The Hickok Belt® Award Winners
the crown jewel of the International sports worldCooper Kupp: Los Angeles Rams Wide Receiver
- Cooper Kupp’s 44 yard reception sets up game winning FG
- Cooper Kupp’s receiving feats led Rams to Super Bowl 56
- Earns “Triple Crown” accomplishment during regular season
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Milwaukee Bucks Power Forward
- Antetokounmpo leads team in scoring
- Breaks Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s scoring record
- Led team to come from behind victories
Scottie Scheffler: Professional Golfer
- Scottie Scheffler wins the 2022 Masters
- Scheffler wins his first Masters
- His fourth PGA win in six tournaments
Justin Thomas: Professional Golfer
- Justin Thomas wins the 2022 PGA TOUR Championship
- Thomas wins his 2nd PGA TOUR Championship
- Thomas edges Will Zalatoris to win the Wanamaker Trophy
Steph Curry: Golden State Warriors point guard
- Led Golden State Warriors to NBA Championship
- Scored 43 points, 2nd highest in his Finals career
- Named NBA Finals MVP
Novak Djokovic: Men’s Tennis
- Won his 21st Grand Slam Title
- Fourth straight Wimbledon win
- Has won 38 Master titles
Rory McIlroy: Professional Golfer
- NSMA selects Rory McIlroy for his FedEx Cup victory
- First player to win 3 FedEx titles
- 22nd official victory on PGA Tour
Aaron Judge: Yankees outfielder
- Aaron Judge smashes home run No. 62, new AL record
- Took 61 years for record to fall
- Judge set the most coveted record in MLB
Bryce Harper: Philadelphia Phillies Right Fielder
- Hits go-ahead home run sending his team to the World Series
- Biggest hit of his career
- Bryce Harper voted 2022 NLCS MVP
Luka Doncic: Dallas Mavericks Point Guard
- Luka Doncic wins second monthly Hickok Belt® Award
- Doncic sets numerous records
- Ties Wilt Chamberlain’s record of eight 30 plus point games to start a season
Lionel Messi: Forward for Ligue 1 Club Paris Saint-Germaine and Captain of the Argentina National team
- Lionel Messi lead Argentina National team to World Cup title
- Broke the record for most World Cup appearances
- The undisputed G.O.A.T.
Mikaela Shiffrin: Alpine Pro Skier
- Mikaela Shiffrin wins World Championship
- She notches 83 victories breaking Lindsey Vonn’s record
- Most wins by a woman Alpine skier
Mikaela Shiffrin: Alpine Skier Phenom
- Mikaela Shiffrin wins 88th World Cup race, one for the ages
- Shiffrin is the most successful ski racer in Alpine World Cup history
- Shiffrin has the most World Cup wins of any Alpine skier in history
Damian Lillard: Portland Blazers Point Guard
- Damian Lillard leads team in scoring
- Sets franchise record
- Scores career high 71 points in a single game
Jon Rahm: Professional Golfer
- Jon Rahm wins the coveted 2023 Masters Tournament
- NSMA selects Rahm for his winning performance
- Rahm is the No.1 golfer in the world
Who’s The Best Of The Best In Professional Sports?
Monthly Hickok Belt® Award winners are selected by members of the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters. Please click below to learn more about the monthly winners – and why each deserved to be a candidate for the overall annual Hickok Belt® Award based on their amazing performances.

