Warren Spahn Award

Last updated

Warren Spahn Award
Warren Spahn 1953.jpg
Warren Spahn in 1953
Sport Baseball
League Major League Baseball
Awarded forBest left-handed pitcher
Presented by Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
History
First award1999 Randy Johnson
Most recent2024 Chris Sale
Website Official website

The Warren Spahn Award is presented each season by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame to the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). The award is named after Warren Spahn, who holds the MLB record in wins for a left-handed pitcher with 363. [1] The Warren Spahn Award was created in 1999 by Richard Hendricks, the founder of the Territorial Capital Sports Museum, formerly Oklahoma Sports Museum, to honor Spahn, who resided in Oklahoma. [2] The award was formerly presented at the Masonic Temple in Guthrie, Oklahoma until 2009, when the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame was granted ownership of the award, in partnership with the Bricktown Rotary Club. [2] From 2009 to 2019, the award was presented at the annual Warren Spahn Award Gala, hosted by the Bricktown Rotary Club of Oklahoma City. Currently, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame presents each annual award to the winner during season play at their respective team's ballpark. [1]

Contents

The award has been won by 15 different pitchers. The winner is chosen based on rankings, which are based on wins, strikeouts, and earned run average. [1] [2] The most recent recipient is Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves. Randy Johnson received the first four awards from 1999 through 2002. He attended the awards ceremony due to his respect for Spahn, who called him personally to ask him to attend. [2] CC Sabathia (2007–2009), Johan Santana (2004, 2006), Clayton Kershaw (2011, 2013, 2014, 2017), and Blake Snell (2018, 2023) are also multiple Warren Spahn Award winners. Johnson (1999–2002), Santana (2004, 2006), Sabathia (2007) and Kershaw (2011, 2013, 2014), and Snell (2018, 2023) also won the Cy Young Award, given annually to the best pitcher in each league, in years they won the Warren Spahn Award. [3] Santana (2004, 2006), Sabathia (2007), Kershaw (2011, 2013, 2014), and Keuchel (2015) won the Pitcher of the Year Award, given annually to the most outstanding pitcher in each league, in years they won the Warren Spahn Award. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

There has been one tie-break in the Warren Spahn Award's history, which occurred when Sabathia defeated the Houston Astros' Wandy Rodríguez to earn his third consecutive award in 2009. [11] The tie-break was decided based on winning percentage. [12]

