# Babe Ruth Award

The Babe Ruth Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) player with the best performance in the postseason. The award, created in honor of Babe Ruth, was first awarded in 1949 to New York Yankee pitcher, Joe Page, the MVP of the World Series, one year after Ruth's death. The award was created by the New York City chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). It continued to be awarded exclusively for performances in the World Series until 2007, when the New York chapter of the BBWAA changed the award to cover the entire postseason. Though it is older than the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, which was not created until 1955 (as the "SPORT Magazine Award"), the Babe Ruth Award is considered less prestigious, because it is not sanctioned by MLB and is awarded several weeks after the World Series.
MLB expanded its postseason to include the League Championship Series (LCS) in 1969, the League Division Series (LDS) in 1995, and the Wild Card round in 2012. The Wild Card Series is a best-of-three playoff format, the LDS follows a best-of-five playoff format, and the LCS and World Series follow a best-of-seven playoff format. In 2020, the Los Angeles Dodgers, won the 2020 World Series, but Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays was named winner of the Babe Ruth Award.
Ruth was a noted slugger who batted .326 with 15 home runs and three wins in three games started as a pitcher during World Series play. However, the Babe Ruth Award does not only go to sluggers or pitchers. Dick Green won the award for the 1974 World Series, in which he batted 0-for-13, but helped the Oakland Athletics win the series with his defense.
Joe Page of the New York Yankees was the first winner of the Babe Ruth Award, and Jonathan Papelbon of the Boston Red Sox was the first winner since the award criteria changed to cover the entire postseason. In all, members of the Yankees have won the award sixteen times. Luis Tiant and Randy Arozarena are the only winners of the Babe Ruth Award to play for the World Series–losing team. Two players, Sandy Koufax and Jack Morris, have won the award twice.

## Winners
### Key to table

| Year | Links to the article about that corresponding World Series |
| Player (X) | Denotes winning player and number of times they had won the award at that point (if more than one) |
| ^ | Indicates multiple award winners in the same year |
| * | Indicates year when player did not win the World Series Most Valuable Player Award (1955–present) |
| † | Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame |
| ‡ | Denotes player who is still active |
| § | Indicates losing team in the series |