Aaron Judge Named “OVERALL” Hickok Belt® Award Winner for 2022
ROCHESTER, NY – Aaron Judge, professional baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees, has been named the Hickok Belt® Award “overall” winner for the 2022 year. Voting was conducted by a select panel of members of the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). The voters selected Aaron Judge when he made history on September 28, 2022 tying Roger Maris for the American League single season record with 61 Home Runs, a record set by Maris 61 years before. Then, on October 4, 2022, the 30 year old phenom smashed Home Run No. 62, a new American League record seven decades in the making. He surpassed Maris for the most home runs in American League history in a single season.
Other finalists for the “overall” award included each of the 2022 Hickok Belt® Award monthly winners, who finished in the following order, based on the NSMA voting: Lionel Messi (soccer), Steph Curry (basketball), Cooper Kupp (football), Novak Djokovic (tennis), Giannis Antetokounmpo (basketball) and Luka Doncic (basketball) – TIE, Bryce Harper (baseball), Rory McIlroy (golf) and Scottie Scheffler (golf).
“I would like to congratulate Aaron Judge on an amazing year in which he delivered the performance of a lifetime,” said Tony Liccione of the Hickok Belt® team. “His historic record breaking home runs were one of the greatest moments in professional sports history, and recognizes him as the “best of the best” across all sports.

