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The Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award

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The Sporting News Player of the Year Award
SportBaseball
LeagueMajor League Baseball
Awarded forMost outstanding player
CountryUnited States, Canada
Presented byThe 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]

History

[edit]

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.

Winners

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Key

[edit]
Hall of Famer Ted Williams, five-time winner
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

[edit]
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, 2-time winner.
Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, 2-time winner.
Hall of Famer Willie Mays with the Giants in 1954.
3-time winner Barry Bonds at the plate with the Giants
3-time winner Alex Rodriguez as a New York Yankee
3-time winner Albert Pujols
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., 2-time winner at Yankee Stadium
2-time winner Miguel Cabrera
2-time winner Altuve batting against the Pittsburgh Pirates, May 19, 2013
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

Reggie Jackson†

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 Jose Altuve(1) Houston Astros AL 2B BA: .338*, RBI: 96, HR: 24, Runs: 108 [62]
2017 Jose 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(1) 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]
2023 Ronald Acuña Atlanta Braves NL OF / DH BA: .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 AL DH BA: .310, OBP: .390*, RBI: 130*, HR: 54*, Runs: 134*, SLG: .646*, OPS: 1.036*, SB: 59 [70]

Multiple wins

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Players

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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 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 Not Eligible
Jose Altuve 2 2016–2017 Active-Not Eligible
Shohei Ohtani 2 2021, 2024 Active-Not Eligible

Outfielders and Pitchers have won the most awards.

Position # of Awards
Outfield 30
Pitcher 19
First Baseman 14
Shortstop   9
Third Baseman   8
Second Baseman   6
Catcher   1
DH   1

Player of the Decade

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SN named Willie Mays as the player of the 1960s decade. SN named Mike Trout as the player of the 2010s decade.

See also

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References

[edit]
  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. ^ a b c d e "Ted Williams Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  13. ^ a b c d e "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. ^ a b "Stan Musial Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  19. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Sandy Koufax Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  38. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c "Barry Bonds Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  51. ^ a b c "Barry Bonds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  52. ^ a b c "Alex Rodriguez Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  53. ^ a b c "Alex Rodriguez Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  54. ^ a b c "Albert Pujols Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  55. ^ a b c "Albert Pujols Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  56. ^ "Justin Verlander Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  57. ^ "Justin Verlander Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  58. ^ a b "Miguel Cabrera Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  59. ^ a b "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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