The Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award

Last updated

The Sporting News Player of the Year Award
Sport Baseball
League Major League Baseball
Awarded forMost outstanding player
CountryUnited States, Canada
Presented by The Sporting News
History
First award1936 – Carl Hubbell
Most recent2024 – Shohei Ohtani

The Sporting News Player of the Year Award is awarded annually by The Sporting News to the most outstanding player in Major League Baseball. The honor was first given in 1936. [1]

Contents

History

The Sporting News established their Player of the Year award in 1936. It is the oldest still-extant 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 across 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.

Winners

Key

Hall of Famer Ted Williams, five-time winner Ted Williams BBall Digest May 1949 raw.jpg
Hall of Famer Ted Williams, five-time winner
Hall of Famer Stan Musial, two-time winner Stan Musial 1953.jpg
Hall of Famer Stan Musial, two-time winner
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

Awardees

Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, 2-time winner. Sandy Koufax.jpg
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, 2-time winner.
Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, 2-time winner. Joe Morgan crop.jpg
Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, 2-time winner.
Hall of Famer Willie Mays with the Giants in 1954. Willie Mays 1954.png
Hall of Famer Willie Mays with the Giants in 1954.
3-time winner Barry Bonds at the plate with the Giants BarryLamar Bonds.jpg
3-time winner Barry Bonds at the plate with the Giants
3-time winner Alex Rodriguez as a New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez 2008-04-19.jpg
3-time winner Alex Rodriguez as a New York Yankee
3-time winner Albert Pujols Pujols facing.JPG
3-time winner Albert Pujols
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., 2-time winner at Yankee Stadium Cal Ripken, Jr in 1996 (cropped).jpg
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., 2-time winner at Yankee Stadium
2-time winner Miguel Cabrera Miguel Cabrera on June 17, 2009.jpg
2-time winner Miguel Cabrera
2-time winner Altuve batting against the Pittsburgh Pirates, May 19, 2013 Jose Altuve at bat.jpg
2-time winner Altuve batting against the Pittsburgh Pirates, May 19, 2013
YearNameClubLeaguePosNotesReferences
1936 Carl Hubbell † New York Giants NLPW-L: 26*-6, ERA: 2.31*, K: 123 [2] [3]
1937 Johnny Allen Cleveland Indians ALPW-L: 15-1, ERA: 2.55, K: 87 [4] [5]
1938 Johnny Vander Meer Cincinnati Reds NLPW-L: 15-10, ERA: 3.12, K: 125 [6] [7]
1939 Joe DiMaggio † New York Yankees ALOFBA: .381*, RBI: 126, HR: 30 [8] [9]
1940 Bob Feller † Cleveland Indians ALPW-L: 27*-11, ERA: 2.61*, K: 261*,
AL Triple Crown		 [10] [11]
1941 Ted Williams †(1) Boston Red Sox ALOFBA: .406*, RBI: 120, HR: 37*, Runs: 135*,
