THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

The Cleveland Indians Most Valuable Player

Members of the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America vote annually for The Most Valuable Player from 1937 through 1943. Similar in nature to the Most Valuable Player Award given by Major League Baseball, The Most Valuable Player was given to the Cleveland Indians player who consistently performed at the top of their game, on the field, during the season.

Cleveland Indians Man of the Year Award

Members of the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America voted annually for an Indians' Man of the Year Award receipient once Bill Veeck took over the franchise. Similar in nature to a Most Valuable Player Award, the Indians' Man of the Year was given from 1944 through 2009 to the Cleveland Indians player or executive who consistently performed at the top of their game — on the field or off the field, but as it relates to the success of the Indians' franchise — during the season.

Bob Feller Man of the Year Award

Starting in 2010, the Cleveland Indians Man of the Year Award was renamed the Bob Feller Man of the Year award by the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America in honor of the Indians' franchise leader in victories.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"I don't consider myself a home-run hitter. I don't try to hit home runs. But the more I play, the better I feel. Who knows what might happen? Like I say, I'm not trying to hit home runs — but I like it when I do!" - Grady Sizemore (2006 Recipient of the Cleveland Indians Man of the Year Award)

The Most Valuable Player

by Cleveland Baseball Writers

1937 Johnny Allen (1) Pitcher
1938 Mel Harder (1) Pitcher
1939 Bob Feller (1) Pitcher
1940 Lou Boudreau (1) Shortstop
1941 Jeff Heath (1) Outfielder
1942 Ken Keltner (1) Third Baseman
1943 Al Smith (1) Pitcher

Cleveland Indians Man of the Year Award

by Cleveland Baseball Writers

1944 Not Awarded (x) World War II
1945 Not Awarded (x) World War II
1946 Bill Veeck (1) Team Owner
1947 Lou Boudreau (2) Manager
1948 Gene Bearden (1) Pitcher
1949 Bob Lemon (1) Pitcher
1950 Larry Doby (1) Outfielder
1951 Bob Feller (2) Pitcher
1952 Mike Garcia (1) Pitcher
Bob Lemon (2) Pitcher
Early Wynn (1) Pitcher
1953 Al Rosen (1) Third Baseman
1954 Bobby Avila (1) Second Baseman
1955 Al Smith (1) Outfielder
1956 Vic Wertz (1) First Baseman
1957 Gene Woodling (1) Outfielder
1958 Rocky Colavito (1) Outfielder
1959 Tito Francona (1) Outfielder
1960 Jim Perry (1) Pitcher
1961 Mel Harder (1) Pitching Coach
1962 Dick Donovan (1) Pitcher
1963 Max Alvis (1) Third Baseman
1964 Don McMahon (1) Pitcher
1965 Rocky Colavito (2) Outfielder
1966 Sonny Siebert (1) Pitcher
1967 Max Alvis (2) Third Baseman
1968 Luis Tiant (1) Pitcher
1969 Sam McDowell (1) Pitcher
1970 Ray Fosse (1) Catcher
Sam McDowell (2) Pitcher
1971 Graig Nettles (1) Third Baseman
1972 Gaylord Perry (1) Pitcher
1973 Buddy Bell (1) Third Baseman
1974 Gaylord Perry (2) Pitcher
Jim Perry (2) Pitcher
1975 Dave LaRoche (1) Pitcher
1976 Rico Carty (1) Designated Hitter
1977 Duane Kuiper (1) Second Baseman
1978 Andre Thornton (1) Designated Hitter
1979 Dave Garcia (1) Manager
1980 Mike Hargrove (1) First Baseman
1981 Mike Hargrove (2) First Baseman
1982 Toby Harrah (1) Third Baseman
Andre Thornton (2) Designated Hitter
1983 Rick Sutcliffe (1) Pitcher
1984 Bert Blyleven (1) Pitcher
1985 Brett Butler (1) Outfielder
1986 Joe Carter (1) Outfielder
1987 Brook Jacoby (1) Third Baseman
1988 Doug Jones (1) Pitcher
1989 Jerry Browne (1) Second Baseman
1990 Doug Jones (2) Pitcher
1991 Carlos Baerga (1) Second Baseman
1992 Carlos Baerga (2) Second Baseman
1993 Albert Belle (1) Outfielder
1994 No Selection Made Strike Season
1995 Jose Mesa (1) Pitcher
1996 Albert Belle (2) Outfielder
1997 Sandy Alomar, Jr. (1) Catcher
1998 Manny Ramirez (1) Outfielder
1999 Roberto Alomar (1) Second Baseman
Manny Ramirez (2) Outfielder
2000 Travis Fryman (1) Third Baseman
2001 Roberto Alomar (2) Second Baseman
2002 Jim Thome (1) First Baseman
2003 Jody Gerut (1) Outfielder
2004 Victor Martinez (1) Catcher
2005 Travis Hafner (1) First Baseman
2006 Grady Sizemore (1) Outfielder
2007 C.C. Sabathia (1) Pitcher
2008 Cliff Lee (1) Pitcher
2009 Shin-Soo Choo (1) Outfielder

Bob Feller Man of the Year Award

by Cleveland Baseball Writers

2010 Shin-Soo Choo (2) Outfielder
2011 Asdrubal Cabrera (1) Shortstop
2012 Vinnie Pestano (1) Pitcher
2013 Justin Masterson (1) Pitcher
2014 Corey Kluber (1) Pitcher
2015 Michael Brantley (1) Outfielder
2016 Jose Ramirez (1) Third Baseman
2017 Corey Kluber (2) Pitcher
2018 Francisco Lindor (1) Shortstop
2019 Roberto Perez (1) Catcher
2020 Shane Bieber (1) Pitcher
2021 Not Yet Awarded (11-2021) --
Bob Feller Man of the Year | Baseball Awards
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Players who have won the Cleveland Indians Man of the Year Award more than once are: Lou Boudreau (2), Bob Feller (2), Bob Lemon (2), Rocky Colavito (2), Max Alvis (2), Sam McDowell (2), Gaylord Perry (2), Mike Hargove (2), Jim Perry (2), Andre Thornton (2), Doug Jones (2), Carlos Baerga (2), Albert Belle (2), Manny Ramirez (2), Roberto Alomar (2) and Shin-Soo Choo (2).

In 1968, the Cleveland area writers created the Good Guy Award in honor of Cleveland Press writer Frank Gibbons & former Indians' pitcher Steve Olin. See if any player on this page also won the Good Guy Award which is still actively given each season since 1968.

Do you agree with the choices made by the Cleveland Chapter of the Baseball Writers? What Indians' players are your favorite on and off the field during each of the seasons? Share the answers to these questions on Baseball Fever.