This was the first year the league named a Most Valuable Player after the game, and the first honor was earned by Maury Wills. He entered the game in the sixth as a pinch-runner for Stan Musial and promptly stole second to score on a single by Dick Groat. Willis singled in his only at-bat during the eighth inning and used his speed to reach third with one out and score on a sac fly.