### Table of winners

| Year | Player | Team | Position | Selected statistics |
| 1949 | Joe Page | New York Yankees | Pitcher | 1–0 record and 1 save in 3 appearances 2 earned runs allowed over 9 innings pitched 8 strikeouts |
| 1950 | Jerry Coleman | New York Yankees | Second baseman | .286 batting average 4 hits 3 runs batted in |
| 1951 | Phil Rizzuto$^†$ | New York Yankees | Shortstop | .320 batting average 1 home run 3 runs batted in |
| 1952 | Johnny Mize$^†$ | New York Yankees | First baseman | .400 batting average 3 home runs 6 runs batted in |
| 1953 | Billy Martin | New York Yankees | Second baseman | .500 batting average 12 hits 8 runs batted in |
| 1954 | Dusty Rhodes | New York Giants | Outfielder | 4 hits in 6 at bats 2 pinch hit home runs 7 runs batted in |
| 1955 | Johnny Podres | Brooklyn Dodgers | Pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started; both were complete games; 1 shutout 2 earned runs allowed over 18 innings pitched 10 strikeouts |
| 1956 | Don Larsen | New York Yankees | Pitcher | 1–0 record in 2 games started; one perfect game 7 strikeouts Pitched first no-hitter in World Series history |
| 1957 | Lew Burdette | Milwaukee Braves | Pitcher | 3–0 record in 3 games started; all were complete games; 2 shutouts 2 earned runs allowed over 27 innings pitched 13 strikeouts |
| 1958* | Elston Howard | New York Yankees | Catcher | .222 batting average Series-winning single in 8th inning of Game 7 4 runs scored |
| 1959 | Larry Sherry | Los Angeles Dodgers | Pitcher | 2–0 record and 2 saves in 4 appearances 1 earned run allowed over 12+2⁄3 innings pitched 5 strikeouts |
| 1960* | Bill Mazeroski$^†$ | Pittsburgh Pirates | Second baseman | .320 batting average Series-winning walk-off home run in 9th inning of Game 7 5 runs batted in |
| 1961 | Whitey Ford$^†$ | New York Yankees | Pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started; one shutout 14 scoreless innings pitched 7 strikeouts |
| 1962 | Ralph Terry | New York Yankees | Pitcher | 2–1 record in 3 games started; two complete games; 1 shutout 5 earned runs allowed over 25 innings pitched 16 strikeouts |
| 1963 | Sandy Koufax$^†$ | Los Angeles Dodgers | Pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started; both complete games 3 earned runs allowed over 18 innings pitched 23 strikeouts |
| 1964 | Bob Gibson$^†$ | St. Louis Cardinals | Pitcher | 2–1 record in 3 games started; 2 complete games 27 innings pitched 31 strikeouts |
| 1965 | Sandy Koufax$^†$ (2) | Los Angeles Dodgers | Pitcher | 2–1 record in 3 games started; two shutouts 1 earned run allowed over 24 innings pitched 29 strikeouts |
| 1966 | Frank Robinson$^†$ | Baltimore Orioles | Outfielder | .286 batting average 2 home runs 3 runs batted in |
| 1967* | Lou Brock$^†$ | St. Louis Cardinals | Outfielder | .414 batting average 8 runs scored 7 stolen bases |
| 1968 | Mickey Lolich | Detroit Tigers | Pitcher | 3–0 record in 3 games started; all were complete games 5 earned runs allowed over 27 innings pitched 21 strikeouts |
| 1969* | Al Weis | New York Mets | Second baseman | .455 batting average 1 home run 3 runs batted in |
| 1970 | Brooks Robinson$^†$ | Baltimore Orioles | Third baseman | .429 batting average 9 hits 6 runs batted in |
| 1971 | Roberto Clemente$^†$ | Pittsburgh Pirates | Outfielder | .414 batting average 12 hits 4 runs batted in |
| 1972 | Gene Tenace | Oakland Athletics | Catcher | .348 batting average 4 home runs 9 runs batted in |
| 1973* | Bert Campaneris | Oakland Athletics | Shortstop | .290 batting average Series-winning home run in 3rd inning of Game 7 3 stolen bases in 3 attempts |
| 1974* | Dick Green | Oakland Athletics | Second baseman | 0 hits in 13 at bats 1 run batted in and 1 run scored Participated in 6 double plays defensively in 5 games; Single-game record (tie) 3 double plays in Game 3 |
| 1975* | Luis Tiant | Boston Red Sox$^§$ | Pitcher | 2–0 record in 3 games started; 2 complete games; 1 shutout 25 innings pitched 12 strikeouts |
