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 .
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
NLNational LeagueALAmerican LeaguePPitcherCCatcher1BFirst baseman2BSecond baseman3BThird basemanSSShortstopOFOutfielderDHDesignated hitterBABatting averageRBIRun batted inHRHome runsW-LWin Loss RecordKStrikeoutsERAEarned run averageSBStolen basesRRuns scored Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and MuseumPlayer is active*Led League
Awardees
YearNameClubLeaguePosNotesReferencesNew York GiantsNL PW-L: 26*-6, ERA: 2.31*, K: 123 Cleveland IndiansAL PW-L: 15-1, ERA: 2.55, K: 87Cincinnati RedsNL PW-L: 15-10, ERA: 3.12, K: 125 New York YankeesAL OF BA: .381*, RBI: 126, HR: 30 Cleveland IndiansAL P W-L: 27*-11, ERA: 2.61*, K: 261*,AL Triple Crown(1)Boston Red SoxAL OF BA: .406*, RBI: 120, HR: 37*, Runs: 135*,BB: 147*(2)Boston Red SoxAL OF BA: .356*, RBI: 137*, HR: 36*, Runs: 141*,BB: 145*, MLB Triple CrownNew York YankeesAL P W-L:20*-4, ERA:1.64*, K:134St. Louis CardinalsNL SSBA: .263, RBI: 63, HR: 6Detroit TigersAL P W-L: 25*-9, ERA: 1.81*, K: 212*,MLB Triple Crown(1)St. Louis CardinalsNL 1BBA: .365*, RBI: 103, HR: 16, Runs: 124*(3)Boston Red SoxAL OF BA: .343*, RBI: 114*, HR: 32*, Runs: 125*,BB: 162*, AL Triple CrownCleveland IndiansAL SSBA: .355, RBI: 106, HR: 18(4)Boston Red SoxAL OF BA: .343, RBI: 159*, HR: 43*, Runs: 150*,BB: 162*New York YankeesAL SSBA: .324, RBI: 66, HR: 7(2)St. Louis CardinalsNL OF BA: .355*, RBI: 108, HR: 32, Runs: 124Philadelphia PhilliesNL P W-L: 28*-7, ERA: 2.59, K: 148Cleveland IndiansAL 3BBA: .336, RBI: 145, HR: 43New York GiantsNL OF BA: .345*, RBI: 110, HR: 41, Runs: 119Brooklyn DodgersNL OF BA: .309, RBI: 136*, HR: 42, Runs: 126*New York YankeesAL OF BA: .353*, RBI: 130*, HR: 52*, Runs: 132*,MLB Triple Crown(5)Boston Red SoxAL OF BA: .388*, RBI: 87, HR: 38, BB: 119New York YankeesAL P W-L: 21*-7, ERA: 2.97, K: 168Chicago White SoxAL P W-L: 22*-10, ERA: 3.17, K: 179Pittsburgh PiratesNL 2BBA: .273, RBI: 64, HR: 11, Gold GloveNew York YankeesAL OF BA: .269, RBI: 141*, HR: 61*, Runs: 132*,Single Season Home Run RecordLos Angeles DodgersNLSSBA: .299, RBI: 48, HR: 6, SB: 104*Los Angeles DodgersNLPW-L: 25*-9, ERA: 2.83 K: 232*(1)Los Angeles DodgersNL P W-L: 25*-5, ERA: 1.88* K: 306*,MLB Triple CrownSt. Louis CardinalsNL 3BBA: .295, RBI: 119*, HR: 24(2)Los Angeles DodgersNL P W-L: 26*-8, ERA: 2.04* K: 382*,MLB Triple CrownBaltimore OriolesALOFBA: .316*, RBI: 122*, HR: 49*, Runs: 122,AL Triple CrownBoston Red Sox ALOFBA: .326*, RBI: 121*, HR: 44*, Runs: 112*,AL Triple CrownDetroit TigersAL P W-L: 31*-6, ERA: 1.96 K: 280San Francisco GiantsNL 1BBA: .320, RBI: 126*, HR: 45*Cincinnati RedsNL CBA: .293, RBI: 148*, HR: 45*St. Louis CardinalsNL 3BBA: .363*, RBI: 137, HR: 24Chicago CubsNL OFBA: .333*, RBI: 122, HR: 37Oakland AthleticsAL OFBA: .293, RBI: 117*, HR: 32*, Runs: 99*St. Louis CardinalsNL OFBA: .306, RBI: 48, HR: 3, SB: 118*, R: 105(1)Cincinnati RedsNL 2BBA: .327, RBI: 94, HR: 17, SB: 67, R: 107(2)Cincinnati RedsNL 2BBA: .320, RBI: 111, HR: 27, SB: 60, R: 113Minnesota TwinsAL 1BBA: .388*, RBI: 100, HR: 14, SB: 23, R: 128* New York YankeesAL P W-L: 25*-3, ERA: 1.74* K: 248Pittsburgh PiratesNL 1B BA: .281, RBI: 82, HR: 32Kansas City RoyalsAL 3BBA: .390*, RBI: 118, HR: 24Los Angeles DodgersNL P W-L 13-7, ERA: 2.48 K: 180*Milwaukee BrewersAL SSBA: .331 RBI: 114, HR: 29(1)Baltimore OriolesAL SSBA: .318 RBI: 102, HR: 27, Runs: 121*Chicago CubsNL 2BBA: .314 RBI: 84, HR: 19, Runs: 114New York YankeesAL 1BBA: .324 RBI: 145*, HR: 35Boston Red SoxAL P W-L: 24*-4, ERA: 2.48*, K: 238Toronto Blue JaysAL OF BA: .308 RBI: 134*, HR: 47Los Angeles DodgersNL P W-L: 23*-8, ERA: 2.26, K: 178San Francisco GiantsNL OF BA: .291 RBI: 125*, HR: 47*(1)Pittsburgh PiratesNL OF BA: .301, RBI: 114, HR: 33(2)Baltimore OriolesAL SSBA: .323, RBI: 114, HR: 34San Diego PadresNL OFBA: .330*, RBI: 100, HR: 33Chicago White SoxAL 1BBA: .317, RBI: 128, HR: 41Houston AstrosNL 1BBA: .368, RBI: 116*, HR: 39, Runs: 104*Cleveland IndiansAL OFBA: .317, RBI: 126*, HR: 50*, Runs: 121*(1)Seattle MarinersAL SSBA: .358*, RBI: 123, HR: 36, Runs: 141*Seattle MarinersAL OFBA: .304, RBI: 147*, HR: 56*, Runs: 125Chicago CubsNL OFBA: .308, RBI: 158*, HR: 66, Runs: 134*Texas RangersAL 1BBA: .324, RBI: 148, HR: 47Toronto Blue JaysAL 1BBA: .344, RBI: 137, HR: 41, Runs: 115(2)San Francisco GiantsNL OF BA: .328, RBI: 137, HR: 73*, Runs: 129,BB: 177*, Single Season Home Run Record (2)Texas RangersAL SSBA: .300, RBI: 142*, HR: 57*, Runs: 125,Gold Glove(1)St. Louis CardinalsNL 1BBA: .359*, RBI: 124, HR: 43, Runs: 137*(3)San Francisco GiantsNL OF BA: .362*, RBI: 101, HR: 45, Runs: 129,BB: 232*Atlanta BravesNL OF BA: .263, RBI: 128, HR: 51*, Runs: 95*,Gold GlovePhiladelphia PhilliesNL 1B BA: .313, RBI: 149*, HR: 58*, Runs: 104(3)New York YankeesAL 3B BA: .314, RBI: 156*, HR: 54*, Runs: 143*(2)St. Louis CardinalsNL1BBA: .357, RBI: 116, HR: 37, Runs: 100(3)St. Louis CardinalsNL1BBA: .327, RBI: 135, HR: 47*Texas RangersALOFBA: .359*, RBI: 100, HR: 32Detroit TigersALPW-L: 24*-5, ERA: 2.40*, K: 250*,AL Triple Crown(1)Detroit TigersAL3BBA: .330*, RBI: 139*, HR: 44*, Runs: 109,AL Triple Crown(2)Detroit TigersAL3BBA: .348*, RBI: 137, HR: 44, Runs: 103 Los Angeles DodgersNLPW-L: 21*-3, ERA: 1.77*, K: 239Toronto Blue JaysAL3BBA: .297, RBI: 123*, HR: 41, Runs: 108(1)Houston AstrosAL2BBA: .338*, RBI: 96, HR: 24, Runs: 108(2)Houston AstrosAL2BBA: .346*, RBI: 81, HR: 24, Runs: 112Boston Red SoxALOFBA: .346*, RBI: 80, HR: 32, Runs: 129*, SLG:.640Los Angeles AngelsALOFBA: .291, RBI: 104, HR: 