Category: Awards
Official: Braves’ Adcock To Be Honored
The Milwaukee Brewers today announced that former Milwaukee Braves first baseman, the late Joe Adcock, will be honored as the newest member of the Miller Park Walk of Fame in 2016. A total of 34 votes were cast through media and panel voting, with Adcock receiving 23 votes (67.6%), exceeding the threshold of 65% needed for election. Adcock fell just one vote shy of election last year.
Adcock spent 17 seasons in the Major Leagues, including 10 with the Braves. His tenure in Milwaukee spanned from 1953 to 1962, as he batted .285 with 239 HR and 760 RBI in 1207 games. Adcock notched a number of memorable feats while playing for the Braves. On April 14, 1953, he recorded the first base hit and scored the first run in County Stadium history. The following year, on July 31, 1954, he belted four home runs with a double at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, setting a single-game record of 18 total bases, which lasted 48 years.
“Joe always said that there was nowhere better to be a Major League ballplayer than the city of Milwaukee, and he had great ties to the area and even better memories of his time there,” said Joan Adcock, a Wisconsin native who met and married Joe while he was playing for the Braves. “This is a tremendous honor, and I know Joe would be humbled and thrilled to be remembered in this way.”
Adcock was also a member of the Braves 1957 World Championship team. He drove in the lone run in a 1-0 Game 5 World Series win vs. the New York Yankees. The Braves went on to defeat the Yankees, four games to three. On May 26, 1959, Adcock broke up Harvey Haddix’s 12-inning no-hitter with a walk-off double at County Stadium. Adcock ranks third in Milwaukee Braves history in hits (1206), home runs, RBI and total bases (2164).
“Joe Adcock was a key contributor to the great success enjoyed by the Braves during their storied tenure in Milwaukee, and we are very pleased to secure his legacy with a place on the Miller Park Walk of Fame,” said Brewers Chief Operating Officer Rick Schlesinger. “Joe’s contributions to the Braves were numerous, and he was responsible for some of the most memorable moments in Milwaukee baseball history. We look forward to remembering Joe with a ceremony this summer and a permanent marker at Miller Park.”
The induction of Adcock, who passed away in 1999, will take place prior to a game at Miller Park this summer, with the specific date to be determined later. Family members including his widow, Joan, are expected to participate.
There were a total of 23 Brewers players and seven Braves players on the ballot. The ballot included on-field personnel who wore a Brewers or Braves uniform for a minimum of three seasons but have been retired from playing/managing roles for at least three seasons. All players and managers receiving votes on at least 5% of the ballots will remain eligible in 2017.
Past inductees include Hank Aaron, Rollie Fingers, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount in 2001; Commissioner Bud Selig and Cecil Cooper in 2002; Bob Uecker and Harry Dalton in 2003; Jim Gantner and Gorman Thomas in 2004; Don Money and Harvey Kuenn in 2005; Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn and John Quinn in 2007 (the first year that former Braves players appeared on the ballot); Lew Burdette in 2010, Johnny Logan in 2013, and Teddy Higuera in 2015.