Professional Golfer Jon Rahm Wins April 2023 Hickok Belt® Award
ROCHESTER, NY – Professional golfer, Jon Rahm, has been named the Hickok Belt® Award winner for the month of April 2023. Voting was conducted by a select panel of members of the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). The voters selected the 28 year old, the number one golfer in the world, for his epic performance in the April 6, 2023 Masters Tournament, the most revered golf tournament. Rahm captured his first green jacket, and the second major victory of his career and became the fourth Spaniard to win a Masters. It came on golf’s biggest stage. Rahm completed the final round three-under 69 to finish 12-under.
Other finalists for the month of April in order of how the NSMA ranked them included: Jimmy Butler (basketball), Gerritt Cole (baseball), Evans Chebet (road racing), Helen Obiri (road racing), Max Muncy (baseball), Roope Hintz (hockey), Laurent Brossoit (hockey), Carlos Alcaraz (tennis) and Petra Kvitova (tennis).
Rahm’s selection as the Hickok Belt® Award winner for the month of April not only recognizes him as “the best of the best” in professional sports for the month, it also makes him the third candidate eligible to receive the 2023 overall award, joining Mikaela Shiffrin, Damian Lillard and other finalists throughout the year based on NSMA voting.
2023 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2023: TBD
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January
Mikaela Shiffrin, Alpine Pro Skier
February
Damian Lillard: Portland Blazers Point Guard
March
Mikaela Shiffrin, Alpine Skier Phenom
April
Jon Rahm: Professional Golfer
2022 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2022: Aaron Judge: New York Yankees Outfielder
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January
Cooper Kupp, Football
February
Cooper Kupp, Football
March
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Basketball
April
Scottie Scheffler, Golf
May
Justin Thomas, Golf
June
Steph Curry, Basketball
July
Novak Djokovic, Tennis
August
Rory McIlroy, Golf
September
Aaron Judge, Baseball
October
Bryce Harper, Baseball
November
Luka Doncic, Basketball
December
Lionel Messi – Soccer
2021 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2021: Shohei Ohtani, Baseball
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January
Patrick Mahomes, Football
February
Naomi Osaka, Tennis
March
Luka Doncic, Basketball
April
Hideki Matsuyama, Golf
May
Phil Mickelson, Golf
June
Shohei Ohtani, Baseball
July
Caeleb Dressel, Swimming
August
Athing Mu, Track & Field
September
Emma Raducanu, Tennis
October
Eddie Rosario, Baseball
November
Jorge Soler, Baseball
December
Joe Burrow, Football
2020 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2020: Patrick Mahomes, Football
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January
Patrick Mahomes, Football
February
Tyson Fury, Boxing
March
COVID- 19 Pandemic
April
COVID- 19 Pandemic
May
COVID- 19 Pandemic
June
Dustin Johnson, Golf
July
Jon Rahm, Golf
August
Donovan Mitchell, Basketball
September
Bryson DeChambeau, Golf
October
LeBron James, Basketball
November
Dustin Johnson, Golf
December
Josh Allen, Football
2019 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2019: Kawhi Leonard, Basketball
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January
Tom Brady, Football
February
Julian Edelman, Football
March
Kyle Busch, Auto Racing
April
Tiger Woods, Golf
May
Brooks Koepka, Golf
June
Kawhi Leonard, Basketball
July
Novak Djokovic, Tennis
August
Rory McIlroy, Golf
September
Gerrit Cole, Baseball
October
Steven Strasburg, Baseball
November
Lamar Jackson, Football
December
Jimmy Garoppolo, Football
2018 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2018: Patrick Mahomes, Football
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January
Nick Foles, Football
February
Nick Foles, Football
March
LeBron James, Basketball
April
LeBron James, Basketball
May
LeBron James, Basketball
June
Kevin Durant, Basketball
July
Matt Carpenter, Baseball
August
Brooks Koepka, Golf
September
Christian Yelich, Baseball
October
Steve Pearce, Baseball
November
Simone Biles, Gymnast
December
Patrick Mahomes, Football
2017 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2017: Jose Altuve, Baseball
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January
Serena Williams, Tennis
February
Tom Brady, Football
March
Russell Westbrook, Basketball
April
Sergio Garcia, Golf
May
LeBron James, Basketball
June
Kevin Durant, Basketball
July
Jose Altuve, Baseball
August
Giancarlo Stanton, Baseball
September
Corey Kluber, Baseball
October
Jose Altuve, Baseball
November
George Springer, Baseball
December
James Harden, Basketball
2016 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2016: Michael Phelps, Swimming
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January
Novak Djokovic, Tennis
February
Stephen Curry, Basketball
March
Jason Day, Golf
April
Jake Arrieta, Baseball
May
Clayton Kershaw, Baseball
June
LeBron James, Basketball
July
Serena Williams, Tennis
August
Michael Phelps, Swimming
September
Rory McILroy, Golf
October
Corey Kluber, Baseball
November
Ben Zobrist, Baseball
December
Aaron Rodgers, Football
2015 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2015: Steph Curry, Basketball
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January
Tom Brady, Football
February
Tom Brady, Football
March
James Harden, Basketball
April
Jordan Spieth, Golf
May
Bryce Harper, Baseball
June
LeBron James, Basketball
July
Carli Lloyd, Soccer
August
Jake Arrieta, Baseball
September
Jordan Spieth, Golf
October
Daniel Murphy, Baseball
November
Steph Curry, Basketball
December
Steph Curry, Basketball
2014 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2014: Madison Bumgarner, Baseball
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January
Kevin Durant, Basketball
February
Carey Price, Hockey
March
Tuukka Rask, Hockey
April
Bubba Watson, Golf
May
Nelson Cruz, Baseball
June
Clayton Kershaw, Baseball
July
Rory McIlroy, Golf
August
Rory McIlroy, Golf
September
Jordan Zimmerman, Baseball
October
Madison Bumgarner, Baseball
November
Aaron Rogers, Football
December
Marshawn Lynch, Football
2013 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2013: LeBron James, Basketball
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January
Colin Kaepernick, Football
February
Joe Flaco, Football
March
LeBron James, Basketball
April
LeBron James, Basketball
May
Miguel Cabrera, Baseball
June
LeBron James, Basketball
July
Phil Mickelson, Golf
August
Miguel Cabrera, Baseball
September
Peyton Manning, Football
October
David Ortiz, Baseball
November
Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR
December
Peyton Manning, Football
2012 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS
OVERALL WINNER FOR 2012: LeBron James, Basketball
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January
Eli Manning, Football
February
Jeremy Lin, Basketball
March
Lindsey Vonn, Skiing
April
Bubba Watson, Golf
May
Josh Hamilton, Baseball
June
LeBron James, Basketball
July
Serena Williams, Tennis
August
Usain Bolt, Track
September
Serena Williams, Tennis
October
Pablo Sandoval, Baseball
November
Brad Keselowski, NASCAR
December
Adrian Peterson, Football
Past Hickok Belt® Award Winners
Past Hickok Belt® Award winners are truly a select group – a veritable who’s who of sports icons. The award has celebrated the incredible careers of leading figures throughout sports. With names like Ali, Mantle, Brown, Namath, Palmer, Phelps and James it is an impressive list to be sure. To learn more about the amazing athletes behind the award including video highlights of their accomplishments, please enjoy the listings below.

