How Often Do WAR Leaders Win the MVP?

Congratulations to Miguel Cabrera for winning the AmericanLeague MVP!  As a Tigers fan, I'm happy that one of my players won such a prodigious award, even though I personally would've voted for Mike Trout.   Much, much debate has been going on against "old school" and "new school" with "old school" winning this round.  The newfangled stat this time for the "new school" sabermetrics is WAR (which includes defense, base running and positional value along with hitting).  It got me thinking about who did win the award with the highest WAR?  Was there ever a time where the voters valued defense and base running along with hitting or was it always about the best hitter (ignoring times where pitchers won the award)?

There are 3 versions of WAR, Baseball-reference's rWAR, FanGraphs' fWAR and Baseball Prospectus' WARP.  I'm only going to focus on rWAR and fWAR because I'm more familiar with those.  A couple of things to keep in mind:

- WAR hasn't been around for too long, so it's impossible to know who had the highest WAR at the time for the older years.

- Some of the components of WAR has changed over time, like defense, which is calculated differently recently with DRS (in rWAR) or UZR (in fWAR) than in older years which uses Total Zone.

- WAR, like any other stat, shouldn't be the only thing you look at when valuing a player.

American League:

Year	MVP Winner	rWAR	rWAR  Rank	fWAR	fWAR Rank	rWAR Leader	fWAR Leader
2012	Miguel Cabrera	6.9	4th	7.1	3rd	Mike Trout	Mike Trout
2011	Justin Verlander	8.3	2nd	7.0	T-7th	Ben Zobrist	Jacoby Ellsbury
2010	Josh Hamilton	8.4	1st	8.4	1st	Josh Hamilton	Josh Hamilton
2009	Joe Mauer	7.6	3rd	7.9	4th	Zack Greinke	Zack Greinke
2008	Dustin Pedroia	6.8	2nd	6.7	4th	Nick Markakis	Roy Halladay
2007	Alex Rodriguez	9.2	1st	9.7	1st	Alex Rodriguez	Alex Rodriguez
2006	Justin Morneau	4.0	T-34th	4.0	T-34th	Johan Santana	Grady Sizemore
2005	Alex Rodriguez	9.1	1st	9.1	1st	Alex Rodriguez	Alex Rodriguez
2004	Vladimir Guerrero	5.2	T-10	6.3	6th	Ichiro Suzuki	Johan Santana
2003	Alex Rodriguez	8.1	1st	9.3	1st	Alex Rodriguez	Alex Rodriguez
2002	Miguel Tejada	5.3	T-12	4.7	T-24th	Alex Rodriguez	Alex Rodriguez
2001	Ichiro Suzuki	7.5	4th	6.1	6th	Jason Giambi	Jason Giambi
