The Hickok Belt® Award Winners

the crown jewel of the International sports 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.

Shohei Ohtani Named “OVERALL” Yearly Hickok Belt® Award Winner for 2024

ROCHESTER, NY – Japan born superstar Shohei Ohtani, pitcher/designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been named the overall winner of the 2024 Hickok Belt® Award. It’s the second time the 2024 National League most valuable player has won the annual award (2021). He had won the September monthly Hickok Award while helping the Dodgers surge to the National League West championship.
Voting was conducted by a select panel of members of the National Sports Media Association (NSMA).
Ohtani made history on September 19, 2024, in a game against the Miami Marlins, with one of the greatest single-game, individual performances in major league history. He had six hits, three of them home runs, and 10 runs batted in to go along with two stolen bases. The night enabled him to become the first MLB player to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season.

Other monthly winners considered for the overall 2024 award in order of how they were ranked: Patrick Mahomes, Football (February), Simone Biles, Gymnastics (June and July), Saquon Barkley, Football, (December), Katie Ledecky, Swimming (August), Scottie Scheffler, Golf (April), Freddie Freeman, Baseball (October), Luka Doncic, Basketball (May), Mikaela Shiffrin, Skiing (March), and Jannik Sinner, Tennis (January).

Ohtanis’ selection recognizes him as “the best of the best” in professional sports for the year.

Credit: Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley is the January 2025 Hickok Belt(R) Award Winner

ROCHESTER, NY – For the second time this season, 27-year-old running back for the Philadelphia Eagles has been named this time for the month of January 2025. Voting was conducted by a select panel of members of the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). Barkley was selected based on his extraordinary performance throughout January. He did not play in the final regular season game as his heroics in Game 17 clinched the NFC East and the number two seed overall. In the Wild Card round against the Green Bay Packers, Barkley rushed 25 times for a total of 119 rushing yards to help the Eagles to a 22-10 win. In the Divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams Barkly replicated his historic performance against the Rams in Week 12, rushing for 205 yards and two 60+ yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles won 28-22 to advance to the Championship game against the Washington Commanders, 55-23, and securing a berth in Super Bowl LIX.

Other finalists for the month of January in order how the NSMA ranked them were: Madison Keys (tennis), Jannik Sinner (tennis), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (basketball), Jalen Hurts (football), Giannis Antetokounmpo (basketball), Logan Thompson (hockey), David Pastrnak (hockey), Hideki Matsuyana (golf) and Hiroto Ogiwara (snowboarding).

Saquons’ selection as the Hickok Belt® winner for the month of January recognizes him as “the best of the best” in professional sports for the month, and makes him the first candidate eligible to receive the 2025 overall award and other finalists throughout the year based on NSMA voting.

2025 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS

OVERALL WINNER FOR 2025: TBD

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January

Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles Running Back

2024 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS

OVERALL WINNER FOR 2024: Shohei Othani: Los Angeles Dodgers

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January

Jannik Skinner, Professional Tennis Player

Febraury

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback

March

Mikaela Shiffrin, American World Cup Alpine Skier

April

Scottie Scheffler, Golf

May

Luka Doncic, Point Guard for the Dallas Mavericks

June

Simone Biles, Profesional American Gymnast

July

Simone Biles, Profesional American Gymnast

August

Katie Ledecky, Profesional American Swimmer

September

Shohei Othani, Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher/Designated Hitter

October

Freddie Freeman, First Baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers

November

Joey Logano, Professional Stock Car Racing Driver

December

Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles Running Back

2023 MONTHLY HICKOK BELT® WINNERS

OVERALL WINNER FOR 2023: Nikola Jokic: Denver Nuggets center

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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

May

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Center

June

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets Center

July

Carlos Alcaraz: Men’s Tennis

August

Simone Biles, Professional American Gymnast

September

Coco Gauff, Professional Tennis Star

October

Adolis Garcia, Texas Ranger Outfielder | Simone Biles, Professional American Gymnast

November

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys Quarterback

December

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers Center

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

  • Led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA Championship in franchise history

  • Won NBA Finals MVP

  • 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

  • Posted an 18-10 regular season record with a 2.98 ERA

  • Led the San Francisco Giants to the 2014 World Series title – earning his third championship ring with the team (2010, 2012, 2014)

  • First player to record 2 wins, a shutout, and a save in a single World Series

2013 LeBron James – Basketball

  • Led Miami Heat to 2013 NBA Championship—the team’s second consecutive title

  • Voted NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP for 2013

  • 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

  • Had 66.7 completion percentage, with 27 touchdowns

  • Named AFC Offensive Player of the Year

  • Led Raiders to Super Bowl win over Vikings

1975 Pete Rose – Baseball

  • Led NL with 112 runs, 47 doubles, hitting .317

  • Hit .370 to win World Series MVP

  • Led Reds to 7-game Series win over Red Sox

1974 Muhammad Ali – Boxing

  • Avenged 1971 loss to Joe Frazier winning a 12-round decision

  • Regained heavyweight crown by defeating George Foreman in “The Rumble in the Jungle”

