Since 1992, every player belonging to the Major League Baseball Players Association has been allowed to cast a vote on various categories in an effort to determine each year's winners of the Players Choice Awards.
The award titles have changed nearly every year since its inception, but the cause is the same as proceeds from the Players Choice Awards are used to benefit the Players Trust for Children:
In 2018, the Marvin Miller Man of the Year and Player of the Year award each received a $50,000 grant from the Major League Baseball Players trust to donate to a charity of their choice. The second and third-place finishers receive a $10,000 grant each.
Winners of the eight league-wide awards receive a $20,000 grant each. Second place finishers in those eight categories will receive $10,000 and the third-place finishers will receive $5,000.
A comprehensive breakdown of every award issued at the Player's Choice Award banquet appears below, chronologically listed first, then by award title second. Research by Baseball Almanac.
"It means a lot knowing the players voted for this (Players Choice Award). It's important because sometimes the media is very biased about who they like and who they don't like. The players give you an honest opinion." - Frank Thomas on ESPN2 (1993, Players Choice Awards, Live Speech)
Agree? Disagree? Ded the Major League Baseball Players Association always pick correctly? How about the earlier seasons? Would you have chosen differently in any particular category? Share your opinion on our Baseball Almanac Facebook Group, on Baseball Almanac Twitter, via Baseball Almanac Messenger, or our baseball forum — Baseball Fever.
The Players Choice Awards given after the 2000 season were the first set televised by a network (ESPN2) these awards are here to stay and every year since then they have continued being televised.
The Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award is given to the player for outstanding on-field performance and off-field contributions to his community. Marcus Semien won in 2023, for his charitable efforts to provide food to those in need during the holidays and also mentors youth baseball programs. The two-time winner of the MLB Players Alumni Association’s Heart and Hustle Award, Semien is also an advocate for increased diversity in baseball through his work with the Players Alliance and Coaching Corps.