ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF SPORTSMANSHIP WILL RECOGNIZE HONOREES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE REPRESENTING ALL THAT’S RIGHT IN SPORTS
ST. LOUIS – Oct. 21, 2026 – The world’s foremost celebration of class, kindness, and character in sports proves again that extraordinary sportsmanship spans geographic, demographic, and language barriers with its class of 2026 honorees. Shattering barriers might even be the overall theme of this year’s show with sports icon Billie Jean King headlining as the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship recipient. Additionally, the 2026 Musial Awards presented by Maryville University will recognize the year’s greatest moments of sportsmanship and honorees from four countries and from the high school level all the way up to this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
The Musial Awards take place on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Stifel Theatre in Downtown St. Louis. The event will be packaged into a one-hour special airing throughout the nation on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ Dec. 26.
This year’s show will have the audience inspired by a touching relationship of a women’s professional soccer player and a young fan who share the same limb difference; heartened by the actions of a girls high school basketball team; and hope restored through other uplifting stories of civility and sportsmanship.
The St. Louis Sports Commission and National Sportsmanship Foundation, the organizations behind the Musial Awards, are proud to announce the full lineup of honorees, representing all areas of the country – from Alabama, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, and Oklahoma – as well as the far reaches of the globe – from Brazil, Japan, and Northern Ireland. Here are the recipients of the 2026 Musial Awards:
Aaron Beggs and Robson de Oliveira: As he neared the finish line of the Boston Marathon, Massachusetts native Ajay Haridasse collapsed and was unable to get up on his own. Little did he know help was coming just behind him as Aaron Beggs, of Northern Ireland, noticed Ajay struggling to get back on his feet. Despite feeling exhaustion himself and being so close to the finish line, Beggs stopped to help Ajay. Soon, Robson de Oliveira of Brazil came upon them, and he joined the convoy as all three men crossed the finish line arm-in-arm. A moment of spontaneous compassion which leaves an inspiring example of selflessness and sportsmanship.
Jeffrey Garrott: In a November 2025 Alabama high school football playoff game, Hueytown beat Pelham in overtime. After the crushing loss, 11-year-old William Newton, the son of Pelham’s head coach, was in tears on the sideline. As the two teams shook hands at the conclusion of the game, Hueytown cornerback Jeffrey Garrott spotted young William upset over the loss, standing alone. Despite not knowing William, Jeffrey walked over, put his arm around William, and consoled him. The interaction was brief, but Jeffrey had the decency and selflessness to set aside his team’s celebration and pick up the spirits of a young fan of the team he had just defeated. It wasn’t planned, and it wasn’t done for attention; it was just the right thing to do.
Kirk Gibson: The two-time World Series champion and 1988 MVP seemingly always rose to the occasion during an illustrious 17-year playing career. Now facing his greatest challenge, Parkinson’s Disease, Gibson’s humility, compassion, and selfless efforts to help others battling the disease have earned him recognition as the 2026 recipient of the Musial Award for Extraordinary Character. Once diagnosed, Gibson attacked Parkinson’s like he attacked a hanging curveball as a slugger for the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was driven to provide an oasis for those dealing with Parkinson’s to get the help they need in one place – regardless of insurance or financial wherewithal. The result is the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness, which gives thousands who suffer from the disease a place to find strength, an array of movement-based therapies, and a camaraderie of understanding. Gibson raises money to ensure all the programs remain free to members, and he is present at the center nearly every day, greeting and interacting with his new teammates – those battling Parkinson’s.
Billie Jean King: Billie Jean King’s list of accomplishments both on and off the tennis court is mind-boggling. As a competitor, she has won everything there is to win. As a tireless champion of fairness, she fought for equality and opportunity for women in sports and in life. For her excellence and class on the court, combined with selfless drive in achieving a more equitable and accessible sports environment across the world, King is this year’s recipient of the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship. So many firsts came because of King’s intrepid advocacy for equality and dignity for women in sports. Whether on the tennis court or as a catalyst for inclusivity, King carried herself with respect, integrity, and virtue, inspiring change to a more level playing field for women and girls everywhere.
