Associated Press Athlete of the Year
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| Associated Press Athlete of the Year | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Associated Press Athlete of the Year |
| Presenter | Associated Press |
| Country | United States |
| First awarded | 1931 |
Associated Press Athlete of the Year is an annual sports award presented by the Associated Press to recognize the most outstanding male and female athletes of the calendar year. Historically paralleling other honors such as the Heisman Trophy, the Ballon d'Or, and the Laureus World Sports Award, the AP award has highlighted achievements across Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, Olympic Games, and international competitions. Recipients have included figures like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and Usain Bolt, reflecting the award's intersection with prominent competitions such as the World Series, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, and the Summer Olympics.
History
The award was established in 1931 by the Associated Press amid an expanding American sports media landscape shaped by organizations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the International Olympic Committee, and outlets like the New York Times and Sports Illustrated. Early recipients emerged from Major League Baseball and college athletics, with names linked to the New York Yankees, the Chicago Cubs, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Over decades the prize paralleled milestones involving figures like Joe DiMaggio, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, and Pelé while reflecting events such as the World Series, the FIFA World Cup, the Wimbledon Championships, and the FIFA World Cup Final. Changes in media, including the rise of television networks like CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and cable channels such as ESPN, influenced the award's visibility during moments like Super Bowl I, the Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier bouts, and the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Selection process
The AP selection process has been governed by votes from journalists affiliated with the Associated Press and sports writers covering leagues including the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and National Hockey League. Balloting procedures have mirrored those used in awards like the Rookie of the Year Award (MLB), the Heisman Trophy, and the ESPY Awards, with ballots distributed to AP bureaus in cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta. Criteria emphasize athletic accomplishment in events like the World Athletics Championships, the UEFA Champions League, the Tour de France, and the Masters Tournament, though voters also consider narratives involving athletes from franchises such as the Boston Red Sox, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks. The process has evolved with technology and coverage by agencies including the Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Winners by year
The annual roll of winners tracks a century of sport, intersecting with seasons and tournaments such as the MLB postseason, the NFL regular season, the NBA playoffs, and the Stanley Cup Finals. Notable single-year winners include Babe Ruth (baseball), Jackie Robinson (baseball), Hank Aaron (baseball), Tom Brady (football), Joe Montana (football), Larry Bird (basketball), Magic Johnson (basketball), Michael Jordan (basketball), Lance Armstrong (cycling, later controversial), Tiger Woods (golf), Roger Federer (tennis), Rafael Nadal (tennis), Serena Williams (tennis), Simone Biles (gymnastics), Usain Bolt (track and field), Katie Ledecky (swimming), and Marta (soccer). Winners often align with club and national triumphs involving teams like New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid CF, and FC Barcelona as well as competitions such as the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Notable multiple-time winners
Several athletes have won the prize multiple times, joining the ranks of repeat honorees from leagues and tournaments associated with the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Lakers, Real Madrid CF, and national programs like Team USA. Repeat winners include figures such as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Usain Bolt, Tom Brady, and LeBron James. These multi-year laureates often produced landmark seasons connected to events like the World Series, the NBA Finals, the Masters Tournament, the Wimbledon Championships, and the Olympic Games.
Impact and legacy
The AP Athlete of the Year has contributed to the public profiles of athletes and informed narratives across media outlets such as ESPN, Fox Sports, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. The accolade has enhanced Hall of Fame candidacies for inductees into institutions like the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and has intersected with endorsement markets involving corporations such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, and PepsiCo. The award's prestige is often cited in biographical treatments of figures like Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Tiger Woods, and Usain Bolt, and its winners are frequently subjects of documentaries produced by outlets such as HBO Sports, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.
Controversies and criticisms
Critiques of the award have mirrored debates about media bias, regional favoritism, and comparative valuation of achievements across sports governed by organizations like the International Olympic Committee, the Union Cycliste Internationale, and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. High-profile controversies include disputes over selections involving athletes embroiled in scandals—examples tied to figures associated with Lance Armstrong and performance-enhancing drug investigations overseen by agencies like the United States Anti-Doping Agency—and debates when team-sport stars from franchises such as the New York Yankees or the Dallas Cowboys face competitors from individual sports like golf and tennis. Commentators from outlets including The Sporting News, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated have questioned methodology, prompting discussions in academic journals and panels hosted by organizations such as the National Press Club.
Category:Sports awards