Players, managers and executives receive their fair share of recognition each season. But what about the fans?
The most important part of the game -- you -- should be cheered, too. That is why Major League Baseball has stepped up to the plate to honor the inaugural MLB Fans of the Year presented by Esurance.
Nominees from all 30 Major League clubs will be featured on MLB.com/awards through Monday at 2 p.m. ET -- with winners to be unveiled an hour later at 3 p.m.
Vote NOW for the MLB Marlins Fan of the Year presented by Esurance
Winners whose clubs reach the League Championship Series or Fall Classic will receive tickets to root for the home team on a late-October night. As for the top fans whose teams fall short of the sport's semifinals? Have no fear, as there's always next year (and free tickets to an April 2017 game of their choice).
Major League Baseball and the 30 clubs worked tirelessly to identify the sport's top supporters. But after great debate, the following Marlins fans were chosen among a long list of deserving candidates:
Laurence Leavy: Leavy has gained the moniker "Marlins Man" due to his penchant for attending major sporting events adorned in orange Marlins gear.
Tony Gimenez: Gimenez, 84, is a fan favorite at Marlins Park thanks to his exuberant dancing and participation in the kiss cam.
Bruce and Sue Freedman: With season tickets since the club's inception, the Freedmans have earned celebrity status in the Marlins' universe.
Julio Rodriguez: Rodriguez is a Marlins super-fan who attends every home game in the "Jose's Heroes" section and collects as many autographs as he can.
The MLB Fans of the Year presented by Esurance program represents the "first inning" of the Esurance MLB Awards, which honor greatness in Major League Baseball and serve as the grand finale of the game's awards season. Esurance MLB Awards voting will run from 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 19 to 2 p.m. ET on Nov. 11 and include nominees in 19 categories -- from Best Major Leaguer to Best Social Media Post to Best MLB Interview.
Media, front-office personnel, retired MLB players, the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and fans will determine the most #AwardWorthy players and moments from 2016. The MLB Awards winners will be announced Friday, Nov. 18, live on MLB.com and MLB Network.