Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
League | Major League Baseball |
Awarded for | Most outstanding player |
Country | United States, Canada |
Presented by | Sporting News |
History | |
First award | 1936 |
Most recent | Aaron Judge |
The Sporting NewsPlayer of the Year Award is awarded annually by Sporting News to the most outstanding player in Major League Baseball. The honor was first given in 1936. [1]
The Sporting News established in 1936 the Player of the Year award. It is the oldest and most prestigious award given to the single player in MLB who had the most outstanding season. Until 1969, it was the only major award given to a single player from MLB, rather than to a player in each league. In 1969, Baseball Digest began its Player of the Year award for one player in all of MLB. (The award became limited to position players in 1994, when Baseball Digest added a new award for "Pitcher of the Year.") In 1993, the first Best Major League Baseball Player ESPY Award was given. In 1998, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) began its own Player of the Year award, for one player in all of MLB, as part of its Players Choice Awards. Baseball America also began its Major League Player of the Year award in 1998. In 2012, MLB's "GIBBY Awards" added an MLB Most Valuable Player category, which was renamed the Most Valuable Major Leaguer in 2014; its current name is the "Esurance MLB Awards" Best Major Leaguer.
NL | National League |
AL | American League |
P | Pitcher |
C | Catcher |
1B | First baseman |
2B | Second baseman |
3B | Third baseman |
SS | Shortstop |
OF | Outfielder |
DH | Designated hitter |
BA | Batting average |
RBI | Run batted in |
HR | Home runs |
W-L | Win Loss Record |
K | Strikeouts |
ERA | Earned run average |
SB | Stolen bases |
R | Runs scored |
Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum | |
Player is active | |
* | Led League |
Year | Name | Club | League | Pos | Notes | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1936 | Carl Hubbell | New York Giants | NL | P | W-L: 26*-6, ERA: 2.31*, K: 123 | [2] [3] |
1937 | Johnny Allen | Cleveland Indians | AL | P | W-L: 15-1, ERA: 2.55, K: 87 | [4] [5] |
1938 | Johnny Vander Meer | Cincinnati Reds | NL | P | W-L: 15-10, ERA: 3.12, K: 125 | [6] [7] |
1939 | Joe DiMaggio | New York Yankees | AL | OF | BA: .381*, RBI: 126, HR: 30 | [8] [9] |
1940 | Bob Feller | Cleveland Indians | AL | P | W-L: 27*-11, ERA: 2.61*, K: 261*, AL Triple Crown | [10] [11] |
1941 | Ted Williams (1) | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .406*, RBI: 120, HR: 37*, Runs: 135*, BB: 147* | [12] [13] |
1942 | Ted Williams (2) | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .356*, RBI: 137*, HR: 36*, Runs: 141*, BB: 145*, MLB Triple Crown | [12] [13] |
1943 | Spud Chandler | New York Yankees | AL | P | W-L:20*-4, ERA:1.64*, K:134 | [14] |
1944 | Marty Marion | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | SS | BA: .263, RBI: 63, HR: 6 | [15] |
1945 | Hal Newhouser | Detroit Tigers | AL | P | W-L: 25*-9, ERA: 1.81*, K: 212*, MLB Triple Crown | [16] [17] |
1946 | Stan Musial (1) | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 1B | BA: .365*, RBI: 103, HR: 16, Runs: 124* | [18] [19] |
1947 | Ted Williams (3) | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .343*, RBI: 114*, HR: 32*, Runs: 125*, BB: 162*, AL Triple Crown | [12] [13] |
1948 | Lou Boudreau | Cleveland Indians | AL | SS | BA: .355, RBI: 106, HR: 18 | [20] |
1949 | Ted Williams (4) | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .343, RBI: 159*, HR: 43*, Runs: 150*, BB: 162* | [12] [13] |
1950 | Phil Rizzuto | New York Yankees | AL | SS | BA: .324, RBI: 66, HR: 7 | [21] |
1951 | Stan Musial (2) | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | OF | BA: .355*, RBI: 108, HR: 32, Runs: 124 | [18] [19] |
