Fifty-four years ago, in announcing the inaugural award, SI wrote that the annual honoree would be one who "gave to the quality of unprecedented performance the sense of unrepeatable performance." That description fits perfectly the latest recipient, Michael Phelps, who now keeps company with this distinguished elite.
1954Roger BannisterSI's first Sportsman was a 25-year-old from England?and history's first sub-four-minute miler. 1955Johnny PodresThe Brooklyn southpaw's superb Series against the Yankees culminated with a Game 7 masterpiece.
1956Bobby MorrowAt the Melbourne Olympics he was the first U.S. man in 20 years to win gold in both the 100 and 200 meters.
1957Stan MusialMr. Cardinal was 37 when he led the National League with a .351 average to win his seventh batting title.
1958Rafer JohnsonHe broke the world decathlon record in Moscow, winning over the crowd even as the cold war raged.
1959Ingemar JohanssonThe Hammer of Thor became the heavyweight champ after flattening Floyd Patterson at Yankee Stadium.
1960Arnold PalmerThe Palmer era began with Arnie's banner year: eight wins, including the Masters and the U.S. Open.
1961Jerry LucasOhio State's junior center led the Buckeyes to their second of three straight NCAA-final appearances.
1962Terry BakerA Heisman Trophy winner, the Oregon State quarterback doubled as the Beavers' point guard.
1963Pete RozelleThe 37-year-old commissioner restored the NFL's integrity by responding decisively to a betting scandal.
1964Ken VenturiA brilliant final two rounds in the U.S. Open gave the comeback kid his first tournament win in four years.
1965Sandy KoufaxThe Dodger was an ace?2.04 ERA, a perfect game, two Series shutouts?despite an arthritic left elbow.
1966Jim RyunJust one year after graduating from Wichita High East, he ran the mile in 3:51.3 to shatter the world record.
1967Carl YastrzemskiThe leftfielder's Triple Crown summer propelled the Red Sox to their first pennant in two decades.
1968Bill RussellAs player-coach he broke racial barriers and guided the Celtics to their ninth title in 10 years.
1969Tom SeaverIn a Terrific year he earned his first Cy Young Award and helped the Mets to their miracle championship.
1970Bobby OrrThe Beantown hero, whose "flying goal" clinched the Stanley Cup, redefined the role of defenseman.
1971Lee TrevinoIn winning the U.S., British and Canadian Opens, the Merry Mex broadened the appeal of his sport.
1972John Wooden & Billie Jean KingThe Wizard of Westwood led UCLA to a sixth straight NCAA title; the first Sportswoman won three majors.
1973Jackie StewartAfter winning his third World Driving Championships and popularizing Formula One racing, he retired at his peak.
1974Muhammad AliThe Greatest pummeled Joe Frazier in the Garden and took back his title from George Foreman in the jungle.
1975Pete RoseThe heart of the Big Red Machine, Charlie Hustle sparked an unforgettable World Series win over Boston.
1976Chris EvertAt 21 America's Sweetheart had already claimed two Wimbledons, two U.S. Opens and two French Opens.
1977Steve CauthenHe won 487 races and set a one-year earnings record of $6 million?all at the age of 17.
1978Jack NicklausIn winning the British Open and the Players Championship at 38, he ended all talk of his decline.
1979Willie Stargell & Terry BradshawThe slugger and the slinger, MVPs of the World Series and the Super Bowl, were the toast of Steel Town.
1980U.S. Olympic Hockey TeamHerb Brooks's miracle men shocked the world at Lake Placid with their upset of the Soviet Union.
1981Sugar Ray LeonardWith a knockout of Tommy Hearns in Las Vegas, the welterweight champ became the new king of boxing.
1982Wayne GretzkyThe Great One had his greatest year, shattering the NHL's single-season records for goals and assists.
1983Mary DeckerThe distance queen had broken seven world records before her famous fall at the Los Angeles Olympics.
1984Mary Lou Retton & Edwin MosesStars of the L.A. Games, Retton landed a perfect 10 while Moses ran his hurdling winning streak to 109 races.
1985Kareem Abdul-JabbarWith his signature skyhook, he lifted the Lakers to the NBA title and earned a second Finals MVP award.
1986Joe PaternoJoePa led the Lions to a national title and a perfect record off the field too: Every senior graduated on time.
1987Athletes Who CareEight athletes from different sports were honored for their exemplary humanitarian work.
1988Orel HershiserA magical season for the Dodgers' righty: 59 straight scoreless innings, a Cy Young and a World Series MVP.
1989Greg LeMondJust two years after a near-fatal hunting accident, he rallied in the final stage to win his second Tour de France.
1990Joe MontanaWith cool, Joe quarterbacked the 49ers to a fourth Super Bowl win in his final full season by the Bay.
1991Michael JordanAlready the NBA's leading scorer and a global icon, MJ won his first ring by beating the Lakers in five games.
1992Arthur AsheA three-time Grand Slam winner and untiring social activist, the tennis star died in 1993 from AIDS.
1993Don ShulaIn 30 years (23 with Miami) he had just two losing seasons?and more wins than any other NFL coach.
1994Bonnie Blair & Johann Olav KossThe speedskating stars of the Lillehammer Games were golden on the ice and in their communities.
1995Cal Ripken Jr.After the Strike crippled the national pastime, the Streak by the Orioles' Iron Man brought fans back.
1996Tiger WoodsAs a PGA rookie, he won two events and electrified the golf world, attracting a new generation of fans.
1997Dean SmithNorth Carolina's widely respected coach retired after setting the NCAA record for victories (879).
1998Mark McGwire & Sammy SosaBefore their fall from grace, the sluggers captivated the Baseball world with their epic home run chase.
1999U.S. Women's Soccer TeamMia Hamm (9) and the rest of the World Cup champs gave America a summer to remember.
2000Tiger WoodsA mind-bending year?10 Tour wins, including three majors?turned Tiger into our first two-time Sportsman.
2001Curt Schilling & Randy JohnsonThanks to the fireballing co-MVPs, Arizona defeated a Yankees juggernaut in a seven-game Series.
2002Lance ArmstrongThe Texas Tornado blew past the field for a fourth straight time at the Tour de France.
2003Tim Duncan & David RobinsonThe Alamo City's Twin Towers stood tall after taking the Spurs to a second NBA championship in five years.
2004Boston Red SoxA curse and the 86-year suffering of a city came to an end as the Red Sox achieved an improbable title.
2005Tom BradyA third Super Bowl ring in four years proved that the Patriots' QB belonged among the alltime greats.
2006Dwyane WadeThe fourth-year guard led the Heat to a championship with an otherworldly performance in the playoffs.
2007Brett FavreIn the final act of his Packers career, the Lambeau legend, at 38, set the record for touchdown passes.
2008Michael PhelpsThere has never been an Olympic haul like it: eight events, eight gold medals in Beijing.
BOX STORY:
BREAKING NEWS, REAL-TIME SCORES AND DAILY ANALYSIS.
THROUGH THE YEARS
Read Sportsman stories from 1954 to '96 in their original layouts and view a photo gallery of the winners.
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