7 MLB stars who have won the AP Male Athlete of the Year award ft. Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani added to his Hall of Fame resume on Monday by winning the AP Male Athlete of the Year Award for the third time. The Japanese superstar was simply dominant for the Dodgers in 2024, helping the team win the eighth World Series title in club history, while also becoming the first player in MLB history to record a 50-home run and 50-stolen base season.
Thanks to his unbelievable exploits, Shohei Ohtani has cemented himself as the only player in MLB history to win the award three times. Nevertheless, there have been 28 baseball players who have added the AP Male Athlete of the Year Award to their resumes.
Here's a look at 7 notable MLB players who have won the AP Male Athlete of the Year Award
#1, Shohei Ohtani
We have to start with the current leader for most AP Male Athlete of the Year Awards, Shohei Ohtani. After earning the award yet again this year, he \sits alone at the top of the list. With the fact that he is only 30 years old and continually accomplishing feats that have never been seen before, it would not be surprising to see him add to that total before all is said and done.
#2, Sandy Koufax
Los Angeles Dodgers legend and Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax is the only other player in MLB history to win the award more than once. The three-time Cy Young winner locked down the award in both 1963 and 1965, helping cement his legacy as one of the best to ever do it.
#3, Aaron Judge
There is no separating the careers of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani from one another. The two MVPs are the two biggest stars in baseball and will forever be linked to each other. Judge won the AP Award in 2022 after setting an American League single-season home run record with 62 long balls.
#4, Jose Altuve
Long-time Houston Astors infielder Jose Altuve remains a polarizing player in MLB circles, especially when the year 2017 is concerned. The diminutive second baseman won the AP Male Athlete of the Year in 2017, as well as the World Series. However, after it was revealed that the team implemented a sign-stealing system, that year will forever be tainted by scandal.
#5, Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds hit the most home runs in MLB history, although some will debate whether he did it cleanly or not. The former San Francisco Giants slugger won the Award in 2001, the same year he clobbered 73 home runs.
#6, Madison Bumgarner
Another San Francisco Giants legend to win the award was Madison Bumgarner. The home run-hitting starting pitcher was one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. While his prime was short-lived, Bumgarner helped the Giants win three World Series titles.
#7, Cal Ripken Jr.
Sorry Robert Downey Jr., but Cal Ripken Jr. is the real Iron Man. The Baltimore Orioles icon played 2,632 consecutive games in a row, endearing himself to fans all across the league. In 1995, Cal Ripken Jr. earned the AP Male Athlete of the Year Award, joining a who's who of MLB stars to do so.