PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing

The PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing was given to one living American or U.S.-based writer to celebrate their body of work. The award sought to recognize a lifetime of writing about sports, in short- or long-form prose, and its dimensions of character and action with keen knowledge and insight, and especially with a literary voice evidenced in a style of agility and flair. Winners received a prize of $5,000 and were selected at the discretion of a panel of three judges, selected by the PEN Awards Committee, who made their decision based on their knowledge of sports writing, as well as letters of nomination from PEN Members. Judges were also permitted to supplement the list of candidates with nominations of their own.