2020 Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City Chiefs
- Won January 2021 Hickok Belt® Award
- Led Chiefs to Superbowl LV
- Wins Annual 2020 annual Hickok Belt® Award

2019 Kawhi Leonard – Basketball
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Led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA Championship in franchise history
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Won NBA Finals MVP
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Signed mega $103 million contract with LA Clippers

2018 Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City Chiefs
- Won January 2021 Hickok Belt® Award
- Led Chiefs to Superbowl LV
- Wins Annual 2020 annual Hickok Belt® Award

2017 Jose Altuve: Houston Astros
- Led AL in hits for fourth straight year, along with a .346 batting average, 24 home-runs and 32 stolen bases
- Named American League MVP
- Led Houston Astros to first-ever World Series Championship

2016 Michael Phelps – Swimming
- Won 5 gold medals and one silver medal at 2016 Olympic Games in Rio
- Current career total of 28 Olympic medals including 23 gold
- Most decorated Olympic athlete in history

2015 Steph Curry – Basketball
- Led the Golden State Warriors to the 2014-2015 NBA Championship
- Averaged 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, 2.04 steals and 4.3 rebounds per game
- Set NBA record for the three-pointers in a single season (286)
- Voted 2014-2015 NBA MVP

2014 Madison Bumgarner – Baseball
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Posted an 18-10 regular season record with a 2.98 ERA
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Led the San Francisco Giants to the 2014 World Series title – earning his third championship ring with the team (2010, 2012, 2014)
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First player to record 2 wins, a shutout, and a save in a single World Series

2013 LeBron James – Basketball
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Led Miami Heat to 2013 NBA Championship—the team’s second consecutive title
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Voted NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP for 2013
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Averaged 26.8 points / 7.3 assists / 8.0 rebounds per game

2012 LeBron James – Basketball
- Led Miami Heat to team’s first NBA Championship
- Named NBA Finals MVP
- Won the gold medal as part of the U.S. men’s basketball team at the 2012 London Olympics
- Voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player while averaging 28 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game

1976 Ken Stabler – Football
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Had 66.7 completion percentage, with 27 touchdowns
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Named AFC Offensive Player of the Year
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Led Raiders to Super Bowl win over Vikings

1975 Pete Rose – Baseball
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Led NL with 112 runs, 47 doubles, hitting .317
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Hit .370 to win World Series MVP
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Led Reds to 7-game Series win over Red Sox

1974 Muhammad Ali – Boxing
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Avenged 1971 loss to Joe Frazier winning a 12-round decision
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Regained heavyweight crown by defeating George Foreman in “The Rumble in the Jungle”
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Considered by many to be the greatest fighter of all time

1973 O.J. Simpson – Football
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Led NFL in rushing with 2,003 yards
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First to run for more than 2,000 yards in one season
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Nicknamed “The Juice”

1972 Steve Carlton – Baseball
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Won 27 games for Phillies team that only won 59
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Won Cy Young by unanimous vote
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329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts second all-time for lefty

1971 Lee Trevino – Golf
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Won the US Open, Canadian Open and British Open in the span of four weeks
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Finished PGA tour career with 89 victories, including six majors
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Nicknamed “Super Mex” based on his Mexican American heritage and outstanding play

1970 Brooks Robinson – Baseball
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Regarded as the finest fielding third baseman in history
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Batted .429 and was named Series MVP in Oriole’s sweep of the Reds
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16 consecutive Gold Gloves earned him the nickname “The Human Vacuum Cleaner”

1969 Tom Seaver – Baseball
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Went 25-7 with 5 shutouts and a 2.21 ERA
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Helped underdog Mets defeat Orioles in World Series
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Finished career with 311 wins and 3,640 strikeouts