2000	Jason Giambi	7.4	5th	7.8	5th	Pedro Martinez	Pedro Martinez
1999	Ivan Rodriguez	6.1	T-9th	6.9	5th	Pedro Martinez	Pedro Martinez
1998	Juan Gonzalez	4.6	26th	5.3	T-17th	Alex Rodriguez	Roger Clemens
1997	Ken Griffey, Jr.	8.9	2nd	9.4	2nd	Roger Clemens	Roger Clemens
1996	Juan Gonzalez	3.5	44th	3.7	T-53rd	Ken Griffey, Jr.	Ken Griffey, Jr.
1995	Mo Vaughn	4.1	T-22nd	5.2	T-13th	Randy Johnson	Randy Johnson
1994	Frank Thomas	6.2	4th	7.3	1st	Kenny Lofton	Frank Thomas
1993	Frank Thomas	5.9	15th	6.7	7th	Kevin Appier	Ken Griffey, Jr.
1992	Dennis Eckersley	2.8	65th	3.0	T-68th	Roger Clemens	Roger Clemens
1991	Cal Ripken, Jr.	11.3	1st	11.1	1st	Cal Ripken, Jr.	Cal Ripken, Jr.
1990	Rickey Henderson	9.8	2nd	10.5	1st	Roger Clemens	Rickey Henderson
1989	Robin Yount	5.4	T-9th	5.8	12th	Bret Saberhagen	Rickey Henderson
							Wade Boggs
1988	Jose Canseco	7.1	7th	8.2	4th	Wade Boggs	Roger Clemens
1987	George Bell	4.6	T-21st	5.6	T-10th	Roger Clemens	Roger Clemens
1986	Roger Clemens	8.6	2nd	8.0	2nd	Teddy Higuera	Wade Boggs
1985	Don Mattingly	6.4	T-7th	6.6	7th	Rickey Henderson	Rickey Henderson
1984	Willie Hernandez	4.6	21st	3.1	T-73rd	Cal Ripken, Jr.	Cal Ripken, Jr.
1983	Cal Ripken, Jr.	8.0	1st	8.8	1st	Cal Ripken, Jr.	Cal Ripken, Jr.
1982	Robin Yount	10.4	1st	10.5	1st	Robin Yount	Robin Yount
1981	Rollie Fingers	4.1	T-12th	2.5	T-43rd	Dwight Evans	Rickey Henderson
						Rickey Henderson
1980	George Brett	9.3	1st	9.5	1st	George Brett	George Brett
1979	Don Baylor	3.5	T-44th	4.0	40th	Fred Lynn	Fred Lynn
1978	Jim Rice	7.4	3rd	8.1	2nd	Ron Guidry	Ron Guidry
1977	Rod Carew	9.5	1st	8.7	T-1st	Rod Carew	Rod Carew
							Dennis Leonard
1976	Thurman Munson	5.0	T-17th	4.8	T-16th	Mark Fidrych	Graig Nettles
1975	Fred Lynn	7.1	T-6th	7.3	T-2nd	Rich Gossage	John Mayberry
						Jim Palmer
1974	Jeff Burroughs	3.2	T-26th	3.9	T-37th	Gaylord Perry	Bert Blyleven
1973	Reggie Jackson	7.4	T-4th	7.3	5th	Bert Blyleven	Bert Blyleven
1972	Dick Allen	8.1	3rd	8.5	1st	Gaylord Perry	Dick Allen
1971	Vida Blue	8.7	2nd	8.8	1st	Wilbur Wood	Vida Blue
1970	Boog Powell	4.8	19th	6.3	T-7th	Carl Yastrzemski	Carl Yastrzemski
1969	Harman Killebrew	5.7	9th	8.2	T-6th	Rico Petrocelli	Rico Petrocelli
1968	Denny McLain	6.8	4th	6.9	7th	Carl Yastrzemski	Carl Yastrzemski
