The Astros won an ESPY on Wednesday night. photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
Houston was set to make its presence known at the ESPYS this year. So, how did it all play out? Here are the results of the categories in which the Astros, Jose Altuve, George Springer, and James Harden were recognized.
BEST GAME
Houston Astros defeat Los Angeles Dodgers, World Series Game 5
Georgia Bulldogs defeat Oklahoma Sooners, Rose Bowl
WINNER: USA Women’s Hockey defeats Canada, 2018 Winter Olympics
The US Women’s hockey team took the ESPY for “Best Game” with their dramatic, gold medal-winning matchup against Canada in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The Astros were nominated for their thrilling Game 5 of the World Series.
BEST CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE
George Springer, Houston Astros – MLB World Series
WINNER: Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles – Super Bowl LII
Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors – NBA Finals
Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova Men’s Basketball – CBB National Championship
Nick Foles takes the ESPY for “Best Championship Performance” for his part in Super Bowl LII. George Springer was nominated for his performance in the World Series.
BEST TEAM
WINNER: Houston Astros, MLB
Philadelphia Eagles, NFL
USA Women’s Ice Hockey
Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NCAA Women’s Basketball
Villanova Wildcats, NCAA Men’s Basketball
Golden State Warriors, NBA
Washington Capitals, NHL
The Houston Astros are bringing home the ESPY for “Best Team.” Dallas Keuchel, Jose Altuve, and Alex Bregman accepted the award on behalf of the World Series champs. Keuchel thanks the fans: “Thanks for sticking with us.”
BEST MALE ATHLETE
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
James Harden, Houston Rockets
WINNER: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Alexander Ovechkin won the ESPY for “Best Male Athlete.” Jose Altuve was nominated for his notable performance throughout the 2017 season as was Rockets' James Harden.
BEST MLB PLAYER
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
WINNER: Mike Trout, LA Angels
Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
Jose Altuve falls to Mike Trout for "Best MLB Player."
BEST NBA PLAYER
WINNER: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
James Harden
Anthony Davis
Giannis Antekounmpo
LeBron James didn't win MVP this year, but he does take home the hardware for "Best NBA Player" at the ESPYS.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Dusty Baker has won the fourth Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Baseball Digest.
The beloved Baker retired following the 2023 season after spending 56 years in the majors as a player, coach and manager. He was honored Thursday with an annual distinction that “recognizes a living individual whose career has been spent in or around Major League Baseball and who has made significant contributions to the game.”
Willie Mays won the inaugural award in 2021, followed by Vin Scully in 2022 and Joe Torre last year.
“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor,” Baker said in a news release. “I never thought that I’d be in the class of the people that received this award. I know that my late mom and dad would be proud of me. This is really special.”
The 74-year-old Baker broke into the big leagues as a teenager with the Atlanta Braves in 1968 and played 19 seasons. He made two All-Star teams, won two Silver Slugger awards and earned a Gold Glove in the outfield.
He was the 1977 NL Championship Series MVP and finished fourth in 1980 NL MVP voting before helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win the 1981 World Series.
Following his playing career, Baker was a coach for the San Francisco Giants from 1988-92 and then became their manager in 1993. He won the first of his three NL Manager of the Year awards with the Giants that season and spent 26 years as a big league skipper, also guiding the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.
Baker took all those teams to the playoffs, winning 10 division crowns, three pennants and finally a World Series championship in 2022 with the Astros. He ranks seventh on the career list with 2,183 wins and is the only manager in major league history to lead five franchises to division titles.
In January, he returned to the Giants as a special adviser to baseball operations. Baker's former team is 7-18 under new Astros manager Joe Espada.
“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am honored to congratulate Dusty Baker as the 2024 recipient of Baseball Digest’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He joins an incredible club," Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Dusty represents leadership, goodwill, and winning baseball. His ability to connect with others, across generations, is second to none. He is a championship manager and player. But, most importantly, Dusty is an extraordinary ambassador for our national pastime.”
Baker was selected in voting by an 18-member panel from a list of candidates that also included Bob Costas, Sandy Koufax, Tony La Russa, Jim Leyland, Rachel Robinson and Bud Selig, among others.