Gold Glove Award
The award should not be confused with the Golden Gloves amateur boxing competition.In American
baseball, the
Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to simply as the
Gold Glove, is the award annually given to the
major league player judged to be the most "superior individual fielding performance" at each position (in each league), as voted by the managers and coaches in each league. Eighteen Gold Gloves are awarded each year, one at each of nine positions to a player in both the
National League and
American League.
Note: The term "at each of nine positions" is not strictly accurate. Three outfielders are selected, but the award does not distinguish between left, center, and right fielders. Some critics have long called for awarding a single Gold Glove for each individual outfield position, arguing that the three outfield positions are not readily interchangeable defensively.
In
1957, the
baseball glove manufacturer
Rawlings invented the idea of the Gold Glove to commemorate the best fielding performance at each position in baseball. A glove made from gold
lamé-tanned
leather was affixed to a
walnut base and the Gold Glove was born.
The most Gold Gloves ever won by a player is 16, a feat achieved by both third baseman
Brooks Robinson and pitcher
Jim Kaat.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher
Greg Maddux will equal this record if he wins another Gold Glove in the current season.
The only player ever to win Gold Gloves as an infielder and outfielder is
Darin Erstad, who won Gold Gloves as an outfielder in
2000 and
2002 and a first baseman in
2004, all with the
Anaheim Angels.
Gold Glove awards also exist in other baseball leagues, such as in Japan.
In
1980, a Major League Baseball bat manufaturer
Hillerich & Bradsby, the maker of Louisville Slugger bats, sponsored the Louisville
Silver Slugger Award to honor the best hitter at each position.
*
Pitcher*
Catcher*
First Base*
Second Base*
Shortstop*
Third Base*
Outfield (3)
*
Pitcher*
Catcher*
First Base*
Second Base*
Shortstop*
Third Base*
Outfield (3)
*
Pitcher -
Jim Kaat - 16
*
Catcher -
Ivan Rodriguez - 11
*
First Base -
Keith Hernandez - 11
*
Second Base -
Roberto Alomar - 10
*
Third Base -
Brooks Robinson - 16
*
Shortstop -
Ozzie Smith - 13
*
Outfield -
Roberto Clemente and
Willie Mays - 12
*
List of Gold Glove middle infield duos*
Rawlings (company)
