Players Choice Awards

Awarded for| Major Leaguers recognize the on-field and off-field achievements of their peers through the Players Trust’s Players Choice Awards program.
Location| Dallas, Texas (2018)
Presented by| Major League Baseball Players Association
History
First award| 1992
Most recent| 2024
Website| playerstrust.org/programs/playerschoiceawards/

The Players Choice Awards are annual Major League Baseball awards,[1] given by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA).

The Players Choice Awards are given following a secret ballot by players.[2][3] Four awards go to a player in each league, while two awards each go to one player in all of Major League Baseball. Prize money is donated to a charity of each winner's choice.[4]

The first Players Choice Awards were given in 1992, to the Comeback Player in each of the two major leagues. There were no other awards that year. In 1993, the Comeback Player awards were replaced by an Outstanding Player award for each league. Then, in 1994, two more categories were added: Outstanding Pitcher (in each league) and Outstanding Rookie (in each league).

In 1997, the dual Comeback Player awards were again named, along with the first-ever single award – the Man of the Year – for one player in all of Major League Baseball. In 1998, a second non-dual award was added, Player of the Year. In addition, the Man of the Year award was renamed in honor of Marvin Miller, former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. In 1999, a special Player of the Decade award was given.

In 2015, a third non-dual award was created. The "Always Game" award is given to the player who – game in and game out – constantly exhibits positive energy, grit, tenacity, hustle, perseverance, relentlessness and sportsmanship; all for the benefit of his teammates and fans.[5]

## Awards for one player in all of Major League Baseball

[edit]

### Player of the Year

[edit]

Jose Altuve was Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. Shohei Ohtani was Player of the Year in 2021.

This award was first given in 1998.

Year | Winner | Team

|
|

1998 | Mark McGwire | St. Louis Cardinals
1999 | Pedro Martínez | Boston Red Sox
2000 | Carlos Delgado | Toronto Blue Jays
2001 | Barry Bonds (1) | San Francisco Giants
2002 | Alex Rodriguez (1) | Texas Rangers
2003 | Albert Pujols (1) | St. Louis Cardinals
2004 | Barry Bonds (2) | San Francisco Giants
2005 | Andruw Jones | Atlanta Braves
2006 | Ryan Howard | Philadelphia Phillies
2007 | Alex Rodriguez (2) | New York Yankees
2008 | Albert Pujols (2) | St. Louis Cardinals
2009 | Albert Pujols (3) | St. Louis Cardinals
2010 | Carlos González | Colorado Rockies
2011 | Justin Verlander | Detroit Tigers
2012 | Miguel Cabrera | Detroit Tigers
2013 | Miguel Cabrera (2) | Detroit Tigers
2014 | Clayton Kershaw | Los Angeles Dodgers
2015 | Josh Donaldson | Toronto Blue Jays
2016 | Jose Altuve | Houston Astros
2017 | Jose Altuve (2) | Houston Astros
2018 | J.D. Martinez | Boston Red Sox
2019 | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels
2020 | Freddie Freeman | Atlanta Braves
2021 | Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Angels
2022 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees
2023  | Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves
2024  | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees

### The Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award

[edit]

Main article: Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award

This award is given to "the player in either league whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement."[6] First given in 1997 (as the "Man of the Year" Award), it was renamed in 1998 in honor of Marvin Miller, former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Curtis Granderson has won the Man of the Year Award four times. Year | Winner | Team

|
|

1997 | Mark McGwire | Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals
1998 | Paul Molitor | Minnesota Twins
1999 | Sammy Sosa | Chicago Cubs
2000 | Eric Davis | St. Louis Cardinals
2001 | Jim Thome (1) | Cleveland Indians
2002 | John Smoltz (1) | Atlanta Braves
2003 | John Smoltz (2) | Atlanta Braves
2004 | Jim Thome (2) | Philadelphia Phillies
2005 | Mike Sweeney | Kansas City Royals
2006 | Albert Pujols | St. Louis Cardinals
2007 | Torii Hunter | Minnesota Twins
2008 | Michael Young (1) | Texas Rangers
2009 | Curtis Granderson (1) | Detroit Tigers
2010 | Brandon Inge | Detroit Tigers
2011 | Michael Young (2) | Texas Rangers
2012 | Chipper Jones | Atlanta Braves
2013 | Mariano Rivera | New York Yankees
2014 | Clayton Kershaw | Los Angeles Dodgers
2015 | Adam Jones | Baltimore Orioles
2016 | Curtis Granderson (2) | New York Mets
2017 | Anthony Rizzo | Chicago Cubs
2018 | Curtis Granderson (3) | Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers
2019 | Curtis Granderson (4) | Miami Marlins
2020 | Nelson Cruz | Minnesota Twins
2021 | Marcus Semien (1) | Toronto Blue Jays
2022 | Francisco Lindor | New York Mets
2023  | Marcus Semien (2) | Toronto Blue Jays
2024  | Rhys Hoskins | Milwaukee Brewers