45, Runs: 110, SLG:.645*Chicago White SoxAL1BBA: .317, RBI: 60*, HR: 19, Runs: 43, SLG: .617*, Hits: 76*(1)Los Angeles AngelsALP / DHW-L: 9-2, ERA: 3.18, K: 156 BA: .257, RBI: 100, HR: 46, Runs: 103, SLG: .592, SB: 26 New York YankeesALOF / DHBA: .311, Runs: 133*, HR: 62*, RBI: 131*, BB: 111*, OBP: .425*, SLG: .686*, OPS: 1.111*, TB: 391*Atlanta BravesNLOF / 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*(2)Los Angeles DodgersNLDHBA: .310, OBP: .390*, RBI: 130*, HR: 54*, Runs: 134*, SLG: .646*, OPS: 1.036*, SB: 59 Seattle MarinersALCBA: .247, OBP: .359, RBI: 125*, HR: 60*, Runs: 110, SLG: .589, OPS: .948, SB: 14
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.Members of Baseball Hall of Fame Active players are not eligible for the Hall of Fame.
Player # of Awards Years Year inducted into HOFTed Williams 5 1941–1942, 1947, 1949, 19571966Barry Bonds3 1990, 2001, 2004 -Alex Rodriguez3 1996, 2002, 2007 -Albert Pujols3 2003, 2008–2009Not Yet EligibleStan Musial 2 1946, 19511969Sandy Koufax 2 1963, 19651972Joe Morgan 2 1975–19761990Cal Ripken Jr. 2 1983, 19912007Miguel Cabrera2 2012–2013Not Yet EligibleJose Altuve2 2016–2017Active-Not EligibleShohei Ohtani2 2021, 2024Active-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 2 DH 1
Player of the Decade SN named Willie Mays as the player of the 1960s decade. SN named Pete Rose as the player of the 1970s decade. SN named Mike Schmidt as the player of the 1980s decade. SN named Barry Bonds as the player of the 1990s decade. SN named Albert Pujols as the player of the 2000s decade. SN named Mike Trout as the player of the 2010s decade.
See also Players Choice Awards Player of the Year (in MLB; for all positions) (there are also Outstanding Player and Outstanding Pitcher awards in each league) Baseball America Major League Player of the Year (in MLB; for all positions) Best Major League Baseball Player ESPY Award (in MLB; for all positions) "Esurance MLB Awards" Best Major Leaguer (MLB award for best player, including all positions) (also Best Hitter and Best Pitcher) Baseball Digest Player of the Year (in MLB; for position players) (from 1969 to 1993, included all positions; in 1994, a separate Pitcher of the Year award was added) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (in each league; for all positions) Cy Young Award (MLB award for top pitcher in each league) The Sporting News Most Valuable Player Award (in each league) (discontinued in 1946) Baseball awards List of MLB awards TSN Pitcher of the Year (replaced by Starting Pitcher and Relief Pitcher awards) TSN Starting Pitcher of the Year TSN Relief Pitcher of the Year TSN Rookie of the Year SN Reliever of the Year TSN Comeback Player of the Year TSN Manager of the Year TSN Executive of the Year
References