Player of the Month Award

The National League officially began recognizing a Player of the Month on June 4, 1958. Warren Giles polled baseball writers and broadcasters from each Major League city then announced the winner and awarded them with an engraved desk set.

The American League began honoring a Player of the Month Award in 1974. Neither league split the award in any fashion until the National League began honoring a Pitcher of the Month Award in 1975 followed by the American League Pitcher of the Month Award in 1979.

"We are a game of tradition. The right kind of tradition has made baseball what it is, but blindly following tradition may lead into a rutn. Baseball must keep pace with the times." - Warren Files (1969)
Player of the Month Award

In Chronological Order / Pitcher of the Month Award

Year Month

P.R.

National League (Quantity)

P.R.

American League (Quantity)

1958

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Willie Mays (1) / Stan Musial (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Frank Thomas (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Joey Jay (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Lew Burdette (1)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Willie Mays (2)

--

Not Awarded

1959

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Hank Aaron (1) / Harvey Haddix (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Roy Face (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Don Drysdale (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Vern Law (1) / Willie McCovey (1)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Eddie Mathews (1)

--

Not Awarded

1960

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Roberto Clemente (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Lindy McDaniel (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Don Drysdale (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Warren Spahn (1)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Ken Boyer (1)

--

Not Awarded

1961

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Joey Jay (2)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

George Altman (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Frank Robinson (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Warren Spahn (2)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Jim O'Toole (1)

--

Not Awarded

1962

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Bob Purkey (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Sandy Koufax (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Frank Howard (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Jack Sanford (1)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1963

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Dick Ellsworth (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Ron Santo (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Willie McCovey (2)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Willie Mays (3)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1964

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Billy Williams (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Jim Bunning (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Ron Santo (2)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Frank Robinson (2)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Bob Gibson (1)

--

Not Awarded

1965

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Joe Torre (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Vern Law (2) / Willie Stargell (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Pete Rose (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Willie Mays (4)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1966

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Juan Marichal (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Gaylord Perry (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Mike Shannon (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Pete Rose (2)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1967

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Roberto Clemente (2)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Hank Aaron (2)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Jim Ray Hart (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Orlando Cepeda (1)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1968

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Don Drysdale (3)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Bob Gibson (2)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Bob Gibson (3)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Pete Rose (3)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Steve Blass (1)

--

Not Awarded

1969

April

--

Willie McCovey (3)

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Ken Holtzman (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Ron Santo (3)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Roberto Clemente (3)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Willie Davis (1)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1970

April

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Rico Carty (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Tommie Agee (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Bill Singer (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Bob Gibson (4)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1971

April

--

Willie Stargell (2)

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Lou Brock (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Willie Stargell (3)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Fergie Jenkins (1)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Joe Torre (2)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1972

April

--

Don Sutton (1)

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Bob Watson (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Cesar Cedeno (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Billy Williams (2)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Ken Henderson (1)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1973

April

--

Jerry Koosman (1)

--

Not Awarded

May

--

Willie Crawford (1)

--

Not Awarded

June

--

Greg Luzinski (1)

--

Not Awarded

July

--

Pete Rose (4)

--

Not Awarded

August

--

Davey Johnson (1)

--

Not Awarded

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Not Awarded

1974

April

--

Tommy John (1)

--

Graig Nettles (1)

May

--

Ralph Garr (1)

--

Rod Carew (1)

June

--

Buzz Capra (1)

--

Gaylord Perry (2)

July

--

Don Gullett (1)

--

Doc Medich (1)

August

--

Lou Brock (2)

--

Nolan Ryan (1)

September

--

Not Awarded

--

Al Kaline (1)

1975

April

--

Joe Morgan (1)

--

Robin Yount (1)

May

--

Bob Watson (2)

--

Jim Hughes (1)

June

--

Joe Morgan (2)

--

Fred Lynn (1)

July

--

Dave Kingman (1)

--

John Mayberry (1)

August

--

Tony Perez (1)

--

Jim Palmer (1)

September

--

Andy Thornton (1)

--

Gene Tenace (1)