BB: 147*		 [12] [13]
1942 Ted Williams †(2) Boston Red Sox ALOFBA: .356*, RBI: 137*, HR: 36*, Runs: 141*,
BB: 145*, MLB Triple Crown		 [12] [13]
1943 Spud Chandler New York Yankees ALPW-L:20*-4, ERA:1.64*, K:134 [14]
1944 Marty Marion St. Louis Cardinals NLSSBA: .263, RBI: 63, HR: 6 [15]
1945 Hal Newhouser † Detroit Tigers ALPW-L: 25*-9, ERA: 1.81*, K: 212*,
MLB Triple Crown		 [16] [17]
1946 Stan Musial †(1) St. Louis Cardinals NL1BBA: .365*, RBI: 103, HR: 16, Runs: 124* [18] [19]
1947 Ted Williams †(3) Boston Red Sox ALOFBA: .343*, RBI: 114*, HR: 32*, Runs: 125*,
BB: 162*, AL Triple Crown		 [12] [13]
1948 Lou Boudreau † Cleveland Indians ALSSBA: .355, RBI: 106, HR: 18 [20]
1949 Ted Williams †(4) Boston Red Sox ALOFBA: .343, RBI: 159*, HR: 43*, Runs: 150*,
BB: 162*		 [12] [13]
1950 Phil Rizzuto † New York Yankees ALSSBA: .324, RBI: 66, HR: 7 [21]
1951 Stan Musial †(2) St. Louis Cardinals NLOFBA: .355*, RBI: 108, HR: 32, Runs: 124 [18] [19]
1952 Robin Roberts † Philadelphia Phillies NLPW-L: 28*-7, ERA: 2.59, K: 148 [22] [23]
1953 Al Rosen Cleveland Indians AL3BBA: .336, RBI: 145, HR: 43 [24]
1954 Willie Mays † New York Giants NLOFBA: .345*, RBI: 110, HR: 41, Runs: 119 [25]
1955 Duke Snider † Brooklyn Dodgers NLOFBA: .309, RBI: 136*, HR: 42, Runs: 126* [26]
1956 Mickey Mantle † New York Yankees ALOFBA: .353*, RBI: 130*, HR: 52*, Runs: 132*,
MLB Triple Crown		 [27]
1957 Ted Williams †(5) Boston Red Sox ALOFBA: .388*, RBI: 87, HR: 38, BB: 119 [12] [13]
1958 Bob Turley New York Yankees ALPW-L: 21*-7, ERA: 2.97, K: 168 [28] [29]
1959 Early Wynn † Chicago White Sox ALPW-L: 22*-10, ERA: 3.17, K: 179 [30] [31]
1960 Bill Mazeroski † Pittsburgh Pirates NL2BBA: .273, RBI: 64, HR: 11, Gold Glove [32]
1961 Roger Maris New York Yankees ALOFBA: .269, RBI: 141*, HR: 61*, Runs: 132*,
Single Season Home Run Record		 [33]
1962 Maury Wills Los Angeles Dodgers NLSSBA: .299, RBI: 48, HR: 6, SB: 104* [34]
1962 Don Drysdale † Los Angeles Dodgers NLPW-L: 25*-9, ERA: 2.83 K: 232* [35] [36]
1963 Sandy Koufax †(1) Los Angeles Dodgers NLPW-L: 25*-5, ERA: 1.88* K: 306*,
MLB Triple Crown		 [37] [38]
1964 Ken Boyer St. Louis Cardinals NL3BBA: .295, RBI: 119*, HR: 24 [39]
1965 Sandy Koufax †(2) Los Angeles Dodgers NLPW-L: 26*-8, ERA: 2.04* K: 382*,
MLB Triple Crown		 [37] [38]
1966 Frank Robinson † Baltimore Orioles ALOFBA: .316*, RBI: 122*, HR: 49*, Runs: 122,
AL Triple Crown
1967 Carl Yastrzemski † Boston Red Sox ALOFBA: .326*, RBI: 121*, HR: 44*, Runs: 112*,
AL Triple Crown
1968 Denny McLain Detroit Tigers ALPW-L: 31*-6, ERA: 1.96 K: 280 [40] [41]
1969 Willie McCovey † San Francisco Giants NL1BBA: .320, RBI: 126*, HR: 45*
1970 Johnny Bench † Cincinnati Reds NLCBA: .293, RBI: 148*, HR: 45*
1971 Joe Torre † St. Louis Cardinals NL3BBA: .363*, RBI: 137, HR: 24
1972 Billy Williams † Chicago Cubs NLOFBA: .333*, RBI: 122, HR: 37
1973

