The Major League Baseball All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) award that is presented to the most outstanding player in each year's MLB All-Star Game. Awarded each season since 1962 (two games were held and an award was presented to each game winner in 1962), it was originally called the Arch Ward Memorial Award in honor of Arch Ward, the man who conceived of the All-Star Game in 1933. The award's name was changed to the Commissioner's Trophy in 1970, but this name change was reversed in 1985 when the World Series Trophy was renamed the Commissioner's Trophy. Finally, the trophy was renamed the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award in 2002, in honor of former Boston Red Sox player Ted Williams, who had died earlier that year.[1] No award was presented for the 2002 All-Star Game, which ended in a tie.[2] Thus, the Anaheim Angels' Garret Anderson was the first recipient of the newly named Ted Williams Award in 2003. The All-Star Game Most Valuable Player also receives a Chevrolet vehicle.[3]
^Ripken was elected as an American League All-Star at third base in 2001 but had spent the vast majority of his career at shortstop. Ripken had announced earlier that year that he would retire and Alex Rodriguez, the American League's starting shortstop, switched fielding positions with Ripken in the first inning as homage.[9]
^A winner was not chosen in 2002 when the game ended in a tie.[2]Fox broadcasters Joe Buck and Tim McCarver stated that if the National League won, Damian Miller would be named MVP, and if the American League won, Paul Konerko would be named.
^The award was not given out as the game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.