Rookie of the Year award and making five All-Star appearances. He and Alan Trammell formed the longest tenured double- play combination of all time.

While he managed just 2.9 percent of the vote his first and only time on the Hall of Fame ballot, Whitaker has the sixth-highest career WAR among second basemen and is one of the more overlooked players in baseball history. That said, he was never a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate but rather a steady producer who enjoyed a long career.

SS Alan Trammell

Best MVP Finish

1987: (.343 BA, 28 HR, 105 RBI, 21 SB, second in voting)
Winner: George Bell (.308 BA, 47 HR, 134 RBI)

Career Overview

Perhaps the best shortstop currently eligible who is not in the Hall of Fame, Trammell was an institution at the position for the Tigers from 1977-1996. 

He brought offense to a position more widely known for defense at the time and put together a solid career line of .285 BA, 185 HR, 1,003 RBI. The 1987 season saw him set career highs in nearly every offensive category, but that was not enough for him to overcome George Bell's power surge in what was his best chance to win an MVP.

SS Ozzie Smith

Best MVP Finish

1987: (.303 BA, 0 HR, 75 RBI, 43 SB, second in voting)
Winner: Andre Dawson (.287 BA, 49 HR, 137 RBI)

Career Overview

A defensive wizard with 13 Gold Glove awards to his credit, anything that Smith contributed to the Cardinals offensively was a bonus.

The 1987 season was the only year that he hit better than .300, winning a Silver Slugger award but also finishing behind Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson in what was a weak crop of players in the NL MVP voting.

3B Scott Rolen

Best MVP Finish

2004: (.314 BA, 34 HR, 124 RBI, fourth in voting)
Winner: Barry Bonds (.362 BA, 45 HR, 101 RBI)

Career Overview

Back problems have plagued Rolen throughout his career. But when healthy he was one of the top third basemen offensively and defensively.

He earned MVP consideration in four seasons, but the 2004 campaign was by far his most productive. However, he split votes with Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds as the trio of St. Louis Cardinal teammates finished third, fourth and fifth in the voting. 

1B Tony Perez

Best MVP Finish

1970: (.317 BA, 40 HR, 129 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Johnny Bench (.293 BA, 45 HR, 148 RBI)

Career Overview

A staple in the Reds lineup throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Perez finished his 23-year big league career with a .279 BA, 379 HR, 1,652 RBI line. It took him nine times on the ballot, but he finally gained Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2000.

As good as he was, he had to share the spotlight with and was often overshadowed by teammates Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose and George Foster, all of whom won an MVP award. 

CF Richie Ashburn

Best MVP Finish

1951: (.344 BA, 4 HR, 63 RBI, 29 SB, seventh in voting)
Winner: Roy Campanella (.325 BA, 33 HR, 108 RBI)

1958: (.350 BA, 2 HR, 33 RBI, 30 SB, seventh in voting)
Winner: Ernie Banks (.313 BA, 47 HR, 129 RBI) 

Career Overview

He had absolutely no power (29 career home runs), but Ashburn still managed to make his mark as one of the best pure hitters of the 1950s while playing for the Phillies.

Ashburn had great plate discipline, leading the league in walks four times and on-base percentage four times as well. The Phillies made it to just one postseason during his time with the club. And while he did win a pair of batting titles, he never had that one amazing season.

1B Carlos Delgado

Best MVP Finish

2003: (.302 BA, 42 HR, 145 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Alex Rodriguez (.298 BA, 47 HR, 118 RBI)

Career Overview

A beast in the middle of the Blue Jays order, Delgado was among the league's most productive hitters throughout his career. He exceeded  30 home runs 11 times and 100 RBI nine times.

While his 2003 season was impressive, as he led the league with a 1.019 OPS, it was the 2000 season when he had his best numbers—a .344 average, 41 homers, 137 RBI and a league-high 57 doubles. But that only resulted in a fourth-place finish in the MVP voting. In total, he finished in the top 10 in MVP voting four times. 

