Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award

Last updated

Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award
Sport Baseball
League Major League Baseball
Awarded forGroup or person who has made a "major impact on the sport" of baseball
CountryUnited States, Canada
Presented by Commissioner of Baseball
History
First award1998
Most recent Shohei Ohtani (2021)

The Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award is awarded by the Commissioner of Baseball, the chief executive of Major League Baseball (MLB), to a group or person who has made a "major impact on the sport" of baseball. [1] It is not an annual award; rather, the Commissioner presents it at his discretion. The trophy is a gold baseball sitting atop a cylindrical silver base, [2] created by Tiffany & Co. [3] The award has been presented sixteen times: thirteen times to players, once to a team, and twice to a non-player. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were the first to receive the award for their parts in the 1998 MLB home run record chase. [2] The most recent recipient is Shohei Ohtani, who was honored in 2021 for being the first player in MLB history to be an All-Star as both a starting pitcher and a lead-off hitter in the 2021 All-Star Game and for completing a two-way season as a hitter and as a pitcher. The 2001 Seattle Mariners won the award as a team for posting a 116–46 record. Roberto Clemente, the 2006 awardee, is the only player to receive the award posthumously; his award was accepted by his wife, Vera. [4]

Three years after McGwire and Sosa were honored, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, both of whom retired after the 2001 season, received the award and were honored at the 2001 MLB All-Star Game; Ripken was elected to the American League All-Star team as a starter at third base, while Gwynn was later added as an honorary member of the National League team. [5] During the first inning of the game, Alex Rodriguez, who had been elected the starter at shortstop—the position at which Ripken played for most of his career—switched positions with Ripken for the first inning of the game as a tribute. [6] Including the presentation of the award to the Mariners following the season, the 2001 season's three awards are the most presented in a single year.

Barry Bonds received the award in 2002, becoming the third player so honored for breaking the single-season home run record. Bonds was the first of two players to receive the award that season, along with Rickey Henderson. The award was given in each year from 2004 until 2007: Roger Clemens was honored during the 2004 All-Star Game, and Ichiro Suzuki was presented with the award for breaking the single-season hits record in 2005. Rachel Robinson was honored in 2007, receiving the award for establishing the Jackie Robinson Foundation. She was the first woman and the first non-player to be thus honored. In 2014 Vin Scully became the second non-player to be honored.