Winners

Randy Johnson won the first four Warren Spahn Awards. Randy Johnson 04.jpg
Randy Johnson won the first four Warren Spahn Awards.
Johan Santana won the Major League Baseball Triple Crown the year of his second Warren Spahn Award. Johan Santana 20060602.jpg
Johan Santana won the Major League Baseball Triple Crown the year of his second Warren Spahn Award.
Lester pitching in the 2016 National League Championship Series Jon Lester Game 5 of 2016 NLCS 8.jpg
Lester pitching in the 2016 National League Championship Series
Key
YearThe MLB season the award was given
Player (X)Denotes winning player and number of times they had won the award at that point (if more than one)
W Wins
ERA Earned run average
K Strikeouts
‡Indicates player won the Cy Young Award that season
ItalicsIndicates player led MLB in that category
†Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Winners
YearPitcherTeam(s)WERAKRefs
1999 Randy Johnson †‡ Arizona Diamondbacks 172.48364 [14] [15]
2000 Randy Johnson (2)†‡ Arizona Diamondbacks 192.64347 [14]
2001 Randy Johnson (3)†‡ Arizona Diamondbacks 212.49372 [14] [16]
2002 Randy Johnson (4)†‡ Arizona Diamondbacks 242.32334 [14] [17]
2003 Andy Pettitte New York Yankees 214.02180 [18] [19]
2004 Johan Santana ‡ Minnesota Twins 202.61265 [20] [21]
2005 Dontrelle Willis Florida Marlins 222.63180 [22] [23]
2006 Johan Santana (2)‡ Minnesota Twins 192.77245 [21] [24]
2007 CC Sabathia ‡ Cleveland Indians 193.21209 [25] [26]
2008 CC Sabathia (2) Cleveland Indians  /
  Milwaukee Brewers 		172.70251 [26] [27]
2009 CC Sabathia (3) New York Yankees 193.37197 [11] [26]
2010 David Price Tampa Bay Rays 192.72188 [28] [29]
2011 Clayton Kershaw ‡ Los Angeles Dodgers 212.28248 [30] [31]
2012 Gio Gonzalez Washington Nationals 212.89207 [32] [33]
2013 Clayton Kershaw (2)‡ Los Angeles Dodgers 161.83232 [34]
2014 Clayton Kershaw (3)‡ Los Angeles Dodgers 211.77239 [35]
2015 Dallas Keuchel ‡ Houston Astros 202.48216 [9]
2016 Jon Lester Chicago Cubs 192.44197 [10]
2017 Clayton Kershaw (4) Los Angeles Dodgers 182.31202 [36]
2018 Blake Snell ‡ Tampa Bay Rays 211.89221 [37]
2019 Patrick Corbin Washington Nationals 143.25238 [38]
2020 Hyun-jin Ryu Toronto Blue Jays 52.6972 [39]
2021 Julio Urías Los Angeles Dodgers 202.96195 [40]
2022 Julio Urías (2) Los Angeles Dodgers 172.16166 [41]
2023 Blake Snell (2)‡ San Diego Padres 142.25234 [42]
2024 Chris Sale Atlanta Braves 182.38225 [43]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jon Lester takes lead in Spahn Award Watch" (PDF) (Press release). The Warren Spahn Award. September 22, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Carlson, Jenni (January 26, 2010). "The changing face of the Warren Spahn Award". The Oklahoman . Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Cy Young Award winners". Major League Baseball . Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Pitcher of the Year winners". Baseball Almanac . Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Johan Santana Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  6. ↑ "CC Sabathia Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  7. ↑ "Clayton Kershaw Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com .
  8. ↑ "Baseball Awards Pitcher of the Year". Baseball-Reference.com .
  9. 1 2 Lewis, Barry (November 16, 2015). "Bishop Kelley Graduate Wins 2015 Warren Spahn Award". tulsaworld.com. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Lester Wins 2016 Warren Spahn Award".
  11. 1 2 "New York Yankees' CC Sabathia wins Warren Spahn Award". ESPN.com . ESPN. December 8, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  12. ↑ "CC Sabathia Wins Battle for 2009 Warren Spahn Award: First tiebreaker in award history gives Sabathia his third consecutive win" (PDF) (Press release). The Warren Spahn Award. October 26, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  13. ↑ Sheinin, Dave (November 17, 2006). "Santana Wins Second Cy Young Unanimously". The Washington Post . p. E.10. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2011.(subscription required)
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Randy Johnson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  15. ↑ Gonzales, Mark (February 19, 2000). "Durable Johnson Carries Big Load". Arizona Republic . p. C1. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2011.(subscription required)
  16. ↑ "Johnson wins award". Altus Times . Associated Press. December 5, 2001. p. 5. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  17. ↑ Bloom, Barry M. (August 21, 2002). "More hardware for Big Unit". MLB.com . MLB Advanced Media . Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  18. ↑ Footer, Alyson (January 14, 2004). "Pettitte honored with Spahn award". MLB.com. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Andy Pettitte Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  20. ↑ Sheldon, Mark (October 22, 2004). "Santana honored with Spahn Award". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  21. 1 2 "Johan Santana Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  22. ↑ Rowland, Toby (January 20, 2006). "Willis wins Warren Spahn Award". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Dontrelle Willis Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Santana Claims Spahn Award: Twins' Ace Cited as Majors' Top Left-Hander". St. Paul Pioneer Press . January 19, 2007. p. D2. Retrieved October 10, 2011.(subscription required)
  25. ↑ "Sabathia named Warren Spahn Award winner". The Edmond Sun . January 28, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  26. 1 2 3 "CC Sabathia Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Sabathia wins Warren Spahn Award". The Tuscaloosa News . December 7, 2008. p. 3C. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  28. ↑ Aber, Ryan (October 6, 2010). "Tampa Bay Rays' David Price wins Warren Spahn Award". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  29. ↑ "David Price Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  30. ↑ Aber, Ryan (October 20, 2011). "L.A. Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw named Warren Spahn Award winner". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Clayton Kershaw Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  32. ↑ Kilgore, Adam (October 4, 2012). "Gio González wins 2012 Warren Spahn Award". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Gio González Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  34. ↑ "2013 Warren Spahn Award Winner – Clayton Kershaw". Jim Thorpe Association. October 11, 2013. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  35. ↑ ""Clayton Kershaw wins Warren Spahn award for third time"".
  36. ↑ "Kershaw Wins 4th Warren Spahn Award". MLB.com .
  37. ↑ "Blake Snell wins 2018 Warren Spahn Award. MLB.com Retrieved on November 19, 2018."]
  38. ↑ ""Patrick Corbin wins 2019 Warren Spahn Award"".
  39. ↑ ""Hyun jin Ryu wins 2020 Warren Spahn Award"".
  40. ↑ "Julio Urías wins 2021 Warren Spahn Award". December 2, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Julio Urías Wins 2022 Warren Spahn Award". December 20, 2022.
  42. ↑ "Blake Snell wins OKC-based Warren Spahn Award as MLB's best left-handed pitcher". December 6, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Chris wins OKC-based Warren Spahn Award as MLB's best left-handed pitcher". November 11, 2024.

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