1976

April

--

Mike Schmidt (1)

--

Willie Horton (1)

May

--

George Foster (1)

--

Ron LeFlore (1)

June

--

Al Oliver (1)

--

Mark Fidrych (1)

July

--

George Foster (2)

--

Reggie Jackson (1)

August

--

Joe Morgan (3)

--

Luis Tiant (1)

September

--

Steve Garvey (1)

--

Nolan Ryan (2) / Frank Tanana (1)

1977

April

--

Ron Cey (1)

--

Otto Velez (1)

May

--

Ken Reitz (1)

--

Frank Tanana (2)

June

--

George Foster (3)

--

Rod Carew (2)

July

--

Greg Luzinski (2)

--

Jim Rice (1)

August

--

George Foster (4)

--

Graig Nettles (2)

September

--

Cesar Cedeno (2)

--

Rod Carew (3)

1978

April

--

Rick Monday (1)

--

Frank Tanana (3)

May

--

Jack Clark (1)

--

Jim Rice (2)

June

--

Dave Winfield (1)

--

Ron Guidry (1)

July

--

Pete Rose (5)

--

Doug DeCinces (1)

August

--

Dave Parker (1)

--

Jim Rice (3)

September

--

Dave Parker (2)

--

Ron Guidry (2)

1979

April

--

George Foster (5)

--

Cecil Cooper (1)

May

--

Lou Brock (3)

--

Don Baylor (1)

June

--

George Foster (6)

--

Dan Meyer (1)

July

--

Mike Schmidt (2)

--

Don Baylor (2)

August

--

Keith Hernandez (1)

--

Fred Lynn (2)

September

--

Pete Rose (6)

--

Alfredo Griffin (1)

1980

April

--

Dave Kingman (2)

--

Lamar Johnson (1)

May

--

Mike Schmidt (3)

--

Ben Oglivie (1)

June

--

Dusty Baker (1)

--

Rod Carew (4)

July

--

Bob Horner (1)

--

George Brett (1) / Reggie Jackson (2)

August

--

Dale Murphy (1)

--

Cecil Cooper (2)

September

--

Gary Carter (1)

--

Eddie Murray / Jim Rice (4)

1981

April

--

Dave Concepcion (1)

--

Ken Singleton (1)

May

--

Art Howe (1)

--

Dwight Evans (1)

June

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

July

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

August

--

Mike Schmidt (4)

--

Cecil Cooper (3)

September

--

Gary Matthews (1)

--

Eddie Murray (1) / Willie Wilson (1)

1982

April

--

Dale Murphy (2)

--

Eddie Murray (2)

May

--

Tim Wallach (1)

--

Hal McRae (1)

June

--

Al Oliver (2)

--

George Brett (2)

July

--

Mike Schmidt (5)

--

Robin Yount (2)

August

--

Bill Buckner (1)

--

Doug DeCinces (2)

September

--

Claudell Washington (1)

--

Dave Winfield (2)

1983

April

--

Terry Kennedy (1)

--

George Brett (3)

May

--

Darrell Evans (1)

--

Rod Carew (5)

June

--

Andre Dawson (1)

--

Lou Whitaker (1)

July

--

Dusty Baker (2)

--

Cecil Cooper (4)

August

--

Mel Hall (1)

--

Lloyd Moseby (1)

September

--

Dale Murphy (3)

--

Cal Ripken, Jr. (1)

1984

April

--

Tony Gwynn (1)

--

Alan Trammell (1)

May

--

Leon Durham (1)

--

Eddie Murray (3)

June

--

Ryne Sandberg (1)

--

Tony Armas (1)

July

--

Jose Cruz (1)

--

Kent Hrbek (1)

August

--

Keith Moreland (1)

--

Gary Ward (1)

September

--

Dale Murphy (4)

--

Greg Walker (1)

1985

April

--

Dale Murphy (5)

--

Mike Davis (1)

May

--

Dave Parker (3)

--

George Brett (4)

June

--

Pedro Guerrero (1)

--

Rickey Henderson (1)

July

--

Keith Hernandez (2)