Awardees

Awardee(s)ImageYear presentedAchievementRef(s)
Barry Bonds BarryLamar Bonds.jpg 2002Bonds set the MLB single-season home run record with 73 in the 2001 season. He also amassed 137 runs batted in, 177 walks, and an .863 slugging percentage; the last two broke records set by Babe Ruth. Bonds later went on to surpass both Ruth and Hank Aaron as the all-time MLB home run leader. [7] [8]
Roger Clemens 062707 267 Roger Clemens.jpg 2004Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards during his career (six at the time of the award presentation), posted six seasons in which he won 20 or more games (career-high 24 wins in 1986), and won 354 games in his career. Clemens is only the fourth pitcher to surpass 4,000 strikeouts and appeared in 10 All-Star Games in his 24-year career. [9] [10]
Roberto Clemente Roberto Clemente - Pittsburgh Pirates - 1966.jpg 2006Clemente is the only posthumous recipient of the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award. He led the league in batting average four times in his career, notching his 3,000th hit in the 1972 season (September 30). Inducted into the Hall of Fame after his death at sea, Clemente was recognized not only for his statistical achievements over his 17 seasons, but for his humanitarian contributions. [4] [11]
Ken Griffey Jr. Ken Griffey, Jr. June 2009.jpg 2011Griffey was retired at the time of his award after having hit over 600 home runs, winning an MVP Award in 1997, and being named to the All-Century Team throughout his career. Commissioner Bud Selig described Griffey in a statement, saying he "was a gifted all-around player with a perfect swing, a brilliant glove, and a childlike joy for the game. From the time he was just 19, Ken represented MLB with excellence and grace, and he was one of our sport's greatest ambassadors not only in Seattle and Cincinnati but also around the world. I am most appreciative for all of Ken's contributions to our national pastime." [12] [13]
Tony Gwynn Tony Gwynn 2011.jpg 2001Gwynn played 20 seasons with the San Diego Padres, amassing 15 All-Star appearances and leading the league in batting average 8 times. His .338 average ranks him 17th on the all-time list for career batting average. Gwynn was the 1999 recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, won five Gold Glove Awards, and notched a .306 career average in the postseason. [5] [14]
Rickey Henderson Rickeyhenderson2002.jpg 2002During his 25-season career, Henderson set numerous MLB records, including most runs scored, most unintentional walks, most stolen bases in a season and a career, and most leadoff home runs in league history. Henderson began to play at the age of 20 with the 1979 Oakland Athletics, and continued through the 2003 season, playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers at age 44. Henderson continued to play after his unofficial retirement from MLB, appearing for several independent league teams. [15] [16]
Derek Jeter
Jeter in 2007 Derek Jeter 2007 in Baltimore.jpg
Jeter in 2007
2014After a 20-season career with the New York Yankees, Jeter retired with the sixth-most career hits in MLB history. A five-time World Series champion, he set numerous MLB postseason career records, including most hits (200), most runs scored (111), most doubles (32), most extra-base hits (57) and most total bases (302). Jeter is also the Yankees' franchise leader in hits, games played, stolen bases, and at bats. Selig described Jeter as "one of the most accomplished shortstops of all-time" who "always represent[ed] the best of our National Pastime." [17]
Mark McGwire Mark McGwire 1989.jpg 1998McGwire's name is linked with that of fellow 1998 award winner Sammy Sosa for their part in the MLB home run record chase of that season. McGwire ended the 1998 season with 70 home runs, the first player ever to reach the mark in a season and only the third player to break 60 home runs. McGwire finished his career with 583 home runs. [18] [19]
Shohei Ohtani Shohei Ohtani (48343515351) (cropped).jpg 2021Ohtani was an unprecedented kind of player during his first four years in Major League Baseball, performing effectively both as a starting pitcher and as a designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels. He won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2018 when he hit 22 home runs as a hitter and earned four wins in ten starts as a pitcher. He did not pitch in 2019 due to Tommy John surgery, but in 2021 he broke out with 46 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases offensively and recording nine wins and a 3.18 ERA on the mound. Ohtani was unanimously voted the American League Most Valuable Player, and was also the first player in MLB history to be an All-Star as both a starting pitcher and a lead-off hitter in the 2021 All-Star Game. This was the first time the award was presented by Rob Manfred. [20]
Cal Ripken Jr. Cal Ripken Jr. in 1993.jpg 2001Ripken broke one of baseball's "unbreakable" records [21] by playing in 2,131 consecutive games. His durability earned him the nickname "Iron Man", referencing Lou Gehrig (the "Iron Horse"), the player whose record he broke. Ripken would finish his career with 2,632 consecutive games played out of his 3,001 career games. He played for the Baltimore Orioles for 21 seasons, hitting 431 home runs and redefining the role of the shortstop in baseball. [6] [22]
Mariano Rivera Mariano Rivera allison 7 29 07.jpg 2013Rivera retired as MLB's career leader in saves (652) and games finished (952) after a 19-year career with the New York Yankees, 17 of which were spent as the team's closer. A five-time World Series champion, Rivera set numerous postseason records, including most saves (42) and lowest earned run average (0.70). He was the final MLB player to wear the uniform number 42 following its league-wide retirement in honor of Jackie Robinson. Selig described Rivera as "a great ambassador of the game" who "represented his family, his country, the Yankees and all of Major League Baseball with the utmost class and dignity". [23]
Rachel Robinson Rachel Robinson.jpg 2007Robinson, the wife of pioneer Jackie Robinson, is the only woman and the first non-player to win the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award. In honor of her "contribution and sacrifice to the legacy of her husband", Selig presented the award to Robinson for her work with the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The Foundation has awarded more than $14 million in scholarships to students in need. [1]
Vin Scully Scully GM.JPG 2014Scully is the second non-player and the first broadcaster to win the award. He was given the award during his 65th season broadcasting games for the Dodgers, with Commissioner Selig recognizing Scully's "lifetime of extraordinary service." Scully broadcast Dodgers games from 1950 to 2016. He was honored with the Ford Frick Award in 1982 and was inducted in the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1995. [24]
Seattle Mariners MarinerMooseFlag.jpg 2001After the 2000 season, the Mariners lost shortstop Alex Rodriguez to the Texas Rangers via free agency. Adding Orix BlueWave outfielder Ichiro Suzuki from the Japanese league, the 2001 Mariners won their division with a 116–46 record, 14 games ahead of the second-place Oakland Athletics. Suzuki finished with a team-high .350 batting average, winning the Rookie of the Year award, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player. In the second round of the playoffs, the Mariners were defeated by the Yankees. [25] [26]
Sammy Sosa Sosa Spring training.jpg 1998Sosa and Mark McGwire's chase for the single-season home run record thrust the National League Central division into the spotlight, but Sosa's Chicago Cubs finished ahead of McGwire's St. Louis Cardinals in the division standings, second to the 102-win Houston Astros. Thus, Sosa was the recipient of the 1998 Most Valuable Player Award, though his 66 home runs placed him 4 behind McGwire's record of 70. Sosa went on to be the only player in MLB history to collect three 60-home-run seasons (1998, 1999, 2001). [2] [27]
Ichiro Suzuki Ichiro Suzuki on May 11, 2011.jpg 2005In breaking a record many thought "unbreakable", [28] Ichiro amassed 262 hits in 2004 (an MLB-leading .372 batting average). The previous single-season record had been set in 1920 by George Sisler of the St. Louis Browns (257). Ichiro also led the league in at-bats (704), plate appearances (762), and intentional walks (19). [25] [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award</span> Award given annually to the best rookie in each league of Major League Baseball

