Hank Aaron Award


The Hank Aaron Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball 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 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 given the opportunity 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 each year, with Aaron himself presenting the awards.
The first winners of the award were Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa in 1999, while the most recent winners are Mike Trout and Christian Yelich. Alex Rodriguez won the award four times, the most of any player. The winner with the most hits was Todd Helton in 2000, Barry Bonds in 2001 had the most home runs, and Manny Ramírez in 1999 had the most RBIs. Players from the Boston Red Sox have won the award five 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 12 pounds and sits on a base of cherry wood.
and David Ortiz pose with Hank Aaron and Rob Manfred after receiving the 2016 awards

Key

Winners

YearLeaguePlayerTeamHitsHRRBI
1999AmericanCleveland Indians17444165
1999NationalChicago Cubs18063141
2000AmericanToronto Blue Jays19641137
2000NationalColorado Rockies21642147
2001AmericanTexas Rangers20152135
2001NationalSan Francisco Giants15673137
2002American Texas Rangers 18757142
2002National San Francisco Giants 14946110
2003American Texas Rangers 18147118
2003NationalSt. Louis Cardinals21243124
2004American Boston Red Sox17543130
2004National San Francisco Giants 13545101
2005AmericanBoston Red Sox 18047148
2005NationalAtlanta Braves15451128
2006AmericanNew York Yankees2141497
2006NationalPhiladelphia Phillies18258149
2007American New York Yankees 18354156
2007NationalMilwaukee Brewers16550119
2008AmericanBoston Red Sox 16829115
2008NationalChicago Cubs 16027111
2009American New York Yankees 2121866
2009National St. Louis Cardinals 18647135
2010AmericanToronto Blue Jays 14854124
2010NationalCincinnati Reds17737113
2011American Toronto Blue Jays 15543103
2011NationalLos Angeles Dodgers19539126
2012AmericanDetroit Tigers20544139
2012NationalSan Francisco Giants 17824103
2013American Detroit Tigers 19344137
2013NationalArizona Diamondbacks18236125
2014AmericanLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim17336111
2014NationalMiami Marlins15537105
2015AmericanToronto Blue Jays 18441123
2015NationalWashington Nationals1724299
2016American Boston Red Sox 16938127
2016NationalChicago Cubs 17639102
2017AmericanHouston Astros2042481
2017National Miami Marlins 16859132
2018AmericanBoston Red Sox 18843130
2018NationalMilwaukee Brewers 18736110
2019American Los Angeles Angels 13745104
2019National Milwaukee Brewers 1614497