1967	Carl Yastrzemski	9.3	1st	12.1	1st	Carl Yastrzemski	Carl Yastrzemski
1966	Frank Robinson	7.3	1st	9.1	1st	Frank Robinson	Frank Robinson
1965	Zoilo Versalles	7.1	2nd	7.9	2nd	Sam McDowell	Sam McDowell
1964	Brooks Robinson	7.8	2nd	9.4	1st	Dean Chance	Brooks Robinson
1963	Elston Howard	5.0	8th	7.0	3rd	Bob Allison	Bob Allison
1962	Mickey Mantle	5.7	3rd	6.7	3rd	Hank Aquirre	Brooks Robinson
1961	Roger Maris	6.7	T-5th	7.9	6th	Mickey Mantle	Mickey Mantle
1960	Roger Maris	7.3	1st	8.1	1st	Roger Maris	Roger Maris
1959	Nellie Fox	5.9	4th	6.8	T-3rd	Camilo Pascual	Camilo Pascual
1958	Jackie Jensen	4.6	T-9th	5.9	6th	Mickey Mantle	Mickey Mantle
1957	Mickey Mantle	11.1	1st	12.1	1st	Mickey Mantle	Mickey Mantle
1956	Mickey Mantle	11.0	1st	12.3	1st	Mickey Mantle	Mickey Mantle
1955	Yogi Berra	4.2	14th	5.5	4th	Mickey Mantle	Mickey Mantle
1954	Yogi Berra	5.0	T-8th	6.2	8th	Minnie Minoso	Ted Williams
1953	Al Rosen	9.8	1st	9.4	1st	Al Rosen	Al Rosen
1952	Bobby Shantz	9.2	1st	6.6	4th	Bobby Shantz	Larry Doby
1951	Yogi Berra	4.5	T-11th	5.8	5th	Ted Williams	Ted Williams
1950	Phil Rizzuto	6.6	2nd	7.6	T-1st	Ned Garver	Phil Rizzuto
							Al Rosen
1949	Ted Williams	9.1	1st	10.6	1st	Ted Williams	Ted Williams
1948	Lou Boudreau	10.2	1st	11.6	1st	Lou Boudreau	Lou Boudreau
1947	Joe DiMaggio	4.5	T-8th	5.2	5th	Ted Williams	Ted Williams
1946	Ted Williams	10.7	1st	12.4	1st	Ted Williams	Ted Williams
1945	Hal Newhouser	11.3	1st	8.0	2nd	Hal Newhouser	Snuffy Stirnweiss
1944	Hal Newhouser	7.4	4th	7.3	4th	Dizzy Trout	Snuffy Stirnweiss
1943	Spud Chandler	6.0	5th	6.8	6th	Lou Boudreau	Luke Appling
1942	Joe Gordon	7.8	2nd	9.3	2nd	Ted Williams	Ted Williams
1941	Joe DiMaggio	8.6	2nd	10.6	2nd	Ted Williams	Ted Williams
1940	Hank Greenberg	6.7	4th	8.6	2nd	Bob Feller	Bob Feller
1939	Joe DiMaggio	7.9	T-2nd	9.1	1st	Bob Feller	Joe DiMaggio
1938	Jimmie Foxx	7.5	1st	9.4	1st	Jimmie Foxx	Jimmie Foxx
1937	Charlie Gehringer	7.3	6th	9.5	2nd	Lefty Grove	Joe DiMaggio
1936	Lou Gehrig	9.0	2nd	10.8	1st	Lefty Grove	Lou Gehrig
1935	Hank Greenberg	7.4	6th	8.4	3rd	Wes Ferrell	Lou Gehrig
1934	Mickey Cochrane	3.7	T-25th	4.4	22nd	Lou Gehrig	Lou Gehrig
1933	Jimmie Foxx	9.0	1st	11.0	1st	Jimmie Foxx	Jimmie Foxx
1932	Jimmie Foxx	10.2	1st	12.1	1st	Jimmie Foxx	Jimmie Foxx
1931	Lefty Grove	9.5	2nd	7.8	4th	Babe Ruth	Babe Ruth

