Time to consolidate awards?

[Nine of twelve]

MLB is the only one of the four major North American team sports organizations (I didn't consider soccer) that currently separates its annual player awards into separate leagues or divisions. Obviously the historical precedent for this is that there was no interleague play before 1997. But with the expansion of interleague play the distinction between the two leagues has faded. In the NHL 39% of games are against teams from the opposite conference. In the NBA that share is 37%, in the NFL it's 29%, and interleague games in MLB now make up 28% of a team's schedule.

With this in mind is it time to consider consolidating awards such as MVP, Cy Young, batting champion, and so forth? Instead of giving one of each award for each league, give one of each award encompassing all of MLB.

[Squirrel]

Why do you think it should be? One sport, one award for each category? It makes sense, but I guess I don’t really care all that much what they do. They probably will over time.

[Nine of twelve]

On 5/13/2023 at 8:25 AM, Squirrel said:

Why do you think it should be? One sport, one award for each category? It makes sense, but I guess I don’t really care all that much what they do. They probably will over time.

I didn't say I thought that's how it should be; in fact I don't have an opinion one way or the other at this point. I merely asked if that's how it should be.

[ashbury]

Do we have so many awards that we are celebrating players who are only a little above average?  If not, then let's let MLB continue to market our game and its best players any way they can.

[rwilfong86]

From 1956-1966 the Cy Young went to one player annually and I think that was really crummy. There were some good pitchers who didn't win it who could/should have after 1966 when the award went to one in each league. I am good leaving awards the way they are.