C Gary Carter

Best MVP Finish

1980: (.264 BA, 29 HR, 101 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Mike Schmidt (.286 BA, 48 HR, 121 RBI)

Career Overview

An 11-time All-Star and one of the most consistent offensive backstops of all time, Carter enjoyed a terrific career playing mostly for the Expos and Mets.

He never had that one marquee season to earn MVP honors, but his career line of .262 BA, 324 HR, 1,225 RBI places him among the best catchers of all time. He did finish in the top 10 in voting four times, with his best finish coming the same season that Mike Schmidt had a career year. 

LF Albert Belle

Best MVP Finish

1995: (.317 BA, 50 HR, 126 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Mo Vaughn (.300 BA, 39 HR, 126 RBI)

Career Overview

 As feared a slugger as there was during the 1990s, Belle was on top of his game from 1993-1996, averaging a line of .315 BA, 43 HR, 126 RBI and finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting each season.

His reputation as a jerk with the media combined with the Indians only making the postseason twice during his time with the team make it far from a surprise that he never won an MVP. Still, his production was rivaled by few when he was in his prime.

He clearly deserved to win the award in 1995 when he posted better numbers across the board than Mo Vaughn and helped the Indians to the World Series. 

1B/OF Lance Berkman

Best MVP Finish

2002: (.292 BA, 42 HR, 128 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Barry Bonds (.370 BA, 46 HR, 110 RBI)

2006: (.315 BA, 45 HR, 136 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Ryan Howard (.313 BA, 58 HR, 149 RBI)

Career Overview

A feared switch-hitter who was the face of the Astros once Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio rode off into the sunset, Berkman was terrific over his 12 seasons in Houston.

He enjoyed a career renaissance with the Cardinals last season. But it looks as though his career could be near an end, as he's been limited to 31 games this season due to injury.

His two best seasons produced two third-place finishes in the MVP voting. With the numbers Bonds and Howard put up those two years, he never had a chance to win the award.

DH David Ortiz

Best MVP Finish

2005: (.300 BA, 47 HR, 148 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Alex Rodriguez (.321 BA, 48 HR, 130 RBI)

Career Overview

David Ortiz spent the first six seasons of his career in relative obscurity with the Twins, before he was released prior to the 2003 season and picked up by the Red Sox.

The slugger picked up his game immediately upon heading to Boston. Over his first five seasons with the Red Sox, he established himself as one of the top run producers in baseball with an average line of .302 BA, 42 HR, 128 RBI.

Because he split votes with teammate Manny Ramirez, he never took home MVP honors. His best chance may have come in 2006 when he led the league with 54 HR and 137 RBI.

1B Todd Helton

Best MVP Finish

2000: (.372 BA, 42 HR, 147 RBI, fifth in voting)
Winner: Jeff Kent (.334 BA, 33 HR, 125 RBI)

Career Overview

Anything that Helton has achieved has to be taken with a grain of salt due to him playing his entire career with the Rockies and having the advantage of playing half of his games in Coors Field.

Even with that, however, it is hard to look past some of the seasons he has been able to put together. He has averaged a line of .340 BA, 35 HR, 118 RBI during what can be considered his prime from 1998-2004.

His best came in 2000, when he made a serious run at hitting .400 and went on to win the batting title and also lead the NL in RBI, doubles, hits, OBP and SLG, yet that was still only good for fifth in the MVP voting.

CF Carlos Beltran

Best MVP Finish

2006: (.275 BA, 41 HR, 116 RBI, 18 SB, fourth in voting)
Winner: Ryan Howard (.313 BA, 58 HR, 149 RBI)

Career Overview

A breakout regular season and terrific postseason performance in 2004 with the Astros earned Beltran a seven-year, $119 million contract from the Mets. He enjoyed mixed success over the length of the deal. But when healthy, Beltran was a true five-tool player.

His best season remains the 2006 campaign with the Mets, but he had no real chance at the MVP with the monster season that Ryan Howard put together. It'll be interesting to see how he is viewed when his Hall of Fame candidacy comes up.