### Curt Flood Award

[edit]

First handed out in 2020, this award is given to a former player, living or deceased, who in the image of Curt Flood demonstrated a selfless, longtime devotion to the Players Association and advancement of Players’ rights.

Year | Winner

|

2020 | Andre Dawson
2021 | Mark Belanger
2022 | Steve Rogers
2023  | Phil Bradley
2024  | Dave Winfield

### Majestic Athletic Always Game Award

[edit]

This award was first given in 2015. The award was not included in the list of 2018 winners.[7]

Year | Winner | Team

|
|

2015 | Jose Altuve | Houston Astros
2016 | Jose Altuve (2) | Houston Astros
2017 | Nolan Arenado | Colorado Rockies

## Awards for a player in each league

[edit]

### Outstanding Player

[edit]

First awarded in 1993.

Alex Rodriguez was AL Outstanding Player six times. Year | American League | National League

|
|

Player | Team | Player | Team
1993  | Frank Thomas (1) | Chicago White Sox | Barry Bonds (1) | San Francisco Giants
1994  | Frank Thomas (2) | Chicago White Sox | Jeff Bagwell | Houston Astros
1995  | Albert Belle | Cleveland Indians | Dante Bichette | Colorado Rockies
1996  | Alex Rodriguez (1) | Seattle Mariners | Ken Caminiti | San Diego Padres
1997  | Ken Griffey Jr. | Seattle Mariners | Larry Walker | Colorado Rockies
1998  | Alex Rodriguez (2) | Seattle Mariners | Sammy Sosa | Chicago Cubs
1999  | Manny Ramírez | Cleveland Indians | Chipper Jones | Atlanta Braves
2000  | Carlos Delgado | Toronto Blue Jays | Todd Helton | Colorado Rockies
2001  | Alex Rodriguez (3) | Texas Rangers | Barry Bonds (2) | San Francisco Giants
2002  | Alex Rodriguez (4) | Texas Rangers | Barry Bonds (3) | San Francisco Giants
2003  | Alex Rodriguez (5) | Texas Rangers | Albert Pujols (1) | St. Louis Cardinals
2004  | Ichiro Suzuki | Seattle Mariners | Barry Bonds (4) | San Francisco Giants
2005  | David Ortiz | Boston Red Sox | Andruw Jones | Atlanta Braves
2006  | Jermaine Dye | Chicago White Sox | Ryan Howard | Philadelphia Phillies
2007  | Alex Rodriguez (6) | New York Yankees | Prince Fielder | Milwaukee Brewers
2008  | Josh Hamilton (1) | Texas Rangers | Albert Pujols (2) | St. Louis Cardinals
2009  | Joe Mauer | Minnesota Twins | Albert Pujols (3) | St. Louis Cardinals
2010  | Josh Hamilton (2) | Texas Rangers | Carlos González | Colorado Rockies
2011  | Curtis Granderson | New York Yankees | Matt Kemp | Los Angeles Dodgers
2012  | Miguel Cabrera | Detroit Tigers | Andrew McCutchen | Pittsburgh Pirates
2013  | Miguel Cabrera (2) | Detroit Tigers | Andrew McCutchen (2) | Pittsburgh Pirates
2014  | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Giancarlo Stanton | Miami Marlins
2015  | Josh Donaldson | Toronto Blue Jays | Bryce Harper | Washington Nationals
2016  | Jose Altuve | Houston Astros | Daniel Murphy | Washington Nationals
2017  | Jose Altuve (2) | Houston Astros | Giancarlo Stanton (2) | Miami Marlins
2018  | Mookie Betts | Boston Red Sox | Christian Yelich | Milwaukee Brewers
2019  | Mike Trout (2) | Los Angeles Angels | Anthony Rendon | Washington Nationals
2020  | José Abreu | Chicago White Sox | Freddie Freeman | Atlanta Braves
2021  | Shohei Ohtani (1) | Los Angeles Angels | Bryce Harper | Philadelphia Phillies
2022  | Aaron Judge (1) | New York Yankees | Paul Goldschmidt | St. Louis Cardinals
2023  | Shohei Ohtani (2) | Los Angeles Angels | Ronald Acuna Jr. | Atlanta Braves
2024  | Aaron Judge (2) | New York Yankees | Shohei Ohtani (3) | Los Angeles Dodgers

