Silver Slugger Award
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. 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]
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
League | Major League Baseball |
Awarded for | Best offensive player at each position in the American League and National League |
Presented by | Hillerich & Bradsby |
History | |
First award | 1980 |
When the prize is presented to outfielders, it is 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. From 1980 to 2019, and in 2021, pitchers in only the National League received a Silver Slugger Award;[5] lineups in the American League include a designated hitter in place of the pitcher in the batting order,[6] so the designated hitter receives the award instead.[4] In 2020, MLB implemented a universal designated hitter rule for both leagues as part of the shortened season and changes mandated by the COVID-19 pandemic; as a result, there were no Silver Slugger Awards for pitchers in either league and the NL awarded one to a DH for the first time.[7] Starting in 2022, the pitcher Silver Slugger Award was retired and was permanently replaced with the DH award in the National League, after it fully adopted the designated hitter.[8]
Home run record-holder Barry Bonds[9] won twelve Silver Slugger Awards in his career as an outfielder, the most of any player.[5][10] He also won the award in five consecutive seasons twice in his career: from 1990 to 1994, and again from 2000 to 2004. Retired former New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza and former Seattle Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez are tied for second, with ten wins each.[4][5] 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.[11] Wade Boggs leads third basemen with eight Silver Slugger Awards;[4][12] Barry Larkin leads shortstops with nine.[5][13] Other leaders include Ryne Sandberg (seven wins as a second baseman)[5][14] and Mike Hampton (five wins as a pitcher).[5][15] Todd Helton[5][16] and Albert Pujols[5][17] are tied for the most wins among first baseman with four, although Pujols has won two awards at other positions. David Ortiz has won seven awards at designated hitter position, the most at that position.[18] In 2018, J. D. Martinez collected two Silver Slugger Awards (one as a designated hitter and the other as an outfielder), which marks the first, and so far only, time a player has accomplished that feat.
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
Year | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | OF | OF | C | DH |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Cecil Cooper | Willie Randolph | George Brett† | Robin Yount† | Ben Oglivie | Al Oliver | Willie Wilson | Lance Parrish | Reggie Jackson† |
1981 | Cecil Cooper | Bobby Grich | Carney Lansford | Rick Burleson | Rickey Henderson† | Dave Winfield† | Dwight Evans | Carlton Fisk† | Al Oliver |
1982 | Cecil Cooper | Dámaso García | Doug DeCinces | Robin Yount† | Reggie Jackson† | Dave Winfield† | Willie Wilson | Lance Parrish | Hal McRae |
1983 | Eddie Murray† | Lou Whitaker | Wade Boggs*† | Cal Ripken Jr.† | Jim Rice† | Dave Winfield† | Lloyd Moseby | Lance Parrish | Don Baylor |
1984 | Eddie Murray† | Lou Whitaker | Buddy Bell | Cal Ripken Jr.† | Jim Rice† | Dave Winfield† | Tony Armas | Lance Parrish | Andre Thornton |
1985 | Don Mattingly | Lou Whitaker | George Brett† | Cal Ripken Jr.† | Rickey Henderson† | Dave Winfield† | George Bell | Carlton Fisk† | Don Baylor |
1986 | Don Mattingly | Frank White | Wade Boggs*† | Cal Ripken Jr.† | Jesse Barfield | Kirby Puckett† | George Bell | Lance Parrish | Don Baylor |
