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.
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.
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.
"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 Playerby Cleveland Baseball Writers |
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Year | Winner (Quantity) | Position |
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 |
Year | Winner (Quantity) | Position |
Cleveland Indians Man of the Year Awardby Cleveland Baseball Writers |
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Year | Winner (Quantity) | Position |
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 |
Year | Winner (Quantity) | Position |
Bob Feller Man of the Year Awardby Cleveland Baseball Writers |
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Year | Winner (Quantity) | Position |
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) | -- |
Year | Winner (Quantity) | Position |
Bob Feller Man of the Year | Baseball Awards |
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.