The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball (MLB). These voters consider several offensive categories in selecting the winners, including batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, in addition to "coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value".[1] Managers and coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their own team.[1] The Silver Slugger was first awarded in 1980 and is given by Hillerich & Bradsby, the manufacturer of Louisville Slugger bats.[2] The award is a bat-shaped trophy, 3 feet (91 cm) tall, engraved with the names of each of the winners from the league[1] and plated with sterling silver.[3]
As with the Gold Glove Award, the prize is presented to outfielders irrespective of their specific position.[4][5] This means that it is possible for three left fielders, or any other combination of outfielders, to win the award in the same year, rather than one left fielder, one center fielder, and one right fielder. In addition, only National League pitchers receive a Silver Slugger Award;[5] lineups in the American League include the designated hitter, who replaces the pitcher in the batting order,[6] so the designated hitter receives the award instead.[4]
Embattled home run record-holder Barry Bonds[7] has won 12 Silver Slugger Awards in his career as an outfielder, the most of any player.[5][8] He also won the award in five consecutive seasons twice in his career: from 1990 to 1994, and again from 2000 to 2004. Retired catcher Mike Piazza and current New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez are tied for second, with ten wins each.[5][4] Rodriguez' awards are split between two positions; he won seven Silver Sluggers as a shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers, and three with the Yankees as a third baseman.[9] Wade Boggs leads third basemen with eight Silver Slugger Awards;[4][10] Barry Larkin leads shortstops with nine.[5][11] Other leaders include Ryne Sandberg (seven wins as a second baseman),[5][12] Mike Hampton (five wins as a pitcher),[5][13] and Todd Helton (four wins as a first baseman).[5][14] Three players are tied for the most wins among designated hitters: Edgar Martínez,[15] Paul Molitor,[16] and David Ortiz;[17] all have four wins at the position, though Martínez also won one award at third base.[15][4]
Key[]
Year | Links to the corresponding Major League Baseball season |
1B | First baseman (list of winners) |
2B | Second baseman (list of winners) |
3B | Third baseman (list of winners) |
SS | Shortstop (list of winners) |
OF | Outfielder (list of winners) |
C | Catcher (list of winners) |
P | Pitcher (list of winners) |
DH | Designated hitter (list of winners) |
* or ** | Winner of the most Silver Slugger Awards at his position (** indicates tie) |
† | Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum |
American League winners[]
National League winners[]
See also[]
- Edgar Martinez Award: given to the best designated hitter (American League).
- Major League Baseball Triple Crown
- This Year in Baseball Awards (including hitter)
References[]
- MLB Awards: History (Awards: Silver Slugger). Major League Baseball. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- Inline citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 McCalvy, Adam (November 13, 2008). Braun nets first Silver Slugger Award. Brewers.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Louisville Slugger — The Silver Slugger Awards. Louisville Slugger. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ What are the Silver Bat and Silver Slugger Team Awards?. Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Retrieved on April 15, 2009.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Silver Slugger Award Winners — American League. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Silver Slugger Award Winners — National League. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Official Rules: 6.00 The Batter. Major League Baseball. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Embattled Bonds' urine sample tested positive, report. Google News. Agence France-Presse (February 3, 2009). Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Barry Bonds Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Alex Rodriguez Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Wade Boggs Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Barry Larkin Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Ryne Sandberg Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Mike Hampton Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Todd Helton Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Edgar Martínez Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ Paul Molitor Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.
- ↑ David Ortiz Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved on March 9, 2009.