California League Most Valuable Player Award Explained

California League Most Valuable Player Award
Sport:	Baseball
League:	California League
Givenfor:	Regular season most valuable player of the California League
Country:	United States
Presenter:	California League
First:	Spider Jorgensen (1941)
Mostrecent:	Ryan Ritter (2023)

The California League Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual award given to the best player in minor league baseball's California League. In 1941, John Jorgensen won the first ever California League MVP Award. After the cancellation of the 2020 season,^[1] the league was known as the Low-A West in 2021 before reverting to the California League name in 2022.^{[2] [3]}

First basemen, with 13 winners, have won the most among infielders, followed by shortstops (7), third basemen (5), and second basemen (4). Ten catchers have also won the award. Seven players who won the award were pitchers. Twenty-seven outfielders have won the MVP Award, the most of any position. Six players played during seasons for which position information is unavailable.

Sixteen players from the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers Major League Baseball (MLB) organization have won the MVP Award, more than any other, followed by the San Diego Padres organization (8); the California/Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants organizations (6); the Minnesota Twins organization (5); the St. Louis Cardinals organization (4); the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, and Milwaukee Brewers organization (3); the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays organizations (2); and the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, and New York Mets organizations (1). Six players competed for teams that were unaffiliated with Major League Baseball organizations.

Key

	Indicates multiple award winners in the same year
Position	Indicates the player's primary position if known