1987 | Don Mattingly | Lou Whitaker | Wade Boggs*† | Alan Trammell† | Dwight Evans | Kirby Puckett† | George Bell | Matt Nokes | Paul Molitor† |
1988 | George Brett† | Julio Franco | Wade Boggs*† | Alan Trammell† | Mike Greenwell | Kirby Puckett† | Jose Canseco | Carlton Fisk† | Paul Molitor† |
1989 | Fred McGriff | Julio Franco | Wade Boggs*† | Cal Ripken Jr.† | Rubén Sierra | Kirby Puckett† | Robin Yount† | Mickey Tettleton | Harold Baines† |
1990 | Cecil Fielder | Julio Franco | Kelly Gruber | Alan Trammell† | Rickey Henderson† | Ellis Burks | Jose Canseco | Lance Parrish | Dave Parker |
1991 | Cecil Fielder | Julio Franco | Wade Boggs*† | Cal Ripken Jr.† | Joe Carter | Ken Griffey Jr.† | Jose Canseco | Mickey Tettleton | Frank Thomas† |
1992 | Mark McGwire | Roberto Alomar† | Edgar Martínez† | Travis Fryman | Joe Carter | Kirby Puckett† | Juan González | Mickey Tettleton | Dave Winfield† |
1993 | Frank Thomas† | Carlos Baerga | Wade Boggs*† | Cal Ripken Jr.† | Albert Belle | Ken Griffey Jr.† | Juan González | Mike Stanley | Paul Molitor† |
1994 | Frank Thomas† | Carlos Baerga | Wade Boggs*† | Cal Ripken Jr.† | Albert Belle | Ken Griffey Jr.† | Kirby Puckett† | Iván Rodríguez† | Julio Franco |
1995 | Mo Vaughn | Chuck Knoblauch | Gary Gaetti | John Valentin | Albert Belle | Tim Salmon | Manny Ramirez | Iván Rodríguez† | Edgar Martínez† |
1996 | Mark McGwire | Roberto Alomar† | Jim Thome† | Alex Rodriguez | Albert Belle | Ken Griffey Jr.† | Juan González | Iván Rodríguez† | Paul Molitor† |
1997 | Tino Martinez | Chuck Knoblauch | Matt Williams | Nomar Garciaparra | David Justice | Ken Griffey Jr.† | Juan González | Iván Rodríguez† | Edgar Martínez† |
1998 | Rafael Palmeiro | Damion Easley | Dean Palmer | Alex Rodriguez | Albert Belle | Ken Griffey Jr.† | Juan González | Iván Rodríguez† | Jose Canseco |
1999 | Carlos Delgado | Roberto Alomar† | Dean Palmer | Alex Rodriguez | Shawn Green | Ken Griffey Jr.† | Manny Ramirez | Iván Rodríguez† | Rafael Palmeiro |
2000 | Carlos Delgado | Roberto Alomar† | Troy Glaus | Alex Rodriguez | Darin Erstad | Magglio Ordóñez | Manny Ramirez | Jorge Posada | Frank Thomas† |
2001 | Jason Giambi | Bret Boone | Troy Glaus | Alex Rodriguez | Ichiro Suzuki | Juan González | Manny Ramirez | Jorge Posada | Edgar Martínez† |
2002 | Jason Giambi | Alfonso Soriano | Eric Chavez | Alex Rodriguez | Garret Anderson | Magglio Ordóñez | Bernie Williams | Jorge Posada | Manny Ramirez |
2003 | Carlos Delgado | Bret Boone | Bill Mueller | Alex Rodriguez | Garret Anderson | Vernon Wells | Manny Ramirez | Jorge Posada | Edgar Martínez† |
2004 | Mark Teixeira | Alfonso Soriano | Melvin Mora | Miguel Tejada | Gary Sheffield | Vladimir Guerrero† | Manny Ramirez | Víctor Martínez & Iván Rodríguez† | David Ortiz*† |
2005 | Mark Teixeira | Alfonso Soriano | Alex Rodriguez | Miguel Tejada | Gary Sheffield | Vladimir Guerrero† | Manny Ramirez | Jason Varitek | David Ortiz*† |
2006 | Justin Morneau | Robinson Canó | Joe Crede | Derek Jeter† | Jermaine Dye | Vladimir Guerrero† | Manny Ramirez | Joe Mauer | David Ortiz*† |
2007 | Carlos Peña | Plácido Polanco | Alex Rodriguez | Derek Jeter† | Magglio Ordóñez | Vladimir Guerrero† | Ichiro Suzuki | Jorge Posada | David Ortiz*† |
2008 | Justin Morneau | Dustin Pedroia | Alex Rodriguez | Derek Jeter† | Josh Hamilton | Carlos Quentin | Grady Sizemore | Joe Mauer | Aubrey Huff |
2009 | Mark Teixeira | Aaron Hill | Evan Longoria | Derek Jeter† | Jason Bay | Torii Hunter | Ichiro Suzuki | Joe Mauer | Adam Lind |