--

George Brett (5)

August

--

Willie McGee (1)

--

Don Mattingly (1)

September

--

Gary Carter (2)

--

Don Mattingly (2)

1986

April

--

Johnny Ray (1)

--

Kirby Puckett (1)

May

--

Hubie Brooks (1)

--

Wade Boggs (1)

June

--

Kevin Bass (1)

--

Kent Hrbek (2)

July

--

Eric Davis (1)

--

Scott Fletcher (1)

August

--

Dale Murphy (6)

--

Doug DeCinces (3)

September

--

Steve Sax (1)

--

Don Mattingly (3)

1987

April

--

Eric Davis (2)

--

Brian Downing (1)

May

--

Eric Davis (3)

--

Larry Parrish (1)

June

--

Tony Gwynn (2)

--

Wade Boggs (2)

July

--

Bo Diaz (1)

--

Don Mattingly (4)

August

--

Andre Dawson (2)

--

Dwight Evans (2)

September

--

Darryl Strawberry (1)

--

Alan Trammell (2)

1988

April

--

Bobby Bonilla (1)

--

Dave Winfield (3)

May

--

Bobby Bonilla (2)

--

Carney Lansford (1)

June

--

Will Clark (1)

--

Mike Greenwell (1)

July

--

Tony Gwynn (3)

--

Chili Davis (1)

August

--

Eric Davis (4)

--

Kent Hrbek (3)

September

--

Kevin McReynolds (1)

--

Jose Canseco (1)

1989

April

--

Von Hayes (1)

--

Fred McGriff (1)

May

--

Will Clark (2)

--

Ron Kittle (1)

June

--

Howard Johnson (1)

--

Ruben Sierra (1)

July

--

Mark Grace (1)

--

Robin Yount (3)

August

--

Pedro Guerrrero (1)

--

George Bell (1) / Nick Esasky (1)

September

--

Will Clark (3)

--

Paul Molitor (1)

1990

April

--

Bobby Bonilla (3)

--

Ken Griffey, Jr. (1)

May

--

Andre Dawson (3)

--

Jose Canseco (2)

June

--

Ryne Sandberg (2)

--

Brook Jacoby (1)

July

--

Barry Bonds (1)

--

George Brett (6)

August

--

David Justice (1)

--

Cecil Fielder (1)

September

--

Kal Daniels (1)

--

Kelly Gruber (1)

1991

April

--

Felix Jose (1)

--

Dave Henderson (1)

May

--

David Justice (2)

--

Ruben Sierra (2)

June

--

Barry Larkin (1)

--

Joe Carter (1)

July

--

Barry Bonds (2)

--

Robin Ventura (1)

August

--

Will Clark (4)

--

Frank Thomas (1)

September

--

Howard Johnson (2)

--

Cal Ripken, Jr. (2)

1992

April

--

Barry Bonds (3)

--

Roberto Alomar (1)

May

--

Felix Jose (2)

--

Kirby Puckett (2)

June

--

Cory Snyder (1)

--

Kirby Puckett (3)

July

--

Brett Butler (1)

--

Edgar Martinez (1)

August

--

Gary Sheffield (1)

--

Edgar Martinez (2)

September

--

Barry Bonds (4)

--

Frank Thomas (2)

1993

April

--

Barry Bonds (5)

--

John Olerud (1)

May

--

Jeff Bagwell (1)

--

Paul Molitor (2)

June

--

Andres Galarraga (1)

--

John Olerud (2)

July

--

Fred McGriff (2)

--

Rafael Palmeiro (1)

August

--

Tony Gwynn (4)

--

Frank Thomas (3)

September

--

Andres Galarraga (2)

--

Chris Hoiles (1)

1994

April

--

Ellis Burks (1)

--

Joe Carter (2)

May

--

Lenny Dykstra (1) / Mike Piazza (1)

--

Frank Thomas (4)

June

--

Jeff Bagwell (2)

--

Albert Belle (1)

July

--

Jeff Bagwell (3)

--

Frank Thomas (5)