Winners

Year	Winner	Team	Organization	Position
1941		Santa Barbara Saints	Brooklyn Dodgers	Third baseman	^[4]
1942		San Jose Owls	unaffiliated	Outfielder	^[5]
1946		Fresno Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	unknown	^[6]
1947		Stockton Ports	unaffiliated		^[7]
1949		Bakersfield Indians	Cleveland Indians	Pitcher	^[8]
1950		Modesto Reds	Pittsburgh Pirates	First baseman	^[9]
1952		Fresno Cardinals	St. Louis Cardinals	Pitcher	^[10]
1953		San Jose Red Sox	Boston Red Sox	Pitcher	^[11]
1954		Stockton Ports	Chicago Cubs	Pitcher	^[12]
1955			unaffiliated	unknown	^[13]
1956		San Jose JoSox			^[14]
1957		Visalia Redlegs	Cincinnati Redlegs		^[15]
1958		Fresno Giants	San Francisco Giants	Catcher	^[16]
1959		Reno Silver Sox	Los Angeles Dodgers	Outfielder	^[17]
1960				Pitcher	^[18]
1961				Shortstop	^[19]
1962				First baseman	^[20]
1963			Pittsburgh Pirates	Outfielder	^[21]
1964		Fresno Giants	San Francisco Giants	Outfielder	^[22]
1965		Stockton Ports	Baltimore Orioles	First baseman	^[23]
1966		Modesto Reds	Kansas City Athletics	Catcher	^[24]
1967			St. Louis Cardinals	Outfielder	^[25]
1968				Catcher	^[26]
1969		Stockton Ports	Baltimore Orioles	Shortstop	^[27]
1970		Bakersfield Dodgers	Los Angeles Dodgers	Outfielder	^[28]
1971		Visalia Mets	New York Mets	Outfielder	^[29]
1972		Fresno Giants	San Francisco Giants	First baseman	^[30]
1973		Salinas Packers	California Angels	Outfielder	^[31]
1974		Fresno Giants	San Francisco Giants	Catcher	^[32]
1975		Reno Silver Sox	unaffiliated	Outfielder	^[33]
1976		Salinas Angels	California Angels	Outfielder	^[34]
1977		Lodi Dodgers	Los Angeles Dodgers	First baseman	^[35]
1978		Visalia Oaks	Minnesota Twins	Outfielder	^[36]
1979*		Lodi Dodgers	Los Angeles Dodgers	First baseman	^[37]
1979*		Visalia Oaks	Minnesota Twins	Third baseman	^[38]
1980*		Stockton Ports	Milwaukee Brewers	Pitcher	^[39]
1980*		Lodi Dodgers	Los Angeles Dodgers	Outfielder	^[40]
1981		Visalia Oaks	Minnesota Twins	First baseman	^[41]
1982		Reno Padres	San Diego Padres	Outfielder	^[42]
1983		Visalia Oaks	Minnesota Twins	Catcher	^[43]
1984		Stockton Ports	Milwaukee Brewers	Outfielder	^[44]
1985		Reno Padres	San Diego Padres	First baseman	^[45]
1986		Fresno Giants	San Francisco Giants	Third baseman	^[46]
1987		Bakersfield Dodgers	Los Angeles Dodgers	Catcher	^[47]
1988		Riverside Red Wave	San Diego Padres	Second baseman	^[48]
1989		Stockton Ports	Milwaukee Brewers	First baseman	^[49]
1990		Stockton Ports San Bernardino Spirit	Milwaukee Brewers Seattle Mariners	unknown	^[50]
1991		High Desert Mavericks	San Diego Padres	unknown	^[51]
1992		Visalia Oaks	Minnesota Twins	Outfielder	^[52]
1993		High Desert Mavericks	Florida Marlins	Outfielder	^[53]
1994		Lake Elsinore Storm	California Angels	Catcher	^[54]
1995		San Bernardino Spirit	Los Angeles Dodgers	Second baseman	^[55]
1996		Modesto A's	Oakland Athletics	Outfielder	^[56]
1997		High Desert Mavericks	unaffiliated	Outfielder	^[57]
1998			Arizona Diamondbacks	Pitcher	^[58]
1999		San Bernardino Stampede	Los Angeles Dodgers	Outfielder	^[59]
2000		Lancaster JetHawks	Seattle Mariners	Outfielder	^[60]
2001		Lake Elsinore Storm	San Diego Padres	First baseman	^[61]
2002		Bakersfield Blaze	Tampa Bay Devil Rays	Outfielder	^[62]
2003		Lake Elsinore Storm	San Diego Padres	Second baseman	^[63]
2004		Modesto A's	Oakland Athletics	Outfielder	^[64]
2005		Rancho Cucamonga Quakes	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	Shortstop	^[65]
2006		Visalia Oaks	Tampa Bay Devil Rays	Shortstop	^[66]
2007		Lancaster JetHawks	Boston Red Sox	Outfielder	^[67]
2008		Inland Empire 66ers	Los Angeles Dodgers	Catcher	^[68]
2009		High Desert Mavericks	Seattle Mariners	Third baseman	^[69]
2010		Visalia Rawhide	Arizona Diamondbacks	First baseman	^[70]
2011		Modesto Nuts	Colorado Rockies	Outfielder	^[71]
2012		Bakersfield Blaze	Cincinnati Reds	Shortstop	^[72]
2013		Inland Empire 66ers	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	Outfielder	^[73]
2014		Rancho Cucamonga Quakes	Los Angeles Dodgers	Shortstop	^[74]
2015		Lancaster JetHawks	Houston Astros	First baseman	^[75]
2016		Lake Elsinore Storm	San Diego Padres	Second baseman	^[76]
2017		Rancho Cucamonga Quakes	Los Angeles Dodgers	Outfielder	^[77]
2018				Third baseman	^[78]
2019*		Lake Elsinore Storm	San Diego Padres	Catcher	^[79]
2019*		Lancaster JetHawks	Colorado Rockies	First baseman	^[80]
2020
2021		San Jose Giants	San Francisco Giants	Outfielder	^[81] ^[82]
2022		Inland Empire 66ers	Los Angeles Angels	Catcher	^[83] ^[84]
2023		Fresno Grizzlies	Colorado Rockies	Shortstop	^[85] ^[86]

References

General

• Web site: California League Award Winners. California League. Minor League Baseball. December 22, 2016.