23 out of the 82 American League MVP winners had the highest rWAR (28%) and 29 had the highest fWAR (35.4%).  Together, 31 winners had either the highest rWAR or fWAR (37.8%).

National League:

Year	MVP Winner	rWAR	rWAR Rank	fWAR	fWAR Rank	rWAR Leader	fWAR Leader
2012	Buster Posey	7.2	1st	8.0	1st	Buster Posey	Buster Posey
2011	Ryan Braun	7.7	4th	7.6	3rd	Roy Halladay	Matt Kemp
2010	Joey Votto	6.7	6th	7.3	2nd	Roy Halladay	Albert Pujols
2009	Albert Pujols	9.4	1st	9.0	1st	Albert Pujols	Albert Pujols
2008	Albert Pujols	9.0	1st	9.1	1st	Albert Pujols	Albert Pujols
2007	Jimmy Rollins	6.0	8th	6.9	T-7th	Albert Pujols	David Wright
2006	Ryan Howard	5.0	T-14th	6.2	T-7th	Albert Pujols	Albert Pujols
2005	Albert Pujols	8.2	T-1st	8.2	2nd	Albert Pujols	Andruw Jones
2004	Barry Bonds	10.4	1st	11.9	1st	Barry Bonds	Barry Bonds
2003	Barry Bonds	8.9	1st	10.5	1st	Barry Bonds	Barry Bonds
2002	Barry Bonds	11.6	1st	12.5	1st	Barry Bonds	Barry Bonds
2001	Barry Bonds	11.6	1st	12.9	1st	Barry Bonds	Barry Bonds
2000	Jeff Kent	6.9	5th	7.6	5th	Todd Helton	Randy Johnson
1999	Chipper Jones	6.7	4th	7.7	T-3rd	Randy Johnson	Randy Johnson
1998	Sammy Sosa	6.3	T-12th	7.4	T-7th	Kevin Brown	Kevin Brown
1997	Larry Walker	9.6	1st	9.4	T-2nd	Larry Walker	Craig Biggio
1996	Ken Caminiti	7.4	5th	7.6	T-5th	Barry Bonds	Barry Bonds
1995	Barry Larkin	5.7	6th	5.3	6th	Greg Maddux	Greg Maddux
1994	Jeff Bagwell	7.9	2nd	7.8	1st	Greg Maddux	Jeff Bagwell
1993	Barry Bonds	9.7	1st	10.6	1st	Barry Bonds	Barry Bonds
1992	Barry Bonds	8.9	T-1st	9.7	1st	Barry Bonds	Barry Bonds
						Greg Maddux
1991	Terry Pendleton	5.8	5th	6.4	4th	Tom Glavine	Barry Bonds
1990	Barry Bonds	9.5	1st	10.1	1st	Barry Bonds	Barry Bonds
1989	Kevin Mitchell	6.8	T-5th	7.1	5th	Lonnie Smith	Lonnie Smith
1988	Kirk Gibson	6.2	6th	6.3	3rd	Orel Hershiser	Andy Van Slyke
							Barry Larkin
1987	Andre Dawson	3.7	T-26th	3.7	T-30th	Tony Gwynn	Tony Gwynn
1986	Mike Schmidt	5.8	4th	5.9	T-5th	Mike Scott	Mike Scott
1985	Willie McGee	7.9	2nd	7.2	T-3rd	Dwight Gooden	Dwight Gooden
1984	Ryne Sandberg	8.4	1st	8.1	2nd	Ryne Sandberg	Dwight Gooden
1983	Dale Murphy	6.8	T-3rd	7.3	3rd	Dickie Thon	Steve Carlton
1982	Dale Murphy	5.8	11th	6.1	10th	Gary Carter	Steve Carlton
1981	Mike Schmidt	7.5	1st	8.0	1st	Mike Schmidt	Mike Schmidt
1980	Mike Schmidt	8.6	2nd	9.1	T-1st	Steve Carlton	Mike Schmidt
							Steve Carlton
1979	Keith Hernandez	7.4	3rd	7.5	4th	Dave Winfield	J.R. Richard
	Willie Stargell	2.3	T-67th	2.8	T-56
1978	Dave Parker	6.9	2nd	7.1	2nd	Phil Niekro	Phil Niekro
1977	George Foster	8.2	4th	9.3	2nd	Rick Reuchel	Mike Schmidt
1976	Joe Morgan	9.5	1st	10.1	1st	Joe Morgan	Joe Morgan
1975	Joe Morgan	10.8	1st	11.4	1st	Joe Morgan	Joe Morgan
