The Red Smith Award is given annually by the Associated Press Sports Editors to a writer or editor who has made major contributions to sports journalism.
The award is regarded as the highest sports journalism honor in the country. Recipients are enshrined at the APSE Red Smith Hall of Fame, located at the Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center in downtown Indianapolis.
The award is named after Red Smith, whose sportswriting career spanned five decades. He was the award’s first winner in 1981.
Former APSE President Todd M. Adams maintains a comprehensive web site featuring profiles on past Red Smith Award winners.
2020s • 2010s • 2000s • 1990s • 1980s
2020s
| Year | Recipient | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Claire Smith | Philadelphia Bulletin |
| 2022 | Leon Carter | The Athletic |
| 2021 | Sally Jenkins | The Washington Post |
| 2020 | Christine Brennan | USA Today |
2010s
| Year | Recipient | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Sandy Rosenbush | Sports Journalism Institute |
| 2018 | Terry Taylor | Associated Press |
| 2017 | Henry Freeman | USA Today |
| 2016 | Leigh Montville | Boston Globe / Sports Illustrated |
| 2015 | Bob Ryan | Boston Globe |
| 2014 | Wendell Smith | Chicago Herald-American |
| 2013 | Dan Jenkins | Sports Illustrated |
| 2012 | Frank Deford | Sports Illustrated |
| 2011 | Bill Millsaps | Richmond Times-Dispatch |
| 2010 | Mitch Albom | Detroit Free Press |
2000s
| Year | Recipient | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Vince Doria | ESPN |
| 2008 | W.C. Heinz | New York Sun |
| 2007 | Van McKenzie | Orlando Sentinel |
| 2006 | Joe McGuff | Kansas City Star |
| 2005 | Mary Garber | Winston-Salem Journal |
| 2004 | Jimmy Cannon | New York City columnist |
| 2003 | George Solomon | Washington Post |
| 2002 | Dick Schaap | ESPN / “The Sports Reporters” |
| 2001 | John Steadman | Baltimore Sun |
| 2000 | Jerry Izenberg | Newark Star-Ledger |
1990s
| Year | Recipient | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Bud Collins | Boston Globe |
| 1998 | Sam Lacy | Baltimore Afro-American |
| 1997 | Jerome Holtzman | Chicago Tribune |
| 1996 | Bill Dwyre | Los Angeles Times |
| 1995 | Richard Sandler | Newsday |
| 1994 | Dave Anderson | New York Times |
| 1993 | Tom McEwen | Tampa Tribune |
| 1992 | Ed Storin | Miami Herald |
| 1991 | Dave Kindred | National Sports Daily |
| 1990 | Dave Smith | Dallas Morning News |
1980s
| Year | Recipient | Publication |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Edwin Pope | Miami Herald |
| 1988 | Furman Bisher | The Atlanta Journal |
| 1987 | Will Grimsley | Associated Press |
| 1986 | Si Burick | Dayton Daily News |
| 1985 | Blackie Sherrod | Dallas Morning News |
| 1984 | Fred Russell | Nashville Banner |
| 1983 | Shirley Povich | Washington Post |
| 1982 | Jim Murray | Los Angeles Times |
| 1981 | Red Smith | New York Times |