2010 | Miguel Cabrera | Robinson Canó | Adrián Beltré | Alexei Ramírez | Josh Hamilton | Carl Crawford | José Bautista | Joe Mauer | Vladimir Guerrero† |
2011 | Adrián González | Robinson Canó | Adrián Beltré | Asdrúbal Cabrera | Jacoby Ellsbury | Curtis Granderson | José Bautista | Alex Avila | David Ortiz*† |
2012 | Prince Fielder | Robinson Canó | Miguel Cabrera | Derek Jeter† | Josh Hamilton | Mike Trout | Josh Willingham | A. J. Pierzynski | Billy Butler |
2013 | Chris Davis | Robinson Canó | Miguel Cabrera | J. J. Hardy | Torii Hunter | Mike Trout | Adam Jones | Joe Mauer | David Ortiz*† |
2014 | José Abreu | José Altuve | Adrián Beltré | Alexei Ramírez | José Bautista | Mike Trout | Michael Brantley | Yan Gomes | Víctor Martínez |
2015 | Miguel Cabrera | José Altuve | Josh Donaldson | Xander Bogaerts | Nelson Cruz | Mike Trout | J. D. Martinez | Brian McCann | Kendrys Morales |
2016 | Miguel Cabrera | José Altuve | Josh Donaldson | Xander Bogaerts | Mookie Betts | Mike Trout | Mark Trumbo | Salvador Pérez | David Ortiz*† |
2017 | Eric Hosmer | José Altuve | José Ramírez | Francisco Lindor | Aaron Judge | Justin Upton | George Springer | Gary Sánchez | Nelson Cruz |
2018 | José Abreu | José Altuve | José Ramírez | Francisco Lindor | Mookie Betts | Mike Trout | J. D. Martinez | Salvador Pérez | J. D. Martinez |
2019 | Carlos Santana | DJ LeMahieu | Alex Bregman | Xander Bogaerts | Mookie Betts | Mike Trout | George Springer | Mitch Garver | Nelson Cruz |
2020 | José Abreu | DJ LeMahieu | José Ramírez | Tim Anderson | Eloy Jiménez | Mike Trout | Teoscar Hernández | Salvador Pérez | Nelson Cruz |
2021 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Marcus Semien | Rafael Devers | Xander Bogaerts | Teoscar Hernández | Cedric Mullins | Aaron Judge | Salvador Pérez | Shohei Ohtani |
Source:[19]
National League winners
Year | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | OF | OF | C | P | DH^ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Keith Hernandez | Manny Trillo | Mike Schmidt† | Garry Templeton | Dusty Baker | Andre Dawson† | George Hendrick | Ted Simmons† | Bob Forsch | N/A |
1981 | Pete Rose | Manny Trillo | Mike Schmidt† | Dave Concepción | Dusty Baker | Andre Dawson† | George Foster | Gary Carter† | Fernando Valenzuela | N/A |
1982 | Al Oliver | Joe Morgan† | Mike Schmidt† | Dave Concepción | Dale Murphy | Pedro Guerrero | Leon Durham | Gary Carter† | Don Robinson | N/A |
1983 | George Hendrick | Johnny Ray | Mike Schmidt† | Dickie Thon | Dale Murphy | Andre Dawson† | José Cruz | Terry Kennedy | Fernando Valenzuela | N/A |
1984 | Keith Hernandez | Ryne Sandberg*† | Mike Schmidt† | Garry Templeton | Dale Murphy | Tony Gwynn† | José Cruz | Gary Carter† | Rick Rhoden | N/A |
1985 | Jack Clark | Ryne Sandberg*† | Tim Wallach | Hubie Brooks | Dale Murphy | Willie McGee | Dave Parker | Gary Carter† | Rick Rhoden | N/A |
1986 | Glenn Davis | Steve Sax | Mike Schmidt† | Hubie Brooks | Tim Raines† | Tony Gwynn† | Dave Parker | Gary Carter† | Rick Rhoden | N/A |
1987 | Jack Clark | Juan Samuel | Tim Wallach | Ozzie Smith† | Andre Dawson† | Tony Gwynn† | Eric Davis | Benito Santiago | Bob Forsch | N/A |
1988 | Andrés Galarraga | Ryne Sandberg*† | Bobby Bonilla | Barry Larkin*† | Darryl Strawberry | Kirk Gibson | Andy Van Slyke | Benito Santiago | Tim Leary | N/A |
1989 | Will Clark | Ryne Sandberg*† | Howard Johnson | Barry Larkin*† | Kevin Mitchell | Tony Gwynn† | Eric Davis | Craig Biggio† | Don Robinson | N/A |
1990 | Eddie Murray† | Ryne Sandberg*† | Matt Williams | Barry Larkin*† | Barry Bonds* | Bobby Bonilla | Darryl Strawberry | Benito Santiago | Don Robinson | N/A |