Reggie Jackson †

 Oakland Athletics ALOFBA: .293, RBI: 117*, HR: 32*, Runs: 99*
1974 Lou Brock † St. Louis Cardinals NLOFBA: .306, RBI: 48, HR: 3, SB: 118*, R: 105
1975 Joe Morgan †(1) Cincinnati Reds NL2BBA: .327, RBI: 94, HR: 17, SB: 67, R: 107
1976 Joe Morgan †(2) Cincinnati Reds NL2BBA: .320, RBI: 111, HR: 27, SB: 60, R: 113
1977 Rod Carew † Minnesota Twins AL1BBA: .388*, RBI: 100, HR: 14, SB: 23, R: 128*
1978 Ron Guidry New York Yankees ALPW-L: 25*-3, ERA: 1.74* K: 248 [42] [43]
1979 Willie Stargell † Pittsburgh Pirates NL1BBA: .281, RBI: 82, HR: 32
1980 George Brett † Kansas City Royals AL3BBA: .390*, RBI: 118, HR: 24
1981 Fernando Valenzuela Los Angeles Dodgers NLPW-L 13-7, ERA: 2.48 K: 180* [44] [45]
1982 Robin Yount † Milwaukee Brewers ALSSBA: .331 RBI: 114, HR: 29
1983 Cal Ripken Jr. †(1) Baltimore Orioles ALSSBA: .318 RBI: 102, HR: 27, Runs: 121*
1984 Ryne Sandberg † Chicago Cubs NL2BBA: .314 RBI: 84, HR: 19, Runs: 114
1985 Don Mattingly New York Yankees AL1BBA: .324 RBI: 145*, HR: 35
1986 Roger Clemens Boston Red Sox ALPW-L: 24*-4, ERA: 2.48*, K: 238 [46] [47]
1987 George Bell Toronto Blue Jays ALOFBA: .308 RBI: 134*, HR: 47
1988 Orel Hershiser Los Angeles Dodgers NLPW-L: 23*-8, ERA: 2.26, K: 178 [48] [49]
1989 Kevin Mitchell San Francisco Giants NLOFBA: .291 RBI: 125*, HR: 47*
1990 Barry Bonds (1) Pittsburgh Pirates NLOFBA: .301, RBI: 114, HR: 33 [50] [51]
1991

Cal Ripken Jr. †(2)