DH Edgar Martinez

Best MVP Finish

1995: (.356 BA, 29 HR, 113 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Mo Vaughn (.300 BA, 39 HR, 126 RBI)

Career Overview

Though he didn't move into an everyday role until the age of 27, Martinez still managed to put up arguably the greatest career by a designated hitter. In fact, he was good enough that the award for best DH each season was renamed the Edgar Martinez Award.

His career slash line of .312/.418/.515 is perhaps his most compelling argument for Hall of Fame induction, but the one-dimensional nature of his game makes him a regular subject of debate. His stats were good, even great some seasons, but he was always in the shadow of Ken Griffey Jr.

2B Roberto Alomar

Best MVP Finish

1999: (.323 BA, 24 HR, 120 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Ivan Rodriguez (.332 BA, 35 HR, 113 RBI) 

Career Overview

A recent Hall of Fame inductee, Alomar was the premier second baseman of his generation and is certainly in the argument as one of the five best to play the position.

He finished sixth in MVP voting from 1991 to 1993 and helped lead the Blue Jays to three straight postseason appearances and two World Series titles. His 1999 season was the best of his career, but he lost out to Ivan Rodriguez for the award.

SS Arky Vaughn

Best MVP Finish

1935: (.385 BA, 19 HR, 99 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Gabby Hartnett (.344 BA, 13 HR, 91 RBI)

1938: (.322 BA, 7 HR, 68 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Ernie Lombardi (.342 BA, 19 HR, 95 RBI)

Career Overview

Following in the footsteps of the great Honus Wagner, Vaughn put together a Hall of Fame career playing shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

His career was fairly brief. He played just 12 full seasons, but was productive. He hit better than .300 every year but one. His best season was in 1935. He put together a slash line of .385/.491/.607, but  finished a mere third in voting. 

C Carlton Fisk

Best MVP Finish

1983: (.289 BA, 26 HR, 86 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Cal Ripken Jr. (.318 BA, 27 HR, 102 RBI)

Career Overview

A force offensively from the catcher position, Fisk spent the first 11 (nine full) seasons of his career with the Red Sox. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1972 and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting four times during his time in Boston.

At 33 years old, he signed as a free agent with the White Sox and managed to play 13 more seasons at a high level. He set career highs with 37 HR and 107 RBI as a 37-year-old to finish 13th in MVP voting in 1985, but he never made a serious run at the MVP award. 

CF Kirby Puckett

Best MVP Finish

1992: (.329 BA, 19 HR, 110 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Dennis Eckersley (69 G, 51 Saves, 1.91 ERA, 10.5 K/9)

Career Overview

While his career spanned just 12 seasons, Puckett managed to garner MVP votes nine times and finished in the top 10 seven times. He was one of the best outfielders of his time.

He was the face of the Twins franchise and one of the most well-liked players in the league. However, he was always a player who did a little bit of everything but did not exactly pile up eye-popping numbers. As a result, he never took home MVP hardware.

3B Ron Santo

Best MVP Finish

1967: (.300 BA, 31 HR, 98 RBI, fourth in voting)
Winner: Orlando Cepeda (.325 BA, 25 HR, 111 RBI)

Career Overview

A fan favorite in Chicago during and after his playing career, Santo earned induction into the Hall of Fame in 2012 after long being argued as the most deserving player to not earn the honor.

Playing for the Cubs was certainly a blow to his MVP chances, as he never saw postseason action. He also consistently split votes with Hall of Fame teammates Ernie Banks and Billy Williams, which helps to explain why Santo never won an MVP. 

LF Lou Brock

Best MVP Finish

1974: (.306 BA, 3 HR, 48 RBI, 118 SB, second in voting)
Winner: Steve Garvey (.312 BA, 21 HR, 111 RBI) 

Career Overview

The premiere leadoff hitter of the 1960s and 1970s, Brock led the league in steals every year from 1966 to 1974 and swiped a career-high 118 bases during his second-place MVP finish in 1974.