1991 | Will Clark | Ryne Sandberg*† | Howard Johnson | Barry Larkin*† | Barry Bonds* | Bobby Bonilla | Ron Gant | Benito Santiago | Tom Glavine† | N/A |
1992 | Fred McGriff | Ryne Sandberg*† | Gary Sheffield | Barry Larkin*† | Barry Bonds* | Larry Walker† | Andy Van Slyke | Darren Daulton | Dwight Gooden | N/A |
1993 | Fred McGriff | Robby Thompson | Matt Williams | Jay Bell | Barry Bonds* | Lenny Dykstra | David Justice | Mike Piazza*† | Orel Hershiser | N/A |
1994 | Jeff Bagwell† | Craig Biggio† | Matt Williams | Wil Cordero | Barry Bonds* | Tony Gwynn† | Moisés Alou | Mike Piazza*† | Mark Portugal | N/A |
1995 | Eric Karros | Craig Biggio† | Vinny Castilla | Barry Larkin*† | Sammy Sosa | Tony Gwynn† | Dante Bichette | Mike Piazza*† | Tom Glavine† | N/A |
1996 | Andrés Galarraga | Eric Young | Ken Caminiti | Barry Larkin*† | Barry Bonds* | Gary Sheffield | Ellis Burks | Mike Piazza*† | Tom Glavine† | N/A |
1997 | Jeff Bagwell† | Craig Biggio† | Vinny Castilla | Jeff Blauser | Barry Bonds* | Tony Gwynn† | Larry Walker† | Mike Piazza*† | John Smoltz† | N/A |
1998 | Mark McGwire | Craig Biggio† | Vinny Castilla | Barry Larkin*† | Sammy Sosa | Greg Vaughn | Moisés Alou | Mike Piazza*† | Tom Glavine† | N/A |
1999 | Jeff Bagwell† | Edgardo Alfonzo | Chipper Jones† | Barry Larkin*† | Sammy Sosa | Vladimir Guerrero† | Larry Walker † | Mike Piazza*† | Mike Hampton* | N/A |
2000 | Todd Helton** | Jeff Kent | Chipper Jones† | Édgar Rentería | Barry Bonds* | Vladimir Guerrero† | Sammy Sosa | Mike Piazza*† | Mike Hampton* | N/A |
2001 | Todd Helton** | Jeff Kent | Albert Pujols | Rich Aurilia | Barry Bonds* | Luis Gonzalez | Sammy Sosa | Mike Piazza*† | Mike Hampton* | N/A |
2002 | Todd Helton** | Jeff Kent | Scott Rolen | Édgar Rentería | Barry Bonds* | Vladimir Guerrero† | Sammy Sosa | Mike Piazza*† | Mike Hampton* | N/A |
2003 | Todd Helton** | José Vidro | Mike Lowell | Édgar Rentería | Barry Bonds* | Gary Sheffield | Albert Pujols | Javy López | Mike Hampton* | N/A |
2004 | Albert Pujols** | Mark Loretta | Adrián Beltré | Jack Wilson | Barry Bonds* | Jim Edmonds | Bobby Abreu | Johnny Estrada | Liván Hernández | N/A |
2005 | Derrek Lee | Jeff Kent | Morgan Ensberg | Felipe López | Andruw Jones | Miguel Cabrera | Carlos Lee | Michael Barrett | Jason Marquis | N/A |
2006 | Ryan Howard | Chase Utley | Miguel Cabrera | José Reyes | Carlos Beltrán | Matt Holliday | Alfonso Soriano | Brian McCann | Carlos Zambrano | N/A |
2007 | Prince Fielder | Chase Utley | David Wright | Jimmy Rollins | Carlos Beltrán | Matt Holliday | Carlos Lee | Russell Martin | Micah Owings | N/A |
2008 | Albert Pujols** | Chase Utley | David Wright | Hanley Ramírez | Ryan Ludwick | Matt Holliday | Ryan Braun | Brian McCann | Carlos Zambrano | N/A |
2009 | Albert Pujols** | Chase Utley | Ryan Zimmerman | Hanley Ramírez | Matt Kemp | Andre Ethier | Ryan Braun | Brian McCann | Carlos Zambrano | N/A |
2010 | Albert Pujols** | Dan Uggla | Ryan Zimmerman | Troy Tulowitzki | Carlos González | Matt Holliday | Ryan Braun | Brian McCann | Yovani Gallardo | N/A |
2011 | Prince Fielder | Brandon Phillips | Aramis Ramírez | Troy Tulowitzki | Matt Kemp | Justin Upton | Ryan Braun | Brian McCann | Daniel Hudson | N/A |
2012 | Adam LaRoche | Aaron Hill | Chase Headley | Ian Desmond | Andrew McCutchen | Jay Bruce | Ryan Braun | Buster Posey | Stephen Strasburg | N/A |
2013 | Paul Goldschmidt** | Matt Carpenter | Pedro Álvarez | Ian Desmond | Andrew McCutchen | Jay Bruce | Michael Cuddyer | Yadier Molina | Zack Greinke | N/A |