In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to two outstanding rookie players, one each for the American League (AL) and National League (NL), as voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946. The award became national in 1947; Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers' second baseman, won the inaugural award. One award was presented for all of MLB in 1947 and 1948; since 1949, the honor has been given to one player each in the NL and AL. Originally, the award was known as the J. Louis Comiskey Memorial Award, named after the Chicago White Sox owner of the 1930s. The award was renamed the Jackie Robinson Award in July 1987, 40 years after Robinson broke the baseball color line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark McGwire</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1963)

Mark David McGwire, nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball first baseman who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2001 for the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He won two World Series championships, one with Oakland as a player in 1989 and one with St. Louis as a coach in 2011. One of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history, McGwire hit 583 home runs during his career, which ranked 5th-most in MLB history at the time of his retirement and currently ranks 11th. He holds the major-league career record for at bats per home run ratio (10.6), and is the former record holder for both home runs in a single season and home runs hit by a rookie. McGwire was one of several central figures in baseball's steroids scandal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ichiro Suzuki</span> Japanese baseball player (born 1973)

Ichiro Suzuki, also known mononymously as Ichiro, is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder who played professionally for 28 seasons. He played the first nine years of his career with the Orix BlueWave of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and the next 12 years with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). Suzuki then played two and a half seasons with the New York Yankees and three with the Miami Marlins before returning to the Mariners for his final two seasons. He won two World Baseball Classic titles as part of the Japanese national team. He also became the Mariners' special assistant to the chairman in 2019. He is regarded as one of the greatest contact hitters, leadoff hitters and defensive outfielders in baseball history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cal Ripken Jr.</span> American baseball player (born 1960)

Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr., nicknamed "the Iron Man", is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire 21-season career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981–2001). One of his position's most productive offensive players, Ripken compiled 3,184 hits, 431 home runs, and 1,695 runs batted in during his career, and he won two Gold Glove Awards for his defense. He was a 19-time All-Star and was twice named American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), in 1983 and 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baseball Writers' Association of America</span> American journalist association

The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) is a professional association for journalists writing about Major League Baseball for daily newspapers, magazines, and qualifying websites. The organization was founded in 1908 and is known for its annual awards and voting on membership in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">500 home run club</span> Group of Major League Baseball batters who hit 500+ regular-season home runs in their careers

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 500 home run club is a group of batters who have hit 500 or more regular-season home runs in their careers. There are twenty-eight players who are members of the 500 home run club. Seven 500 home run club members—Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera—are also members of the 3,000 hit club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3,000-hit club</span> Group of Major League Baseball players to have 3,000 career regular-season hits

The 3,000-hit club is the group of 33 batters who have collected 3,000 or more regular-season hits in their careers in Major League Baseball (MLB). Reaching 3,000 hits has been "long considered the greatest measure of superior bat handling" and is often described as a guarantee of eventual entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Gehrig Memorial Award</span>

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award is given annually to a Major League Baseball (MLB) player who best exhibits the character and integrity of Lou Gehrig, both on the field and off it. The award was created by the Phi Delta Theta fraternity in honor of Gehrig, who was a member of the fraternity at Columbia University. It was first presented in 1955, fourteen years after Gehrig's death. The award's purpose is to recognize a player's exemplary contributions in "both his community and philanthropy." The bestowal of the award is overseen by the headquarters of the Phi Delta Theta in Oxford, Ohio, and the name of each winner is inscribed onto the Lou Gehrig Award plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. It is the only MLB award conferred by a fraternity.

