MVP since 1931 by position.

The modern Most Valuable Player (MVP) award started in 1931 with one player selected in the American League and one in the National League.  Originally, votes of the writers were simply counted, then a point system was implemented with each voter placing up to ten names on the ballot in order: 14 points for first, 9 for second, 8 for third, ...

In 1956 the Cy Young award was created for the best pitcher in part because pitchers were winning the MVP award so often.  Originally, only one Cy Young award was given, then after Sandy Koufax dominated, one pitcher in each league was voted to be the best.

The writers are required to vote before the tournament begins, although I don't know how that actually works, especially with the extra play-in game between Texas and Tampa, which was a regular season game.

Click this link to view the detailed data on recipients of the MVP award..

Here is the count of MVP winners by fielding position, including some players winning multiple times.

POS	CountOfplayerID
1B	29
LF	22
RF	21
P	21
C	16
3B	16
SS	15
CF	15
2B	10

This may be another reason the Yankees should not make too big an offer to their second baseman Robinson Cano.  Here are the nine second basemen voted MVP with only Joe Morgan winning more than once:

POS	nameFirst	nameLast	yearID	lgID	teamID
2B	Frankie	Frisch	1931	NL	SLN
2B	Charlie	Gehringer	1937	AL	DET
2B	Joe	Gordon	1942	AL	NYA
2B	Jackie	Robinson	1949	NL	BRO
2B	Nellie	Fox	1959	AL	CHA
2B	Joe	Morgan	1975	NL	CIN
2B	Joe	Morgan	1976	NL	CIN
2B	Ryne	Sandberg	1984	NL	CHN
2B	Jeff	Kent	2000	NL	SFN
2B	Dustin	Pedroia	2008	AL	BOS

Ernie Banks and Cal Ripken are the only shortstops to win more than once, twice each.

Robin Yount won once as a shortstop and later as a center fielder.  The only other players to win at multiple positions: 

Stan Musial: twice in right and once at first

Alex Rodriguez: short and twice at third

Hank Greenberg: first and left.

Barry Bonds, of course, skews the number for left fielders with 7 of the 22.  Ted Williams is the only other in left with multiple MVP: two, although he probably should have won more.

Of the 15 MVP in center these players dominate with 10:

Joe DiMaggio 3

Mickey Mantle 3

Willie Mays 2

Dale Murphy 2

Of the 21 in right the most by an individual is two by these players:

Stan Musial

Roger Maris

Frank Robinson, the only player to win at least one MVP in each league

Of the 16 wins at third are these multiple winners:

Mike Schmidt 3

Alex Rodriguez 2

Of 16 at catcher half are by are these multiple MVP:

Yogi Berra 3

Roy Campanella 3

Johnny Bench 2

Of the whopping 29 at first there are these multiple MVP:

Jimmie Foxx 3

Albert Pujols 3

Frank Thomas 2

Of 21 for pitchers there are these multiple MVP:

Carl Hubbell 2

Hal Newhouser 2

Three relief pitchers have been MVP, all in the AL:

Rollie Fingers 1981

Willie Hernandez 1984

Dennis Eckersley 1992

The only MVP pitcher since 1992: Justin Verlander 2011.