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Listed below in chronological order are the players chosen by Baseball Digest as recipients of Baseball Digest's Player of the Year. Pitchers were included in Player of the Year selections through 1993. In 1994, Baseball Digest began choosing both a Player & Pitcher of the Year. Research by Baseball Almanac.
"One scene of accomplishment belongs to the ages. It is the picture of Barry Bonds, smiling to the heavens, raising both arms above his head and pointing his forefingers skyward in triumph after he crossed the plate at Pac Bell Park in San Francisco following his 73rd home run of the 2001 season on Sunday, October 7." - John Kuenster in Baseball Digest (January 2002)
Baseball Digest Player of the Year AwardIn Chronological Order | Baseball Digest Pitcher of the Year Award |
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Year | Name (Qty) | Team | POS | Baseball Digest Notes / Reason |
1969 | Tom Seaver (1) | Mets | P | Posted a 25-7 record for NL pennant-winning Mets. |
1970 | Billy Williams (1) | Cubs | LF | Hit .322 with 42 homers, 137 runs and 129 RBI. |
1971 | Joe Torre (1) | Cardinals | 3B | Led majors with 230 hits, 137 RBI and .363 average. |
1972 | Dick Allen (1) | White Sox | 1B | Topped AL with 37 homers, 113 RBI and hit .308. |
1973 | Pete Rose (1) | Reds | LF | Major league leader in hits (230) while hitting .338. |
1974 | Lou Brock (1) | Cardinals | LF | Set major league record with 118 stolen bases. |
1975 | Joe Morgan (1) | Reds | 2B | Hit .327, scored 107 runs with 67 steals and 94 RBI. |
1976 | Joe Morgan (2) | Reds | 2B | Clubbed 27 HR with 113 runs, 111 RBI and .320 BA. |
1977 | George Foster (1) | Reds | LF | Paced majors with 52 home runs and 149 RBI. |
1978 | Ron Guidry (1) | Yankees | P | Had 25-3 record with 1.74 ERA and 248 strikeouts. |
1979 | George Brett (1) | Royals | 3B | Posted .329 BA with 42 doubles, 20 triples & 23 HR. |
1980 | George Brett (2) | Royals | 3B | Captured batting title with .390 mark with 118 RBI. |
1981 | Mike Schmidt (1) | Phillies | 3B | Led NL with 31 HR, 91 RBI in strike-shortened year. |
1982 | Robin Yount (1) | Brewers | SS | Scored 129 runs with 210 hits, 29 HR & 114 RBI. |
1983 | Carlton Fisk (1) | White Sox | C | Led Chicago to 99 wins with 26 HR and 86 RBI. |
1984 | Ryne Sandberg (1) | Cubs | 2B | Hit .314 with 200 hits, 19 triples & 114 runs. |
1985 | Dwight Gooden (1) | Mets | P | Led NL pitchers with 25 wins, 1.53 ERA & 268 Ks. |
1986 | Roger Clemens (1) | Red Sox | P | 24-4 with 2.48 ERA for pennant-winning Red Sox. |
1987 | Andre Dawson (1) | Cubs | RF | Led majors with 49 homers and 137 RBI. |
1988 | Jose Canseco (1) | A's | RF | Hit 42 homers with 40 steals, 120 runs & 124 RBI. |
1989 | Will Clark (1) | Giants | 1B | Batted .333 with 111 RBI, 104 runs & 23 homers. |
1990 | Ryne Sandberg (2) | Cubs | 2B | Led NL with 116 runs, 40 HR & 344 total bases. |
1991 | Cal Ripken, Jr. (1) | Orioles | SS | Collected 210 hits with 34 HR, 114 RBI & .323 BA. |
1992 | Roberto Alomar (1) | Blue Jays | 2B | Scored 105 runs with .310 BA & 49 steals. |
1993 | Barry Bonds (1) | Giants | LF | Hit .336 with NL leader 123 RBI and 46 home runs. |
1994 | Jeff Bagwell (1) | Astros | 1B | Batted .368 with 39 HR and league-leading 116 RBI. |
1995 | Albert Belle (1) | Indians | LF | First to hit 50 homers & 50 doubles in a season. |