Each inductee is honored with a granite plaque that is placed into the terrace area walkway that surrounds Miller Park. The full results are as follows:
Brewers:
| LAST | FIRST | VOTES | PERCENTAGE |
| Augustine | Jerry | 4 | 11.3% |
| Bamberger | George | 13 | 38.2% |
| Bando | Sal | 8 | 23.5% |
| Caldwell | Mike | 18 | 52.9% |
| Castro | Bill | 4 | 11.8% |
| Cirillo | Jeff | 11 | 32.4% |
| Counsell | Craig | 2 | 5.9% |
| Hisle | Larry | 3 | 8.8% |
| Jenkins | Geoff | 17 | 50.0% |
| Lezcano | Sixto | 4 | 11.8% |
| Loretta | Mark | 2 | 5.9% |
| Moore | Charlie | 9 | 26.5% |
| Oglivie | Ben | 13 | 38.2% |
| Plesac | Dan | 12 | 35.3% |
| Schroeder | Bill | 4 | 11.8% |
| Scott | George | 9 | 26.5% |
| Sheets | Ben | 11 | 32.4% |
| Simmons | Ted | 11 | 32.4% |
| Slaton | Jim | 8 | 23.5% |
| Suppan | Jeff | 0 | 0.0% |
| Sveum | Dale | 1 | 2.9% |
| Vaughn | Greg | 10 | 29.4% |
| Vuckovich | Pete | 18 | 52.9% |
Braves:
| LAST | FIRST | VOTES | PERCENTAGE |
| Adcock | Joe | 23 | 67.6% |
| Bruton | William | 5 | 14.7% |
| Buhl | Robert | 6 | 17.6% |
| Crandall | Del | 8 | 23.5% |
| Haney | Fred | 7 | 20.6% |
| Mantilla | Felix | 2 | 5.9% |
| Pafko | Andy | 4 | 11.8% |
Helena’s Fetz Named Pioneer League Executive of the Year (Official)
Helena Brewers President & General Manager, Paul Fetz, was named Pioneer League Executive of the Year during the Fall Meetings in Missoula.
Fetz (image courtesy Helena Brewers)
This past season was Fetz’s 27th in professional baseball and 13th as GM of the Helena Brewers. This was the second time Fetz has been named the Executive of the Year and will receive the award in Nashville at the Baseball Winter Meetings in early December.
“I am very proud of what our organization has been able to accomplish over the past year. Without my staff none of this would be possible. Their enthusiasm and dedication in making our fans enjoy their Helena ballpark experience has been the main driving force to our recent successes,” said Fetz. “I am also appreciative to the fans and Helena community who have continuously supported ‘Brewers Baseball’ over the years.”
The Brewers rebranded their image through a new mascot and increased community involvement through the Reading Program and participation in community events. As a result, regular season attendance increased almost 10% over 2014 despite air quality issues from smoke and some rainy weather. 2015 regular season attendance even outperformed the 2013 regular season which was a playoff year.
Fetz came to Helena when professional baseball returned to the city in 2003. In 2008, he was helpful in the negotiation of the current long term 20 year lease. In 2014, the club signed a 4 year Player Development Contract extension with the Milwaukee Brewers.
“Paul has been a contributing member of the Brewer family for years and a solid participant in the Helena community. His passion for the game shows up every day. He is well deserving for this award,” said Special Assistant to the GM/Director of Player Development for the Milwaukee Brewers, Reid Nichols.
Milwaukee BBWAA Chapter Announces Brewers Team Awards
Each season, every city’s chapter of the Baseball Writer’s Association of America votes on team awards for the respective clubs based there. Milwaukee is no exception. As such, the seven members of the Milwaukee BBWAA chapter voted on the standard awards as they always do. The winners of the same were announced this morning.
Here is a breakdown of the voting (where provided in the official press release) for each of the five awards.
Most Valuable Player – Ryan Braun
- Ryan Braun (Seven (7) 1st place votes – 35 points – Unanimous)
- Adam Lind (Six (6) 2nd place, One (1) 3rd place – 19 points)
Most Valuable Pitcher – Franciso Rodriguez
- Francisco Rodriguez (35 points – Unanimous)
- Jeremy Jeffress – (14 points)
- Jimmy Nelson (11 points)
Top Newcomer – Adam Lind
- Adam Lind (31 points)
- Taylor Jungmann (22 points)
Unsung Hero – Jeremy Jeffress
- Jeremy Jeffress (24 points)
- Will Smith (15 points)
“Good Guy” Award – Jonathan Lucroy
- Jonathan Lucroy (35 points – Unanimous)
- Kyle Lohse (14 points)
- Scooter Gennett (12 points)
Top Brewers Prospect Nabs Top Defensive Accolade
OFFICIAL RELEASE
Minor League Baseball and Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. today announced Minor League Baseball’s recipients of the 2015 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® for defensive excellence. Brewers prospect Orlando Arcia was awarded the Gold Glove at shortstop after an impressive all-around season at the plate and in the field, including just 13 errors in 585 total chances (.978 fielding percentage) for the Biloxi Shuckers (AA). This is the second consecutive season that a Brewers prospect has won the award, as outfielder Michael Ratterree received the Gold Glove with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A) last year.
