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 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 Jose Altuve and Giancarlo Stanton. 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 Rockies 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.

Kris Bryant (far left) and David Ortiz (far right) pose with Hank Aaron (center left) and Rob Manfred (center right) after receiving the 2016 awards

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 Manny Ramirez Cleveland Indians 174 44 165
National Sammy Sosa Chicago Cubs 180 63 141
2000 American Carlos Delgado Toronto Blue Jays 196 41 137
National Todd Helton Colorado Rockies 216 42 147
2001 American Alex Rodriguez Texas Rangers 201 52 135
National Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants 156 73 137
2002 American Alex Rodriguez (2) Texas Rangers (2) 187 57 142
National Barry Bonds (2) San Francisco Giants (2) 149 46 110
2003 American Alex Rodriguez (3) Texas Rangers (3) 181 47 118
National Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals 212 43 124
2004 American Manny Ramirez (2) Boston Red Sox 175 43 130
National Barry Bonds (3) San Francisco Giants (3) 135 45 101
2005 American David Ortiz Boston Red Sox (2) 180 47 148
National Andruw Jones Atlanta Braves 154 51 128
2006 American Derek Jeter New York Yankees 214 14 97
National Ryan Howard Philadelphia Phillies 182 58 149
2007 American Alex Rodriguez (4) New York Yankees (2) 183 54 156
National Prince Fielder Milwaukee Brewers 165 50 119
2008 American Kevin Youkilis Boston Red Sox (3) 168 29 115
National Aramis Ramírez Chicago Cubs (2) 160 27 111
2009 American Derek Jeter (2) New York Yankees (3) 212 18 66
National Albert Pujols (2) St. Louis Cardinals (2) 186 47 135
2010 American José Bautista Toronto Blue Jays (2) 148 54 124
National Joey Votto Cincinnati Reds 177 37 113
2011 American José Bautista (2) Toronto Blue Jays (3) 155 43 103
National Matt Kemp Los Angeles Dodgers 195 39 126
2012 American Miguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers 205 44 139
National Buster Posey San Francisco Giants (4) 178 24 103
2013 American Miguel Cabrera (2) Detroit Tigers (2) 193 44 137
National Paul Goldschmidt Arizona Diamondbacks 182 36 125
2014 American Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 173 36 111
National Giancarlo Stanton Miami Marlins 155 37 105
2015 American Josh Donaldson Toronto Blue Jays (4) 184 41 123
National Bryce Harper Washington Nationals 172 42 99
2016 American David Ortiz (2) Boston Red Sox (4) 169 38 127
National Kris Bryant Chicago Cubs (3) 176 39 102
2017 American Jose Altuve Houston Astros 204 24 81
National Giancarlo Stanton (2) Miami Marlins (2) 168 59 132

See also

References

General

  • "Hank Aaron Award". FineAwards.com. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  • "Hank Aaron Award winners". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  • "Hank Aaron Award & Branch Rickey Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
  • "Hank Aaron Award presentation". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-05-24.
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.

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