The Topps All-Star Rookie Team, also known as the Topps ASRT, is a list of notable Major League Baseball rookie players chosen annually by Topps Company, Inc. In most years since 1960, the company has issued a special set of baseball cards featuring the team's members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting</span> Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame

Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 2007 proceeded according to revised rules enacted in 2001. The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) held an election to select from among recent players, resulting in the induction of Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Contact hitter</span> Baseball hitter who does not strike out often

In baseball, a contact hitter is a hitter who does not strike out often. Thus, they are usually able to use their bat to make contact with the ball to put it in play, and then run fast to reach base. As a result of their focus on putting the ball in play, they usually have fewer home runs than power hitters, but a higher BABIP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgar Martínez Award</span> Baseball award

The Edgar Martínez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, commonly referred to as the Edgar Martínez Award and originally known as the Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, has been presented annually to the most outstanding designated hitter (DH) in Major League Baseball (MLB) since 1973. The award is voted on by club beat reporters, broadcasters, and public relations departments. The Associated Press discontinued the award in 2000, but it was picked up by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, which has administered it since. All players with a minimum of 100 at bats at DH are eligible. From the award's inception in 1973 until 2019, and in 2021, use of the designated hitter was allowed only in the American League (AL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game</span> 2001 American baseball competition

The 2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 72nd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 10, 2001 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington, home of the Seattle Mariners of the American League. The American League defeated the National League, 4–1. This was Cal Ripken Jr.'s 19th and final All-Star Game. It was also the final All-Star Game for San Diego Padres right fielder Tony Gwynn.

The 1998 Major League Baseball season ended with the New York Yankees sweeping the San Diego Padres in the World Series, after they had won a then AL record 114 regular season games. The Yankees finished with 125 wins for the season, which remains the MLB record.

The 1999 Major League Baseball season ended with the New York Yankees sweeping the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

The Seattle Mariners' 2001 season was the 25th since the franchise's inception. They finished with a 116-46 (.71605) record, tying the major league record for wins in the modern era set by the 1906 Chicago Cubs, and setting the record for wins by an American League team. From a winning percentage record, it would only be surpassed in modern baseball by the 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers, who finished 43-17 (.71667) in a pandemic-shortened season.

The Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award is given annually to a Major League Baseball (MLB) player "whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement." The award was created by the Major League Baseball Players' Association (MLBPA) and was presented to the inaugural winner – Mark McGwire – in 1997 as the "Man of the Year Award". Three years later, it was renamed in honor of Marvin Miller, the first executive director of the MLBPA. The award forms part of the Players Choice Awards.

References

General
Inline citations
  1. 1 2 Bloom, Barry M. (April 15, 2007). "Commissioner honors Rachel Robinson". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 19, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 Armour, Nancy (September 20, 1998). "Home Run!: The Year the Records Fell". Associated Press. ISBN   9781582610269 . Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  3. ↑ "About Tiffany & Co.: Tiffany & Co. Sports Trophies". Tiffany & Co. Archived from the original on February 27, 2010. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  4. 1 2 Dvorchak, Robert (July 13, 2006). "Clemente All-Star tribute another touching moment". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on July 21, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  5. 1 2 Hickey, John (July 11, 2001). "Ripken blasts homer, earns All-Star MVP". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Baseball begins to bid farewell to Ripken, Gwynn". CNNSI.com. CNN / Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. July 10, 2001. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  7. ↑ Rawitch, Josh (July 10, 2002). "Bonds excels on All-Star stage". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on January 19, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Barry Bonds Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  9. ↑ Chass, Murray (July 14, 2004). "On Baseball; It's Up to Piazza to Say Whether or Not It's All Over". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Roger Clemens Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Roberto Clemente Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  12. ↑ Haft, Chris (October 23, 2011). "Griffey receives Historic Achievement Award". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  13. ↑ For photo of award presentation, see: "MLB Award Winners (2011): Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award — Ken Griffey Jr". Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. November 1, 2011. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Tony Gwynn Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  15. ↑ "American vs. National". USA Today. July 13, 2004. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Rickey Henderson". The Baseball Cube. Archived from the original on September 30, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  17. ↑ "Derek Jeter honored with Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award" (Press release). Major League Baseball. September 23, 2014. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  18. ↑ Stone, Larry (September 9, 1998). "Mark McGwire King Of Swing – Summer Of 62 – McGwire Takes Possession Of Grandest Of Records, Turns Thoughts To Legacy". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  19. ↑ "Mark McGwire Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  20. ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (October 26, 2021). "Ohtani wins Historic Achievement Award". MLB.com . Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  21. ↑ "The Hall of Famers: Cal Ripken". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  22. ↑ "Cal Ripken Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  23. ↑ "Mariano Rivera Receives Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award" (Press release). Major League Baseball. October 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Vin Scully honored with Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award". mlb.com. September 5, 2014. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  25. 1 2 Street, Jim (April 22, 2005). "Ichiro honored at Safeco". Mariners.MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  26. ↑ "2001 Seattle Mariners Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  27. ↑ "Sammy Sosa Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  28. ↑ Street, Jim (February 22, 2005). "What will Ichiro do for an encore?". Mariners.MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  29. ↑ "Ichiro Suzuki Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2009. Retrieved September 25, 2009.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.