World Series: 5 Most Nonsensical MVP Winners Ever

Reggie Jackson, Bob Gibson and David Eckstein?

When we think of the World Series MVP, doesn't it normally evoke memories of a Reggie pounding monstrous home runs in the chilly New York night?  Maybe it's just me, but I don't often think of David Eckstein legging out an infield hit or Edgar Renteria hitting a sacrifice fly.

The World Series MVP was a thing of legend that gets turned into a formality when teams lack superstar draw.

Voters have to give the award to someone, and while for the most part they get it right, not always. 

Focusing heavily on the last 30 years, except for one obvious exception, here are the MVPs who make the least amount of sense.

Jermaine Dye

The 2005 White Sox were a blue collar, faceless champion.  They had some good players but lacked the superstar draw, as evidenced by the selection of Jermaine Dye as the MVP.

Add to the fact that the series was a sweep and it further muddies the available candidates.

The entire lineup actually put up similar statistics, with Jermaine Dye only separating himself in batting average. In fact, he won the award with only three RBIs.

Personally, I would have gone with a White Sox starter. 

Freddy Garcia pitched a shutout deep into the decisive Game 4, and Mark Buehrle started (and pitched well) Game 2 and saved Game 3, a feat never before accomplished in World Series play until then.

Either would have been a solid choice.

Livan Hernandez

Hearkening back to a day when starting pitchers were judged by wins, the ageless Livan Hernandez obviously won the 1997 World Series MVP based upon his 2-0 series record against the Indians.

Hernandez had a 5.27 ERA and 10 walks in 13.2 innings pitched.  Looks like he was still terrible when he was young.

In the high-scoring series, the MVP should have gone to a Marlins position player. 

Moises Alou had a monster series, hitting .321 with three HRs and nine RBIs. He should have easily won the award.

Bobby Richardson

Never, under any circumstances, should the losing team have the MVP in a championship series. 

Since the voters in 1960 didn't agree with this, Bobby Richardson is the answer to a trivia question for years to come.

The NHL used to give out the Conn Smythe award to losers, but they at least had a clause that the award was for the entire playoffs and not just the finals.

Baseball can't use that excuse when awarding Bobby Richardson of the Yankees the MVP in 1960 after his Yankees lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Granted, he did have a huge series with 12 RBIs—but he lost.  End of MVP discussion.

There were plenty of worthy candidates on the victorious Pirates, including starters Vern Law, Harvey Haddix and a guy you may have heard of named Roberto Clemente.  Hello? 

Sounds like the East Coast bias was alive and well even in 1960.

Edgar Renteria

I will never accept the fact that Edgar Renteria won a World Series MVP.

Granted, I'm biased seeing as how he cost my team (the Detroit Tigers) Jair Jurjjens while completely mailing in the 2009 season.

He was the best of the lot of average Giants position players in the World Series, but regardless of a couple of big home runs, I'll never be okay with this.

The award should have gone to starter Tim Lincecum, who was 2-0 with a 3.29 ERA and 13 Ks in 13.2 innings. Great, not dominating numbers but definitely good enough to lock up the MVP. 

This selection made no sense to me.

David Eckstein

Remember when I said the MVP should never come from a losing team?  2006 might be the exception, seeing as Sean Casey batted .529 for the Detroit Tigers. 

Honestly, though, David Eckstein might have been the best candidate from a poor lot of players.

Albert Pujols had a quiet series, and Chris Carpenter only pitched eight innings, leaving the choices scant.

While "The Little Engine That Could" won the award, probably Scott Rolen or Jeff Weaver would have been just as worthy selections.

Eckstein has gone on to play for seemingly every major league team since, but he has the MVP voters to thank for his place in baseball history.