Kershaw, Stanton, Trout finalists for Major League Player of the Year

The 2014 season had its share of performances both historic and memorable. Tops among them were those of Clayton Kershaw, Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Trout, the finalists for the 2014 Players Choice Award for Player of the Year.

Kershaw missed a month early in the season due to a shoulder injury, but that delay didn't stop him from qualifying for and winning the Major League ERA title for the fourth straight season. He also tied a career best with 21 wins.

Player of the Year isn't the only Players Choice Award for which Kershaw is a finalist. He's also a candidate for National League Outstanding Pitcher and NL Outstanding Player, while his off-field efforts helped earn him a nomination for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award. Kershaw has previously won two Players Choice Awards, both for NL Outstanding Pitcher, in 2011 and in 2013.

While Kershaw got a late start to his season, Stanton had an early finish, when he was struck in the face by a pitch in September. However, like Kershaw, Stanton didn't let that stop him from producing some gaudy numbers along the way.

Stanton hit 37 home runs to lead the NL. He also finished tops in slugging percentage at .555, second in OBP at .395 and second in OPS at .950. He's also a finalist along with Kershaw for NL Outstanding Player honors. He has never before won a Players Choice award.

Trout, the American League's lone Player of the Year finalist, played in 157 games for the second straight season, and this time his performance helped lead the Angels to a division title.

Trout hit .287 with 36 home runs and 16 stolen bases. His 115 runs scored led all of baseball, while his 111 RBIs were second to Adrian Gonzalez. Trout is also up for AL Outstanding Player honors, and he took home the award for AL Outstanding Rookie back in 2012.

The winner of the Player of the Year award will be unveiled on Monday, Nov. 3, when the Players Choice Awards show is televised at 8 p.m. ET on MLB Network.

Click HERE for the complete list of 2014 Players Choice Awards finalists.

The Players Choice Awards on MLB Network, presented by PlayStation, makers of the popular MLB The Show video game franchise, benefit the Major League Baseball Players Trust, the charitable foundation created and run by the players themselves.

The 2014 Players Choice Award winners in all categories will designate charities to receive grants totaling $260,000 from the Major League Baseball Players Trust. Since 1992, the Players Trust has contributed more than $3.5 million to charities around the world on behalf of Players Choice Awards winners. For additional information, please visit playerstrust.org.

Majestic Athletic is a proud sponsor of the 2014 Players Choice Awards on MLB Network.