When Are MLB MVP Awards Announced?

Baseball fans love big moments. Walk-off home runs. No-hitters. World Series rings. But there is another huge moment every year that does not happen on the field. It happens in front of cameras and microphones. It is when the MLB Most Valuable Player (MVP) winners are announced. If you have ever wondered exactly when that happens and how it works, you are in the right place.

TLDR: MLB MVP awards are announced in mid-November, after the World Series ends. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) votes before the playoffs begin. The winners are revealed during MLB’s special awards week. The American League and National League MVPs are announced on separate nights.

When Are MLB MVP Awards Announced?

The MVP awards are usually announced in mid-November. This happens after the World Series is over. Most of the time, the announcement comes during the second or third week of November.

MLB sets aside a special week called Awards Week. During this week, multiple major awards are revealed on different days. The MVP announcement is typically near the end of that week.

Here is the usual order:

Monday: Rookie of the Year
Tuesday: Manager of the Year
Wednesday: Cy Young Award
Thursday: Most Valuable Player (MVP)

Each league gets its own announcement. That means:

American League MVP is announced separately.
National League MVP is announced separately.

They are often revealed one after the other on the same evening.

Where Are the Winners Announced?

Today, MVP winners are usually revealed on a televised MLB Network show. The announcement is also streamed online.

Sometimes, cameras surprise the winner live. You might see a player sitting at home with family. Or at a team facility. The moment feels emotional and real.

The MVP trophy itself is called the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Memorial Baseball Award. It is a classic bronze trophy. It looks serious and powerful. Just like the award.

But Wait — When Is the Voting Done?

This part surprises many fans.

The voting for MVP actually happens before the playoffs begin.

Yes. Before the World Series. Before Division Series games. Before any postseason drama.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) votes at the end of the regular season. That means playoff performance does not affect MVP voting.

So if a player hits 10 home runs in the playoffs, that does not help them win MVP. The award is strictly for the regular season.

Who Votes for MVP?

The BBWAA handles MVP voting.

There are:

30 teams in MLB.
One BBWAA voter from each team’s local chapter.
2 voters per team.

That means 30 total voters per league.

Each voter submits a ballot with:

10 ranked players.

Points are awarded based on ranking:

1st place vote = 14 points
2nd place vote = 9 points
3rd place vote = 8 points
And so on, down to 1 point for 10th place

The player with the most total points wins the MVP award.

Why Announce It So Late?

Good question.

If voting is done before the playoffs, why wait until November?

There are a few reasons:

To keep baseball in the spotlight after the World Series ends.
To give each award its own special moment.
To build excitement during the offseason.

It also prevents awards from distracting from postseason games. Imagine MVP debates happening during the World Series. That could shift focus away from the championship.

What Makes the MVP Announcement So Exciting?

The MVP award is one of the biggest individual honors in sports.

Winning MVP can:

Define a career
Strengthen Hall of Fame chances
Increase endorsement deals
Boost contract negotiations

Sometimes the race is extremely close.

Other times, it is unanimous.

A unanimous MVP means every first-place vote went to the same player. That does not happen often. When it does, it feels historic.

American League vs National League MVP

MLB has two leagues. So it awards two MVPs each year.

Here is a simple breakdown:

Feature	American League MVP	National League MVP
League	AL teams	NL teams
Voters	30 BBWAA members	30 BBWAA members
Announcement Time	Mid November	Mid November
Playoffs Count?	No	No

The structure is identical. Only the league changes.

How Do Fans Find Out the Final Results?

When the MVP is announced, MLB does more than name the winner.

They also release:

Total points
Number of first-place votes
Full voting breakdown

This lets fans see how close the race really was.

For example, you might see:

Player A: 380 points
Player B: 374 points

That means it was very tight.

Debates often continue for weeks after.

Can a Player Win MVP More Than Once?

Absolutely.

Many legends have won multiple MVP awards.

A few famous multi-time MVP winners include:

Barry Bonds (7 MVPs)
Mike Trout (3 MVPs)
Albert Pujols (3 MVPs)
Miguel Cabrera (2 MVPs)

Winning even one MVP is rare. Winning more than one is historic.

Winning in both leagues? That is even more special.

Has an MVP Ever Been Controversial?

Oh yes.

MVP debates can get intense.

Common arguments include:

Should MVP come from a playoff team?
Should pitching count as much as hitting?
Do advanced stats matter more than batting average?
What about WAR (Wins Above Replacement)?

Because voters are human, opinions differ. That makes the announcement day even more dramatic.

Memorable MVP Announcement Moments

Over the years, some MVP reveals have stood out.

Examples include:

Unanimous winners that shocked no one.
Underdogs beating superstars.
Players crying during the announcement.
Historic seasons being officially recognized.

The quiet of the offseason makes the moment feel bigger. The games are over. The lights are off. But one player’s season is crowned the best.

Does the MVP Winner Get a Ceremony?

There is no giant stadium ceremony right away.

The announcement usually happens via broadcast.

However, players often:

Hold press conferences
Celebrate with their team later
Receive recognition at future games

The physical trophy presentation can happen later. Sometimes during the next season.

How Can You Watch the Announcement?

Easy.

You can:

Watch MLB Network
Stream through MLB.com
Follow live updates on social media
Check sports news websites

The exact date is usually announced shortly after the World Series ends.

A Quick Timeline Summary

Let’s simplify everything into a clear timeline:

Regular season ends (late September or early October).
BBWAA voters submit MVP ballots.
Playoffs and World Series happen.
Awards Week takes place in mid November.
MVP winners are officially announced.

Simple. Clean. Organized.

Why MVP Still Matters

Some awards fade over time.

The MLB MVP does not.

It remains one of the most respected awards in sports. It represents excellence over 162 long games. It honors consistency. Power. Defense. Leadership. Impact.