August

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

September

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

1995

April

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

--

Not Awarded / Baseball Strike

May

--

Matt Williams (1)

--

Manny Ramirez (1)

June

--

Jeff Conine (1)

--

Edgar Martinez (3)

July

--

Dante Bichette (1)

--

Garret Anderson (1)

August

--

Mike Piazza (2)

--

Albert Belle (2)

September

--

Dante Bichette (2)

--

Albert Belle (3)

1996

April

--

Barry Bonds (6)

--

Frank Thomas (6)

May

--

Jeff Bagwell (4)

--

Mo Vaughn (1)

June

--

Dante Bichette (3)

--

Mark McGwire (1)

July

--

Sammy Sosa (1)

--

Juan Gonzalez (1)

August

--

Ken Caminiti (1)

--

Alex Rodriguez (1)

September

--

Ken Caminiti (2)

--

Frank Thomas (7)

1997

April

--

Larry Walker (1)

--

Ken Griffey, Jr. (2)

May

--

Tony Gwynn (5)

--

Frank Thomas (8)

June

--

Mike Piazza (3)

--

Jeff King (1)

July

--

Barry Bonds (7)

--

Tim Salmon (1)

August

--

Mike Piazza (4)

--

Bernie Williams (1)

September

--

Mark McGwire (2)

--

Juan Gonzalez (2)

1998

April

--

Mark McGwire (3)

--

Ivan Rodriguez (1)

May

--

Mark McGwire (4)

--

Bernie Williams (2)

June

--

Sammy Sosa (2)

--

Rafael Palmeiro (2)

July

--

Vladimir Guerrero (1)

--

Albert Belle (4)

August

--

Jeff Kent (1)

--

Derek Jeter (1)

September

--

Mark McGwire (5)

--

Albert Belle (5)

1999

April

--

Matt Williams (2)

--

Manny Ramirez (2)

May

--

Sammy Sosa (3)

--

Nomar Garciaparra (1)

June

--

Jeromy Burnitz (1)

--

Rafael Palmeiro (3)

July

--

Mark McGwire (6)

--

Joe Randa (1)

August

--

Vladimir Guerrero (2)

--

Rafael Palmeiro (4) / Ivan Rodriguez (2)

September

--

Greg Vaughn (1)

--

Albert Belle (6)

2000

April

--

Vladimir Guerrero (3)

--

Jermaine Dye (1)

May

--

Todd Helton (1)

--

Edgar Martinez (4)

June

--

Jeff Kent (2)

--

Albert Belle (7)

July

--

Sammy Sosa (4)

--

Johnny Damon (1)

August

--

Todd Helton (2)

--

Glenallen Hill (1)

September

--

Richard Hidalgo (1)

--

Jason Giambi (1)

2001

April

--

Luis Gonzalez (1)

--

Manny Ramirez (3)

May

--

Barry Bonds (8)

--

Jason Giambi (2)

June

--

Luis Gonzalez (2)

--

Mike Sweeney (1)

July

--

Jeff Bagwell (5)

--

Jim Thome (1)

August

--

Sammy Sosa (5)

--

Jermaine Dye (2)

September

--

Barry Bonds (9)

--

Eric Chavez (1)

2002

April

--

Vladimir Guerrero (4)

--

Torii Hunter (1)

May

--

Todd Helton (3)

--

Jason Giambi (3)

June

--

Jeff Kent (3)

--

Paul Konerko (1)

July

--

Larry Walker (2)

--

Alex Rodriguez (2)

August

--

Barry Bonds (10)

--

Alex Rodriguez (3)

September

--

Brian Jordan (1)

--

Manny Ramirez (4)

2003

April

--

Todd Helton (4)

--

Alfonso Soriano (1)

May

--

Albert Pujols (1)

--

Edgar Martinez (5)

June

--

Albert Pujols (2)

--

Jason Giambi (4)

July

--

Barry Bonds (11)

--

Magglio Ordonez (1)

August

--

Vladimir Guerrero (5)

--

Alex Rodriguez (4)

September

--

Jim Thome (2)

--

Alfonso Soriano (2)