1952 | Robin Roberts | Philadelphia Phillies | NL | P | W-L: 28*-7, ERA: 2.59, K: 148 | [22] [23] |
1953 | Al Rosen | Cleveland Indians | AL | 3B | BA: .336, RBI: 145, HR: 43 | [24] |
1954 | Willie Mays | New York Giants | NL | OF | BA: .345*, RBI: 110, HR: 41, Runs: 119 | [25] |
1955 | Duke Snider | Brooklyn Dodgers | NL | OF | BA: .309, RBI: 136*, HR: 42, Runs: 126* | [26] |
1956 | Mickey Mantle | New York Yankees | AL | OF | BA: .353*, RBI: 130*, HR: 52*, Runs: 132*, MLB Triple Crown | [27] |
1957 | Ted Williams (5) | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .388*, RBI: 87, HR: 38, BB: 119 | [12] [13] |
1958 | Bob Turley | New York Yankees | AL | P | W-L: 21*-7, ERA: 2.97, K: 168 | [28] [29] |
1959 | Early Wynn | Chicago White Sox | AL | P | W-L: 22*-10, ERA: 3.17, K: 179 | [30] [31] |
1960 | Bill Mazeroski | Pittsburgh Pirates | NL | 2B | BA: .273, RBI: 64, HR: 11, Gold Glove | [32] |
1961 | Roger Maris | New York Yankees | AL | OF | BA: .269, RBI: 141*, HR: 61*, Runs: 132*, Single Season Home Run Record | [33] |
1962 | Maury Wills | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | SS | BA: .299, RBI: 48, HR: 6, SB: 104* | [34] |
1962 | Don Drysdale | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L: 25*-9, ERA: 2.83 K: 232* | [35] [36] |
1963 | Sandy Koufax (1) | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L: 25*-5, ERA: 1.88* K: 306*, MLB Triple Crown | [37] [38] |
1964 | Ken Boyer | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 3B | BA: .295, RBI: 119*, HR: 24 | [39] |
1965 | Sandy Koufax (2) | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L: 26*-8, ERA: 2.04* K: 382*, MLB Triple Crown | [37] [38] |
1966 | Frank Robinson | Baltimore Orioles | AL | OF | BA: .316*, RBI: 122*, HR: 49*, Runs: 122, AL Triple Crown | |
1967 | Carl Yastrzemski | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .326*, RBI: 121*, HR: 44*, Runs: 112*, AL Triple Crown | |
1968 | Denny McLain | Detroit Tigers | AL | P | W-L: 31*-6, ERA: 1.96 K: 280 | [40] [41] |
1969 | Willie McCovey | San Francisco Giants | NL | 1B | BA: .320, RBI: 126*, HR: 45* | |
1970 | Johnny Bench | Cincinnati Reds | NL | C | BA: .293, RBI: 148*, HR: 45* | |
1971 | Joe Torre | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 3B | BA: .363*, RBI: 137, HR: 24 | |
1972 | Billy Williams | Chicago Cubs | NL | OF | BA: .333*, RBI: 122, HR: 37 | |
1973 | Oakland Athletics | AL | OF | BA: .293, RBI: 117*, HR: 32*, Runs: 99* | ||
1974 | Lou Brock | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | OF | BA: .306, RBI: 48, HR: 3, SB: 118*, R: 105 | |
1975 | Joe Morgan (1) | Cincinnati Reds | NL | 2B | BA: .327, RBI: 94, HR: 17, SB: 67, R: 107 | |
1976 | Joe Morgan (2) | Cincinnati Reds | NL | 2B | BA: .320, RBI: 111, HR: 27, SB: 60, R: 113 | |
1977 | Rod Carew | Minnesota Twins | AL | 1B | BA: .388*, RBI: 100, HR: 14, SB: 23, R: 128* | |
1978 | Ron Guidry | New York Yankees | AL | P | W-L: 25*-3, ERA: 1.74* K: 248 | [42] [43] |
1979 | Willie Stargell | Pittsburgh Pirates | NL | 1B | BA: .281, RBI: 82, HR: 32 | |
1980 | George Brett | Kansas City Royals | AL | 3B | BA: .390*, RBI: 118, HR: 24 | |
1981 | Fernando Valenzuela | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L 13-7, ERA: 2.48 K: 180* | [44] [45] |
1982 | Robin Yount | Milwaukee Brewers | AL | SS | BA: .331 RBI: 114, HR: 29 | |
1983 | Cal Ripken Jr. (1) | Baltimore Orioles | AL | SS | BA: .318 RBI: 102, HR: 27, Runs: 121* | |
1984 | Ryne Sandberg | Chicago Cubs | NL | 2B | BA: .314 RBI: 84, HR: 19, Runs: 114 | |
1985 | Don Mattingly | New York Yankees | AL | 1B | BA: .324 RBI: 145*, HR: 35 | |
1986 | Roger Clemens | Boston Red Sox | AL | P | W-L: 24*-4, ERA: 2.48*, K: 238 | [46] [47] |
1987 | George Bell | Toronto Blue Jays | AL | OF | BA: .308 RBI: 134*, HR: 47 | |