1974	Steve Garvey	4.3	27th	4.4	34th	Mike Schmidt	Mike Schmidt
1973	Pete Rose	8.2	4th	7.9	5th	Tom Seaver	Darrell Evans
1972	Johnny Bench	8.5	3rd	10.2	2nd	Steve Carlton	Steve Carlton
1971	Joe Torre	5.6	10th	7.7	T-4th	Fergie Jenkins	Fergie Jenkins
1970	Johnny Bench	7.1	T-2nd	8.7	5th	Bob Gibson	Bob Gibson
1969	Willie McCovey	7.9	5th	8.4	4th	Bob Gibson	Bob Gibson
1968	Bob Gibson	11.7	1st	9.6	1st	Bob Gibson	Bob Gibson
1967	Orlando Cepeda	6.6	5th	7.6	4th	Ron Santo	Ron Santo
1966	Roberto Clemente	8.1	6th	8.0	5th	Sandy Koufax	Sandy Koufax
1965	Willie Mays	10.9	1st	11.5	1st	Willie Mays	Willie Mays
1964	Ken Boyer	5.8	T-13th	6.4	T-15th	Willie Mays	Willie Mays
1963	Sandy Koufax	10.3	1st	9.7	2nd	Sandy Koufax	Willie Mays
1962	Maury Wills	5.8	7th	6.0	T-10th	Willie Mays	Willie Mays
1961	Frank Robinson	7.3	4th	7.6	T-4th	Hank Aaron	Hank Aaron
1960	Dick Groat	6.0	8th	6.2	10th	Willie Mays	Willie Mays
1959	Ernie Banks	9.9	1st	10.4	1st	Ernie Banks	Ernie Banks
1958	Ernie Banks	9.2	2nd	9.7	2nd	Willie Mays	Willie Mays
1957	Hank Aaron	7.7	2nd	8.5	2nd	Willie Mays	Willie Mays
1956	Don Newcombe	4.2	20th	4.8	T-15th	Duke Snider	Duke Snider
1955	Roy Campanella	5.0	T-12th	6.4	9th	Willie Mays	Willie Mays
1954	Willie Mays	10.3	1st	11.4	1st	Willie Mays	Willie Mays
1953	Roy Campanella	6.8	6th	8.5	T-4th	Robin Roberts	Duke Snider
1952	Hank Sauer	5.4	9th	6.1	6th	Jackie Robinson	Stan Musial
							Jackie Robinson
1951	Roy Campanella	6.3	T-8th	7.5	4th	Jackie Robinson	Jackie Robinson
1950	Jim Konstanty	4.6	T-16th	0.9	T-87	Eddie Stanky	Eddie Stanky
1949	Jackie Robinson	9.3	1st	10.0	1st	Jackie Robinson	Jackie Robinson
1948	Stan Musial	10.8	1st	11.5	1st	Stan Musial	Stan Musial
1947	Bob Elliott	6.4	5th	7.4	4th	Ewell Blackwell	Ralph Kiner
						Warren Spahn
1946	Stan Musial	8.4	1st	9.6	1st	Stan Musial	Stan Musial
1945	Phil Cavarretta	5.9	5th	6.9	4th	Tommy Holmes	Tommy Holmes
1944	Marty Marion	4.6	18th	5.0	14th	Stan Musial	Stan Musial
1943	Stan Musial	9.3	1st	10.5	1st	Stan Musial	Stan Musial
1942	Mort Cooper	8.1	1st	6.6	T-2nd	Mort Cooper	Enos Slaughter
1941	Dolph Camilli	6.7	T-2nd	7.1	3rd	Whit Wyatt	Pete Reiser
1940	Frank McCormick	5.7	6th	5.6	5th	Johnny Mize	Johnny Mize
1939	Bucky Walters	9.5	1st	4.0	T-19th	Bucky Walters	Johnny Mize
1938	Ernie Lombardi	5.3	6th	5.1	6th	Mel Ott	Mel Ott
1937	Joe Medwick	8.1	1st	8.1	1st	Joe Medwick	Joe Medwick
1936	Carl Hubbell	9.6	1st	5.2	11th	Carl Hubbell	Mel Ott
1935	Gabby Hartnett	4.8	13th	5.1	10th	Arky Vaughan	Arky Vaughan
1934	Dizzy Dean	8.9	1st	6.3	5th	Dizzy Dean	Mel Ott
1933	Carl Hubbell	8.6	1st	5.9	5th	Carl Hubbell	Chuck Klein
1932	Chuck Klein	6.5	5th	7.3	3rd	Mel Ott	Mel Ott
1931	Frankie Frisch	3.5	T-22	4.4	13th	Ray Benge	Bill Terry

