User:Lizard the Wizard/Pre-1961 AP MVP

Sources wildly differ when it comes to pre-1961 AP NFL MVPs, with no clear consensus. So far, this Pro Football Weekly article is the only explanation I've found as to why that is. Apparently, the AP goofed, and their attempt to cover up the goof created even more confusion. This page is an attempt to gather as many high-quality sources as possible for each variation, to determine which players should be listed at Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award, and how the list should be presented.

"First awarded in 1957"

Brown, Conerly, Van Brocklin

The following sources list Jim Brown for 1958, Charlie Conerly for 1959, and Norm Van Brocklin for 1960:

1. Janssen, Sarah (December 6, 2016). The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2017. Simon and Schuster. pp. 1994–1996. ISBN 1600572073. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
2. Lee, Brenden; Gellerman, Jacob; King, Robert, eds. (2015). 2015 Official NFL Record and Fact Book (PDF). National Football League. p. 524. Retrieved June 21, 2016.

Brown, Unitas, Van Brocklin

The following sources list Jim Brown for 1958, Johnny Unitas for 1959, and Norm Van Brocklin for 1960:

1. "Full list of NFL MVP winners". Sports Illustrated. February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
2. "AP NFL Most Valuable Player Winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
3. Miller, Sterling (December 8, 2015). The Evolution of Professional Football: An Almanac (1920 to 2015). Hillcrest Publishing Group. pp. 52–56. ISBN 1634137361. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
4. Contemporary newspapers show Brown as the 1958 winner and Unitas as the 1959 winner.

Marchetti, Conerly, Van Brocklin/Schmidt

The following sources list Gino Marchetti for 1958, Charlie Conerly for 1959, and Norm Van Brocklin/Joe Schmidt tie for 1960:

1. "National Football League MVPs By The Associated Press". Gadsden Times. Associated Press. January 8, 1991. p. B2. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
2. "National Football League MVPs". ESPN. Associated Press. January 2, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
3. "NFL History: Awards". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 1, 2016.

Van Brocklin/Schmidt

The following sources state Van Brocklin and Schmidt shared the award in 1960, but do not display a list of winners:

1. "N.F.L.: In the News; Favre and Sanders Share M.V.P." The New York Times. Associated Press. December 28, 1997. Retrieved February 1, 2017. Philadelphia quarterback Norm Van Brocklin and Detroit linebacker Joe Schmidt shared the award in 1960.
2. "Roundup: N.F.L.; A Fitting Split Vote For M.V.P." The New York Times. Associated Press. January 3, 2004. Retrieved February 3, 2017. There have been two other ties since the award began in 1957...

No award in 1960

The following sources state there was no AP award for 1960:

1. Contemporary newspapers did not run any AP MVP stories.

Other

The following sources state the award was first given in 1957, but do not display a list of winners:

1. "Roundup: N.F.L.; A Fitting Split Vote For M.V.P." The New York Times. Associated Press. January 3, 2004. Retrieved February 3, 2017. There have been two other ties since the award began in 1957...
2. Pierson, Don (January 2, 2003). "Gannon captures MVP". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 3, 2017. Gannon is the 29th quarterback to win the award started by the Associated Press in 1957.

"First awarded in 1961"

The following sources either begin their list with 1961 or state the award was first given in 1961:

1. Pelissero, Tom (December 22, 2016). "Who's the NFL MVP: Our sampling of executives gives Ezekiel Elliott the edge". USA Today. Retrieved February 1, 2017. Fifty media members (I'm one of them) will vote by Jan. 4 for awards given out by The Associated Press, which began awarding the MVP in 1961 and has never given it to a rookie. (Cleveland Browns fullback Jim Brown did win what was then called NFL Player of the Year in his rookie year in 1957.)
2. "National Football League MVPs". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2017.