While he had fantastic speed and did rack up 3,023 hits in 19 seasons, Brock was average in every other facet of the game. He also only made the postseason three times in his career, all of which hurt his MVP chances.

SS Luke Appling

Best MVP Finish

1936: (.388 BA, 6 HR, 128 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Lou Gehrig (.354 BA, 49 HR, 152 RBI)

1943: (.328 BA, 3 HR, 80 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Spud Chandler (20-4, 1.64 ERA, 134 Ks)

Career Overview

One of the top shortstops to play the game, Appling spent his entire 20-year career with the White Sox. He piled up 2,749 hits, had a career average of .310 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.

Appling never appeared in a postseason game, which no doubt hurt his MVP chances. As it was, he finished second to Yankees in the MVP voting after his two best seasons, as the Bronx Bombers more or less ruled the league during his career.

1B Rafael Palmeiro

Best MVP Finish

1999: (.324 BA, 47 HR, 148 RBI. fifth in voting)
Winner: Ivan Rodriguez (.332 BA, 35 HR, 113 RBI)

Career Overview

One of four players to accumulate 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, Palmeiro should have been a no-brainer first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Instead, he's forever tarnished his legacy by his positive steroid test in 2005 and likely won't be enshrined anytime soon. While he had his fair share of monster seasons, he never received much in the way of MVP support. He finished in the top 10 in voting just three times in his career.  

RF Gary Sheffield

Best MVP Finish

2004: (.290 BA, 36 HR, 121 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Vladimir Guerrero (.337 BA, 39 HR, 126 RBI)

Career Overview

With tremendous power and perhaps the fastest hands the game has ever seen, Sheffield was the definition of a feared slugger. While he bounced around to eight teams during his 22-year career, he enjoyed success every step of the way.

He put up his best numbers after turning 30, averaging a line of .307 BA, 35 HR, 110 RBI from 1999 to 2005 and finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting four times during that stretch. Those years coincided with the boom of the steroid era, however, and Sheffield never captured MVP glory. 

1B Mark McGwire

Best MVP Finish

1998: (.299 BA, 70 HR, 147 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Sammy Sosa (.308 BA, 66 HR, 158 RBI)

Career Overview

As far as pure power goes, few players in the history of baseball rival McGwire. From his record-breaking 49 HR season as a rookie in 1987 to his 583rd and final home run in 2001, he turned every ballpark into a launching pad.

His admitted use of steroids have kept him out of the Hall of Fame and will forever taint his legacy. However, it remains at least a bit of a surprise that Big Mac was never able to take home the honor. In 1998, he managed to set the single-season home run record but still lost out to Sammy Sosa, who also broke the previous record and led his team to the postseason. 

LF Billy Williams

Best MVP Finish

1970: (.322 BA, 42 HR, 129 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Johnny Bench (.293 BA, 45 HR, 148 RBI)

1972: (.333 BA, 37 HR, 122 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Johnny Bench (.270 BA, 40 HR, 125 RBI)

Career Overview

Williams consistently ranked among the league leaders in home runs and RBI, spending 16 of his 18 seasons playing for the Cubs alongside Ernie Banks and Ron Santo.

That the Cubs never reached the postseason during his time with the team hurt his chances of winning the award, and when he did turn in the two best seasons, Reds catcher Johnny Bench was there to top him.

3B Wade Boggs

Best MVP Finish

1985: (.368 BA, 8 HR, 78 RBI, fourth in voting)
Winner: Don Mattingly (.324 BA, 35 HR, 145 RBI) 

Career Overview

One of the best contact hitters of all time, Boggs batted better than .300 in 15 of his 18 seasons, winning five batting titles and collecting 3,010 hits in his Hall of Fame career.

He was never a superstar, though, and always more of a good second or third piece on his team. The perfect example of that was during the Red Sox 1986 World Series run, when he won the AL batting title but finished behind teammates Roger Clemens and Jim Rice in MVP voting.

