Hank Aaron Award

Hank Aaron, after whom the award is named

The Hank Aaron Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball (MLB) players selected as the top hitter in each league, as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It was introduced in 1999 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron's surpassing of Babe Ruth's career home run mark of 714 home runs. The award was the first major award to be introduced by Major League Baseball in 19 years.

For the 1999 season, a winner was selected using an objective points system. Hits, home runs, and runs batted in (RBI) were given certain point values and the winner was the player who had the highest tabulated points total.[1][2]

In 2000, the system was changed to a ballot in which each MLB team's radio and television play-by-play broadcasters and color analysts voted for three players in each league. Their first place vote receives five points, the second place vote receives three points, and the third place vote receives one point. Beginning in 2003, fans were given the opportunity to vote via MLB's official website, MLB.com. Fans' votes account for 30% of the points, while broadcasters' and analysts' votes account for the other 70%.[1]

The 2004–2006 Hank Aaron Award was decided in three separate phases. In August fans voted at each Club's official Web site from among three players nominated by the respective Club. The leading vote getter from each Club became one of 30 finalists, from which a special Major League Baseball panel chose six finalists from each League. Online fan voting then determined the overall League winner.

In 2007–2008 five finalists in each league were determined in fan balloting on MLB.com, from 30 club nominees selected by a special panel assembled by Major League Baseball and MLB.com. Online fan votes decided the overall League winner.

For the 2009 Award fans selected both the finalists and the ultimate winners of the award. In September fans voted for one finalist out of three nominees from each MLB Club. Once those 30 finalists were selected, fans voted for one American League and one National League winner, from September 16–30.

The award is handed out to the winners of both leagues before Game 4 of the World Series every year, with Aaron himself presenting the awards.

The first winners of the award were Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa in 1999, while the most recent winners are David Ortiz and Kris Bryant. Alex Rodriguez has won the award four times, the most of any player. The winner with the most hits is Todd Helton, who won as a Colorado Rockie in 2000. The winner with the most home runs is Barry Bonds from 2001, and Manny Ramírez in 1999 has the most RBIs.[1]

About the Award

Created exclusively for Major League Baseball by FineAwards.com (Hollywood, FL), the Hank Aaron Award has a hand-carved maritaca granite base and an antique bat and banner combination. It is finished with a subtle etching of the Major League Baseball logo. The award, weighing 12 pounds, sits upon a custom designed cherry wood display.

Key

Year Links to the corresponding Major League Baseball season
Player (X) Denotes winning player and number of times they had won the award at that point
HR Home runs
RBI Runs batted in

Winners

Alex Rodriguez has won the award four times.
Barry Bonds won the award three times.
Albert Pujols has won the award twice.
Year League Player Team Hits HR RBI
1999 American Ramirez, MannyManny Ramirez Cleveland Indians 174 44 165
National Sosa, SammySammy Sosa Chicago Cubs 180 63 141
2000 American Delgado, CarlosCarlos Delgado Toronto Blue Jays 196 41 137
National Helton, ToddTodd Helton Colorado Rockies 216 42 147
2001 American Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez Texas Rangers 201 52 135
National Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds San Francisco Giants 156 73 137
2002 American Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez (2) Texas Rangers (2) 187 57 142
National Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (2) San Francisco Giants (2) 149 46 110
2003 American Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez (3) Texas Rangers (3) 181 47 118
National Pujols, AlbertAlbert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals 212 43 124
2004 American Ramirez, MannyManny Ramirez (2) Boston Red Sox 175 43 130
National Bonds, BarryBarry Bonds (3) San Francisco Giants (3) 135 45 101
2005 American Ortiz, DavidDavid Ortiz Boston Red Sox (2) 180 47 148
National Jones, AndruwAndruw Jones Atlanta Braves 154 51 128
2006 American Jeter, DerekDerek Jeter New York Yankees 214 14 97
National Howard, RyanRyan Howard Philadelphia Phillies 182 58 149
2007 American Rodriguez, AlexAlex Rodriguez (4) New York Yankees (2) 183 54 156
National Fielder, PrincePrince Fielder Milwaukee Brewers 165 50 119
2008 American Youkilis, KevinKevin Youkilis Boston Red Sox (3) 168 29 115
National Ramírez, AramisAramis Ramírez Chicago Cubs (2) 160 27 111
2009 American Jeter, DerekDerek Jeter (2) New York Yankees (3) 212 18 66
National Pujols, AlbertAlbert Pujols (2) St. Louis Cardinals (2) 186 47 135
2010 American Bautista, JoséJosé Bautista Toronto Blue Jays (2) 148 54 124
National Votto, JoeyJoey Votto Cincinnati Reds 177 37 113
2011 American Bautista, JoséJosé Bautista (2) Toronto Blue Jays (3) 155 43 103
National Kemp, MattMatt Kemp Los Angeles Dodgers 195 39 126
2012 American Cabrera, MiguelMiguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers 205 44 139
National Posey, BusterBuster Posey San Francisco Giants (4) 178 24 103
2013 American Cabrera, MiguelMiguel Cabrera (2) Detroit Tigers (2) 193 44 137
National Goldschmidt, PaulPaul Goldschmidt Arizona Diamondbacks 182 36 125
2014 American Trout, MikeMike Trout Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 173 36 111
National Stanton, GiancarloGiancarlo Stanton Miami Marlins 155 37 105
2015 American Donaldson, JoshJosh Donaldson Toronto Blue Jays (4) 184 41 123
National Harper, BryceBryce Harper Washington Nationals 172 42 99
2016 American Ortiz, DavidDavid Ortiz (2) Boston Red Sox (4) 169 38 127
National Bryant, KrisKris Bryant Chicago Cubs (3) 176 39 102

See also

References

General
Specific
  1. 1 2 3 Sanchez, Jessie (2002-10-24). "A-Rod receives Hank Aaron Award". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  2. ↑ "Phillies' Howard, Yankees' Jeter win Hank Aaron Award". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. 2006-10-06. Retrieved 2009-05-24.

External links

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