### Outstanding Pitcher

[edit]

First awarded in 1994.

Clayton Kershaw has been NL Outstanding Pitcher three times. Year | American League | National League

|
|

Player | Team | Player | Team
1994  | Jimmy Key | New York Yankees | Greg Maddux (1) | Atlanta Braves
1995  | Randy Johnson (1) | Seattle Mariners | Greg Maddux (2) | Atlanta Braves
1996  | Pat Hentgen | Toronto Blue Jays | John Smoltz | Atlanta Braves
1997  | Roger Clemens (1) | Toronto Blue Jays | Pedro Martínez (1) | Montreal Expos
1998  | Pedro Martínez (2)
Roger Clemens (2) | Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays | Greg Maddux (3) | Atlanta Braves
1999  | Pedro Martínez (3) | Boston Red Sox | Mike Hampton | Houston Astros
2000  | Pedro Martínez (4) | Boston Red Sox | Randy Johnson (2) | Arizona Diamondbacks
2001  | Roger Clemens (3) | New York Yankees | Curt Schilling (1) | Arizona Diamondbacks
2002  | Barry Zito | Oakland Athletics | Curt Schilling (2) | Arizona Diamondbacks
2003  | Roy Halladay | Toronto Blue Jays | Éric Gagné | Los Angeles Dodgers
2004  | Johan Santana (1) | Minnesota Twins | Jason Schmidt | San Francisco Giants
2005  | Bartolo Colón | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Chris Carpenter (1) | St. Louis Cardinals
2006  | Johan Santana (2) | Minnesota Twins | Chris Carpenter (2) | St. Louis Cardinals
2007  | CC Sabathia | Cleveland Indians | Jake Peavy | San Diego Padres
2008  | Cliff Lee | Cleveland Indians | Tim Lincecum | San Francisco Giants
2009  | Zack Greinke (1) | Kansas City Royals | Adam Wainwright | St. Louis Cardinals
2010  | David Price (1) | Tampa Bay Rays | Roy Halladay (2) | Philadelphia Phillies
2011  | Justin Verlander | Detroit Tigers | Clayton Kershaw (1) | Los Angeles Dodgers
2012  | David Price (2) | Tampa Bay Rays | R. A. Dickey | New York Mets
2013  | Max Scherzer (1) | Detroit Tigers | Clayton Kershaw (2) | Los Angeles Dodgers
2014  | Félix Hernández | Seattle Mariners | Clayton Kershaw (3) | Los Angeles Dodgers
2015  | Dallas Keuchel | Houston Astros | Zack Greinke (2) | Los Angeles Dodgers
2016  | Rick Porcello | Boston Red Sox | Kyle Hendricks | Chicago Cubs
2017  | Corey Kluber | Cleveland Indians | Max Scherzer (2) | Washington Nationals
2018  | Blake Snell | Tampa Bay Rays | Jacob deGrom | New York Mets
2019  | Justin Verlander (2) | Houston Astros | Jacob deGrom (2) | New York Mets
2020  | Shane Bieber | Cleveland Indians | Trevor Bauer | Cincinnati Reds
2021  | Robbie Ray | Toronto Blue Jays | Max Scherzer (3) | Washington Nationals
Los Angeles Dodgers
2022  | Justin Verlander (3) | Houston Astros | Sandy Alcántara | Miami Marlins
2023  | Gerrit Cole | New York Yankees | Blake Snell | San Diego Padres
2024  | Tarik Skubal | Detroit Tigers | Chris Sale | Atlanta Braves

### Outstanding Rookie

[edit]

First awarded in 1994.