DH Paul Molitor

Best MVP Finish

1993: (.332 BA, 22 HR, 111 RBI, 22 SB, second in voting)
Winner: Frank Thomas (.317 BA, 41 HR, 128 RBI)

Career Overview

Molitor broke into the league at the age of 21, but he posted some of the best numbers of his career after the age of 30 and was able to play at a high level into his 40s.

In his first season in Toronto, at the age of 36, he hit a career-high 22 HR and helped lead the Blue Jays to the World Series. However, he lost out on the MVP to White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, who was a unanimous pick.

Molitor was never a superstar, but he was consistently great throughout his 21-year career.

RF Al Kaline

Best MVP Finish

1955: (.340 BA, 27 HR, 102 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Yogi Berra (.272 BA, 27 HR, 108 RBI)

1963: (.312 BA, 27 HR, 101 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Elston Howard (.287 BA, 28 HR, 85 RBI) 

Career Overview

Kaline was a steady force for the Tigers for more than two decades, as he spent all 22 years of his Hall of Fame career in Detroit.

His 399 home runs are the most by a player without a season of more than 30. He was steady but never spectacular. His numbers are largely a result of his longevity.

That said, he had the better numbers that the MVP both times he finished second in the voting, but lost out as a result of playing for a less successful Tigers team.

C Bill Dickey

Best MVP Finish

1938: (.313 BA, 27 HR, 115 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Jimmie Foxx (.349 BA, 50 HR, 175 RBI)

Career Overview

The first in a long line of great Yankees catchers, Dickey's .313 career batting average trails only Mickey Cochrane and Twins catcher Joe Mauer among major league catchers.

He spent 17 seasons as the Yankees backstop and batted better than .300 in 11 of those seasons. He had solid power and was a great run-producer.

He finished in the top 10 in MVP voting five times. However, when you're forced to match up against guys like Jimmie Foxx who are putting up ridiculous numbers, it's difficult to win an MVP.

CF Duke Snider

Best MVP Finish

1955: (.309 BA, 42 HR, 136 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Roy Campanella (.318 BA, 32 HR, 107 RBI)

Career Overview

One of the most feared sluggers of the 1950s, Snider strung together five straight seasons of 40-plus home runs from 1953 to 1957 hitting in the middle of fantastic Dodgers lineups.

While the Dodgers enjoyed consistent success during Snider's time with the team, their stacked lineup consistently battled each other for MVP votes. Snider saw his teammates win the seven MVP awards, led catcher Roy Campanella who won three, including when he edged out Snider in 1955.

2B Craig Biggio

Best MVP Finish

1997: (.309 BA, 22 HR, 81 RBI, 47 SB, fourth in voting)
Winner: Larry Walker (.366 BA, 49 HR, 130 RBI)

Career Overview

Biggio's journey from catcher to second baseman to outfielder and back to second baseman—was impressive in itself, but his ability to consistently produce despite all of that defensive shuffling is what is going to make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

A career .281 hitter who had 3,060 hits in 20 seasons, Biggio received MVP votes five times and finished in the top 10 twice. Playing as Robin to Jeff Bagwell's Batman in terms of production on his own team could be part of the reason for that. 

RF Dave Winfield

Best MVP Finish

1979: (.308 BA, 34 HR, 118 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Keith Hernandez (.344 BA, 11 HR, 105 RBI) 

Career Overview

One of the best pure athletes to play the game, Winfield had his pick of professional sports when he left the University of Minnesota. He wound up making the right choice when he chose baseball and the San Diego Padres.

He never spent a day in the minor leagues and joined the Padres at the age of 21, immediately after being drafted. He went on to post impressive numbers across the board during his 22-year career. But he  only made the postseason twice, which hurt his MVP chances.

His most impressive MVP showing may have come in 1992, when he posted a line of .290 BA, 26 HR, 108 RBI as a 40-year-old for the Blue Jays and finished fifth.

SS Joe Cronin

Best MVP Finish

1933: (.309 BA, 5 HR, 118 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Jimmie Foxx (.356 BA, 48 HR, 163 RBI)

Career Overview

One of the top five shortstops of all time, Cronin was a terrific run-producer despite average-at-best power. He had eight seasons with at least 100 RBI despite topping the 20-homer mark just once in his 20-year career.

