Alvarez and Crow-Armstrong Sweep Unanimous MVPs in Historic Awards Week

Key points

• Alvarez and Crow-Armstrong won their first MVP awards unanimously, joining a select group of 26 unanimous winners in BBWAA history.
• This is the first time both MVPs and both Cy Young Award winners (Cam Schlittler and Jacob Misiorowski) were elected unanimously in the same season.
• Crow-Armstrong is the fifth-youngest unanimous MVP winner at 24 years and 186 days old, behind only Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Jose Canseco, and Denny McLain.
• Alvarez is the second primary designated hitter to win MVP, having played in only 25 fielding games this season.
• The Cubs have won 10 MVP awards since 1931, with Crow-Armstrong being the first to win unanimously; Alvarez is the fourth Cuban-born player to win the award.

Background

Previous coverage noted that these unanimous wins ended Shohei Ohtani’s three-year MVP streak, as his 2026 season was impacted by injury. Crow-Armstrong’s historic 40-40 season and 10.6 WAR led the majors, while Alvarez led the American League in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. The 2026 Awards Week is notable for its lack of dissent across major individual awards, a rarity in recent baseball history.

Why it matters

The unanimous selections highlight the exceptional performance of both players and the clarity of their dominance over their peers. The simultaneous unanimous wins for both MVPs and Cy Young Awards underscore a rare consensus in baseball’s highest individual honors, reflecting a season where the top performers in both leagues left no doubt about their superiority.

What to watch

The 2026 MLB season awards are now complete, with all major individual honors decided. The focus shifts to the postseason, where the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros will compete for the World Series, with Crow-Armstrong and Alvarez serving as key figures for their respective teams.