AP Athlete of the Year
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| AP Athlete of the Year | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | AP Athlete of the Year |
| Awarded for | Annual recognition of outstanding athlete performances |
| Presenter | Associated Press |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 1931 |
AP Athlete of the Year. The AP Athlete of the Year is an annual distinction presented by the Associated Press to the top male and female athletes in the United States and internationally, recognizing excellence across professional and collegiate athletics. The award has honored figures from Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Olympic Games competitors, and other sports icons, reflecting the AP's sports journalism influence alongside outlets such as ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and The Sporting News.
History
The accolade traces its origins to the early 20th century media era when the Associated Press expanded sports coverage alongside outlets like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune. Early recipients included stars from Major League Baseball and National Football League luminaries during the 1930s and 1940s, paralleling the rise of figures such as Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Red Grange, and Jim Thorpe in public recognition. The award evolved through the postwar period amid the growth of National Basketball Association and National Hockey League, later incorporating international performers from events like the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. The AP refined its procedures as sports media landscape shifted through the eras of Cable News Network, NBC Sports, and digital platforms such as Bleacher Report.
Selection Criteria
Winners are chosen by a panel of sportswriters and editors from the Associated Press bureaus and affiliated newspapers including regional outlets like the Miami Herald, Boston Globe, and San Francisco Chronicle. Considerations emphasize seasonal and career-defining achievements from competitions such as the World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals, and major international tournaments like the Olympic Games and UEFA European Championship. Voters weigh statistical milestones from leagues such as Major League Baseball, National Football League, and National Basketball Association alongside historic feats at events like the World Athletics Championships and Wimbledon Championships. Integrity, impact on team success, and headline performances in marquee events like the Masters Tournament or Tour de France also shape ballots.
Award Categories
The AP presents multiple distinctions related to the Athlete of the Year concept, typically including separate male and female awards and, in some years, distinctions for collegiate athletes and breakthrough performers. Category parallels exist with other honors like the Heisman Trophy for college football, the Vanderbilt Trophy equivalents in motorsport, and annual recognitions from FIFA and International Olympic Committee affiliates. The AP's pair of male and female awards often mirrors gendered accolades given by organizations such as the Women's Sports Foundation and awards committees from United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
Notable Winners
Recipients span a wide cross-section of elite figures, from multi-sport stars to Olympians and franchise icons. Past male honorees include Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Tom Brady, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Tiger Woods. Female winners range from Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Serena Williams, Billie Jean King, Mia Hamm, Simone Biles, Jackie Joyner-Kersee (duplicate mention intended for emphasis of legacy), Florence Griffith Joyner, and Martina Navratilova. Internationally notable recipients include Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roger Federer, and Steffi Graf, reflecting the award's occasional recognition of global impact across events like the FIFA World Cup Final and Summer Olympics podiums.
Impact and Reception
The award has bolstered reputations and commercial opportunities for recipients, influencing endorsement negotiations with companies such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, and Gatorade. Media reaction to selections often involves discourse across platforms including CBS Sports, Fox Sports, and national newspapers like The Washington Post, with pundits and columnists debating merits relative to honors such as the AP MVP Award in baseball or the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Critics have at times questioned the AP's emphasis on marquee events and American leagues versus international competitions, invoking comparisons to awards run by bodies like the International Association of Athletics Federations and FIFA.
Records and Statistics
Statistical patterns reveal repeat winners and sport-specific concentrations: Major League Baseball and National Football League athletes dominated early decades, while National Basketball Association and Olympic Games stars rose in prominence during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Multiple-time winners include icons such as Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, and Serena Williams, illustrating cross-year dominance. Demographic analyses by outlets like Pro Football Reference and Basketball-Reference show positional trends—quarterbacks and pitchers frequently garner male selections, while track and field athletes and tennis players often appear among female honorees. The AP's historical lists are cited in sports almanacs and databases maintained by organizations such as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the International Olympic Committee.
Category:Sports awards