Like many players on this list, he was hurt by his team's lack of success. He appeared in just one postseason series while playing with the Senators. Given his production, if he had played in a better lineup, he well could have taken home at least a couple MVP awards.

As it stands, he'll have to settle for being a Hall of Fame shortstop. 

CF Al Simmons

Best MVP Finish

1925: (.387 BA, 24 HR, 129 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Roger Peckinpaugh (.294 BA, 4 HR, 64 RBI) 

Career Overview

A .334 career hitter who piled up 1,827 RBI over his 20-year career, Simmons batted better than .380 four times on his way to two batting titles.

That he never won an MVP speaks to the talent in the league at the time. But there is no reason he should not have been the choice in 1925. That he played alongside Jimmie Foxx didn't help his chances,  as his fantastic numbers rarely measured up to Foxx's.

RF Tony Gwynn

Best MVP Finish

1984: (.351 BA, 5 HR, 71 RBI, 213 H, third in voting)
Winner: Ryne Sandberg (.314 BA, 19 HR, 84 RBI)

Career Overview

Gwynn was the best contact hitter of his generation and one of the best pure hitters of all time. While his .338 career average and eight batting titles are impressive, his most impressive stat may have been his contact rate. In 9,288 career at-bats, Gwynn struck out a mere 434 times or once every 21.4 at-bats.

He popped up in the MVP voting several times throughout his career, but the Padres' lack of success held him back. His best shot came in 1984 when the Padres made the postseason. But he was edged out by Ryne Sandberg.

Gwynn got the last laugh that year, though, as his Padres knock Sandberg's Cubs out of the playoffs. 

1B Johnny Mize

Best MVP Finish

1939: (.349 BA, 28 HR, 108 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Bucky Walters (27-11, 2.29 ERA, 137 Ks)

1940: (.314 BA, 43 HR, 137 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Frank McCormick (.309 BA, 19 HR, 127 RBI) 

Career Overview

Mize, who played during a time when some of the greatest sluggers in baseball history were in their prime, still managed to lead the league in home runs four times and RBI three times.

While he did have two second-place MVP finishes, his best season may have been in 1947 when he hit .302 and led the league with 51 home runs, 138 RBI and 137 runs scored.

3B Miguel Cabrera

Best MVP Finish

2010: (.328 BA, 38 HR, 126 RBI. second in voting)
Winner: Josh Hamilton (.359 BA, 32 HR, 100 RBI)

Career Overview

Cabrera has been a consistent force since becoming an everyday player in 2004 at the age of 21. In the nine season since then, he's hit .321 with 305 home runs and 1,051 RBI and has been in the top five in MVP voting five times.

He has a great chance to take home MVP honors this season. He's hitting an AL-best .333 and has already set career highs with 40 home runs and 129 RBI. In fact, entering play on Wednesday, he was just two home runs from leading in all three Triple Crown categories. Winning that honor would all but assure him of edging out Angels rookie Mike Trout for the award.

C Mike Piazza

Best MVP Finish

1996: (.336 BA, 36 HR, 105 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Ken Caminiti (.326 BA, 40 HR, 130 RBI)

1997: (.362 BA, 40 HR, 124 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Larry Walker (.366 BA, 49 HR, 130 RBI)

Career Overview

The most prolific offensive catcher of all time, Piazza put up several of the best offensive seasons by a catcher during his time with the Dodgers and Mets.

Aside from his time with the 2000 Mets, he was never on a team that reached the World Series and only made five postseason appearances during his 16-year career. That his career years coincided with those of Ken Caminiti also helped to deprive him of an MVP award.

1B/DH Jim Thome

Best MVP Finish

2003: (.266 BA, 47 HR, 131 RBI, fourth in voting)
Winner: Barry Bonds (.341 BA, 45 HR, 90 RBI)

Career Overview

Somehow, Thome has quietly hit 611 career home runs, with 12 seasons with at least 30 home runs and six in which he topped the 40 mark.