Arcia was named the organization’s Player of the year earlier this month and is widely regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects. He finished his first season at the Double-A level batting .307/.347/.453 with 37 doubles, seven triples, eight homers, 69 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 129 games. The 21-year-old finished his campaign among the league-leaders in several categories including average (5th), at-bats (2nd, 512), RBI (4th), doubles (1st), slugging percentage (5th), extra-base hits (3rd, 52), runs (5th, 74) and total bases (2nd, 232). He set new career-highs in almost every hitting category including runs, hits, doubles, triples and home runs.
The Venezuelan native was signed by the Brewers as a non-drafted free agent in 2010. He was named both a mid-season and postseason Southern League All-Star this year. Arcia was honored with the League’s Player of the Week award for May 25-June 1 when he batted .400 (10-25) with 6 runs, 5 doubles, a homer, 5 RBI and 2 walks in six games. In addition, Arcia was selected to represent the World Team in the 2015 Futures Game at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Arcia is ranked as the top prospect in the Brewers organization, according to MLB.com.
Arcia will receive his Rawlings Gold Glove Award, molded after the iconic award given to Major League Baseball’s top defensive players, during the 2016 season.
Official Release: Teddy Higuera Voted Onto Walk of Fame
The Milwaukee Brewers today announced that pitcher Teddy Higuera will be honored this season as he has been voted as the newest member of the Miller Park Walk of Fame. A total of 32 votes were cast and Higuera received 25 votes (78.1%), exceeding the threshold of 65% needed for election.
Higuera fell just two votes shy of election last year.
A lifetime Brewer, Higuera played nine seasons with the team. He started his career in 1985 and went 15-8 with a 3.90 ERA with 127 strikeouts, while finishing as the American League runner-up for Rookie of the Year. The following season, Higuera posted a 20 win season, going 20-11 with a 2.79 ERA, with 207 strikeouts and 17 complete games. He earned All-Star honors and finished second on the Cy Young Award ballot. Higuera followed his success by setting the franchise record for strikeouts in a season with 240 in 1987, as he went 18-10 with a 3.85 ERA. He went 94-64 with 3.61 ERA in his career, and currently ranks third among franchise leaders in career wins and strikeouts (1,081).
“We are thrilled to honor Teddy Higuera with a plaque on the Miller Park Walk of Fame,” said Brewers Chief Operating Officer Rick Schlesinger. “Teddy was a lifetime Brewer, and he still ranks among franchise leaders in many pitching statistics. Just as important, though, is that he’s always been an engaging personality and a terrific representative of those who have worn the Brewers uniform. We look forward to his return to Milwaukee and the opportunity to recognize his achievements with a permanent marker at Miller Park.”
Higuera will travel to Milwaukee and be recognized for the honor in a pre-game ceremony on Friday, August 14 as the Brewers face the Phillies at 7:10 pm.
Joe Adcock (20 votes) and Mike Caldwell (17) were the closest to qualifying among eligible former players and coaches.
There were a total of 29 Brewers players and seven Braves players on the ballot. The ballots included on-field personnel who wore a Brewers or Braves uniform for a minimum of three seasons but have been retired from playing/managing roles for at least three seasons. All players and managers receiving votes on at least 5% of the ballots will remain eligible in 2016.
Past inductees include Hank Aaron, Rollie Fingers, Paul Molitor, Robin Yount in 2001; Commissioner Bud Selig and Cecil Cooper in 2002; Bob Uecker and Harry Dalton in 2003; Jim Gantner and Gorman Thomas in 2004; Don Money and Harvey Kuenn in 2005; Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn and John Quinn in 2007 (the first year that former Braves players appeared on the ballot); Lew Burdette in 2010 and Johnny Logan in 2013.