  • Considered by many to be the greatest fighter of all time

1973 O.J. Simpson – Football

  • Led NFL in rushing with 2,003 yards

  • First to run for more than 2,000 yards in one season

  • Nicknamed “The Juice”

1972 Steve Carlton – Baseball

  • Won 27 games for Phillies team that only won 59

  • Won Cy Young by unanimous vote

  • 329 wins and 4,136 strikeouts second all-time for lefty

1971 Lee Trevino – Golf

  • Won the US Open, Canadian Open and British Open in the span of four weeks

  • Finished PGA tour career with 89 victories, including six majors

  • Nicknamed “Super Mex” based on his Mexican American heritage and outstanding play

1970 Brooks Robinson – Baseball

  • Regarded as the finest fielding third baseman in history

  • Batted .429 and was named Series MVP in Oriole’s sweep of the Reds

  • 16 consecutive Gold Gloves earned him the nickname “The Human Vacuum Cleaner”

1969 Tom Seaver – Baseball

  • Went 25-7 with 5 shutouts and a 2.21 ERA

  • Helped underdog Mets defeat Orioles in World Series

  • Finished career with 311 wins and 3,640 strikeouts

1968 Joe Namath – Football

  • “Broadway Joe” delivered on guarantee of victory in Super Bowl III

  • Selected Super Bowl MVP

  • First to pass for 4,000 yards in one season (’67)

1967 Carl Yastrzemski – Baseball

  • Last to win Triple Crown

  • Batted .326, with 44 home runs, 121 RBIs

  • Carried Red Sox to first AL pennant in 21 years

1966 Frank Robinson – Baseball

  • Batted .316, with 49 home runs, 122 RBIs to win Triple Crown

  • Won American League MVP

  • 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

  • Rushed for 1,446 yards

  • Won 7th NFL rushing title in eight seasons

  • Led Cleveland to the NFL championship

1963 Sandy Koufax – Baseball

  • Led majors with a 1.88 ERA, 11 shutouts and 306 strikeouts in ‘63

  • Beat Yankees twice in Dodgers’ Series sweep

  • Tossed 4 no-hitters and won 3 Cy Young awards in abbreviated major league career

1962 Maury Wills – Baseball

  • Stole 104 bases to break Ty Cobb’s record

  • NL MVP batted .299, with 208 hits, 130 runs scored

  • His base-stealing revolutionized baseball

1961 Roger Maris – Baseball

  • Hit 61 home runs to beat Babe Ruth’s single season record

  • Hit 100 home runs in his first two Yankee seasons

  • Turned down a football scholarship to play for Yankees

1960 Arnold Palmer – Golf

  • Won 8 tournaments, including The Masters and U.S. Open

  • Shot 65, erasing a 7-stroke deficit to win Open

  • 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

  • Nicknamed “Bullet Bob” for his lightning quick fastball

  • Went 21-7, with 2 shutouts, to win the Cy Young

  • Led Yankees to comeback Series win over Braves

1957 Carmen Basilio – Boxing

  • Became a world champion in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions

  • Upset Sugar Ray Robinson in ’57 to claim World Middleweight title

  • Finished career with 56-16-7 record

1956 Mickey Mantle – Baseball

  • Batted .353 with 52 home runs,130 RBIs to win Triple Crown

  • AL MVP led Yankees over Dodgers in Series

  • Amazing catch preserved Larson’s Series perfect game

1955 Otto Graham – Football

  • Led Cleveland Browns to 3rd NFL championship

  • Led NFL in passing

  • Threw for 2 TDs, ran for 2 in championship game

1954 Willie Mays – Baseball

  • Won National League MVP

  • “Say Hey Kid” led NL with .341 average

  • Hit 41 home runs, with 110 RBIs

1953 Ben Hogan – Golf

  • Won The Masters, U.S. and British Opens in ‘53

  • Capped remarkable comeback from near fatal car accident

  • Winner of 68 pro tournaments over his career

1952 Rocky Marciano – Boxing

  • 49-0 career record, including 43 knock-out victories

  • Won 5 bouts in ’52 capped by defeating Jersey Joe Wolcott for Heavyweight title

  • Retired 4 years later as only undefeated champion in history

1951 Allie Reynolds – Baseball

  • First AL pitcher to throw 2 no-hitters in single season

  • Posted a 17-8 record with 12 saves in relief

  • Helped lead Yankees to 3rd consecutive World Series win

1950 Phil Rizzuto – Baseball

  • Batted .324 as Yankee shortstop

  • Won American League MVP

  • Led Yankees to 4-game World Series sweep of Phillies