“I think this is the greatest thrill of my life.” That’s how the legendary Hank Aaron described the award named after him when he appeared on MLB Network last December. The following month, Aaron passed away at the age of 86. And so, the prestigious Hank Aaron Award, established in 1999 and given annually to the best offensive performer in each league, takes on added significance this year.
The 2021 Hank Aaron Award winners are being announced right now on MLB Network. The recipients are chosen by a panel made up of Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Pedro Martinez, Eddie Murray, John Smoltz and Robin Yount and a fan vote at MLB.com. Each Major League club nominated one player from its team to be considered, and a panel of MLB.com writers determined the seven finalists from each league.
Who will take home this year’s honor?