| 1976 | Johnny Bench$^†$ | Cincinnati Reds | Catcher | .533 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs batted in |
| 1977 | Reggie Jackson$^†$ | New York Yankees | Outfielder | .450 batting average 5 home runs 8 runs batted in |
| 1978 | Bucky Dent | New York Yankees | Shortstop | .417 batting average 10 hits 7 runs batted in |
| 1979 | Willie Stargell$^†$ | Pittsburgh Pirates | First baseman | .400 batting average 7 extra-base hits 7 runs batted in |
| 1980* | Tug McGraw | Philadelphia Phillies | Pitcher | 1–1 record and 2 saves in 4 appearances 1 earned run allowed over 7+2⁄3 innings pitched 10 strikeouts |
| 1981 | Ron Cey | Los Angeles Dodgers | Third baseman | .350 batting average 1 home run 6 runs batted in |
| 1982* | Bruce Sutter$^†$ | St. Louis Cardinals | Pitcher | 1–0 record and 2 saves in 4 appearances 7+2⁄3 innings pitched 6 strikeouts |
| 1983 | Rick Dempsey | Baltimore Orioles | Catcher | .385 batting average 4 doubles 2 runs batted in |
| 1984* | Jack Morris$^†$ | Detroit Tigers | Pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started; both complete games 4 earned runs allowed over 18 innings pitched 13 strikeouts |
| 1985 | Bret Saberhagen | Kansas City Royals | Pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started; both were complete games; 1 shutout 1 earned run allowed over 18 innings pitched 10 strikeouts |
| 1986 | Ray Knight | New York Mets | Third baseman | .391 batting average Series-winning home run in 7th inning of Game 7 5 runs batted in |
| 1987 | Frank Viola | Minnesota Twins | Pitcher | 2–1 record in 3 games started 8 earned runs allowed over 19+1⁄3 innings pitched 16 strikeouts |
| 1988 | Orel Hershiser | Los Angeles Dodgers | Pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started; both were complete games; 1 shutout 2 earned runs allowed over 18 innings pitched 17 strikeouts |
| 1989 | Dave Stewart | Oakland Athletics | Pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started; one shutout 3 earned runs allowed over 16 innings pitched 14 strikeouts |
| 1990* | Billy Hatcher | Cincinnati Reds | Outfielder | .750 batting average 9 hits; 4 doubles 6 runs scored |
| 1991 | Jack Morris$^†$ (2) | Minnesota Twins | Pitcher | 2–0 record over 3 games started; 10-inning shutout in Game 7 3 earned runs allowed over 23 innings pitched 15 strikeouts |
| 1992* | Dave Winfield$^†$ | Toronto Blue Jays | Outfielder | .227 batting average 5 hits Series-winning 2 run batted in double in 11th inning of Game 6 |
| 1993 | Paul Molitor$^†$ | Toronto Blue Jays | Designated hitter | .500 batting average 12 hits; 6 extra-base hits 8 runs batted in |
| 1994 | Series canceled by the players' strike | Series canceled by the players' strike | Series canceled by the players' strike | Series canceled by the players' strike |
| 1995 | Tom Glavine$^†$ | Atlanta Braves | Pitcher | 2–0 record over 2 games started 2 earned runs allowed over 14 innings pitched 11 strikeouts |
| 1996* | Cecil Fielder | New York Yankees | Designated hitter | .391 batting average 9 hits 2 runs batted in |
| 1997* | Moisés Alou | Florida Marlins | Outfielder | .321 batting average 3 home runs 9 runs batted in |
| 1998 | Scott Brosius | New York Yankees | Third baseman | .471 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs batted in |
| 1999 | Mariano Rivera$^†$ | New York Yankees | Pitcher | 1–0 record and 2 saves in 3 appearances 4+2⁄3 scoreless innings pitched 3 strikeouts |
| 2000 | Derek Jeter$^†$ | New York Yankees | Shortstop | .409 batting average 2 home runs 6 runs scored |
| 2001^ | Randy Johnson$^†$ | Arizona Diamondbacks | Pitcher | 3–0 record in 3 appearances (2 starts); one shutout 2 earned runs allowed over 17+1⁄3 innings pitched 19 strikeouts |
| 2001^ | Curt Schilling | Arizona Diamondbacks | Pitcher | 1–0 record in 3 games started 4 earned runs allowed over 21+1⁄3 innings pitched 26 strikeouts |
| 2002 | Troy Glaus | Anaheim Angels | Third baseman | .385 batting average 3 home runs 8 runs batted in |
