This Year in Baseball Awards
The This Year in Baseball Awards — now called the "Esurance MLB Awards" — were initiated by Major League Baseball in. They are honors given annually to the most extraordinary baseball performances, players, managers, and executives, as voted on by fans, media, team front-office personnel, former players, and the Society for American Baseball Research. Unlike MLB's other awards—which are given to one player in each of the two leagues—the Esurance MLB Awards are given to only one player in all of MLB.
In 2010, MLB began referring to the awards as the "GIBBY Awards."
In 2015, the awards were renamed by MLB as the "Esurance MLB Awards." The winners continue to receive a GIBBY trophy. Several new awards were added, including some that are based on social media.
System
Each winner is selected by a vote of fans, MLB alumni, each team's front-office personnel, members of the media, and SABR. Fans cast their votes via the online-voting system on MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball. Over thirteen million fans voted in 2010.In the first year, there were six categories of awards: Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Setup Man of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Play of the Year, and Blooper of the Year.
In, three new awards were added : Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Individual Performance of the Year. The Blooper of the Year was renamed Bizarre Play of the Year.
In, one category was divided into two : Starting Pitcher of the Year and Closer of the Year. Two categories were renamed: Hitter of the Year and Blooper of the Year.
In 2007, two new categories were added : Moment of the Year and Postseason Moment of the Year.
In 2008, a 13th category was added: Executive of the Year. The Blooper of the Year was renamed Oddity of the Year. The Performance of the Year was renamed Single-Game Performance of the Year.
In 2009, a 14th category was added: Unsung Star of the Year. The Single-Game Performance of the Year was changed back to Performance of the Year.
In 2010, the name of the awards was changed to the "GIBBY Awards". Five new categories were added : Breakout Player of the Year, Dependable Player of the Year, Postseason MVP, Game of the Year, and Fan Moment of the Year. Two categories were renamed: Player of the Year and X-Factor Player of the Year.
In 2011, a new category was added: Comeback Player of the Year. One category was dropped: Dependable Player of the Year. Two categories were renamed: Wow Factor of the Year and Walk-Off of the Year.
In 2012, two new categories were added: MLB MVP and Storyline of the Year. Two categories were dropped: Wow Factor of the Year and Moment of the Year. Two categories were divided into four : Breakout Hitter and Breakout Pitcher and Hitting Performance and Pitching Performance. Two categories were renamed: Hitter of the Year and Cut4.
In 2013, two categories were added : Moment of the Year and Lifetime Achievement.
In 2014, the name of every award - except two - was changed from "of the Year" to "Best," as in "Best Rookie." One category was added: Best Outfield Throw. One category was dropped: Lifetime Achievement. Another category was replaced by three new categories : Best Postseason Play, Best Postseason Walk-Off, and Best Postseason Storyline. Four categories were renamed: Most Valuable Major Leaguer, Best Everyday Player, Best Breakout Everyday Player, and Best Bounceback Player.
In 2015, the name of the awards was again changed, to the "Esurance MLB Awards," with each winner still receiving a GIBBY trophy. Eight categories were added: Social Media Personality, Social Media Post, Celebrity Fan, MLB Interview, Call, Call, Video Board Moment, and Trending Topic. Nine categories were dropped: Closer, Setup Man, Outfield Throw, Storyline, Oddity, Walk-Off, Postseason Play, Postseason Walk-Off, and Postseason Storyline. Two categories were divided into four: Play and Play and Fan Catch and Player–Fan Interaction. Four categories were consolidated into two : Breakout Player and Performance. Two categories were renamed: Best Major Leaguer and Best Major Leaguer, Postseason.
In 2016, five categories were dropped: Breakout Player, Bounceback Player, Celebrity Fan, MLB Interview, and Video Board Moment. Two categories were consolidated into one : Call, TV/Radio. Two categories were renamed: Best Hitter and Best Pitcher.
Awards
The order of awards is:- Best Major Leaguer
- Best Hitter
- Best Pitcher
- Best Rookie
- Best Defensive Player
- Best Manager
- Best Executive
- Best Social Media Personality
- Best Play, Offense
- Best Play, Defense
- Best Major Leaguer, Postseason
- Best Moment
- Best Performance
- Best Social Media Post
- Best Fan Catch
- Best Call, TV/Radio
- Best Player–Fan Interaction
- Best Trending Topic
Former awards
- Bizarre Play of the Year – see "Blooper of the Year".
- Blooper of the Year.
- Bounceback Player, Best.
- Breakout Everyday Player, Best.
- Breakout Hitter of the Year.
- Breakout Pitcher.
- Breakout Player, Best.
- Celebrity Fan, Best.
- Closer, Best.
- Comeback Player of the Year.
- Cut4 Topic, Best.
- Dependable Player of the Year.
- Everyday Player, Best ; renamed Best Hitter in 2016; formerly Player of the Year ; formerly Hitter of the Year.
- Fan Moment of the Year.
- Game of the Year.
- Hitter of the Year.
- Hitting Performance, Best.
- Lifetime Achievement.
- MLB Interview, Best.
- MLB MVP.
- Most Valuable Major Leaguer.
- Oddity, Best ; discontinued in 2015; formerly Blooper of the Year and Bizarre Play of the Year.
- Outfield Throw, Best.
- Performance of the Year.
- Pitcher of the Year.
- Pitching Performance.
- Play of the Year.
- Player of the Year ; renamed Hitter of the Year ; renamed Best Everyday Player in 2014 and then Best Hitter in 2016.
- Postseason Moment of the Year.
- Postseason MVP.
- Postseason Play, Best.
- Postseason Storyline, Best.
- Postseason Walk-Off, Best.
- Setup Man, Best.
- Single-Game Performance of the Year.
- Starting Pitcher, Best.
- Storyline, Best.
- Unsung Star of the Year.
- Video Board Moment.
- Walk-Off of the Year.
- Wow Factor of the Year – see "Unsung Star of the Year".
- X-Factor Player of the Year - see "Unsung Star of the Year".
Award winners
- For each year's awards – at MLB.com – see footnote.
- Many of the awards for 2002 to 2014 are listed on the GIBBY Awards / This Year in Baseball Awards page at Baseball-Almanac.com
- The awards for 2015 to the present are listed on the Esurance MLB Awards page at Baseball-Almanac.com
- 2002–2009 This Year in Baseball Awards
- 2015 Esurance MLB Awards
- 2016 Esurance MLB Awards