# The Sporting News MLB Player of the Year Award

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.

## 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

| 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

| Year | Name | Club | League | Pos | Notes |
| 1936 | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | New York Giants | NL | P | W-L: 26*-6, ERA: 2.31*, K: 123 |
| 1937 | Johnny Allen | Cleveland Indians | AL | P | W-L: 15-1, ERA: 2.55, K: 87 |
| 1938 | Johnny Vander Meer | Cincinnati Reds | NL | P | W-L: 15-10, ERA: 3.12, K: 125 |
| 1939 | Joe DiMaggio$^†$ | New York Yankees | AL | OF | BA: .381*, RBI: 126, HR: 30 |
| 1940 | Bob Feller$^†$ | Cleveland Indians | AL | P | W-L: 27*-11, ERA: 2.61*, K: 261*, AL Triple Crown |
| 1941 | Ted Williams$^{†(1)}$ | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .406*, RBI: 120, HR: 37*, Runs: 135*, BB: 147* |
| 1942 | Ted Williams$^{†(2)}$ | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .356*, RBI: 137*, HR: 36*, Runs: 141*, BB: 145*, MLB Triple Crown |
| 1943 | Spud Chandler | New York Yankees | AL | P | W-L:20*-4, ERA:1.64*, K:134 |
| 1944 | Marty Marion | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | SS | BA: .263, RBI: 63, HR: 6 |
| 1945 | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | Detroit Tigers | AL | P | W-L: 25*-9, ERA: 1.81*, K: 212*, MLB Triple Crown |
| 1946 | Stan Musial$^{†(1)}$ | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 1B | BA: .365*, RBI: 103, HR: 16, Runs: 124* |
| 1947 | Ted Williams$^{†(3)}$ | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .343*, RBI: 114*, HR: 32*, Runs: 125*, BB: 162*, AL Triple Crown |
| 1948 | Lou Boudreau$^†$ | Cleveland Indians | AL | SS | BA: .355, RBI: 106, HR: 18 |
| 1949 | Ted Williams$^{†(4)}$ | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .343, RBI: 159*, HR: 43*, Runs: 150*, BB: 162* |
| 1950 | Phil Rizzuto$^†$ | New York Yankees | AL | SS | BA: .324, RBI: 66, HR: 7 |
| 1951 | Stan Musial$^{†(2)}$ | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | OF | BA: .355*, RBI: 108, HR: 32, Runs: 124 |
| 1952 | Robin Roberts$^†$ | Philadelphia Phillies | NL | P | W-L: 28*-7, ERA: 2.59, K: 148 |
| 1953 | Al Rosen | Cleveland Indians | AL | 3B | BA: .336, RBI: 145, HR: 43 |
| 1954 | Willie Mays$^†$ | New York Giants | NL | OF | BA: .345*, RBI: 110, HR: 41, Runs: 119 |
| 1955 | Duke Snider$^†$ | Brooklyn Dodgers | NL | OF | BA: .309, RBI: 136*, HR: 42, Runs: 126* |
| 1956 | Mickey Mantle$^†$ | New York Yankees | AL | OF | BA: .353*, RBI: 130*, HR: 52*, Runs: 132*, MLB Triple Crown |
| 1957 | Ted Williams$^{†(5)}$ | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .388*, RBI: 87, HR: 38, BB: 119 |
| 1958 | Bob Turley | New York Yankees | AL | P | W-L: 21*-7, ERA: 2.97, K: 168 |
| 1959 | Early Wynn$^†$ | Chicago White Sox | AL | P | W-L: 22*-10, ERA: 3.17, K: 179 |
| 1960 | Bill Mazeroski$^†$ | Pittsburgh Pirates | NL | 2B | BA: .273, RBI: 64, HR: 11, Gold Glove |
| 1961 | Roger Maris | New York Yankees | AL | OF | BA: .269, RBI: 141*, HR: 61*, Runs: 132*, Single Season Home Run Record |
| 1962 | Maury Wills | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | SS | BA: .299, RBI: 48, HR: 6, SB: 104* |
| 1962 | Don Drysdale$^†$ | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L: 25*-9, ERA: 2.83 K: 232* |
| 1963 | Sandy Koufax$^{†(1)}$ | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L: 25*-5, ERA: 1.88* K: 306*, MLB Triple Crown |
| 1964 | Ken Boyer | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 3B | BA: .295, RBI: 119*, HR: 24 |
| 1965 | Sandy Koufax$^{†(2)}$ | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L: 26*-8, ERA: 2.04* K: 382*, MLB Triple Crown |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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* |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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* |
| 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 |
| 2002 | Alex Rodriguez$^{(2)}$ | Texas Rangers | AL | SS | BA: .300, RBI: 142*, HR: 57*, Runs: 125, Gold Glove |
| 2003 | Albert Pujols$^{(1)}$ | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 1B | BA: .359*, RBI: 124, HR: 43, Runs: 137* |
| 2004 | Barry Bonds$^{(3)}$ | San Francisco Giants | NL | OF | BA: .362*, RBI: 101, HR: 45, Runs: 129, BB: 232* |
| 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* |
| 2008 | Albert Pujols$^{(2)}$ | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 1B | BA: .357, RBI: 116, HR: 37, Runs: 100 |
| 2009 | Albert Pujols$^{(3)}$ | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 1B | BA: .327, RBI: 135, HR: 47* |
| 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 |
| 2012 | Miguel Cabrera$^{(1)}$ | Detroit Tigers | AL | 3B | BA: .330*, RBI: 139*, HR: 44*, Runs: 109, AL Triple Crown |
| 2013 | Miguel Cabrera$^{(2)}$ | Detroit Tigers | AL | 3B | BA: .348*, RBI: 137, HR: 44, Runs: 103 |
| 2014 | Clayton Kershaw | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | P | W-L: 21*-3, ERA: 1.77*, K: 239 |
| 2015 | Josh Donaldson | Toronto Blue Jays | AL | 3B | BA: .297, RBI: 123*, HR: 41, Runs: 108 |
| 2016 | Jose Altuve$^{(1)}$ | Houston Astros | AL | 2B | BA: .338*, RBI: 96, HR: 24, Runs: 108 |
| 2017 | Jose Altuve$^{(2)}$ | Houston Astros | AL | 2B | BA: .346*, RBI: 81, HR: 24, Runs: 112 |
| 2018 | Mookie Betts | Boston Red Sox | AL | OF | BA: .346*, RBI: 80, HR: 32, Runs: 129*, SLG:.640 |
| 2019 | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels | AL | OF | BA: .291, RBI: 104, HR: 45, Runs: 110, SLG:.645* |
| 2020 | José Abreu | Chicago White Sox | AL | 1B | BA: .317, RBI: 60*, HR: 19, Runs: 43, SLG: .617*, Hits: 76* |
| 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 |
| 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* |
| 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* |
| 2024 | Shohei Ohtani$^{(2)}$ | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | DH | BA: .310, OBP: .390*, RBI: 130*, HR: 54*, Runs: 134*, SLG: .646*, OPS: 1.036*, SB: 59 |

## 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. 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

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