1988 | Orel Hershiser | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L: 23*-8, ERA: 2.26, K: 178 | [48] [49] |
1989 | Kevin Mitchell | San Francisco Giants | NL | OF | BA: .291 RBI: 125*, HR: 47* | |
1990 | Barry Bonds (1) | Pittsburgh Pirates | NL | OF | BA: .301, RBI: 114, HR: 33 | [50] [51] |
1991 | Cal Ripken Jr. (2) | Baltimore Orioles | AL | SS | BA: .323, RBI: 114, HR: 34 | |
1992 | Gary Sheffield | San Diego Padres | NL | OF | BA: .330*, RBI: 100, HR: 33 | |
1993 | Frank Thomas | Chicago White Sox | AL | 1B | BA: .317, RBI: 128, HR: 41 | |
1994 | Jeff Bagwell | Houston Astros | NL | 1B | BA: .368, RBI: 116*, HR: 39, Runs: 104* | |
1995 | Albert Belle | Cleveland Indians | AL | OF | BA: .317, RBI: 126*, HR: 50*, Runs: 121* | |
1996 | Alex Rodriguez (1) | Seattle Mariners | AL | SS | BA: .358*, RBI: 123, HR: 36, Runs: 141* | [52] [53] |
1997 | Ken Griffey Jr. | Seattle Mariners | AL | OF | BA: .304, RBI: 147*, HR: 56*, Runs: 125 | |
1998 | Sammy Sosa | Chicago Cubs | NL | OF | BA: .308, RBI: 158*, HR: 66, Runs: 134* | |
1999 | Rafael Palmeiro | Texas Rangers | AL | 1B | BA: .324, RBI: 148, HR: 47 | |
2000 | Carlos Delgado | Toronto Blue Jays | AL | 1B | BA: .344, RBI: 137, HR: 41, Runs: 115 | |
2001 | Barry Bonds (2) | San Francisco Giants | NL | OF | BA: .328, RBI: 137, HR: 73*, Runs: 129, BB: 177*, Single Season Home Run Record | [50] [51] |
2002 | Alex Rodriguez (2) | Texas Rangers | AL | SS | BA: .300, RBI: 142*, HR: 57*, Runs: 125, Gold Glove | [52] [53] |
2003 | Albert Pujols (1) | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 1B | BA: .359*, RBI: 124, HR: 43, Runs: 137* | [54] [55] |
2004 | Barry Bonds (3) | San Francisco Giants | NL | OF | BA: .362*, RBI: 101, HR: 45, Runs: 129, BB: 232* | [50] [51] |
2005 | Andruw Jones | Atlanta Braves | NL | OF | BA: .263, RBI: 128, HR: 51*, Runs: 95*, Gold Glove | |
2006 | Ryan Howard | Philadelphia Phillies | NL | 1B | BA: .313, RBI: 149*, HR: 58*, Runs: 104 | |
2007 | Alex Rodriguez (3) | New York Yankees | AL | 3B | BA: .314, RBI: 156*, HR: 54*, Runs: 143* | [52] [53] |
2008 | Albert Pujols (2) | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 1B | BA: .357, RBI: 116, HR: 37, Runs: 100 | [54] [55] |
2009 | Albert Pujols (3) | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 1B | BA: .327, RBI: 135, HR: 47* | [54] [55] |
2010 | Josh Hamilton | Texas Rangers | AL | OF | BA: .359*, RBI: 100, HR: 32 | |
2011 | Justin Verlander | Detroit Tigers | AL | P | W-L: 24*-5, ERA: 2.40*, K: 250*, AL Triple Crown | [56] [57] |
2012 | Miguel Cabrera (1) | Detroit Tigers | AL | 3B | BA: .330*, RBI: 139*, HR: 44*, Runs: 109, AL Triple Crown | [58] [59] |
2013 | Miguel Cabrera (2) | Detroit Tigers | AL | 3B | BA: .348*, RBI: 137, HR: 44, Runs: 103 | [58] [59] |
2014 | Clayton Kershaw | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L: 21*-3, ERA: 1.77*, K: 239 | [60] |
2015 | Josh Donaldson | Toronto Blue Jays | AL | 3B | BA: .297, RBI: 123*, HR: 41, Runs: 108 | [61] |
2016 | José Altuve (1) | Houston Astros | AL | 2B | BA: .338*, RBI: 96, HR: 24, Runs: 108 | [62] |
2017 | José Altuve (2) | Houston Astros | AL | 2B | BA: .346*, RBI: 81, HR: 24, Runs: 112 | [63] |
2018 | Mookie Betts | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .346*, RBI: 80, HR: 32, Runs: 129*, SLG:.640 | [64] |
2019 | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels | AL | OF | BA: .291, RBI: 104, HR: 45, Runs: 110, SLG:.645* | [65] |
2020 | José Abreu | Chicago White Sox | AL | 1B | BA: .317, RBI: 60*, HR: 19, Runs: 43, SLG: .617*, Hits: 76* | [66] |
2021 | Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Angels | AL | P / DH | W-L: 9-2, ERA: 3.18, K: 156 BA: .257, RBI: 100, HR: 46, Runs: 103, SLG: .592, SB: 26 | [67] |
2022 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | AL | OF / DH | BA: .311, Runs: 133*, HR: 62*, RBI: 131*, BB: 111*, OBP: .425*, SLG: .686*, OPS: 1.111*, TB: 391* | [68] |
