A Deep Dive into the Men’s College World Series: History of Most Outstanding Player Award Winners

After each Men’s College World Series, an outstanding player is recognized with the Most Outstanding Player award. This honor goes to the player who shines the brightest during the championship series held in Omaha, Nebraska.

Recently, Dylan Dreiling from Tennessee received this award after hitting home runs in all three games against Texas A&M, helping his team secure its first national title.

The Men’s College World Series dates back to 1947 when California triumphed over Yale for the first Division I baseball championship. Interestingly, the first award for Most Outstanding Player was not introduced until 1949, when Tom Hamilton earned the honor while playing for Texas.

This award recognizes players based on their overall performance throughout the series. It’s not strictly limited to those on the winning team; some incredible individual efforts have come from players whose teams fell short of the title. For example, in 1973, Dave Winfield garnered the award thanks to his exceptional pitching and striking out 29 batters, despite Minnesota not winning the championship.

In 1999, the award took on a new physical form. The winner now receives a smaller version of the “Road to Omaha” trophy, a solid bronze statue that stands 16 inches tall and is quite hefty, weighing nearly 50 pounds. This change added a touch of prestige to the honor.

Media votes determine who wins the Most Outstanding Player award. Press members at the final series cast their votes starting in the fifth inning of Game 2, with the voting closing in the eighth inning. If the series goes to a third game, the voting process restarts. This ensures that the best performances are recognised accurately, allowing for a fair assessment from those who witness the action firsthand.

Historically, pitchers lead the charge in winning this award, with 35 of them taking home the honor over the years. Infielders follow, with 22 awards handed to players in those positions. Interestingly, freshmen have begun to make their mark as well, with Dylan Dreiling’s recent performance proving that young talent can meet the spotlight with incredible skill.

Southern California holds the record for the most Most Outstanding Player awards, with seven winners, while Texas follows closely behind with six. Over the decades, this award has highlighted many talented players who have gone on to notable careers, including MLB stars and successful coaches.

Here’s a brief overview of some notable winners throughout the years: