Hickok Belt

{{Short description|American sports trophy}} {{infobox sports award | name = S. Rae Hickok<br>Professional Athlete of the Year | nickname = Hickok Belt | image = Phil Rizzuto 1950.png | imagesize = 200px | alt = | caption = Phil Rizzuto, the first recipient of the award | description = Top professional athlete | country = United States | sponsor = Ray and Alan Hickok (original) | presenter = National Sports Media Association (current) | first = 1950 (not awarded 1977–2011) | firstwinner = Phil Rizzuto | mostrecent = Shohei Ohtani (2024) | mostwins = 2, by Sandy Koufax, LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, and Shohei Ohtani | url =  }} The '''S. Rae Hickok Professional Athlete of the Year''' award, commonly known as the '''Hickok Belt''', is a trophy awarded to the top professional athlete of the year in the United States. First awarded from 1950 to 1976, it was dormant until being revived in 2012. The most recent recipient is 2024 winner Shohei Ohtani.

==History== The award was created by Ray and Alan Hickok in honor of their father, Stephen Rae Hickok, who died unexpectedly in December 1945.<ref name=StoriedHistory>{{cite web|title=The Storied History of the Award that Made Sports History: The Backstory on the Hickok Belt, the Crown Jewel of the Sports World |work=HickokBelt.com |url=https://www.hickokbelt.com/about/history/ |access-date=January 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003182356/http://hickokbelt.com/about/history/ |archive-date=October 3, 2019 |via=Wayback Machine}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-hickok-shops-to-c/145817205/ |title=Hickok Shops to Close on Funeral Day |newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle |location=Rochester, New York |page=15 |date=December 11, 1945 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The elder Hickok had founded the Hickok Manufacturing Company of Rochester, New York, which made belts—hence the choice of a belt for the trophy.<ref name=Whatever>{{cite news|last1=Morrell |first1=Alan |title=Whatever Happened To ... the Hickok Belt |url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/10/22/whatever-happened-hickok-belt/92570050/ |access-date=October 24, 2016 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |publisher=Gannet Company |date=October 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023034637/https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/10/22/whatever-happened-hickok-belt/92570050/ |archive-date=October 23, 2020 |location=Rochester, New York |pages=8A–9A |url-status=dead }}</ref> The first recipient was baseball player Phil Rizzuto, who received the award for 1950 during a charity dinner event in Rochester on January 22, 1951.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/portland-press-herald-rizzuto-named-winn/186400091/ |title=Rizzuto Named Winner Of First Hickok Award |agency=AP |newspaper=Portland Press Herald |location=Portland, Maine |page=9 |date=January 23, 1951 |accessdate=December 7, 2025 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He narrowly bested golfer Ben Hogan.{{efn|In balloting, Rizzuto had 162 points including 38 first-place votes, while Hogan had 156 points including 34 first-place votes.<ref name=hall/>}} Rizzuto's belt is now in the collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.<ref name=hall>{{cite web |url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/museum-preserves-historic-hickok-belt |title=Museum Preserves Historic Hickok Belt |first=Scott |last=Pitoniak |website=baseballhall.org |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref>

News reports indicate that the Hickok family had previously awarded other belts to boxers, independent of the annual athlete of the year award. Examples include the presentation of "a solid gold and jewel-studded championship belt" to Jake LaMotta in June 1949 at the conclusion of a bout at Detroit's Briggs Stadium,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1949/06/17/archives/lamotta-wins-title-by-knockout-as-cerdan-is-unable-to-answer-bell.html |title=LaMotta Wins Title by Knockout as Cerdan Is Unable to Answer Bell for 10th |first=James P. |last=Dawson |newspaper=The New York Times |page=31 |date=June 17, 1949 |accessdate=December 7, 2025 |via=The New York Times Archives |quote=Joe Louis, director of the International Boxing Club, which promoted the fight, stepped into the ring and presented to La Motta a solid gold and jewel-studded championship belt, a $5,000 creation of Ray Hickok made especially for the occasion, which must be won three times to become the personal property of the champion. It is an attractive design, constructed with at least a pound of gold and studded with diamonds, sapphires and rubies.}}</ref> and a belt given to a Rochester-area boxer named Mike Conroy in 1927.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/10/22/whatever-happened-hickok-belt/92570050/ |title=Whatever Happened To ... the Hickok Belt |first=Alan |last=Morrell |website=Democrat and Chronicle |url-access=limited |location=Rochester, New York |date=October 22, 2016 |accessdate=December 7, 2025 |quote=One belt was awarded in 1927 to a local fighter named Mike Conroy. That was the only one of its era. When company founder Stephen Rae Hickok died unexpectedly in 1945, his sons, Ray and Alan, took over the business and decided to award a belt in their father’s name to the middleweight boxing champion. That belt was presented in Detroit in 1949 to Jake LaMotta, who was immortalized in the film Raging Bull. After that, the Hickoks decided to move beyond boxing and present a belt to the top pro athlete in all of sports, and the Rochester ceremony was born.}}</ref>

The annual award winner received an alligator skin belt with a solid gold buckle, an encrusted {{convert|4|carat|adj=on}} diamond, and 26 gem chips. It was valued at $10,000 in 1951 {{USDCY|10000|1951}},<ref name=charlotte/> and its presentation was a major event in sporting news of the day.<ref name="D&C_12Oct2010">{{cite news|last=Matthews |first=Bob |title=Hickok Belt is returning to Rochester |url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20101011/SPORTS/101011018/Hickok-Belt-Dinner-returning-to-Rochester |access-date=October 14, 2010 |newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle |date=October 12, 2010 |agency=Gannett Company |archive-url=https://archive.today/20101015013129/http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20101011/SPORTS/101011018/Hickok-Belt-Dinner-returning-to-Rochester |archive-date=October 15, 2010 |location=Rochester, New York |pages=1A,4A |url-status=dead }}</ref> A simpler alligator skin belt with an engraved buckle of 10 karat gold was apparently awarded to monthly winners—examples include one presented to Otto Graham in recognition of his December 1954 monthly award, which was sold at auction in April 2001,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lelands.com/bids/1954-otto-graham-hickok-belt |title=1954 Otto Graham Hickok Belt Auction |website=lelands.com |date=April 2001 |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref> and one presented to Elgin Baylor in recognition of his March 1959 award, which was sold at auction in 2013.<ref name=march1959/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/auctions/property-from-the-collection-of-elgin-baylor-95 |title=Property from the Collection of Elgin Baylor |website=juliensauctions.com |date=2013 |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref>

A group of 200 sportswriters throughout the U.S. selected monthly winners, with an athlete of the year selected from those honorees.<ref name=charlotte>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-hickok-belt-is-on/145821370/ |title=Hickok Belt Is On Display in Charlotte |newspaper=The Charlotte Observer |location=Charlotte, North Carolina |page=1-B |date=December 29, 1951 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>{{efn|Annual voting does not appear to have been strictly limited to monthly winners, as 1951 annual voting included Bobby Thomson, Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, and Terry Sawchuk, none of whom were a monthly winner during 1951.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat-reynolds-wins-h/145826592/ |title=Reynolds Wins Hickok Award |agency=AP |newspaper=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |page=4C |date=January 29, 1952 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>}} For the first 21 years, from 1950 to 1970, the belt was awarded in Rochester at the annual Rochester Press-Radio Club dinner. After the Hickok company was taken over by the Tandy Corporation, the award was presented in larger cities such as Chicago or New York. After the 1976 annual award was presented, monthly awards were issued through October 1977 (naming a winner for the prior month), then halted.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-no-hickok-award-th/145829399/ |title=No Hickok Award This Year |agency=UPI |newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal |location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina |page=11 |date=December 23, 1977 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The award remained dormant until being revived in 2012.

During the first 27 years the annual award was presented, it was won 15 times by baseball players, five times by football players, four times by boxers, and three times by golfers. The only two-time winner was Sandy Koufax, in 1963 and 1965.

===Revival=== In 2010, Tony Liccione, the president of the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame, announced plans to reinstate the Hickok Belt starting in 2012.<ref name="D&C_13Oct2010">{{cite news|last=Bradley |first=Steve |title=Hickok Belt mold to be used again |url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20101013/SPORTS/10130353/Hickok-Belt-mold-to-be-used-again |access-date=October 14, 2010 |newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle |date=October 13, 2010 |agency=Gannett Company |archive-url=https://archive.today/20101015012417/http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20101013/SPORTS/10130353/Hickok-Belt-mold-to-be-used-again |archive-date=October 15, 2010 |location=Rochester, New York |pages=1D,2D |url-status=dead }}</ref> The mold for the belt used from 1951 onward{{efn|The first belt, in 1950, was engraved as the Ray Hickok Award, rather than the S. Rae Hickok Award engraving seen on later belts.<ref name=hall/>}} was found and planned to be used again.<ref name="D&C_13Oct2010" /> Liccione invited the 18 surviving belt winners (except O. J. Simpson, who at the time was incarcerated in Nevada) to a "comeback dinner", which was held on October 16, 2011, at St. John Fisher College in Rochester.<ref name="D&C_13Oct2010" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Award Ceremonies: 2011 Comeback Dinner|url=https://hickokbelt.com/history-ceremonies/#award-ceremonies |website=HickokBelt.com|access-date=December 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250518004633/https://hickokbelt.com/history-ceremonies/#award-ceremonies |archive-date=May 18, 2025 |via=Wayback Machine}}</ref> Attendees included Johnny Antonelli, Carmen Basilio (1957 winner), Jim Brown (1964 winner), George Chuvalo, Meadowlark Lemon, and Bob Turley (1958 winner).<ref name=dies76/>

Upon being re-established in 2012, the award was based on a vote by the National Sports Media Association;<ref name="RBJ_Sep11">{{cite news|last=Adams |first=Thomas |title=Efforts underway to bring back the Hickok Belt |url=http://www.rbj.net/article.asp?aID=188794 |access-date=September 19, 2011 |newspaper=Rochester Business Journal |date=September 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320191336/http://www.rbj.net/article.asp?aID=188794 |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |location=Rochester, New York |url-status=dead }}</ref> however, there were no public award ceremonies or belt presentations.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Morrell|first1=Alan|title=Whatever Happened To ... the Hickok Belt|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2016/10/22/whatever-happened-hickok-belt/92570050/?showmenu=true|website=commercial appeal|publisher=commercialappeal.com|access-date=December 26, 2017}}</ref> A 20-member panel selected one athlete each month, with the 12 monthly winners being eligible for the annual award.<ref name="RBJ_Sep11" />

For the 2012–2024 belts, five winners have been basketball players, five have been baseball players, two have been football players, and one has been a swimmer. There have been three two-time winners: LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, and Shohei Ohtani.

Tony Liccione died in February 2025.<ref name=dies76>{{cite news |url=https://nationalsportsmedia.org/news/liccione-man-behind-restart-of-hickok-belt-dies-at-76 |title=Liccione, Man Behind Re-Start of Hickok Belt, Dies at 76 |publisher=National Sports Media Association |website=nationalsportsmedia.org |date=February 27, 2025 |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref> Monthly awards since that time are lacking,<ref name=almanac/> leaving the future of the annual award uncertain.

===1950–1976=== The following athletes won the award during its original term. Contemporary newspaper reports indicate that monthly winners were also named,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-despirito-repeats-in-athlete/145812944/ |title=DeSpirito Repeats In Athlete Poll |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York City |page=75 |date=January 14, 1953 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> only some of whom are included in this table.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left" ! Year !! Winner !! Sport !! class=unsortable|Monthly winners |- |1950|| {{sortname|Phil|Rizzuto}}||Baseball || Ben Hogan, Johnny Longden, George Mikan,{{efn|Top vote-getter for March 1950 was college basketball coach Nat Holman, who had guided the CCNY Beavers to the NCAA title, but he was ruled ineligible "because he could not be classed as a professional athlete."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-mikan-named-march/145827318/ |title=Mikan Named March Tops on Hickok Award |agency=AP |newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle |location=Rochester, New York |page=41 |date=April 21, 1950 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>}} Jimmy Demaret, Stan Musial, Ben Hogan,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-hogan-wins-voti/145820929/ |title=Hogan Wins Voting For Hickok Award |newspaper=Brooklyn Eagle |page=20 |date=July 19, 1950 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Johnny Mize, Jim Konstanty, Ezzard Charles, George Ratterman & Phil Rizzuto (tie),<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ledger-enquirer-ratterman-rizzuto-tie-f/145826031/ |title=Ratterman, Rizzuto Tie for Hickok Award |agency=AP |newspaper=Ledger-Enquirer |location=Columbus, Georgia |page=17 |date=November 15, 1950 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Joe Culmone,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lexington-herald-culmone-wins-hickok/145820245/ |title=Culmone Wins Hickok Award |agency=AP |newspaper=The Lexington Herald |location=Lexington, Kentucky |page=8 |date=December 12, 1950 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Lou Groza<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/spokane-chronicle-the-toe-is-vote-pro/145825886/ |title='The Toe' Is Vote Pro of the Month |agency=AP |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Spokane, Washington |page=1 |date=January 15, 1951 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |1951|| {{sortname|Allie|Reynolds}}||Baseball || Babe Didrikson, Sugar Ray Robinson, Maurice Richard, Ben Hogan, Conn McCreary, Irish Bob Murphy, Jersey Joe Walcott, Bob Feller, Allie Reynolds,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-second-annual-hickok/145825053/ |title=Second Annual Hickok Award Is Wide Open |newspaper=The Daily Oklahoman |location=Oklahoma City |page=34-A |date=October 28, 1951 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Rocky Marciano,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-marciano-honored/145825263/ |title=Marciano Honored With Hickok Award |agency=AP |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |page=17 |date=November 13, 1951 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Otto Graham,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-otto-graham-given-hick/145825445/ |title=Otto Graham Given Hickok Award |agency=AP |newspaper=The Roanoke Times |location=Roanoke, Virginia |page=16 |date=December 18, 1951 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Charlie Burr<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-parsons-sun-hickok-award-to-ark-city/145825672/ |title=Hickok Award to Ark City Jockey |agency=AP |newspaper=The Parsons Sun |location=Parsons, Kansas |page=2 |date=January 14, 1952 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |1952|| {{sortname|Rocky|Marciano}}||Boxing || George Mikan, Chico Vejar,{{efn|Chico Vejar was a welterweight boxer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/10917 |title=Chico Vejar |website=BoxRec |accessdate=April 21, 2024}}</ref>}} Willie Hoppe & Jackie Burke (tie), Sal Maglie, Bobby Shantz, Jersey Joe Walcott & Julius Boros (tie), Rocky Marciano, Virgil Trucks, Rocky Marciano, Mickey Mantle, Anthony DeSpirito,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-marciano-despi/145827951/ |title=Marciano, DeSpirito Waging Close Race for Hickok Award |first=Steve |last=Snider |agency=UP |newspaper=The Atlanta Constitution |page=5 |date=January 6, 1953 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Anthony DeSpirito<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat-jockey-despirit/145828544/ |title=Jockey Despirito Voted December Hickok Award |agency=AP |newspaper=St. Louis Globe-Democrat |page=3B |date=January 15, 1953 |accessdate=April 21, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |1953|| {{sortname|Ben|Hogan}}||Golf || Lloyd Mangrum, Kid Gavilán, Gordie Howe, Ben Hogan, Roy Campanella, Ben Hogan, Ben Hogan, Eddie Mathews, Ted Williams, Billy Martin, Otto Graham, Bobby Layne<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-sports-spotlights/186422756/ |title=Sports Spotlights Set on Polio Dinner; Pro Athlete of Year Honored Tonight |newspaper=Democrat and Chronicle |location=Rochester, New York |page=15 |date=January 11, 1954 |accessdate=December 7, 2025 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |1954|| {{sortname|Willie|Mays}}||Baseball || Ezzard Charles, Neil Johnston,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bayonne-times-johnston-wins-hickok-a/186419054/ |title=Johnston Wins Hickok Award for February |newspaper=The Bayonne Times |location=Bayonne, New Jersey |page=11 |date=March 16, 1954 |accessdate=December 7, 2025 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Paddy DeMarco, Sam Snead, Stan Musial, Willie Mays, Joe Adcock, Johnny Antonelli, Dusty Rhodes, Willie Shoemaker, Jimmy Carter, Otto Graham<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-herald-otto-graham-named-hickok-can/186418418/ |title=Otto Graham Named Hickok Candidate |agency=AP |newspaper=Star-Herald |location=Scottsbluff, Nebraska |page=7 |date=January 19, 1955 |accessdate=December 7, 2025 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> |- |1955|| {{sortname|Otto|Graham}}{{efn|Graham's belt is now in the collection of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.profootballhof.com/photos/gallery/photos-gallery-artifacts-in-the-moments-memories-and-mementos-gallery/ |title=Artifacts in the Moments, Memories & Mementos Gallery |website=profootballhof.com |date=May 6, 2008 |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref>}} ||Football ||  |- |1956|| {{sortname|Mickey|Mantle}}||Baseball ||  |- |1957|| {{sortname|Carmen|Basilio}}||Boxing ||  |- |1958|| {{sortname|Bob|Turley}}||Baseball ||  |- |1959|| {{nowrap|{{sortname|Ingemar|Johansson}}}} ||Boxing || Elgin Baylor (March)<ref name=march1959>{{cite web |url=https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/items/242694/elgin-baylor-1959-s-rae-hickok-award-belt-buckle |title=Elgin Baylor 1959 S. Rae Hickok Award Belt Buckle |website=juliensauctions.com |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref> |- |1960|| {{sortname|Arnold|Palmer}}||Golf ||  |- |1961|| {{sortname|Roger|Maris}}{{efn|In July 2016, the belt awarded to Maris was stolen from The Roger Maris Museum, located in Fargo, North Dakota.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.startribune.com/fargo-thief-steals-trophy-belonging-to-baseball-great-roger-maris/388284781/|title = Fargo thief steals trophies belonging to baseball great Roger Maris |website=Minnesota Star Tribune |first= Mark |last=Brunswick |date=July 27, 2016}}</ref> In 2023, following arrests, it was reported that "the belt was cut in half" and would not be returning to the museum.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2023 |title=Roger Maris Stolen Memorabilia Case Solved, 9 People Arrested For String of Thefts |url=https://www.kvrr.com/2023/06/15/roger-maris-stolen-memorabilia-case-solved-9-people-arrested-for-string-of-thefts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621024156/https://www.kvrr.com/2023/06/15/roger-maris-stolen-memorabilia-case-solved-9-people-arrested-for-string-of-thefts/ |archive-date=June 21, 2023 |website=KVRR Local News}}</ref>}} ||Baseball ||  |- |1962|| {{sortname|Maury|Wills}}||Baseball ||  |- |1963|| {{sortname|Sandy|Koufax}}||Baseball ||  |- |1964|| {{sortname|Jim|Brown}}||Football ||  |- |1965|| {{sortname|Sandy|Koufax}} <small>(2)</small>||Baseball ||  |- |1966|| {{sortname|Frank|Robinson}}||Baseball ||  |- |1967|| {{sortname|Carl|Yastrzemski}}||Baseball ||  |- |1968|| {{sortname|Joe|Namath}}||Football ||  |- |1969|| {{sortname|Tom|Seaver}}||Baseball ||  |- |1970|| {{sortname|Brooks|Robinson}}{{efn|Robinson's belt was offered at auction in November 2015, but was not sold.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-collectibles/others/1970-s-rae-hickok-belt-presented-to-top-professional-athlete-from-the-brooks-robinson-collection/a/7150-12577.s |title=1970 S. Rae Hickok Belt Presented to Top Professional Athlete from The Brooks Robinson Collection |website=Heritage Auctions |date=November 2015 |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref>}} ||Baseball ||  |- |1971|| {{sortname|Lee|Trevino}}||Golf ||  |- |1972|| {{sortname|Steve|Carlton}}||Baseball || Gene Tenace (Oct)<ref>{{Cite news |date=1972-11-17 |title=Tenace Tops Hickok Poll |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/17/archives/tenace-tops-hickok-poll.html |access-date=2025-04-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |- |1973|| {{sortname|O. J.|Simpson}}||Football ||  |- |1974|| {{sortname|Muhammad|Ali}}||Boxing ||  |- |1975|| {{sortname|Pete|Rose}}{{efn|A photo of Rose with his belt appears on card no. 4 of the 1985 Pete Rose baseball card set, issued by Topps.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pristineauction.com/a11054028-Pete-Rose-Signed-1985-Topps-Rose-4-and-Kids-with-Hickok-Belt-BGS-Autograph-Grade-10 |title=Pete Rose Signed 1985 Topps Rose #4 and Kids with Hickok Belt |website=pristineauction.com |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref> The image appears to be mirrored, given the appearance of engraving on the belt.}} ||Baseball ||  |- |1976|| {{sortname|Ken|Stabler}}{{efn|Stabler's belt was submitted for auction in 2016,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story?id=17165279 |title=Ken Stabler items being auctioned, including Hickok Belt |agency=AP |website=ESPN.com |date=July 28, 2016 |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref> although the auction site listed the lot as "canceled".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pristineauction.com/a577417-Ken-Stabler-1976-Hickok-Belt-Award-for-Professional-Athlete-of-the-Year-Stabler-LOA |title=Ken Stabler 1976 Hickok Belt Award for Professional Athlete of the Year (Stabler LOA) |website=pristineauction.com |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref>}} ||Football ||  |- |1977|| {{sort|zzz|''not issued''}} || {{sort|zzz|{{mdash}}}} || Steve Cauthen, Steve Cauthen,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news-hickok-award-to-ca/145830228/ |title=Hickok Award to Cauthen |agency=AP |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |location=Bangor, Maine |page=19 |date=March 23, 1977 |accessdate=April 22, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Jimmy Young, Tom Watson, A. J. Foyt, Bill Walton,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman-walton-wins-hickok-a/145830000/ |title=Walton Wins Hickok Award |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |page=6B |date=July 21, 1977 |accessdate=April 22, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Tom Watson,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-tom-watson-wins-july-hi/145829902/ |title=Tom Watson Wins July Hickok Award |agency=AP |newspaper=Hartford Courant |location=Hartford, Connecticut |page=56 |date=August 26, 1977 |accessdate=April 22, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Lou Brock,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-brock-august-win/145829825/ |title=Brock August Winner In Hickok Award Poll |agency=AP |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |page=10C |date=September 25, 1977 |accessdate=April 22, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Guillermo Vilas,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-vilas-monthly-winner-f/145829712/ |title=Vilas monthly winner, for Hickok award |agency=AP |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |location=Phoenix, Arizona |page=D-2 |date=October 29, 1977 |accessdate=April 22, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> ''not issued'' (Oct–Dec) |} Source:<ref name=winners>{{cite web |title=Past Hickok Belt® Award Winners |work=HickokBelt.com |url=https://hickokbelt.com/winners/#past-hickok-belt-winners |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250518013609/https://hickokbelt.com/winners/#past-hickok-belt-winners |archive-date=May 18, 2025 |via=Wayback Machine}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; ! Year !! Winner !! Sport !! class=unsortable|Monthly winners |- |2012 |LeBron James |Basketball |{{flatlist}} * Eli Manning * Jeremy Lin * Lindsey Vonn * Bubba Watson * Josh Hamilton * LeBron James * Serena Williams * Usain Bolt * Serena Williams * Pablo Sandoval * Brad Keselowski * Adrian Peterson {{endflatlist}} |- |2013 |LeBron James {{small|(2)}} |Basketball |{{flatlist}} * Colin Kaepernick * Joe Flacco * LeBron James * LeBron James * Miguel Cabrera * LeBron James * Phil Mickelson * Miguel Cabrera * Peyton Manning * David Ortiz * Jimmie Johnson * Peyton Manning {{endflatlist}} |- |2014 |{{nowrap|Madison Bumgarner}} |Baseball |{{flatlist}} * Kevin Durant * Carey Price * Tuukka Rask * Bubba Watson * Nelson Cruz * Clayton Kershaw * Rory McIlroy * Rory McIlroy * Jordan Zimmermann * Madison Bumgarner * Aaron Rodgers * Marshawn Lynch {{endflatlist}} |- |2015 |Stephen Curry |Basketball |{{flatlist}} * Tom Brady * James Harden * Jordan Spieth * Bryce Harper * LeBron James * Carli Lloyd * Jake Arrieta * Jordan Spieth * Daniel Murphy * Stephen Curry {{endflatlist}} |- |2016 |Michael Phelps |Swimming |{{flatlist}} * Novak Djokovic * Stephen Curry * Jason Day * Jake Arrieta * Clayton Kershaw * LeBron James * Serena Williams * Michael Phelps * Rory McIlroy * Corey Kluber * Ben Zobrist * Aaron Rodgers {{endflatlist}} |- |2017 |Jose Altuve |Baseball |{{flatlist}} * Serena Williams * Tom Brady * Russell Westbrook * Sergio García * LeBron James * Kevin Durant * José Altuve * Giancarlo Stanton * Corey Kluber * José Altuve * George Springer * James Harden {{endflatlist}} |- |2018 |Patrick Mahomes |Football |{{flatlist}} * Nick Foles * LeBron James * Kevin Durant * Matt Carpenter * Brooks Koepka * Christian Yelich * Steve Pearce * Simone Biles * Patrick Mahomes {{endflatlist}} |- |2019 |Kawhi Leonard |Basketball |{{flatlist}} * Tom Brady * Julian Edelman * Kyle Busch * Tiger Woods * Brooks Koepka * Kawhi Leonard * Novak Djokovic * Rory McIlroy * Gerrit Cole * Stephen Strasburg * Lamar Jackson * Jimmy Garoppolo {{endflatlist}} |- |2020 | Patrick Mahomes {{small|(2)}} | Football |{{flatlist}} * Patrick Mahomes * Tyson Fury * ''No award (March–May)''{{efn|Monthly awards were temporarily suspended during 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the suspension of sporting events.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://westsidenewsny.com/sports/2020-04-19/hickok-belt-awards-temporarily-suspended/ |title=Hickok Belt® Awards temporarily suspended |website=westsidenewsny.com |date=April 19, 2020 |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref>}} * Dustin Johnson * Jon Rahm * Donovan Mitchell * Bryson DeChambeau * LeBron James * Dustin Johnson * Josh Allen {{endflatlist}} |- |2021 | Shohei Ohtani | Baseball |{{flatlist}} * Patrick Mahomes * Naomi Osaka * Luka Dončić * Hideki Matsuyama * Phil Mickelson * Shohei Ohtani * Caeleb Dressel * Athing Mu * Emma Raducanu * Eddie Rosario * Jorge Soler * Joe Burrow {{endflatlist}} |- |2022 | Aaron Judge | Baseball |{{flatlist}} * Cooper Kupp * Cooper Kupp * Giannis Antetokounmpo * Scottie Scheffler * Justin Thomas * Stephen Curry * Novak Djokovic * Rory McIlroy * Aaron Judge * Bryce Harper * Luka Dončić * Lionel Messi {{endflatlist}} |- |2023 | Nikola Jokić | Basketball |{{flatlist}} * Mikaela Shiffrin * Damian Lillard * Mikaela Shiffrin * Jon Rahm * Nikola Jokić * Nikola Jokić * Carlos Alcaraz * Simone Biles * Coco Gauff * Simone Biles and Adolis García (tie) * Dak Prescott * Joel Embiid {{endflatlist}} |- |2024 | Shohei Ohtani {{small|(2)}} | Baseball |{{flatlist}} * Jannik Sinner * Patrick Mahomes * Mikaela Shiffrin * Scottie Scheffler * Luka Dončić * Simone Biles * Simone Biles * Katie Ledecky * Shohei Ohtani * Freddie Freeman * Joey Logano * Saquon Barkley {{endflatlist}} |- |2025 | | |{{flatlist}} * Saquon Barkley<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.prlog.org/13061640-rb-saquon-barkley-wins-second-monthly-hickok-beltr-award.html |title=RB Saquon Barkley wins second monthly Hickok Belt(R) Award |publisher=Liccione Enterprises |website=prlog.org |date=February 13, 2025 |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref> * {{efn|Baseball Almanac indicates that monthly awards were discontinued after January 2025.<ref name=almanac>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/hickok_belt.shtml |title=Hickok Belt |website=Baseball Almanac |accessdate=December 7, 2025}}</ref>}} {{endflatlist}} |} Source:<ref name=winners/>

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book|last=Pitoniak|first=Scott|title=Jewel of the Sports World: The Story of the Hickok Belt|year=2010|publisher=RIT Cary Press|isbn=978-1933360454}}

==External links== *{{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20250517235247/https://hickokbelt.com/}} as of March 2025 via Wayback Machine

Category:American sports trophies and awards United States Hickok Category:Awards established in 1950 Category:Awards disestablished in 1976 Category:Awards established in 2012 Category:Sports in Rochester, New York Category:1950 establishments in the United States Category:1976 disestablishments in the United States Category:2012 establishments in the United States