Several players have won the award more than once. Ted Williams, Joe Morgan, Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, and José Altuve are the only players to win the award in consecutive years. Ted Williams won the award five times. Sandy Koufax is the only pitcher to win the award more than once. Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds are the only players to win the award while playing with different teams. Stan Musial and Alex Rodriguez are the only players to win the award while playing different positions. The only tie was in 1962, when Don Drysdale and Maury Wills shared the honor. Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds are the only players to win the award with multiple teams. Alex Rodriguez won the award with the most teams (3).
Winning multiple SN Player of the Year awards has been seen as guaranteed admission to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Barry Bonds is the only player with multiple awards, eligible for the Hall of Fame, but not a member of the Hall of Fame. The table is of the Players that have won two or more awards and the year they were inducted into Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. [69] Active players are not eligible for the Hall of Fame.
Player | # of Awards | Years | Year inducted into HOF |
---|---|---|---|
Ted Williams | 5 | 1941–1942, 1947, 1949, 1957 | 1966 |
Barry Bonds | 3 | 1990, 2001, 2004 | - |
Alex Rodriguez | 3 | 1996, 2002, 2007 | - |
Albert Pujols | 3 | 2003, 2008–2009 | Active-Not Eligible |
Stan Musial | 2 | 1946, 1951 | 1969 |
Sandy Koufax | 2 | 1963, 1965 | 1972 |
Joe Morgan | 2 | 1975–1976 | 1990 |
Cal Ripken Jr. | 2 | 1983, 1991 | 2007 |
Miguel Cabrera | 2 | 2012–2013 | Active-Not Eligible |
José Altuve | 2 | 2016–2017 | Active-Not Eligible |
Outfielders and Pitchers have won the most awards.
Position | # of Awards |
---|---|
Outfield | 29 |
Pitcher | 19 |
First Baseman | 14 |
Shortstop | 9 |
Third Baseman | 8 |
Second Baseman | 6 |
Catcher | 1 |
SN named Willie Mays as the player of the 1960s decade. SN named Mike Trout as the player of the 2010s decade.
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) award given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). Until 2020, the winners received the Kenesaw Mountain Landis Memorial Baseball Award, which became the official name of the award in 1944, in honor of the first MLB commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, who served from 1920 until his death on November 25, 1944. Starting in 2020, Landis’ name no longer appeared on the MVP trophy after the BBWAA received complaints from several former MVP winners about the late Commissioner’s role against integration of MLB.
The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955. The award was originally given to the single best pitcher in the major leagues, but in 1967, after the retirement of Frick, the award was given to one pitcher in each league.
Sanford Koufax is an American former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. He has been hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. After joining the major leagues at age 19, having never pitched a game in the minor leagues, the first half of his career was unremarkable, posting a record of just 36–40 with a 4.10 earned run average (ERA); he was a member of World Series champions in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles, though he did not appear in any of the team's Series wins. But after making adjustments prior to the 1961 season, and benefitting from the team's move into expansive Dodger Stadium a year later, Koufax quickly rose to become the most dominant pitcher in the major leagues before arthritis in his left elbow ended his playing days prematurely at age 30.