31 out of the 83 National League winners had the highest rWAR (37.3%) and 24 had the highest fWAR (28.9%).  Combined, 33 winners had either the highest rWAR or fWAR (39.8%).

Overall, out of the 165 total MVP winners, 54 had the highest rWAR (32.7%) and 53 had the highest fWAR (32.1%).  Combined, 64 MVP winners had either the highest rWAR or fWAR (38.8%).

This of course doesn't mean that voters used WAR (or for those years where WAR didn't exist, the "overall" contributions of a player) as their primary reason.  There were two main reasons why Miguel Cabrera won over Mike Trout, 1. He won the Triple Crown and 2. The Tigers made the playoffs.  Had Mike Trout won one of the Triple Crown stats and/or made the playoffs, it probably would've been very close in the voting.

This next table shows the MVP winners who led the league in WAR (either rWAR or fWAR) and how they did in the Triple Crown stats and whether they made the playoffs.

Year	MVP Winner	AVG	HR	RBI	Playoffs?
2012	Buster Posey	1st	T-22nd	6th	Yes
2010	Josh Hamilton	1st	T-5th	12th	Yes
2009	Albert Pujols	3rd	1st	3rd	Yes
2008	Albert Pujols	2nd	T-4th	4th	No
2007	Alex Rodriguez	13th	1st	1st	Yes
2005	Alex Rodriguez	2nd	1st	4th	Yes
2005	Albert Pujols	2nd	3rd	T-2nd	Yes
2004	Barry Bonds	1st	4th	3rd	Yes
2003	Alex Rodriguez	20th	1st	2nd	No
2003	Barry Bonds	3rd	T-2nd	24th	Yes
2002	Barry Bonds	1st	2nd	T-6th	Yes
2001	Barry Bonds	7th	1st	4th	No
1997	Larry Walker	2nd	1st	3rd	No
1994	Frank Thomas	3rd	2nd	T-3rd	N/A
1994	Jeff Bagwell	2nd	2nd	1st	N/A
1993	Barry Bonds	4th	1st	1st	No
1992	Barry Bonds	7th	2nd	4th	Yes
1991	Cal Ripken, Jr.	6th	3rd	4th	No
1990	Rickey Henderson	2nd	T-6th	T-45th	Yes
1990	Barry Bonds	14th	T-4th	4th	Yes
1984	Ryne Sandberg	4th	T-14th	15th	Yes
1983	Cal Ripken, Jr.	5th	T-9th	9th	Yes
1982	Robin Yount	2nd	11th	4th	Yes
1981	Mike Schmidt	4th	1st	1st	Yes
1980	George Brett	1st	T-9th	T-2nd	Yes
1980	Mike Schmidt	20th	1st	1st	Yes
1977	Rod Carew	1st	T-52nd	T-13th	No
1976	Joe Morgan	5th	5th	2nd	Yes
1975	Joe Morgan	4th	T-24th	11th	Yes
1972	Dick Allen	3rd	1st	1st	No
1971	Vida Blue	-	-	-	Yes
1968	Bob Gibson	-	-	-	Yes
1967	Carl Yastrzemski	1st	T-1st	1st	Yes
1966	Frank Robinson	1st	1st	1st	Yes
1965	Willie Mays	3rd	1st	3rd	No
1964	Brooks Robinson	2nd	T-10th	1st	No
1963	Sandy Koufax	-	-	-	Yes
1960	Roger Maris	13th	2nd	1st	Yes
1959	Ernie Banks	10th	2nd	1st	No
1957	Mickey Mantle	2nd	3rd	6th	Yes
1956	Mickey Mantle	1st	1st	1st	Yes
1954	Willie Mays	1st	T-3rd	6th	Yes
1953	Al Rosen	2nd	1st	1st	No
1952	Bobby Shantz	-	-	-	No
1950	Phil Rizzuto	6th	T-47th	T-31	Yes
1949	Ted Williams	2nd	1st	T-1st	No
1949	Jackie Robinson	1st	T-18th	2nd	Yes
1948	Lou Boudreau	2nd	10th	8th	Yes
1948	Stan Musial	1st	3rd	1st	No
1946	Ted Williams	2nd	2nd	2nd	Yes
1946	Stan Musial	1st	T-5th	3rd	Yes
1945	Hal Newhouser	-	-	-	Yes
1943	Stan Musial	1st	T-6th	T-6th	Yes
1942	Mort Cooper	-	-	-	Yes
1939	Joe DiMaggio	1st	4th	2nd	Yes
1939	Bucky Walters	-	-	-	Yes
1938	Jimmie Foxx	1st	2nd	1st	No
1937	Joe Medwick	1st	T-1st	1st	No
1936	Lou Gehrig	4th	1st	2nd	Yes
1936	Carl Hubbell	-	-	-	Yes
1934	Dizzy Dean	-	-	-	Yes
1933	Jimmie Foxx	1st	1st	1st	No
1933	Carl Hubbell	-	-	-	Yes
1932	Jimmie Foxx	1st	1st	1st	No