1968 Joe Namath – Football
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“Broadway Joe” delivered on guarantee of victory in Super Bowl III
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Selected Super Bowl MVP
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First to pass for 4,000 yards in one season (’67)

1967 Carl Yastrzemski – Baseball
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Last to win Triple Crown
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Batted .326, with 44 home runs, 121 RBIs
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Carried Red Sox to first AL pennant in 21 years

1966 Frank Robinson – Baseball
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Batted .316, with 49 home runs, 122 RBIs to win Triple Crown
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Won American League MVP
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Led Orioles to 4-game World Series sweep of Dodgers

1965 Sandy Koufax – Baseball
- Won Triple Crown with 26 wins, 2.04 ERA, 382 strikeouts
- Set Major League strikeout record with 382 Shutouts in Series Games 5 & 7 over Minnesota

1964 Jim Brown – Football
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Rushed for 1,446 yards
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Won 7th NFL rushing title in eight seasons
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Led Cleveland to the NFL championship

1963 Sandy Koufax – Baseball
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Led majors with a 1.88 ERA, 11 shutouts and 306 strikeouts in ‘63
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Beat Yankees twice in Dodgers’ Series sweep
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Tossed 4 no-hitters and won 3 Cy Young awards in abbreviated major league career

1962 Maury Wills – Baseball
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Stole 104 bases to break Ty Cobb’s record
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NL MVP batted .299, with 208 hits, 130 runs scored
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His base-stealing revolutionized baseball

1961 Roger Maris – Baseball
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Hit 61 home runs to beat Babe Ruth’s single season record
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Hit 100 home runs in his first two Yankee seasons
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Turned down a football scholarship to play for Yankees

1960 Arnold Palmer – Golf
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Won 8 tournaments, including The Masters and U.S. Open
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Shot 65, erasing a 7-stroke deficit to win Open
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Birdied final 2 holes to edge Ken Venturi to win Masters

1959 Ingemar Johansson – Boxing
- Upset heavily favored Floyd Patterson to claim heavyweight title via TKO
- First non-American winner of Hickok Belt® Award
- Retired with 26-2 record

1958 Bob Turley – Baseball
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Nicknamed “Bullet Bob” for his lightning quick fastball
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Went 21-7, with 2 shutouts, to win the Cy Young
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Led Yankees to comeback Series win over Braves

1957 Carmen Basilio – Boxing
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Became a world champion in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions
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Upset Sugar Ray Robinson in ’57 to claim World Middleweight title
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Finished career with 56-16-7 record

1956 Mickey Mantle – Baseball
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Batted .353 with 52 home runs,130 RBIs to win Triple Crown
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AL MVP led Yankees over Dodgers in Series
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Amazing catch preserved Larson’s Series perfect game

1955 Otto Graham – Football
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Led Cleveland Browns to 3rd NFL championship
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Led NFL in passing
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Threw for 2 TDs, ran for 2 in championship game

1954 Willie Mays – Baseball
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Won National League MVP
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“Say Hey Kid” led NL with .341 average
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Hit 41 home runs, with 110 RBIs

1953 Ben Hogan – Golf
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Won The Masters, U.S. and British Opens in ‘53
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Capped remarkable comeback from near fatal car accident
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Winner of 68 pro tournaments over his career

1952 Rocky Marciano – Boxing
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49-0 career record, including 43 knock-out victories
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Won 5 bouts in ’52 capped by defeating Jersey Joe Wolcott for Heavyweight title
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Retired 4 years later as only undefeated champion in history

1951 Allie Reynolds – Baseball
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First AL pitcher to throw 2 no-hitters in single season
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Posted a 17-8 record with 12 saves in relief
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Helped lead Yankees to 3rd consecutive World Series win

1950 Phil Rizzuto – Baseball
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Batted .324 as Yankee shortstop
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Won American League MVP
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Led Yankees to 4-game World Series sweep of Phillies