1996 | Alex Rodriguez (1) | Mariners | SS | Led AL in runs (141), doubles (54), & BA (.358). |
1997 | Larry Walker (1) | Rockies | RF | Clubbed 49 homers with 130 RBI, 143 runs & .366 BA. |
1998 | Sammy Sosa (1) | Cubs | RF | Smashed 66 HR with 134 runs, 158 RBI & 416 TB. |
1999 | Ivan Rodriguez (1) | Rangers | C | Caught 141 games with .332 BA, 35 HR & 113 RBI. |
2000 | Todd Helton (1) | Rockies | 1B | Led NL with .372 BA & 147 RBI while clubbing 42 HR. |
2001 | Barry Bonds (2) | Giants | LF | 73 homers, 177 walks, .863 slugging while hitting .328. |
2002 | Barry Bonds (3) | Giants | LF | Batting title (.370), 198 walks, & slugging leader. |
2003 | Ivan Rodriguez (2) | Marlins | C | Caught 138 games, hit 16 homers & the team leader. |
2004 | Vladimir Guerrero (1) | Angels | RF | Batted .337 with 39 HR. Scored 124 runs, drove in 126. |
2005 | Albert Pujols (1) | Cardinals | 1B | 41 HR (3rd), 117 RBI (2nd), 129 R (1st), .330 Avg (2nd) |
2006 | Derek Jeter (1) | Yankees | SS | .343 BA, 118 runs, 34 SB, 97 RBI |
2007 | Jimmy Rollins(1) | Phillies | SS | Led NL in runs scored, triples & multi-hit games. |
2008 | Albert Pujols (2) | Cardinals | 1B | All-around player - .357 BA, 37 HR & 116 RBI. |
2009 | Joe Mauer (1) | Twins | C | .365 BA, 191 hits, 3 batting titles in first 6 years. |
2010 | Josh Hamilton (1) | Rangers | CF/LF | Overcoming struggles, led Rangers to 1st pennant. |
2011 | Ryan Braun (1) | Brewers | LF | Led NL in slugging, batted .332, 33 HRs, 33 SBs. |
2012 | Miguel Cabrera (1) | Tigers | 3B | Led AL HRs, RBIs, AVG winning a Triple Crown. |
2013 | Miguel Cabrera (2) | Tigers | 3B | Two-time MVP with third consecutive batting title. |
2014 | Mike Trout (1) | Angels | CF | Led AL in RBIs, runs scored and total bases. |
2015 | Bryce Harper (1) | Nationals | RF | NL leading 42 HRs, 118 runs scored, and .649 SLG. |
2016 | Kris Bryant (1) | Cubs | 3B | Infielder, outfielder, NL leading 121 Runs. 39 HRs. |
Anthony Rizzo (1) | Cubs | 1B | Team leader, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, 32 HRs. | |
2017 | Jose Altuve (1) | Astros | 2B | .346 BA (3x batting champion). |
2018 | Mookie Betts (1) | Red Sox | RF | Batting Champion, 32 HRs & 30 SBs (30-30 Club). |
2019 | Mike Trout (2) | Angels | CF | AL leading OBP (.438) & SLG (.645) |
2020 | Freddie Freeman (1) | Braves | 1B | Hit .341 with 13 home runs & 53 RBIs |
2021 | Shohei Ohtani (1) | Angels | P / DH | Starting Pitcher (9-2, 3.18 ERA) with 46 HRs as DH. |
2022 | Aaron Judge (1) | Yankees | OF | Broke single season HR record, held by Roger Maris. |
2023 | Ronald Acuña Jr. (1) | Braves | RF | First player in MLB history with 40 HRs and 70 SBs. |
2024 | Not Yet Determined (x) | -- | -- | -- |
Year | Name (Qty) | Team | POS | Baseball Digest Notes / Reason |
Baseball Digest Player of the Year | Bold = Won MVP Award | Baseball Awards |
When Barry Bonds won in 2001, he became the fourth major leaguer (Joe Morgan, George Brett and Ryne Sandberg were the other three) to be honored twice by Baseball Digest. When Bonds won in 2002 he became their first & only three time recipient!
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon was asked who he believed should be the Baseball Digest National League Player of the Year. His response? "Bryzzo." A name combination of two players on his team, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo.
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