MLB History: Who was the first MVP player in a baseball league?

Every year, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) presents the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) to exceptional players in Major League Baseball (MLB).

   The award was established in 1931 to honor one player from the American League and one from the National League. Prior to 1931, there were other awards like the League Award and the Chalmers Award.
MVP voting takes place prior to the postseason and the results are revealed after the World Series. The BBWAA does not provide a specific definition for “most valuable,” allowing voters to interpret it as they see fit.

   The award was originally named after Kenesaw Mountain Landis in 1944, but in 2020 it was altered due to Landis’ controversial history with MLB integration.
MVP awards have been won by players in various positions, although it is rare for pitchers to claim the honor. In 2021, Shohei Ohtani made history by becoming the first pitcher since 2014 and the first in the AL since 2011 to win an award. He also became the first two-way player to receive this honor.

   The MVP has witnessed both ties (1979) and unanimous winners, as well as remarkable streaks such as Barry Bonds’ seven consecutive victories from 2001 to 2004. Frank Robinson’s achievement of winning in both the American and National Leagues sets him apart as a unique and exceptional player. The New York Yankees and St. The St. Louis Cardinals are the team with the most wins, while the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, and Tampa Bay Rays have never had a player win the MVP award.

   Can you tell me who the first MVP player was in a baseball league?
Prior to the modern MVP, the Chalmers Award (1911-1914) honored players considered to be the “most important and useful.” The BBWAA assumed control of the MVP in 1931, incorporating the format of the National League. The number of voters changed in 1938, with three per city, and in 1961, with two per league city.

   In 1911, Ty Cobb became the first recipient of the American League Chalmers Award, and two decades later, Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia Athletics became the first player to win the MVP award.