In 2001, Albert Pujols was the Outstanding Rookie in the National League. Year | American League | National League

|
|

Player | Team | Player | Team
1994  | Bob Hamelin | Kansas City Royals | Raúl Mondesí | Los Angeles Dodgers
1995  | Marty Cordova | Minnesota Twins | Chipper Jones | Atlanta Braves
1996  | Derek Jeter | New York Yankees | Todd Hollandsworth | Los Angeles Dodgers
1997  | Nomar Garciaparra | Boston Red Sox | Scott Rolen | Philadelphia Phillies
1998  | Ben Grieve | Oakland Athletics | Kerry Wood | Chicago Cubs
1999  | Carlos Beltrán | Kansas City Royals | Preston Wilson | Florida Marlins
2000  | Terrence Long | Oakland Athletics | Rafael Furcal | Atlanta Braves
2001  | Ichiro Suzuki | Seattle Mariners | Albert Pujols | St. Louis Cardinals
2002  | Eric Hinske | Toronto Blue Jays | Jason Jennings | Colorado Rockies
2003  | Ángel Berroa | Kansas City Royals | Scott Podsednik | Milwaukee Brewers
2004  | Bobby Crosby | Oakland Athletics | Jason Bay | Pittsburgh Pirates
2005  | Huston Street | Oakland Athletics | Willy Taveras | Houston Astros
2006  | Justin Verlander | Detroit Tigers | Dan Uggla | Florida Marlins
2007  | Dustin Pedroia | Boston Red Sox | Ryan Braun | Milwaukee Brewers
2008  | Evan Longoria | Tampa Bay Rays | Geovany Soto | Chicago Cubs
2009  | Gordon Beckham | Chicago White Sox | J. A. Happ | Philadelphia Phillies
2010  | Austin Jackson | Detroit Tigers | Buster Posey | San Francisco Giants
2011  | Mark Trumbo | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Craig Kimbrel | Atlanta Braves
2012  | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Todd Frazier | Cincinnati Reds
2013  | Wil Myers | Tampa Bay Rays | José Fernández | Miami Marlins
2014  | José Abreu | Chicago White Sox | Jacob deGrom | New York Mets
2015  | Carlos Correa | Houston Astros | Kris Bryant | Chicago Cubs
2016  | Michael Fulmer | Detroit Tigers | Corey Seager | Los Angeles Dodgers
2017  | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | Cody Bellinger | Los Angeles Dodgers
2018  | Miguel Andújar | New York Yankees | Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves
2019  | Yordan Alvarez | Houston Astros | Pete Alonso | New York Mets
2020  | Kyle Lewis | Seattle Mariners | Jake Cronenworth | San Diego Padres
2021  | Ryan Mountcastle | Baltimore Orioles | Jonathan India | Cincinnati Reds
2022  | Julio Rodríguez | Seattle Mariners | Spencer Strider | Atlanta Braves
2023  | Gunnar Henderson | Baltimore Orioles | Corbin Carroll | Arizona Diamondbacks
2024  | Colton Cowser | Baltimore Orioles | Jackson Merrill | San Diego Padres

### Comeback Player

[edit]

See also: Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award

In 1992, this was the first ever Players Choice Award. There were no other awards that year. The Comeback Player award was not given from 1993 to 1996, although awards were given in other categories. In 1997, it was again awarded and has been ever since.

Frank Thomas won the Comeback Player of the Year Award twice. Year | American League | National League

