Southern League Most Valuable Player Award
The Southern League Most Valuable Player Award is an annual award given to the best player in Minor League Baseball's Southern League based on their regular season performance. The award was created in 1972, eight years after the league was established in 1964.
Twenty-one outfielders have won the MVP Award, the most of any position. First basemen, with 12 winners, have won the most among infielders, followed by third basemen and second basemen and shortstops. Seven catchers have also won the award. One player who won the award was a designated hitter.
Five players from the Huntsville Stars and Knoxville Smokies/Sox/Tennessee Smokies have been selected for the MVP Award, more than any other teams in the league, followed by the Carolina Mudcats, Columbus Astros/Mudcats, and Memphis Chicks ; the Birmingham Barons, Chattanooga Lookouts, Jacksonville Expos/Suns, Montgomery Biscuits, and West Tenn Diamond Jaxx/Jackson Generals ; the Greenville Braves, Mobile BayBears, and Nashville Sounds ; and the Asheville Tourists, Biloxi Shuckers, Charlotte O's, Mississippi Braves, Montgomery Rebels, and Orlando Twins.
Six players from the Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball organization have won the MVP Award, more than any other, followed by the Houston Astros organization ; the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays organizations ; the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Toronto Blue Jays organizations ; and the Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Mariners organizations.
Key
Winners
Wins by team
Team | Award | Year |
Huntsville Stars | 5 | 1985, 1986, 1997, 2003, 2012 |
Knoxville Smokies/Sox/Tennessee Smokies | 5 | 1974, 1975, 1976, 1993, 2001 |
Carolina Mudcats | 4 | 1994, 1995, 2008, 2010 |
Columbus Astros/Mudcats | 4 | 1973, 1979, 1989 |
Memphis Chicks | 4 | 1978, 1988, 1990, 1996 |
Birmingham Barons | 3 | 2000, 2002, 2013 |
Chattanooga Lookouts | 3 | 1999, 2006, 2015 |
Jacksonville Expos/Suns | 3 | 1983, 1984, 1998 |
Montgomery Biscuits | 3 | 2005, 2007, 2009 |
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx/Jackson Generals | 3 | 2004, 2016, 2017 |
Greenville Braves | 2 | 1991, 1992 |
Mobile BayBears | 2 | 2011, 2014 |
Nashville Sounds | 2 | 1980, 1982 |
Asheville Tourists | 1 | 1972 |
Biloxi Shuckers | 1 | 2018 |
Charlotte O's | 1 | 1987 |
Mississippi Braves | 1 | 2019 |
Montgomery Rebels | 1 | 1977 |
Orlando Twins | 1 | 1981 |
Wins by organization
Organization | Award | Year |
Chicago White Sox | 6 | 1974, 1975, 1976, 2000, 2002, 2013 |
Houston Astros | 4 | 1973, 1979, 1989 |
Arizona Diamondbacks | 3 | 2011, 2014, 2017 |
Atlanta Braves | 3 | 1991, 1992, 2019 |
Cincinnati Reds | 3 | 1999, 2006, 2010 |
Kansas City Royals | 3 | 1983, 1988, 1990 |
Milwaukee Brewers | 3 | 2003, 2012, 2018, |
Oakland Athletics | 3 | 1985, 1986, 1997 |
Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays | 3 | 2005, 2007, 2009 |
Baltimore Orioles | 2 | 1972, 1987 |
Detroit Tigers | 2 | 1977, 1998 |
Minnesota Twins | 2 | 1981, 2015 |
Montreal Expos | 2 | 1978, 1984 |
New York Yankees | 2 | 1980, 1982 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 2 | 1994, 1995 |
Toronto Blue Jays | 2 | 1993, 2001 |
Chicago Cubs | 1 | 2004 |
Florida Marlins | 1 | 2008 |
San Diego Padres | 1 | 1996 |
Seattle Mariners | 1 | 2016 |