“You never think you’d win any awards growing up, so to win an award like this that recognizes you as a player, not just a pitcher … It’s amazing, really,” Kershaw said of the Player of the Year Award. “I think more than anything, coming from the players, to have their respect, this is awesome. I can’t take it lightly.”
Kershaw’s fellow finalists were Mike Trout of the Angels and Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins. Trout and Stanton were selected as Outstanding Players in the American and National Leagues, respectively.< /p>
Kershaw succeeded Mariano Rivera as the winner of the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, given for contributions to society. The Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo and Adam LaRoche of the Nationals were the other finalists.< /p>
“This is awesome,” Kershaw said, accepted the award from Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark. “For the players to vote something like this for me . . . to have their respect and influence in my life is awesome. I can’t thank everyone enough.”< /p>
Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, began Kershaw’s Challenge in 2011, doing extensive work globally in Africa as well as the Dallas and Los Angeles areas to improve the quality of so many lives, notably the youth.< /p>
The Mariners’ Felix Hernandez claimed Outstanding Pitcher in the AL. Selected as Outstanding Rookies were Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets and Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox in the AL. Comeback Player awards were presented to the Marlins’ Casey McGehee in the NL and the Mariners’ Chris Young in the AL.< /p>
Before Madison Bumgarner of the three-time World Series champion San Francisco Giants authored his historic postseason saga, Kershaw was the game’s dominant pitcher from April through September.< /p>
“The coolest thing is having your peers have your back,” Kershaw said. “They’re the only ones who really know how hard the game is.”< /p>
Kershaw’s selection as Player of the Year ended a three-year run by the Tigers stars. Miguel Cabrera took the award home in 2013 and 2012, and Justin Verlander was the 2011 choice. Cabrera also was the AL Outstanding Player the past two seasons, and Verlander was the AL Outstanding Pitcher in 2011.
Bumgarner expressed the respect players across the game feel for Kershaw, his NL West rival.
“He’s an awesome guy,” Bumgarner told MLB.com this spring. “He’s definitely somebody you’re happy to see have all the success he’s had. He’s one of the best people I know.”
Winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive Major League ERA title, Kershaw finished 21-3 with his 1.77 ERA and had 239 strikeouts in 198 1.3 innings. The lefty from Dallas came within an error of a perfect game on June 18 at Dodger Stadium with a no-hitter against the Rockies, striking out 15.
Kershaw also won the NL’s Outstanding Pitcher award in 2013 and 2011. The Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright and Reds’ Johnny Cueto also enjoyed superb seasons as finalists for the award.
Hernandez, a first-time winner, called it “an amazing feeling . . . an honor to be selected by the players. The durable King Felix had another brilliant season in driving the Mariners to within one game of the AL Wild Card, going 15-6 with a 2.14 ERA while striking out 248 in 236 innings. “We’ve got a great team,” he said, “and I think we’re going to be better next year.”
Hernandez’s teammate, Young, rebounded from several injury-riddled seasons to claim the Comeback Player award by going 12-9 with a 3.65 ERA. Tigers teammates Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez were fellow finalists.< /p>
McGehee recaptured his early-career Brewers form in Miami after spending the 2013 season in Japan. He hit .287 with 76 RBIs while playing 160 games. The Giants’ Tim Hudson and Edinson Volquez of the Pirates also were finalists for the Comeback Player award.
Trout, 23, led the AL in runs (115) and runs batted in (111), finishing third in OPS (.939) and slugging (.561). He batted .287 and stole 16 bases in 18 attempts while playing superb center field. Trout won his first Players Choice Award in 2012 as Outstanding Rookie in the AL.
“This year was a little different,” said Trout, who moved down from leadoff to No. 2 in the order. “I got to drive in some more runs, which was fun.” Other finalists were Victor Martinez of the Tigers and batting champion Jose Altuve of the Astros.
Stanton, who turns 25 this week, had his season end prematurely when he was hit in the face by a pitch but still became Miami’s first NL home run champion with 37 to go with 105 RBIs. A top-flight right fielder known for his power arm, he led the league in slugging (.555), was second in OPS (.950) and stole 13 bases in 14 tries, batting .288.< /p>
“It means a lot to me . . . reflecting how my peers feel about me,” said Stanton, whose leadership as well as his production helped drive the young Marlins. Kershaw and versatile Josh Harrison of the Pirates were the other NL finalists for the award.< /p>
DeGrom, who was 9-6 with a 2.69 ERA, won the NL Rookie award with the Reds’ Billy Hamilton and David Peralta of the D-backs the other finalists.< /p>
Abreu, Chicago’s Cuban import, more than lived up to expectations as a power-hitting first baseman. He hit .317 with 36 homers and 117 RBIs, ranking second in the AL with a .964 OPS. Also delivering excellent rookie seasons were finalists Matt Shoemaker of the Angels and the Twins’ Danny Santana.
The Players Choice Awards debuted in 1992. They benefit the Major League Baseball Players Trust, the charitable foundation created by and run by the players. Balloting was conducted in MLB clubhouses on Sept. 16 under the supervision of accounting firm KPMG.
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