In his prime with the Indians, Thome played alongside fellow MVP candidates Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle and Roberto Alomar and regularly split votes with his teammates. As good as he has been for 22 seasons, he has never been the marquee guy on his own team.

LF Ralph Kiner

Best MVP Finish

1949: (.310 BA, 54 HR, 127 RBI, fourth in voting)
Winner: Jackie Robinson (.342 BA, 16 HR, 124 RBI, 37 SB) 

Career Overview

Few players have started their career as well as Kiner. He led the National League in home runs in each of his first seven seasons and had 294 homers before he turned 30.

During that time, however, the Pirates were not a particularly good team and Kiner failed to ever reach the postseason. His career ended prematurely when chronic back problems forced him to retire at the age of 32, but he still had a .279 BA, 369 HR, 1,015 RBI line in 10 seasons in the league.

LF Manny Ramirez

Best MVP Finish

1999: (.333 BA, 44 HR, 165 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Ivan Rodriguez (.332 BA, 35 HR, 113 RBI)

2004: (.308 BA, 43 HR, 130 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Vladimir Guerrero (.337 BA, 39 HR, 126 RBI)

Career Overview

While his legacy has been tainted by his positive PED test, Ramirez was nonetheless one of the greatest run-producers of his era and helped lead the Red Sox to a pair of World Series titles hitting in the middle of their order.

However, the combination of playing during the steroid era and playing alongside a top-tier run-producer  in David Ortiz resulted in Ramirez ending his career with no MVP.

SS Derek Jeter

Best MVP Finish

2006: (.343 BA, 14 HR, 97 RBI, 34 SB, second in voting)
Winner: Justin Morneau (.321 BA, 34 HR, 130 RBI)

Career Overview

As the captain of the Yankees, Jeter has never had trouble making headlines and few would argue that he has not been one of the best players of his generation.

However, he has always been a table-setter for the Yankees' middle-of-the-order sluggers. As a result, he has never had that run-away season that earned him the honor. Still, a strong case can be made that he deserved the award over Justin Morneau in 2006. 

1B Eddie Murray

Best MVP Finish

1982: (.316 BA, 32 HR, 110 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Robin Yount (.331 BA, 29 HR, 114 RBI)

1983: (.306 BA, 33 HR, 111 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Cal Ripken Jr. (.318 BA, 27 HR, 102 RBI)

Career Overview

Eddie Murray quietly produced a .287 BA, 504 HR, 1,917 RBI career line over 21 seasons. He was the game's top first baseman during the 1980s and is one of just four players with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs in their career.

He had a number of seasons that put him in the running for the MVP, as he finished no lower than sixth in the voting from 1980 to 1985. Murray's candidacy was hurt by being forced to split votes with teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Cal Ripken on a yearly basis. 

3B Eddie Mathews

Best MVP Finish

1953: (.302 BA, 47 HR, 135 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Roy Campanella (.312 BA, 41 HR, 142 RBI) 

1959: (.306 BA, 46 HR, 109 RBI, second in voting)
Winner: Ernie Banks (.304 BA, 45 HR, 143 RBI) 

Career Overview

One of the most prolific third baseman of all time, Mathews hit 512 home runs during his 17-year career,  which was spent mostly playing for the Braves.

As a result, he spent much of that time in the shadow of teammate Hank Aaron. That the Braves only made the postseason twice during his 15 seasons also contributed to his never winning an MVP.

RF Mel Ott

Best MVP Finish

1942: (.295 BA, 30 HR, 93 RBI, third in voting)
Winner: Mort Cooper (22-7, 1.78 ERA, 152 Ks)

Career Overview

One of the most unheralded power hitters of all time, Ott broke into the league as a 17-year-old and was among the game's elite producers by the age of 20.

He led the NL in home runs six times and hit .304 for his career. But he never had the one marquee season that would have netted him the award.

He likely would have had a good chance to win the MVP in 1929. As a 20-year-old, he hit .328 with 42 homers and 151 RBI that season, but the award did not exist at that time.