| 2003 | Josh Beckett | Florida Marlins | Pitcher | 1–1 record in 2 games started; one shutout 2 earned runs allowed over 16+1⁄3 innings pitched 19 strikeouts |
| 2004* | Keith Foulke | Boston Red Sox | Pitcher | 1–0 record and 1 save in 4 appearances 1 earned run allowed over 5 innings pitched 8 strikeouts |
| 2005 | Jermaine Dye | Chicago White Sox | Outfielder | .438 batting average Series-winning single in 8th inning of Game 4 3 runs batted in |
| 2006 | David Eckstein | St. Louis Cardinals | Shortstop | .364 batting average 8 hits 4 runs batted in |
| Award changed to cover performance in full post-season ||||||
| 2007* | Jonathan Papelbon | Boston Red Sox | Pitcher | 1–0 record and 4 saves in 7 appearances 10+2⁄3 scoreless innings pitched 7 strikeouts |
| 2008 | Cole Hamels | Philadelphia Phillies | Pitcher | 4–0 record over 5 games started 7 earned runs allowed over 35 innings pitched (1.80 ERA) 30 strikeouts |
| 2009* | Alex Rodriguez | New York Yankees | Third baseman | .365 batting average 6 home runs 18 runs batted in |
| 2010* | Tim Lincecum | San Francisco Giants | Pitcher | 4–1 record in 6 appearances (5 games started); 1 shutout 10 earned runs allowed over 37 innings pitched 43 strikeouts |
| 2011 | David Freese | St. Louis Cardinals | Third baseman | .397 batting average 5 home runs Set postseason records with 50 total bases and 21 runs batted in |
| 2012 | Pablo Sandoval$^‡$ | San Francisco Giants | Third baseman | .364 batting average 6 home runs 13 runs batted in |
| 2013 | David Ortiz$^†$ | Boston Red Sox | First baseman / Designated hitter | .353 batting average 5 home runs 13 runs batted in |
| 2014 | Madison Bumgarner$^‡$ | San Francisco Giants | Pitcher | 4–1 record and 1 save in 7 appearances (6 games started); 2 shutouts 1.03 ERA on 6 earned runs allowed over 52+2⁄3 innings pitched 45 strikeouts |
| 2015* | Wade Davis | Kansas City Royals | Pitcher | 1–0 record and 4 saves in 8 appearances 10+2⁄3 scoreless innings pitched 18 strikeouts |
| 2016* | Jon Lester | Chicago Cubs | Pitcher | 3–1 record in 6 appearances 2.02 ERA on 8 earned runs allowed over 35+2⁄3 innings pitched 30 strikeouts |
| 2017^ | Jose Altuve$^‡$ | Houston Astros | Second baseman | 7 home runs 14 RBIs .310 Batting average |
| 2017^ | Justin Verlander$^‡$ | Houston Astros | Pitcher | 4–1 record, 1 complete game in 6 games started 38 strikeouts, 8 earned runs allowed over 36+2⁄3 innings pitched 2017 American League Championship Series MVP |
| 2018* | David Price | Boston Red Sox | Pitcher | 3–1 record in 6 appearances 23 strikeouts, 10 earned runs allowed over 26 innings pitched Winning pitcher of Games 2 & 5 in the World Series |
| 2019^ | Juan Soto$^‡$ | Washington Nationals | Outfielder | .277 batting average 5 home runs 14 runs batted in |
| 2019^ | Stephen Strasburg | Washington Nationals | Pitcher | 5–0 record 1.98 ERA 47 strikeouts |
| 2020* | Randy Arozarena$^‡$ | Tampa Bay Rays$^§$ | Outfielder | .377 batting average 10 home runs (an MLB record) 64 total bases |
| 2021* | Freddie Freeman$^‡$ | Atlanta Braves | First Baseman | .304 batting average 5 home runs 11 runs batted in |
| 2022 | Jeremy Peña$^‡$ | Houston Astros | Shortstop | .345 batting average 4 home runs 8 runs batted in |
| 2023* | Adolis García$^‡$ | Texas Rangers | Outfielder | .323 batting average 8 home runs 22 runs batted in |
| 2024* | Mookie Betts$^‡$ | Los Angeles Dodgers | Outfielder | .290 batting average 4 home runs 16 runs batted in |

## Image gallery

* Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, a two-time winner
* Reggie Jackson won the award in 1977.
* Orel Hershiser won the award in 1988.
* Derek Jeter (left) won the award in 2000, while Dave Winfield (right) won the award in 1992.
* Paul Molitor won the award in 1993.
* Tom Glavine won the award in 1995
* Cole Hamels won the award in 2008.
* Alex Rodriguez won the award in 2009.
* David Ortiz won the award in 2013.
* David Price won the award in 2018.
* Freddie Freeman won the award in 2021.