Position Player MVP: Buck Ewing, Canaries
There was no hands-down favorite this year, as a lot of players put up fine but not necessarily great seasons. Second baseman Bid McPhee of the Haymakers had a very strong showing, but ultimately it came down to a pair of Canaries teammates: catcher Buck Ewing and first baseman Roger Connor. While Connor led the league in home runs and (surprisingly) was the best defensive first baseman, he also lost a chunk of time to injuries. Ewing, meanwhile, played in every contest, provided flawless defense at a crucial position, and tied for second in the league in home runs.
Pitcher MVP: Pud Galvin, Canaries
Another very close call! Galvin and the Blue Legs' Al Spalding were the only serious candidates this year. Galvin edged Spalding for the league's best ERA (2.75 to 2.85), while leading the Canaries to the biggest single-season turnaround in league history.
Playoff MVP: Cap Anson, Haymakers
There was no clear-cut winner for this award, either. Cy Young, Mickey Welch, Roger Bresnahan, Pud Galvin, and Billy Hamilton all had big moments, but power-hitting first baseman Anson was the constant who delivered consistent results over the entire series and led all players in total bases.
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