|
|

Player | Team | Player | Team
1992  | Dennis Eckersley | Oakland Athletics | Barry Bonds | Pittsburgh Pirates
1997  | David Justice | Cleveland Indians | Darren Daulton | Philadelphia Phillies
1998  | Eric Davis | Baltimore Orioles | Greg Vaughn | San Diego Padres
1999  | John Jaha | Oakland Athletics | Alex Fernandez | Florida Marlins
2000  | Frank Thomas (1) | Chicago White Sox | Andrés Galarraga | Atlanta Braves
2001  | Rubén Sierra | Texas Rangers | Matt Morris | St. Louis Cardinals
2002  | Tim Salmon | Anaheim Angels | Mike Lieberthal
John Smoltz | Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
2003  | Esteban Loaiza | Chicago White Sox | Rod Beck | San Diego Padres
2004  | Orlando Hernández | New York Yankees | Chris Carpenter (1) | St. Louis Cardinals
2005  | Jason Giambi | New York Yankees | Ken Griffey Jr. | Cincinnati Reds
2006  | Frank Thomas (2) | Oakland Athletics | Nomar Garciaparra | Los Angeles Dodgers
2007  | Carlos Peña | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Dmitri Young | Washington Nationals
2008  | Cliff Lee | Cleveland Indians | Fernando Tatís | New York Mets
2009  | Aaron Hill | Toronto Blue Jays | Chris Carpenter (2) | St. Louis Cardinals
2010  | Vladimir Guerrero | Texas Rangers | Tim Hudson | Atlanta Braves
2011  | Jacoby Ellsbury | Boston Red Sox | Lance Berkman | St. Louis Cardinals
2012  | Adam Dunn | Chicago White Sox | Buster Posey | San Francisco Giants
2013  | Mariano Rivera | New York Yankees | Francisco Liriano | Pittsburgh Pirates
2014  | Chris Young | Seattle Mariners | Casey McGehee | Miami Marlins
2015  | Prince Fielder | Texas Rangers | Matt Harvey | New York Mets
2016  | Mark Trumbo | Baltimore Orioles | José Fernández | Miami Marlins
2017  | Mike Moustakas | Kansas City Royals | Ryan Zimmerman | Washington Nationals
2018  | Cameron Maybin | Seattle Mariners | Matt Kemp | Los Angeles Dodgers
2019  | Hunter Pence | Texas Rangers | Josh Donaldson | Atlanta Braves
2020  | Carlos Carrasco | Cleveland Indians | Daniel Bard | Colorado Rockies
2021  | Trey Mancini | Baltimore Orioles | Buster Posey (2) | San Francisco Giants
2022  | Justin Verlander | Houston Astros | Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves
2023  | Liam Hendriks | Chicago White Sox | Cody Bellinger | Chicago Cubs
2024  | Tyler O'Neill | Boston Red Sox | Chris Sale | Atlanta Braves

## Award for Player of the Decade

[edit]

See also: Baseball Prospectus Internet Baseball Awards § Team of the Decade (1990–1999), and Sporting News § Major League Baseball

In 1999, a special Player of the Decade award was given to Ken Griffey Jr.

## See also

[edit]

* 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)
* Sporting News Player of the Year Award (in MLB; for all positions) (Sporting News also has a Pitcher of the Year award for each league)
* The Sporting News Most Valuable Player Award (in each league) (discontinued in 1946)
* 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)
* "Esurance MLB Awards" Best Major Leaguer (in MLB; for all positions) (there are also awards for Best Hitter and Best Pitcher)
* Kenesaw Mountain Landis Most Valuable Player Award (in each league; for all positions) (MLB also has the Cy Young Award for a pitcher in each league)
* Triple Crown (baseball)
* MLB All-Century Team (1999)
* MLB All-Time Team (1997; Baseball Writers' Association of America)
* Baseball awards
* List of MLB awards

## References

[edit]

1. ^ For MLB's listing of awards and winners, go to MLB's awards page. Under "All-time winners," click on the drop-down menu (which lists all of MLB's current and discontinued awards). When you click on each award, you then see all of that award's winners. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved 2016-11-15.
2. ^ "Major League Baseball Players Association: Programs". Mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
3. ^ Ken Mandel / MLB.com. "Howard dual Players Choice winner | phillies.com: News". Mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
4. ^ Jack O'Connell / MLB.com. "Two Players Choice Awards for Howard | MLB.com: News". MLB.com. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
5. ^ Miller, Doug (November 9, 2015). "Donaldson, Harper top Players Choice field: Jones is Marvin Miller Man of the Year; Greinke, Keuchel named Outstanding Pitchers". MLB.com. Retrieved 2015-11-11.
6. ^ Matthew Leach. "Pujols, Carpenter draw peers' kudos | cardinals.com". Mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
7. ^ Graham, Dennis (November 30, 2018). "Curtis Granderson, J.D. Martinez Win Top Honors in 2018 Players Choice Awards". playerstrust.org. Retrieved November 30, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* "Players Choice Awards History". MLB.com. Major League Baseball Players Association. Retrieved 2016-10-28.