Ohtani Named Overall 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 National Sports Media Association (NSMA) members.

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.

To learn more about the Hickok Belt® Award and its rich history, please visit www.hickokbelt.com.

NOTE: Tony Liccione, the person responsible for administering the Hickok Belt Award, passed away on February 23. The future of the Hickok Belt Award is unknown at this time.