 Baltimore Orioles ALSSBA: .323, RBI: 114, HR: 34
1992 Gary Sheffield San Diego Padres NLOFBA: .330*, RBI: 100, HR: 33
1993 Frank Thomas † Chicago White Sox AL1BBA: .317, RBI: 128, HR: 41
1994 Jeff Bagwell † Houston Astros NL1BBA: .368, RBI: 116*, HR: 39, Runs: 104*
1995 Albert Belle Cleveland Indians ALOFBA: .317, RBI: 126*, HR: 50*, Runs: 121*
1996 Alex Rodriguez (1) Seattle Mariners ALSSBA: .358*, RBI: 123, HR: 36, Runs: 141* [52] [53]
1997 Ken Griffey Jr. † Seattle Mariners ALOFBA: .304, RBI: 147*, HR: 56*, Runs: 125
1998 Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs NLOFBA: .308, RBI: 158*, HR: 66, Runs: 134*
1999 Rafael Palmeiro Texas Rangers AL1BBA: .324, RBI: 148, HR: 47
2000 Carlos Delgado Toronto Blue Jays AL1BBA: .344, RBI: 137, HR: 41, Runs: 115
2001 Barry Bonds (2) San Francisco Giants NLOFBA: .328, RBI: 137, HR: 73*, Runs: 129,
BB: 177*, Single Season Home Run Record		 [50] [51]
2002 Alex Rodriguez (2) Texas Rangers ALSSBA: .300, RBI: 142*, HR: 57*, Runs: 125,
Gold Glove		 [52] [53]
2003 Albert Pujols (1) St. Louis Cardinals NL1BBA: .359*, RBI: 124, HR: 43, Runs: 137* [54] [55]
2004 Barry Bonds (3) San Francisco Giants NLOFBA: .362*, RBI: 101, HR: 45, Runs: 129,
BB: 232*		 [50] [51]
2005 Andruw Jones Atlanta Braves NLOFBA: .263, RBI: 128, HR: 51*, Runs: 95*,
Gold Glove
2006 Ryan Howard Philadelphia Phillies NL1BBA: .313, RBI: 149*, HR: 58*, Runs: 104
2007 Alex Rodriguez (3) New York Yankees AL3BBA: .314, RBI: 156*, HR: 54*, Runs: 143* [52] [53]
2008 Albert Pujols (2) St. Louis Cardinals NL1BBA: .357, RBI: 116, HR: 37, Runs: 100 [54] [55]
2009 Albert Pujols (3) St. Louis Cardinals NL1BBA: .327, RBI: 135, HR: 47* [54] [55]
2010 Josh Hamilton Texas Rangers ALOFBA: .359*, RBI: 100, HR: 32
2011 Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers ALPW-L: 24*-5, ERA: 2.40*, K: 250*,
AL Triple Crown		 [56] [57]
2012 Miguel Cabrera (1) Detroit Tigers AL3BBA: .330*, RBI: 139*, HR: 44*, Runs: 109,
AL Triple Crown		 [58] [59]
2013 Miguel Cabrera (2) Detroit Tigers AL3BBA: .348*, RBI: 137, HR: 44, Runs: 103 [58] [59]
2014 Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers NLPW-L: 21*-3, ERA: 1.77*, K: 239 [60]
2015 Josh Donaldson Toronto Blue Jays AL3BBA: .297, RBI: 123*, HR: 41, Runs: 108 [61]
2016 Jose Altuve (1) Houston Astros AL2BBA: .338*, RBI: 96, HR: 24, Runs: 108 [62]
2017 Jose Altuve (2) Houston Astros AL2BBA: .346*, RBI: 81, HR: 24, Runs: 112 [63]
2018 Mookie Betts Boston Red Sox ALOFBA: .346*, RBI: 80, HR: 32, Runs: 129*, SLG:.640 [64]
2019 Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels ALOFBA: .291, RBI: 104, HR: 45, Runs: 110, SLG:.645* [65]
2020 José Abreu Chicago White Sox AL1BBA: .317, RBI: 60*, HR: 19, Runs: 43, SLG: .617*, Hits: 76* [66]
2021 Shohei Ohtani (1) Los Angeles Angels ALP / DHW-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 ALOF / DHBA: .311, Runs: 133*, HR: 62*, RBI: 131*, BB: 111*, OBP: .425*, SLG: .686*, OPS: 1.111*, TB: 391* [68]
2023 Ronald Acuña Atlanta Braves NLOF / DHBA: .337, OBP: .416*, Runs: 149*, Hits: 217*, HR: 41, RBI: 106, SB: 73*, BB: 80, OBP: .416*, SLG: .596, OPS: 1.012*, TB: 383* [69]
2024 Shohei Ohtani (2) Los Angeles Dodgers NLDHBA: .310, OBP: .390*, RBI: 130*, HR: 54*, Runs: 134*, SLG: .646*, OPS: 1.036*, SB: 59 [70]

Multiple wins

Players

Several players have won the award more than once. Ted Williams, Joe Morgan, Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, and Jose 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, Barry Bonds, and Shohei Ohtani are the only players to win the award while playing with different teams. Alex Rodriguez won the award with the most teams (3). 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.

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. [71] Active players are not eligible for the Hall of Fame.

Player# of AwardsYearsYear inducted into HOF
Ted Williams †51941–1942, 1947, 1949, 19571966
Barry Bonds 31990, 2001, 2004-
Alex Rodriguez 31996, 2002, 2007-
Albert Pujols 32003, 2008–2009Active-Not Eligible
Stan Musial †21946, 19511969
Sandy Koufax †21963, 19651972
Joe Morgan †21975–19761990
Cal Ripken Jr. †21983, 19912007
Miguel Cabrera 22012–2013Not Eligible
Jose Altuve 22016–2017Active-Not Eligible
Shohei Ohtani 22021, 2024Active-Not Eligible

Outfielders and Pitchers have won the most awards.