Specific

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved. Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. July 1, 2020.
2. Web site: Reichard . Kevin . Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled. Ballpark Digest. February 12, 2021. February 13, 2021.
3. Web site: Historical League Names to Return in 2022. Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. March 16, 2022.
4. Web site: Spider Jorgensen Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
5. Web site: Sal Taormina Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
6. Web site: Tommy Glaviano Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
7. Web site: Ed Samcoff Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
8. Web site: Earl Escalante Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
9. Web site: Dick Wilson Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
10. Web site: Larry Jackson Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
11. Web site: Tex Clevenger Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
12. Web site: Bob Thorpe Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
13. Web site: Pumpsie Green Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
14. Web site: Dick Whitman Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
15. Web site: Dick Whitman Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
16. Web site: Neil Wilson Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
17. Web site: Willie Davis Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
18. Web site: Robert Arrighi Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
19. Web site: Don Williams Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
20. Web site: William Haas Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
21. Web site: Jose Vidal Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
22. Web site: Ollie Brown Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
23. Web site: Mike Epstein Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
24. Web site: Dave Duncan Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
25. Web site: Leron Lee Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
26. Web site: Ted Simmons Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
27. Web site: Junior Kennedy Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 22, 2016.
28. Web site: Sonny Johnson Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
29. Web site: George Theodore Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
30. Web site: Skip James Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
31. Web site: John Balaz Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
32. Web site: Gary Alexander Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
33. Web site: Gene Richards Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
34. Web site: Thad Bosley Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
35. Web site: Kelly Snider Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
36. Web site: Steve Douglas Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
37. Web site: Mike Marshall Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
38. Web site: Les Pearsey Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
39. Web site: Jaime Cocanower Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
40. Web site: Candy Maldonado Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
41. Web site: Kent Hrbek Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
42. Web site: Kevin McReynolds Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
43. Web site: Stan Holmes Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
44. Web site: Glenn Braggs Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
45. Web site: Eric Hardgrave Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
46. Web site: Ty Dabney Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
47. Web site: Luis Lopez Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
48. Web site: Paul Faries Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
49. Web site: John Jaha Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
50. Web site: Frank Bolick Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
51. Web site: Matt Mieske Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
52. Web site: Marty Cordova Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
53. Web site: Marty Cordova Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
54. Web site: Todd Greene Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
55. Web site: Adam Riggs Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
56. Web site: D.T. Cromer Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
57. Web site: Mike Stoner Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
58. Web site: Mike Stoner Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
59. Web site: Chin-Feng Chen Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
60. Web site: Juan Silvestre Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
61. Web site: Xavier Nady Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
62. Web site: Rocco Baldelli Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
63. Web site: Josh Barfield Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
64. Web site: Brian Stavisky Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
65. Web site: Brandon Wood Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
66. Web site: Reid Brignac Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
67. Web site: Bubba Bell Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
68. Web site: Carlos Santana Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
69. Web site: Alex Liddi Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
70. Web site: Paul Goldschmidt Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
71. Web site: Kent Matthes Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
72. Web site: Billy Hamilton Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
73. Web site: Zach Borenstein Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
74. Web site: Corey Seager Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
75. Web site: A.J. Reed Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
76. Web site: Luis Urias Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 1, 2017.
77. Web site: D. J. Peters Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. August 25, 2017.
78. Web site: Rylan Bannon Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. August 25, 2017.
79. Web site: Luis Campusano Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. September 18, 2019.
80. Web site: Luis Castro Minor League Statistics and History. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. September 18, 2019.
81. Web site: Postseason All-Stars . Minor League Baseball . October 10, 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211010190649/https://www.milb.com/fans/postseason-all-stars . October 10, 2021.
82. Web site: Luis Matos Minor Leagues Statistics & History . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference . October 10, 2021.
83. Web site: Jackson . Josh . Single-A Award Winners and All-Stars . Minor League Baseball . November 10, 2022 . November 11, 2022.
84. Web site: Edgar Quero Minor Leagues Statistics . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference . November 11, 2022.
85. Web site: Avallone . Michael . Here are the 2023 Single-A All-Stars and Award Winners . Minor League Baseball . September 19, 2023 . September 19, 2023.
86. Web site: Ryan Ritter Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics . Baseball-Reference . Sports Reference . September 19, 2023.