The Hank Aaron Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players selected as the top hitter in each league, as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It was introduced in 1999 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron's surpassing of Babe Ruth's career home run mark of 714 home runs. The award was the first major award to be introduced by Major League Baseball in 19 years.

For the 1999 season, a winner was selected using an objective points system. Hits, home runs, and runs batted in (RBI) were given certain point values and the winner was the player who had the highest tabulated points total.

In 2000, the system was changed to a ballot in which each MLB team's radio and television play-by-play broadcasters and color analysts voted for three players in each league. Their first-place vote receives five points, the second-place vote receives three points, and the third-place vote receives one point. Beginning in 2003, fans were allowed to vote via MLB's official website, MLB.com. Fans' votes account for 30% of the points, while broadcasters' and analysts' votes account for the other 70%.

The award is handed out to the winners of both leagues before Game 4 of the World Series (mostly after Game 2 due to travel to a different venue) each year, with Aaron himself presenting the awards until the 2019 World Series and his death in 2021 (except 2018 when it is handed out in Game 3 and 2019 when it is handed out in Game 2). The first winners of the award were Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa in 1999, while the most recent winners are Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Alex Rodriguez won the award four times, the most of any player. Ohtani is the first player to win the award in both leagues. The winner with the most hits was Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023, Barry Bonds in 2001 had the most home runs, and Manny Ramírez in 1999 had the most RBIs. Players from the New York Yankees have won the award six times, the most of any team.

Trophy The Hank Aaron Award has a maritaca granite base and an antique bat and banner combination on the top. It weighs and sits on a base of cherry wood.

Key YearLinks to the corresponding Major League Baseball seasonPlayer Denotes winning player and number of times they had won the award at that pointHRHome runsRBIRuns batted in*Also named Most Valuable PlayerBoldBold denotes the player is in the Hall of Fame

Winners

YearLeaguePlayerTeamHitsHRRBI1999AmericanCleveland Indians17444165NationalChicago Cubs180631412000AmericanToronto Blue Jays19641137NationalColorado Rockies216421472001AmericanTexas Rangers20152135National*San Francisco Giants156731372002American Texas Rangers18757142National *San Francisco Giants149461102003American *Texas Rangers18147118NationalSt. Louis Cardinals212431242004American Boston Red Sox17543130National *San Francisco Giants135451012005AmericanBoston Red Sox18047148NationalAtlanta Braves154511282006AmericanNew York Yankees2141497National*Philadelphia Phillies182581492007American *New York Yankees18354156NationalMilwaukee Brewers165501192008AmericanBoston Red Sox16829115NationalChicago Cubs160271112009American New York Yankees2121866National *St. Louis Cardinals186471352010AmericanToronto Blue Jays14854124National*Cincinnati Reds177371132011American Toronto Blue Jays15543103NationalLos Angeles Dodgers195391262012American*Detroit Tigers20544139National*San Francisco Giants178241032013American *Detroit Tigers19344137NationalArizona Diamondbacks182361252014American*Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim17336111NationalMiami Marlins155371052015American*Toronto Blue Jays18441123National*Washington Nationals17242992016American Boston Red Sox16938127National*Chicago Cubs176391022017American*Houston Astros 2042481National *Miami Marlins168591322018AmericanBoston Red Sox18843130National*Milwaukee Brewers187361102019American *Los Angeles Angels13745104National Milwaukee Brewers16144972020American*Chicago White Sox 76 19 60National*Atlanta Braves 73 13 532021AmericanToronto Blue Jays 188 48 111National *Philadelphia Phillies 151 35 842022American *New York Yankees 177 62 131National *St. Louis Cardinals 178 35 1152023American*Los Angeles Angels 151 44 95National*Atlanta Braves 217 41 1062024American *New York Yankees 180 58 144National *Los Angeles Dodgers 197 54 1302025American *New York Yankees17953114National *Los Angeles Dodgers17255102

Multiple-time winners 15 players have won the award multiple times, with Alex Rodriguez (4 awards), Barry Bonds (3 awards), Aaron Judge (3 awards), and Shohei Ohtani (3 awards) being the only players to win more than twice. Ohtani is the only player to win in both the American and National League. David Ortiz won two awards 11 years apart (2005 and 2016), the largest gap of any player.

Player# of AwardsYears 4 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 3 2001, 2002, 20042022, 2024, 20252023, 2024, 2025 2 1999, 2004 2003, 2009 2005, 2016 2006, 2009 2010, 2011 2012, 2013 2013, 2022 2014, 2017 2014, 2019 2015, 2021 2018, 2019

See also

Silver Slugger Award: given to the best offensive player at each position. Edgar Martínez Award: given to the best-designated hitter (DH) (American League). Major League Baseball Triple Crown This Year in Baseball Awards (including hitter) Baseball awards List of Major League Baseball awards Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame (including "500 Homerun Club" exhibit)

References General

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