<P> MVP voting takes place before the postseason, but the results are not announced until after the World Series . The BBWAA began by polling three writers in each league city in 1938, reducing that number to two per league city in 1961 . The BBWAA does not offer a clear - cut definition of what "most valuable" means, instead leaving the judgment to the individual voters . </P> <P> First basemen, with 34 winners, have won the most MVPs among infielders, followed by second basemen (16), third basemen (15), and shortstops (15). Of the 25 pitchers who have won the award, 15 are right - handed while 10 are left - handed . Walter Johnson, Carl Hubbell, and Hal Newhouser are the only pitchers who have won multiple times, Newhouser winning consecutively in 1944 and 1945 . </P> <P> Hank Greenberg, Stan Musial, Alex Rodriguez, and Robin Yount have won at different positions, while Rodriguez is the only player who has won the award with two different teams at two different positions . Barry Bonds has won the most often (seven times) and the most consecutively (2001--04). Jimmie Foxx was the first player to win multiple times; 9 players have won three times, and 19 have won twice . Frank Robinson is the only player to win the award in both the American and National Leagues . </P> <P> The award's only tie occurred in the National League in 1979, when Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell received an equal number of points . There have been 18 unanimous winners, who received all the first - place votes . The New York Yankees have the most winning players with 22, followed by the St. Louis Cardinals with 17 winners . The award has never been presented to a member of the following three teams: Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, and Tampa Bay Rays . The most recent recipients are José Altuve in the American League and Giancarlo Stanton in the National League . </P>

Who has won the most mvp awards in baseball