Each inductee is honored with a granite plaque that is placed into the terrace area walkway that surrounds Miller Park.
—
The full results are as follows:
Brewers:
NAME – VOTES – PERCENTAGE
Jerry Augustine – 2 – 6.3%
George Bamberger – 15 – 46.9%
Sal Bando – 7 – 21.9%
Russell Branyan – 0 – 0.0%
Mike Caldwell – 17 – 53.1%
Bill Castro – 4 – 12.5%
Jeff Cirillo – 10 – 31.3%
Craig Counsell – 5 – 15.6%
Doug Davis – 0 – 0.0%
Mark DiFelice – 0 – 0.0%
Phil Garner – 1 – 3.1%
Wes Helms – 0 – 0.0%
Teddy Higuera – 25 – 78.1%
Larry Hisle – 4 – 12.5%
Geoff Jenkins – 16 – 50.0%
Sixto Lezcano – 4 – 12.5%
Mark Loretta – 8 – 25.0%
Charlie Moore – 5 – 15.6%
Ben Oglivie – 14 – 43.8%
Dan Plesac – 10 – 31.3%
Mike Rivera – 0 – 0.0%
Bill Schroeder – 3 – 9.4%
George Scott – 12 – 37.5%
Ted Simmons – 11 – 34.4%
Jim Slaton – 10 – 31.8%
Mitch Stetter – 0 – 0.0%
Dale Sveum – 4 – 13.80%
Greg Vaughn- 7 – 24.10%
Pete Vuckovich – 13 – 44.80%
Braves:
NAME – VOTES – PERCENTAGE
Joe Adcock – 20 – 62.5%
William Bruton – 2 – 6.3%
Robert Buhl – 6 – 18.8%
Del Crandall – 8 – 25.0%
Fred Haney – 6 – 18.8%
Felix Mantilla – 2 – 6.3%
Andy Pafko – 5 – 15.6%
Official Release: Bill Schroeder News
The Milwaukee Brewers today announced that former player and current TV analyst Bill Schroeder will be enshrined on the “Brewers Wall of Honor” at Miller Park in 2015. The “Wall of Honor,” which was unveiled in 2014, commemorates Milwaukee Brewers players and broadcasters that meet a set criteria based on service to the Club.
The “Wall of Honor” is a permanent display outside of Miller Park on the North side of the stadium adjacent to the Hot Corner entrance. Honorees on the wall each have a plaque with their photo and a brief synopsis of their career. The plaques are designed by Matthews International, designers of the plaques for the National Baseball Hall of Fame as well as the plaques on the Milwaukee Braves Wall of Honor at Miller Park.
A pre-game ceremony to honor Schroeder will be held on Friday, July 17 when the Brewers face the Pirates at Miller Park.
“I’d like to thank the Brewers organization for recognizing me for the work I have done on and off the field,” Schroeder said. “It has truly been a labor of love. I have experienced many great moments with the team over the years and being added to the Wall of Honor tops the list.”
In 2015, Schroeder will return for his 21st season in the Brewers broadcast booth. He began his career behind the mic as the Brewers’ color man after a distinguished playing career. Schroeder spent eight seasons in the big leagues with the Brewers and California Angels, posting a career-best .332 batting average in 1987. He caught Juan Nieves’ no-hitter on April 15, 1987 at Baltimore in the midst of the team’s Major League record-tying 13-0 start. In addition, he clubbed a career-high 14 home runs and had 42 RBI that season.
“Bill Schroeder is such an important and integral part of Brewers baseball, both past and present, and we’re thrilled to be able to honor him in this way,” said Brewers Chief Operating Officer Rick Schlesinger. “As a former player and longtime broadcaster, Bill’s loyalty and commitment to the Brewers run very deep, and his place on the Wall of Honor is much deserved.”
