$1 million Vault challenge raises stakes for 2020-29

March 3rd, 2020

Leading off a new decade, Major League Baseball has lined up a million reasons for fans to be excited about the game's top young stars.

In The Vault, you can predict leaders in nine key statistical categories from 2020-29 for a chance to win $1,000,000. The six zeroes are no typo, as the top scoring fan will walk away with a cool million.

With that in mind, here's a breakdown of the leaders in each of those nine categories over the past 10 decades.

2010-19

Homers: Nelson Cruz (346)
Hits: Robinson Canó (1,695)
Wins: Max Scherzer (161)
K's: Max Scherzer (2,452)
MVP Awards: Mike Trout (3)
Cy Young Awards: Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer (3)
All-Star selections: Clayton Kershaw, Yadier Molina and Mike Trout (8)
World Series titles: Giants (3)
Team wins: Yankees (921)

2000-09

Homers: Alex Rodriguez (435)
Hits: Derek Jeter (1,940)
Wins: Andy Pettitte (148)
K's: Randy Johnson (2,182)
MVP Awards: Barry Bonds (4)
Cy Young Awards: Randy Johnson (3)
All-Star selections: Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Ichiro Suzuki (9)
World Series titles: Red Sox and Yankees (2)
Team wins: Yankees (965)

1990-99

Homers: Mark McGwire (405)
Hits: Mark Grace (1,754)
Wins: Greg Maddux (176)
K's: Randy Johnson (2,538)
MVP Awards: Barry Bonds (3)
Cy Young Awards: Greg Maddux (4)
All-Star selections: Roberto Alomar, Ken Griffey Jr., Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. (10)
World Series titles: Yankees (3)
Team wins: Braves (925)

1980-89

Homers: Mike Schmidt (313)
Hits: Robin Yount (1,731)
Wins: Jack Morris (162)
K's: Nolan Ryan (2,167)
MVP Awards: Mike Schmidt (3)
Cy Young Awards: Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Bret Saberhagen (2)
All-Star selections: George Brett, Gary Carter, Ozzie Smith and Dave Winfield (9)
World Series titles: Dodgers (2)
Team wins: Yankees (854)

1970-79

Homers: Willie Stargell (296)
Hits: Pete Rose (2,045)
Wins: Jim Palmer (186)
K's: Nolan Ryan (2,678)
MVP Awards: Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan (2)
Cy Young Awards: Jim Palmer (3)
All-Star selections: Johnny Bench, Rod Carew and Carl Yastrzemski (10)
World Series titles: Athletics (3)
Team wins: Reds (953)

1960-69

Homers: Harmon Killebrew (393)
Hits: Roberto Clemente (1,877)
Wins: Juan Marichal (191)
K's: Bob Gibson (2,071)
MVP Awards: Roger Maris and Frank Robinson (2)
Cy Young Awards: Sandy Koufax (3)
All-Star selections: Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Brooks Robinson (13)
World Series titles: Cardinals, Dodgers and Yankees (2)
Team wins: Orioles (911)

* There was only one Cy Young Award winner for the Major Leagues until 1966.
* Two All-Star Games were held each season from 1959-62, which explains how a player could have more than 10 All-Star selections in a decade.

1950-59

Homers: Duke Snider (326)
Hits: Richie Ashburn (1,875)
Wins: Warren Spahn (202)
K's: Early Wynn (1,544)
MVP Awards: Roy Campanella and Yogi Berra (3)
Cy Young Awards: Early Wynn, Bob Turley, Warren Spahn and Don Newcombe (1)
All-Star selections: Stan Musial and Yogi Berra (11)
World Series titles: Yankees (6)
Team wins: Yankees (955)

* The Cy Young was first awarded in 1956. There was only one winner for the Major Leagues until 1966.
* Two All-Star Games were held each season from 1959-62, which explains how a player could have more than 10 All-Star selections in a decade.

1940-49

Homers: Ted Williams (234)
Hits: Lou Boudreau (1,578)
Wins: Hal Newhouser (170)
K's: Hal Newhouser (1,579)
MVP Awards: Stan Musial (3)
Cy Young Awards: N/A
All-Star selections: Joe Gordon (8)
World Series titles: Yankees (4)
Team wins: Cardinals (960)

1930-39

Homers: Jimmie Foxx (415)
Hits: Paul Waner (1,959)
Wins: Lefty Grove (199)
K's: Lefty Gomez (1,337)
MVP Awards: Jimmie Foxx (3)
Cy Young Awards: N/A
All-Star selections: Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Gomez (7)
World Series titles: Yankees (5)
Team wins: Yankees (970)

* The modern version of the MVP Award was first presented by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) in 1931, with one winner in each league.
* The first All-Star Game was in 1933

1920-29

Homers: Babe Ruth (467)
Hits: Rogers Hornsby (2,085)
Wins: Burleigh Grimes (190)
K's: Dazzy Vance (1,464)
MVP Awards: Rogers Hornsby (2)
Cy Young Awards: N/A
All-Star selections: N/A
World Series titles: Yankees (3)
Team wins: Yankees (933)

* The modern version of the MVP Award was first presented by the BBWAA in 1931, with one winner in each league. In the 1920s, the American and National Leagues each had a League Award. However only one player per team was listed on the ballot, and the AL version of the League Award allowed players to win it no more than once. As a result, Babe Ruth was ineligible during his historic 60-homer 1927 season. The League Award in the AL was presented from 1922-28, while the NL version was awarded from 1924-29.
* The first All-Star Game was in 1933

(All-Star Game selection data courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau.)