Carson Pickett: Professional women’s soccer player Carson Pickett of Denver Summit FC was born without most of her left arm. Throughout her early life her limb difference was a source of embarrassment for her, and she never wanted to be known as the soccer player with one arm. She just wanted to be known as a soccer player. But when she met 9-year-old Hayden Stine, who shares her limb difference and looks up to Carson, the NWSL player realized the impact she could have by exhibiting courage and authenticity with her condition. Now Carson doesn’t hide her limb difference, rather she proves you can still achieve your goals despite it. Since the two met, Hayden’s confidence has skyrocketed and Carson now embraces her role model status for kids and the limb difference community.
The Academy of Classical Christian Studies Girls Basketball Team: A hotly-contested district playoff girls basketball game in Oklahoma resulted in a buzzer-beater, an officials’ mistake, and a delayed — but extraordinary — act of sportsmanship. The Academy made a last-second shot to beat Apache High School, 44-43 and secure a district title. The game was back-and-forth with several lead changes and was even stopped with 15 minutes to play as officials worked to get the scoreboard and the official score book to match. Following the game, The Academy’s coach Brendan King felt something was off. He studied the game film and discovered the score wasn’t corrected after all, and Apache had actually won the game 43-42. He spoke to his team the next day and they unanimously decided to hand over the district championship to Apache.
The Best of the FIFA World Cup: With the soccer / futbol universe knocking at the door, North America had a chance to greet fans of The Beautiful Game with open arms in a spirit of joy and celebration. And the world embraced the hosts right back with several examples of sportsmanship among fans and teams which stood out and inspired others. At the top of the list are the supporters of Japan’s national team, known for cleaning up the stadiums where they attend matches. In keeping with that tradition, after each game involving their country at this year’s FIFA World Cup, the Japanese fans collected bottles, wrappers and other trash, leaving their seating areas spotless. It’s a tremendous gesture of class and respect. A Musial Award will be presented to Asahi Ueda, founder of the fan group known as the Nippon Ultras. Asahi is traveling to St. Louis from Japan to accept the award on behalf of his fellow fans.
Other moments of kindness and sportsmanship from the World Cup will also be recognized, including the actions of the Jordanian national team. Following the squad’s match against Argentina in Dallas, the players not only tidied up the locker room, but they left behind a spread of baklava, Jordanian team merchandise, and a note with the gifts that read, “Thank you for helping make Jordan’s first FIFA World Cup experience a truly unforgettable one.” Additionally, the community of Lawrence, Kan., will be acknowledged for its extraordinary welcome and embrace of the Algerian national team, which had its base camp in the city.
MUSIAL AWARDS TICKETS:
Tickets for the 2026 Musial Awards, ranging from $15 to $50, are on sale through Ticketmaster. In addition to individual awards show tickets, the Musial Awards offers a special VIP Experience ticket, which includes a seat in the orchestra level, a pass to the Musial Awards After Party, and reserved parking for $150. All-inclusive packages and sponsorships are also available. More information and a link to purchase tickets is available at MusialAwards.com/tickets. Groups of 10 or more can take advantage of special group pricing by calling 314-345-5144.
Show time for the 2026 Musial Awards is 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21.
MORE ON THE MUSIALS:
The Musial Awards presented by Maryville University is produced by the St. Louis Sports Commission and the National Sportsmanship Foundation, a charitable nonprofit organization. In addition to keeping Stan The Man’s legacy alive, the mission of the Musial Awards is to encourage kindness, selflessness, integrity and civility in sports and society – and to inspire people across the nation to be good sports. The event has occurred in St. Louis since 2005. National sponsors of this year’s Musial Awards include Maryville University, Compliance Solutions, Edward Jones, Explore St. Louis, Royal Canin, and World Wide Technology.