Members who meet any of the following criteria while wearing a Brewers uniform will be inducted into the Wall of Honor:
– 2,000 or more plate appearances
– 1,000 or more innings pitched
– 250 appearances as a pitcher
– Winner of a major award (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, or Fireman of the Year)
– Manager of a pennant-winner
– Individuals memorialized as a statue on the Miller Park plaza
– Members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame who have played for the Brewers
In addition, the above criteria has been updated to allow the team to honor longtime broadcasters who played for the team. Any alum who donned a Brewers uniform for any length of time and served as a primary broadcaster for at least 20 seasons with the team will be eligible for the “Wall of Honor.”
Last year’s inaugural class included 58 members enshrined on the Brewers Wall of Honor. John Axford, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Yovani Gallardo, Carlos Gomez, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart, Jonathan Lucroy and Rickie Weeks are the nine active players that, as of today, qualify for induction into the Wall of Honor following their retirement.
Further details regarding the ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Milwaukee BBWAA Chapter Team Awards
PRESS RELEASE
The Milwaukee Brewers announced their postseason award winners today as voted by members of the Milwaukee Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). A total of seven ballots were cast for each award, assigning five points for first place, three for second and one for third.
Catcher Jonathan Lucroy earned Brewers Most Valuable Player with all seven first-place votes (35 points). Lucroy was followed by center fielder Carlos Gomez, who received all of the second-place votes (21 points). Also receiving consideration was pitcher Francisco Rodriguez (3 points), pitcher Wily Peralta (2 points), right fielder Ryan Braun (1 point) and third baseman Aramis Ramirez (1 point).
Lucroy, a first-time All-Star selection this season, batted .301 with 13 HR and 69 RBI in 153 games. He led the team in games played (153), at-bats (585), batting average (.301), hits (176), extra-base hits (68), doubles (53), walks (66), on-base percentage (.373) and OPS (.837). With his franchise-record-tying 53 doubles, he became the first primary catcher to lead his league in that category. His 46 doubles as a catcher set a Major League record.
Jonathan Lucroy (28 points) also earned the Good Guy Award for the second straight season. He received five first-place votes. The other first-place votes went to pitcher Kyle Lohse (13 points). A total of seven players received votes.
Wily Peralta was voted Brewers Most Valuable Pitcher as he received six first-place votes (33 points). He was followed by Francisco Rodriguez (17 points). The other first-place vote went to Mike Fiers (5 points). Also receiving votes were Kyle Lohse (7 points), Will Smith (2 points) and Zach Duke (1 point).
Peralta went 17-11 with a 3.53 ERA in 32 starts. He led the team in wins (17), innings pitched (198.2), quality starts (22) and strikeouts (154). His 17 wins tied for fifth in the National League. Peralta had a pair of career-high five-game winning streaks this season, coming from June 5-26 and July 13 to August 7.
Pitcher Zach Duke (17 points) earned Brewers Top Newcomer ahead of Francisco Rodriguez (15 points). Duke received just one first-place vote, but was named on every ballot. Rodriguez received three first-place votes. The remaining first-place votes went to pitchers Matt Garza (14 points), Will Smith (9 points) and Jeremy Jeffress (6 points).
Duke went 5-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 74 relief appearances. He recorded 74 strikeouts in just 58.2 innings pitched. Duke was the only non-roster pitcher to make the Opening Day roster. From April 12 to May 10, he made 14 consecutive scoreless appearances (13.1ip). From June 22 to July 30, he had 16 consecutive scoreless appearances (14.2ip).
Zach Duke also earned Brewers Unsung Hero honors with four first-place votes (25 points). Also receiving first-place votes were pitchers Mike Fiers (17 points) and Will Smith (11 points) and second baseman Scooter Gennett (6 points). Also named on ballots were pitchers Jeremy Jeffress (3 points) and Yovani Gallardo (1 point).