43 of the 64 MVP WAR leaders went to the playoffs (67.2%) and 37 won at least one of the Triple Crown categories (57.8%) but only 2 failed to win one of the Triple Crown categories and failed to go to the playoffs - Albert Pujols in 2008 and Cal Ripkin, Jr. in 1991.  Only 2 out of 165 (1.2%) MVP winners had the same conditions of Mike Trout in 2012: highest WAR while not making the playoffs or winning one of the Triple Crown categories. 

10 names in this table are pitchers.  Some might thing it's unfair to compare pitchers to hitters, especially considering that some voters don't think pitchers should be eligible for MVP Award (they have their own award, the Cy Young) and some years pitchers weren't strong candidates to win the award.  So, I'm coming up with the "close enough" rule.  This rule is going to only focus on batters.  Also, it's impossible to win a fraction of a game; if someone is within 1 win of someone else, then it's reasonable to assume that their values are very similar to each other and the difference is insignificant (this also minimizes the margin of error of the WAR stat).

MVP batters who are within 1 WAR (either rWAR or fWAR) of the league leaders:

Year	MVP Winner	AVG	HR	RBI	Playoffs?
2011	Ryan Braun	2nd	T-6th	4th	Yes
2010	Joey Votto	2nd	3rd	3rd	Yes
2009	Joe Mauer	1st	T-17th	16th	Yes
2008	Dustin Pedroia	2nd	T-43rd	27th	Yes
2004	Vladimir Guerrero	3rd	4th	4th	Yes
1999	Ivan Rodriguez	7th	T-11th	14th	Yes
1999	Chipper Jones	10th	T-3rd	T-17th	Yes
1997	Ken Griffey, Jr.	15th	1st	1st	Yes
1988	Kirk Gibson	11th	T-7th	16th	Yes
1986	Mike Schmidt	10th	1st	1st	No
1985	Willie McGee	1st	T-47th	16th	Yes
1983	Dale Murphy	6th	2nd	1st	No
1979	Keith Hernandez	1st	T-44th	5th	No
1978	Jim Rice	3rd	1st	1st	No
1978	Dave Parker	1st	3rd	2nd	No
1977	George Foster	3rd	1st	1st	No
1975	Fred Lynn	2nd	T-13th	3rd	Yes
1973	Reggie Jackson	10th	1st	1st	Yes
1973	Pete Rose	1st	T-83rd	T-38th	Yes
1972	Johnny Bench	29th	1st	1st	Yes
1970	Johnny Bench	23rd	1st	1st	Yes
1969	Willie McCovey	5th	1st	1st	No
1966	Roberto Clemente	5th	T-10th	2nd	No
1965	Zoilo Versalles	15th	T-18th	14th	Yes
1962	Mickey Mantle	2nd	7th	T-15th	Yes
1959	Nellie Fox	4th	T-91st	22nd	Yes
1958	Ernie Banks	6th	1st	1st	No
1957	Hank Aaron	4th	1st	1st	Yes
1941	Dolph Camilli	18th	1st	1st	Yes
1940	Hank Greenberg	5th	1st	1st	Yes
1937	Charlie Gehringer	1st	T-17th	16th	No
1935	Hank Greenberg	7th	T-1st	1st	Yes

32 batters fit this criteria and an overwhelming 22 went to the playoffs (68.8%).  Of the 10 who didn't make it to the playoffs, 9 of them won at least one of the Triple Crown stats.  The only one who didn't was Roberto Clemente in 1966.  

Conclusion: Adding the last 2 tables together, and it can be stated that 96 of the 165 MVP Winners were either the best or close to the best in the given year, according to the WAR statistic.   However, all but 3 of them (1.82%) either made it to the playoffs or won a Triple Crown category, which was probably the major factor over WAR.  If anything, the voters are consistent, if not stuck in their "old school" way of thinking.