Shohei Ohtani Named Hickok Belt® Award Winner for September 2024

ROCHESTER, NY – Japan-born superstar Shohei Ohtani, professional baseball pitcher/designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been named the Hickok Belt® Award winner for September 2024. 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. Ohtani had one of the greatest single-game individual performances in Major League history, going 6-for-6, with three home runs and ten RBI. Often compared to the legendary Babe Ruth, he became the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season. The 30-year-old, 6’4” superstar reached the 50/50 milestone in his 150^th game and is the odds-on favorite to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award.

Other finalists for September in order of how the NSMA ranked them were: Aryna Sabalenka (tennis), Jannik Sinner (tennis), Scottie Scheffler (golf), Jameson Taillon (baseball), Lydia Ko (golf), Daniel Dubois (boxing), Charles Leclerc (auto racing), Ross Chastain (auto racing) and Sabsanador (jockey: Mike Smith) (horse racing).

Ohtanis’ selection as the Hickok Belt® winner for September recognizes him as “the best of the best” in professional sports for the month, making him the eighth candidate eligible to receive the 2024 overall award, joining Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles, Luka Doncic, Scottie Scheffler, Mikaela Shiffrin, Patrick Mahomes, Jannik Sinner and other finalists throughout the year based on NSMA voting.

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

News Media: For more information, contact Tony Liccione at 585-964-3077 or info@hickokbelt.com.