Lucroy Nominated For Hank Aaron Award
Fans Can Vote Through October 5th at MLB.com
Award Recognizes Most Outstanding Offensive Performers in Each League
Hall of Fame Panel Led by Hank Aaron Includes Roberto Alomar, Johnny Bench, Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray, Frank Thomas and Robin Yount
Major League Baseball and MLB Advanced Media announced that Jonathan Lucroy was named the Brewers nominee for the 2014 Hank Aaron Award.
Fans can vote exclusively online at MLB.com and the 30 Club sites. For the fifth straight year, a special panel of Hall of Fame players led by Hank Aaron will join fans in voting for the award, which is officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball and has recognized the most outstanding offensive performer in each League since it was established in 1999.
Lucroy is coming off the best year in his career as he batted .301 with 13 home runs and 69 RBI. The five-year veteran set career-highs in games played (153), hits (176), runs (73), doubles (53) and walks (66). He appeared in his first All-Star Game, becoming just the second Brewer in franchise history to start behind the plate in the game. Lucroy went 2-for-2 with two RBI doubles in the Midsummer Classic. The Brewers’ backstop collected 53 doubles to become the first primary catcher in modern MLB history (since 1900) to lead the Major Leagues in doubles. Lucroy’s 53 doubles also tied Lyle Overbay (2004) for the franchise single-season record. In addition, the Florida native ranked among the National League leaders in multi-hit games (3rd, 53), extra-base hits (T3rd, 68), hits (T5th, 176), batting average (7th, .301) and on-base percentage (8th, .373).
The Hall of Fame panel led by Aaron includes some of the greatest offensive players of all-time –Roberto Alomar, Johnny Bench, Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray, Frank Thomas and Robin Yount. These Hall of Famers – who combined for 16,956 hits, 8,844 RBI and 2,109 home runs – have all been personally selected by Aaron to lend their expertise to select the best offensive performer in each League.
Through October 5, fans will have the opportunity to select one American League and one National League winner from a list comprising of one finalist per Club. The winners of the 2014 Hank Aaron Award will be announced during the 2014 World Series.
The finalists for the 2014 Hank Aaron Award are:
American League
Baltimore Orioles – Nelson Cruz
Boston Red Sox – David Ortiz
Chicago White Sox – Jose Abreu
Cleveland Indians – Michael Brantley
Detroit Tigers – Victor Martinez
Houston Astros – Jose Altuve
Kansas City Royals – Alex Gordon
LA Angels of Anaheim – Mike Trout
Minnesota Twins – Trevor Plouffe
New York Yankees – Brett Gardner
Oakland Athletics – Josh Donaldson
Seattle Mariners – Robinson Cano
Tampa Bay Rays – Evan Longoria
Texas Rangers – Adrian Beltre
Toronto Blue Jays – Jose Bautista
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks – Paul Goldschmidt
Atlanta Braves – Justin Upton
Chicago Cubs – Anthony Rizzo
Cincinnati Reds – Devin Mesoraco
Colorado Rockies – Justin Morneau
Los Angeles Dodgers – Adrian Gonzalez
Miami Marlins – Giancarlo Stanton
Milwaukee Brewers – Jonathan Lucroy
New York Mets – Daniel Murphy
Philadelphia Phillies – Marlon Byrd
Pittsburgh Pirates – Andrew McCutchen
St. Louis Cardinals – Matt Carpenter
San Diego Padres – Seth Smith
San Francisco Giants – Hunter Pence
Washington Nationals – Anthony Rendon
Past winners of the Hank Aaron Award include: Miguel Cabrera and Paul Goldschmidt (2013); Cabrera and Buster Posey (2012); Jose Bautista and Matt Kemp (2011); Bautista and Joey Votto (2010); Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols (2009); Aramis Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis (2008); Alex Rodriguez and Prince Fielder (2007); Jeter and Ryan Howard (2006); David Ortiz and Andruw Jones (2005); Manny Ramirez and Barry Bonds (2004); Rodriguez and Pujols (2003); Rodriguez and Bonds (2001-02); Carlos Delgado and Todd Helton (2000) and Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa (1999).
