For the third time in five seasons, 2014 belonged to the San Francisco Giants, whose World Series crown matched those from '10 and '12. While this remarkable achievement is acknowledged in MLB.com's 13th annual GIBBYs -- the Greatness in Baseball Yearly Awards -- the biggest individual winner is the ace of Los Angeles' National League West champions.Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers' brilliant southpaw, was named Major League Baseball's Most Valuable Major Leaguer and Starting Pitcher of the Year during Saturday night's presentations on MLB Network and MLB.com. He also earned Pitching Performance of the Year for his no-hitter.
Kershaw, who succeeded the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera as Most Valuable Major Leaguer, added the coveted GIBBY to his Baseball Writers' Association of America NL Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards in the afterglow of a historic season. He was 21-3, led the Majors with his 1.77 ERA for an unprecedented fourth consecutive season, and authored a no-hitter against the Rockies that was an error away from perfection.
"I never expected to win [the NL MVP Award], never in a million years did I think I'd win the Cy Young and MVP," Kershaw said. "Awards aren't why we play the game, but I don't take it lightly. When fans chant that [MVP] stuff, it's an amazing feeling. I remember a few times pitching and fans at Dodger Stadium would chant, 'M-V-P' -- that's unbelievable. It really is chilling. I don't know if I'll ever get used to that."
Kershaw's selection as Most Valuable Major Leaguer was hotly contested. He drew 35 percent of the vote to edge Giants postseason hero Madison Bumgarner, who had 34 percent, and Angels superstar Mike Trout, who drew 31 percent.
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