Position# of Awards
Outfield30
Pitcher19
First Baseman14
Shortstop  9
Third Baseman  8
Second Baseman  6
Catcher  1
DH  1

Player of the Decade

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Baseball Almanac Major League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Carl Hubbell Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  3. ↑ "Carl Hubbell Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  4. ↑ "Johnny Allen Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  5. ↑ "Johnny Allen Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  6. ↑ "Johnny Vander Meer Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  7. ↑ "Johnny Vander Meer Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  8. ↑ "Joe DiMaggio Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  9. ↑ "Joe Dimaggio Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  10. ↑ "Bob Feller Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  11. ↑ "Bob Feller Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ted Williams Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ted Williams Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  14. ↑ "Spud Chandler Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  15. ↑ "Marty Marion Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  16. ↑ "Hal Newhouser Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  17. ↑ "Hal Newhouser Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  18. 1 2 "Stan Musial Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  19. 1 2 "Stan Musial Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  20. ↑ "Lou Boudreau Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  21. ↑ "Phil Rizzuto Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  22. ↑ "Robin Roberts Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  23. ↑ "Robin Roberts Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  24. ↑ "Al Rosen Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  25. ↑ "Willie Mays Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  26. ↑ "Duke Snider Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  27. ↑ "Mickey Mantle Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  28. ↑ "Bob Turleys Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  29. ↑ "Bob Turley Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  30. ↑ "Early Wynn Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  31. ↑ "Early Wynn Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  32. ↑ "Bill Mazeroski Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  33. ↑ "Roger Maris Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  34. ↑ "Maury Wills Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  35. ↑ "Don Drysdale Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  36. ↑ "Don Drysdale Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  37. 1 2 "Sandy Koufax Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  38. 1 2 "Sandy Koufax Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  39. ↑ "Ken Boyer Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  40. ↑ "Denny McLain Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  41. ↑ "Denny McLain Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  42. ↑ "Ron Guidry Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  43. ↑ "Ron Guidry Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  44. ↑ "Fernando Valenzuela Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  45. ↑ "Fernando Valenzuela Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  46. ↑ "Roger Clemens Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  47. ↑ "Rogers Clemens Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  48. ↑ "Orel Hershiser Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  49. ↑ "Orel Hershiser Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  50. 1 2 3 "Barry Bonds Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  51. 1 2 3 "Barry Bonds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  52. 1 2 3 "Alex Rodriguez Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  53. 1 2 3 "Alex Rodriguez Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  54. 1 2 3 "Albert Pujols Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  55. 1 2 3 "Albert Pujols Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  56. ↑ "Justin Verlander Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  57. ↑ "Justin Verlander Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  58. 1 2 "Miguel Cabrera Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac .
  59. 1 2 "Miguel Cabrera Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  60. ↑ Spector, Jesse (October 23, 2014). "Clayton Kershaw edges Mike Trout for Sporting News Player of the Year". Sporting News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  61. ↑ 4659598-sporting-news-mlb-awards-2015-josh-donaldson-blue-jays-bryce-harper-nationals
  62. ↑ "Astros' Jose Altuve voted Sporting News MLB Player of the Year for 2016". 29 October 2021.
  63. ↑ "Jose Altuve voted Sporting News 2017 MLB Player of the Year". 12 August 2021.
  64. ↑ "Red Sox star Mookie Betts named Sporting News MLB Player of the Year". 12 August 2021.
  65. ↑ "Angels star Mike Trout voted 2019 Sporting News MLB Player of the Year". 12 August 2021.
  66. ↑ "José Abreu named Sporting News MLB Player of the Year". MLB.com .
  67. ↑ "'Beyond incredible': Shohei Ohtani constantly left MLB peers in awe during historic 2021 season". 29 October 2021.
  68. ↑ "'Aaron Judge voted top player'". 27 October 2022.
  69. ↑ "'The 2023 Sporting News MLB Award Winners and All-Stars'". 26 October 2023.
  70. ↑ "'2024 Sporting News MLB awards: Historic season earns Shohei Ohtani Player of the Year honor'". 27 October 2024.
  71. ↑ Members of Baseball Hall of Fame
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