The Hank Aaron Award was introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th Anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, and, at that time, was the first major award introduced by Major League Baseball in more than 25 years.
Official Release: Ratterree Awarded Gold Glove
image courtesy TimberRattlers.com
You might remember me mentioning Michael Ratterree as a name to remember following his tremendous first professional season when he won the 2013 Pioneer League Most Valuable Player Award as a member of the rookie-level affiliate Helena Brewers.
Well, Ratterree was at it again in 2014. And by “it” I mean winning a major individual award in recognition of his play on the baseball field. He won the Gold Glove Award, presented by Rawlings.
The Rice University product played the majority of the 2014 season with the Class-A affiliate Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, seeing some time with the Class-AA Huntsville Stars as an injury fill-in. The Timber Rattlers play in the Midwest League’s Western Division whereas the Stars are members of the Southern League’s North Division.
“So where did Ratterree earn his accolade?”, you may be asking.
Well, that’s just it. There isn’t a Gold Glove for each division, or for each league, or even for each level in the minor leagues. There are nine. One for each defensive position.
Michael Ratterree was awarded the 2014 Rawlings Gold Glove for Minor League Baseball right fielders. All of them. That’s certainly worth trumpeting.
Following is the official press release.
—
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Minor League Baseball and Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., announced today Minor League Baseball’s recipients of the 2014 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® for defensive excellence at their positions. The honorees were selected among qualifying players from the 10 domestic-based, full-season Minor Leagues. Each player will receive his own Rawlings Gold Glove Award, modeled after the iconic award given to Major League Baseball’s top defensive players, during the 2015 season.
“Congratulations to the nine outstanding Minor League Baseball players who deservedly won the 2014 Rawlings Gold Glove Award,” said Mike Thompson, executive vice president and general manager of baseball for St. Louis-based Rawlings. “Minor League Baseball is and will always continue to be a great partner of Rawlings, and we knew the Rawlings Gold Glove Award would be a popular goal for many young players when we decided to rekindle this award platform in 2011.”
“Each year, it is a privilege to join in the announcement of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® and help recognize the top defensive players in Minor League Baseball,” said Pat O’Conner, President & CEO of Minor League Baseball. “All nine of these players displayed extraordinary skills at their positions this season, and on behalf of Minor League Baseball, I congratulate them on this outstanding accomplishment.”
The 2014 Minor League Baseball recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® are as follows:
2014 Minor League Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winners
| POS | PLAYER | TEAM(S) | MLB ORG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | Jordan Lennerton | Toledo | DET |
| 2B | Tony Kemp | Lancaster/Corpus Christi | HOU |
| SS | Hanser Alberto | Myrtle Beach/Frisco | TEX |
| 3B | Jason Esposito | Frederick | BAL |
| LF | Chad Wright | Lakeland | DET |
| CF | Breland Almadova | South Bend/Visalia | ARI |
| RF | Michael Ratterree | Wisconsin/Huntsville | MIL |
| C | Roberto Pena | Lancaster | HOU |
| P | Josh Geer | San Antonio | SD |
First baseman Jordan Lennerton earned this honor for a second time with his perfect 1.000 fielding percentage through 121 games. He posted 1,058 putouts with 69 assists in 1,127 total chances and turned 107 double plays. Lennerton was also named a Rawlings Gold Glove Award® winner for his defensive excellence in 2013.
Tony Kemp put up a .987 fielding percentage through 120 games split between Corpus Christi and Lancaster. The second baseman had 225 putouts with 292 assists and 67 double plays.
Frisco RoughRiders shortstop Hanser Alberto posted a .980 fielding percentage over a 114-game span, with 190 putouts and 346 assists. Alberto began the 2014 season with Class A Advanced Myrtle Beach where he split time between shortstop and third base.
Third baseman Jason Esposito of the Frederick Keys had a .960 fielding percentage with 83 putouts and 257 assists through 118 games. The Connecticut native turned a league-leading 19 double plays.