2014 | Adrián González | Neil Walker | Anthony Rendon | Ian Desmond | Andrew McCutchen | Giancarlo Stanton | Justin Upton | Buster Posey | Madison Bumgarner | N/A |
2015 | Paul Goldschmidt** | Dee Gordon | Nolan Arenado | Brandon Crawford | Andrew McCutchen | Bryce Harper | Carlos González | Buster Posey | Madison Bumgarner | N/A |
2016 | Anthony Rizzo | Daniel Murphy | Nolan Arenado | Corey Seager | Charlie Blackmon | Yoenis Céspedes | Christian Yelich | Wilson Ramos | Jake Arrieta | N/A |
2017 | Paul Goldschmidt** | Daniel Murphy | Nolan Arenado | Corey Seager | Charlie Blackmon | Giancarlo Stanton | Marcell Ozuna | Buster Posey | Adam Wainwright | N/A |
2018 | Paul Goldschmidt** | Javier Báez | Nolan Arenado | Trevor Story | Nick Markakis | David Peralta | Christian Yelich | J. T. Realmuto | Germán Márquez | N/A |
2019 | Freddie Freeman | Ozzie Albies | Anthony Rendon | Trevor Story | Ronald Acuña Jr. | Cody Bellinger | Christian Yelich | J. T. Realmuto | Zack Greinke | N/A |
2020 | Freddie Freeman | Donovan Solano | Manny Machado | Fernando Tatís Jr. | Juan Soto | Ronald Acuña Jr. | Mookie Betts | Travis d'Arnaud | N/A | Marcell Ozuna |
2021 | Freddie Freeman | Ozzie Albies | Austin Riley | Fernando Tatís Jr. | Juan Soto | Bryce Harper | Nick Castellanos | Buster Posey | Max Fried | N/A |
Source:[19]
(^) = A universal designated hitter rule was implemented during the 2020 MLB season; the National League awarded its first Silver Slugger for DH in 2020. No award for pitchers was given.
See also
- Hank Aaron Award (best hitter in each league)
- Edgar Martínez Award: given to the best-designated hitter (American League)
- This Year in Baseball Awards (including hitter)
- Major League Baseball Triple Crown
- List of Major League Baseball awards
- Baseball awards § United States
- Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame
References
- McCalvy, Adam (November 13, 2008). "Braun nets first Silver Slugger Award". Brewers.MLB.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Louisville Slugger — The Silver Slugger Awards". Louisville Slugger. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "What are the Silver Bat and Silver Slugger Team Awards?". Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
- "Silver Slugger Award Winners — American League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Silver Slugger Award Winners — National League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Official Rules: 6.00 The Batter". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Here are this year's Silver Slugger winners". MLB.com. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
- "Everything you need to know about '22 season". MLB.com. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- "Embattled Bonds' urine sample tested positive, report". Google News. Agence France-Presse. February 3, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Barry Bonds Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Alex Rodriguez Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Wade Boggs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Barry Larkin Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Ryne Sandberg Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Mike Hampton Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Todd Helton Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Albert Pujols Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- "David Ortiz Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Silver Slugger Award". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
External links
- All-time winners at MLB.com
- Silver Slugger Awards at slugger.com via Wayback Machine