2004

April

--

Barry Bonds (12)

--

Carlos Beltran (1)

May

--

Lance Berkman (1)

--

Melvin Mora (1)

June

--

Jim Thome (3)

--

Ivan Rodriguez (3)

July

--

Jim Edmonds (1)

--

Mark Teixeira (1)

August

--

Barry Bonds (13)

--

Ichiro Suzuki (1)

September

--

Adrian Beltre (1)

--

Vladimir Guerrero (6)

2005

April

--

Derrek Lee (1)

--

Brian Roberts (1)

May

--

Bobby Abreu (1)

--

Alex Rodriguez (5)

June

--

Andruw Jones (1)

--

Travis Hafner (1)

July

--

Adam Dunn (1)

--

Jason Giambi (5)

August

--

Andruw Jones (2)

--

Alex Rodriguez (6)

September

--

Randy Winn (1)

--

David Ortiz (1)

2006

April

MLB.com Press Release

Albert Pujols (3)

MLB.com Press Release

Jason Giambi (6)

May

MLB.com Press Release

Jason Bay (1)

MLB.com Press Release

Alex Rodriguez (7)

June

MLB.com Press Release

David Wright (1)

MLB.com Press Release

Joe Mauer (1)

July

MLB.com Press Release

Chase Utley (1)

MLB.com Press Release

David Ortiz (2)

August

MLB.com Press Release

Ryan Howard (1)

MLB.com Press Release

Travis Hafner (2)

September

MLB.com Press Release

Ryan Howard (2)

MLB.com Press Release

Robinson Cano (1)

2007

April

MLB.com Press Release

Jose Reyes (1)

MLB.com Press Release

Alex Rodriguez (8)

May

MLB.com Press Release

Prince Fielder (1)

MLB.com Press Release

Justin Morneau (1)

June

MLB.com Press Release

Alfonso Soriano (3)

MLB.com Press Release

Alex Rodriguez (9)

July

MLB.com Press Release

Ryan Braun (1)

MLB.com Press Release

Hideki Matsui (1)

August

MLB.com Press Release

Mark Teixeira (2)

MLB.com Press Release

Magglio Ordonez (2)

September

MLB.com Press Release

Matt Holliday (1)

MLB.com Press Release

David Ortiz (3)

2008

April

MLB.com Press Release

Chase Utley (2)

MLB.com Press Release

Josh Hamilton (1)

May

MLB.com Press Release

Lance Berkman (1)

MLB.com Press Release

Josh Hamilton (2)

June

MLB.com Press Release

Hanley Ramirez (1)

MLB.com Press Release

J.D. Drew (1)

July

MLB.com Press Release

Ryan Braun (2)

MLB.com Press Release

Miguel Cabrera (1)

August

MLB.com Press Release

Manny Ramirez (5)

MLB.com Press Release

Melvin Mora (2)

September

MLB.com Press Release

Ryan Howard (3)

MLB.com Press Release

Shin-Soo Choo (1)

2009

April

MLB.com Press Release

Albert Pujols (4)

MLB.com Press Release

Evan Longoria (1)

May

--

To Be Determined (x)

MLB.com Press Release

Joe Mauer (2)

June

MLB.com Press Release

Albert Pujols (5)

MLB.com Press Release

B.J. Upton (1)

July

MLB.com Press Release

Ryan Ludwick (1)

MLB.com Press Release

Bobby Abreu (2)

August

MLB.com Press Release

Ryan Howard (4)

MLB.com Press Release

Kendry Morales (1)

September

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To Be Determined (x)

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To Be Determined (x)

Year Month

P.R.

National League (Quantity)

P.R.

American League (Quantity)

Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award



The first and only Major League baseball player to earn / receive a Player of the Month Award three times during the same season was Mark McGwire who, in 1998, won the honor in April, May and September.

Did you know that Al Kaline, who won in September 1974, won his first & only Player of the Month Award during the final month of his Major League career?

Award winners have included average players having breakout months, legendary players have (another) legendary months, and even one or two fair players having career type months. Share your memories of the winning months / players on Baseball Fever.