Chad Wright put up a .990 fielding percentage over 102 games as a left fielder for the Lakeland Flying Tigers. He had 191 put outs with nine assists and turned three double plays.
Center fielder Breland Almadova posted a .995 fielding percentage over 131 games while splitting the season between South Bend and Visalia. He had 345 putouts while only committing two errors.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers right fielder Michael Ratterree put up a .992 fielding percentage with 252 putouts and 10 assists over 126 games. Ratterree completed two double plays and committed only two errors on the season.
Roberto Pena, catcher for the Lancaster JetHawks, posted a .996 fielding percentage in 93 games. He had a league-leading 755 putouts with 84 assists and allowed only seven passed balls. Pena also topped the league in double plays (9) and runners caught stealing (52).
Right handed pitcher Josh Geer of the San Antonio Missions posted a perfect fielding percentage with six putouts and a league-leading 36 assists. With a quick delivery to the plate, Geer combined with his catchers to throw out 12 of 25 runners attempting to steal.
To be eligible to receive the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, players must have participated in one of the 10 domestic-based, full-season leagues, and show outstanding defensive skills. The Rawlings Gold Glove Award® was re-introduced to Minor League Baseball in 2011 after an almost 50-year hiatus.
About Minor League Baseball
Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2014, Minor League Baseball attracted 42.4 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information about Minor League Baseball, visit http://www.MiLB.com.
About Rawlings
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings’ unparalleled quality and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
Official Release: Brewers To Retire Uniform Number For Selig
The Milwaukee Brewers today announced that the Club will honor retiring Major League Baseball Commissioner and former Brewers Owner Allan H. (Bud) Selig by retiring uniform #1 in a ceremony that will take place at Miller Park next season.
“We are proud to pay tribute to Commissioner Selig with this honor for all of his work on behalf of the Brewers as well as Major League Baseball,” said Brewers Chairman and Principal Owner Mark Attanasio. “The uniform number being retired in the Commissioner’s honor is significant, as the existence of the Milwaukee Brewers and Miller Park are a direct result of the Commissioner’s vision. Without his tireless efforts, neither would be a reality.”
This is the first in a series of initiatives that the Brewers have planned to honor Commissioner Selig, who will retire at the end of this year. Additional details will be announced later.
Commissioner Selig said: “I thank Mark Attanasio and his entire organization for this extraordinary honor. The Brewers are a product of my hometown’s passion for Major League Baseball, and it was a privilege to play a part in restoring the spirit of community and kinship that the National Pastime inspires. Knowing the great history of this franchise, I am truly humbled to look forward to a memorable day at Miller Park next season.”
Selig’s dedication to baseball has paralleled his love of his hometown of Milwaukee. His first significant move as an executive was to return Major League Baseball to Milwaukee in 1970, when he founded the Milwaukee Brewers. In its first decade, the Brewers featured some of the great teams of that era, which eventually led to an American League pennant and World Series appearance in 1982.
During his tenure as Brewers owner, Selig earned UPI’s 1978 Executive of the Year award, and the franchise was honored with seven “Organization of the Year” awards.
In the 1990s, Selig began his efforts to build a new ballpark in Milwaukee to replace the aging County Stadium, and Miller Park opened for its first season of play in 2001.
More recently, Selig was honored with a statue at Miller Park, which was unveiled on August 24, 2010.
He became the ninth Commissioner of Major League Baseball, and during his tenure the sport has thrived. As Commissioner, Selig has implemented important changes throughout Major League Baseball. He made popular structural changes in the game, including the Wild Card, the three-division format, Interleague Play and Instant Replay. He put in place the toughest drug-testing program in American professional sports. He also profoundly affected baseball’s economic landscape by instituting meaningful revenue sharing among the clubs as well as successful ventures, such as MLB Advanced Media, MLB Network, and the World Baseball Classic. MLB truly has thrived under Selig’s stewardship: It has enjoyed its longest period of labor peace with its Players Association and has consistently posted records levels of attendance and revenues.
The Brewer Nation 