Donald Howard Sutton was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 23 seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and California Angels. Sutton won a total of 324 games and pitched 58 shutouts including five one-hitters and ten two-hitters. He is seventh on baseball's all-time strikeout list with 3,574.
The Silver Slugger Award has been awarded annually since 1980 to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball.
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara is a Dominican–American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Machine", Pujols is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 500 home run club is a group of batters who have hit 500 or more regular-season home runs in their careers. On August 11, 1929, Babe Ruth became the first member of the club. Ruth ended his career with 714 home runs, a record which stood from 1935 until Hank Aaron surpassed it in 1974. Aaron's ultimate career total, 755, remained the record until Barry Bonds set the current mark of 762 during the 2007 season. Twenty-eight players are members of the 500 home run club. Ted Williams (.344) holds the highest batting average among the club members while Harmon Killebrew (.256) holds the lowest.
The 3,000-hit club is the group of 33 batters who have collected 3,000 or more regular-season hits in their careers in Major League Baseball (MLB), achieving a milestone "long considered the greatest measure of superior bat handling" and often described as a guarantee of eventual entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Ricky Eugene Reuschel is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1972 to 1991, winning 214 games with a career 3.37 ERA. His nickname was "Big Daddy" because his speed belied his portly physique. He was known for his deceptive style of pitching, which kept hitters off balance by constantly varying the speeds of his pitches.
This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the Houston Astros, an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL), having moved to the league in 2013 after spending their first 51 seasons in the National League (NL).
The St. Louis Cardinals, a professional baseball franchise based in St. Louis, Missouri, compete in the National League (NL) of Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the NL in 1892, they were also a charter member of the American Association (AA) from 1882 to 1891. Although St. Louis has been the Cardinals' home city for the franchise's entire existence, they were also known as the Brown Stockings, Browns, and Perfectos.
Sporting News established the Pitcher of the Year Award in 1944 to recognize the most outstanding pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB). It was given annually to one pitcher each in the American League and National League. In 2013, the Pitcher of the Year Award was split into the Starting Pitcher of the Year Award and Relief Pitcher of the Year Award, which are given annually to a starting pitcher and relief pitchers in each league, as judged by Sporting News baseball experts.
Harold Ross "Lefty" Phillips was an American coach, manager, scout, and front office executive in Major League Baseball. As manager of the California Angels from May 27, 1969, through the 1971 season, Phillips was the second manager in Los Angeles Angels franchise history.
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the Player of the Month Award is given monthly during the regular season to two outstanding players, one each in the National League (NL) and American League (AL). The NL first awarded the honor during the 1958 season, when league president Warren Giles conducted a poll of media members covering the then-eight NL teams and awarded winners an engraved desk set. The AL did not issue its own award until 1974. The NL created a Pitcher of the Month Award in 1975 and the AL did likewise in 1979. Pitchers have not been eligible for the Player of the Month Award since then.
Major League Baseball collusion refers to owners working together to avoid competitive bidding for player services or players jointly negotiating with team owners.
The 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League championship with a 95–67 record, but were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.
The 1966 Major League Baseball season was contested from April 11 to October 9, 1966. The Braves played their inaugural season in Atlanta, following their relocation from Milwaukee. Three teams played the 1966 season in new stadiums. On April 12, the Braves ushered in Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium with the Pittsburgh Pirates taking a 3–2 win in 13 innings. One week later, Anaheim Stadium opened with the California Angels losing to the Chicago White Sox, 3–1 in the Angels' debut following their move from Los Angeles to nearby Orange County. On May 8, the St. Louis Cardinals closed out old Sportsman's Park/Busch Stadium I with a 10–5 loss to the San Francisco Giants before opening the new Busch Memorial Stadium four days later with a 4–3 win in 12 innings over the Atlanta Braves.
The Luis Aparicio Award is given annually to a Venezuelan player in Major League Baseball (MLB) who is judged to have recorded the best individual performance in that year. The winner of the award is determined by a vote conducted by Venezuelan sports journalists and Spanish-language media around the world. It is named after former MLB shortstop Luis Aparicio, who is the only player from Venezuela to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The award was first presented in 2004, and was created in order to honour Aparicio's major league career and to commemorate his father, who died thirteen years before his son was elected into the Hall of Fame.