Baseball Digest is honored to present its fifth annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Bob Costas who, in a decorated national broadcasting career that has spanned five decades, has been recognized as one of the game’s premier voices.
The Lifetime Achievement Award, which debuted in 2021 and had Willie Mays (2021), Vin Scully (2022), Joe Torre (2023) and Dusty Baker (2024) as its first four recipients, is the game’s only such honor presented annually on a national basis. It recognizes a living individual whose career has been spent in or around Major League Baseball and who has made significant contributions to the game. The selection was made by the independently submitted votes of a distinguished panel of 19 longtime MLB participants and observers -- including writers, broadcasters, former players and MLB executives.
“Baseball hasn't just been a big part of my career. It's been a big and ongoing part of my life,” Costas said. “Someone once said of me, ‘He is a citizen of the game.’ I hope that was true. I hope I have meant something to the game. I know it has meant a great deal to me.
“Because of my fondness for Baseball Digest -- past and present -- my respect for the members of the voting panel and reverence for those previously honored, this award means a great deal to me."
Said MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred Jr.: “As one of the most decorated sports broadcasters of all-time, Bob Costas’ love of baseball and passion for the game has always been evident. Bob has been a part of some of the most important moments in MLB history. His vast baseball knowledge and experience has allowed him to provide thoughtful commentary and valuable historical context throughout his career working with MLB’s broadcast partners and MLB Network since its inception.”
Costas was selected for Baseball Digest’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from a list of 10 finalists that also included Terry Francona, Jaime Jarrín, Jim Kaat, Sandy Koufax, Tony La Russa, Jim Leyland, Lou Piniella, Bud Selig and Janet Marie Smith.
Said Baseball Digest publisher David Fagley: “For nearly a half century, Bob Costas has been the voice of a wide array of sports, but none have been closer to his heart than baseball. He has been a consummate professional, winning more Emmy Awards than any other sports broadcaster, but most importantly, he has been a fan whose love of the game is so evident in his work.”
Costas has hosted or called seven World Series and was behind the mic for 10 League Championship Series and eight MLB All-Star Games. In the 1980s, he and Tony Kubek formed a popular team for NBC's “Baseball Game of the Week” telecasts.
A recipient of 29 Emmy Awards -- more than any sports broadcaster -- Costas hosted 12 Summer Olympic Games, seven Super Bowls and 10 NBA Finals for NBC. He was also a prominent part of the network’s presentations of other major events, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the U. S. Open Golf Championship.
In 2018, Bob was the recipient of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for major contributions to baseball broadcasting.
He has been with MLB Network since its inception in 2009 and, though he stepped away from play-by-play after the 2024 postseason, Costas will continue to contribute to the network’s MLB coverage.