Rawlings Gold Glove Award

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The Gold Glove Award given to Eric Chavez for his performance in the 2005 MLB season.

For the award given to amateur boxers, see Golden Gloves.

In American baseball, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to simply as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball player judged to have the most "superior individual fielding performance" at each position (in each league), as voted by the managers and coaches in each league.^[1] Managers are not allowed to vote for their own players.^[1] Eighteen Gold Gloves are awarded each year (with the exception of 2007), one at each of nine positions to a player in both the National League and American League.

It should be noted that the phrase "at each position" is not strictly accurate. Three outfielders are selected, but the award does not distinguish among 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 equivalent defensively.^[2]

In 1957, the baseball glove manufacturer Rawlings created the Gold Glove Award 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 Rawlings Gold Glove was born.

The most Gold Gloves ever won by a player is 17 by pitcher Greg Maddux. Of his 17 total awards, Maddux won 10 with the Braves, five with the Cubs, one with the Dodgers and now one with the Padres.

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 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Rafael Palmeiro might be considered the only designated hitter to win the Gold Glove. Palmeiro won the 1999 award with the Texas Rangers while only appearing in 28 games as a first baseman; he appeared in 135 games as a DH that season, resulting in some controversy.

Gold Glove awards also exist in other baseball leagues. For example, they are called "Golden Glove awards" in Japan.

1 List of winners
2 All-time Gold Glove Team
- 2.1 Balloting
- 2.2 Players
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] List of winners

American League

National League

Most awards
Postion	Player	Awards
Pitcher	Greg Maddux	17
Catcher	Iván Rodríguez	13
First Base	Keith Hernandez	11
Second Base	Roberto Alomar	10
Third Base	Brooks Robinson	16
Shortstop	Ozzie Smith	13
Outfield	Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente	12

[edit] All-time Gold Glove Team

On February 20, 2007, Major League Baseball and Rawlings announced that an All-time Gold Glove Team would be named at the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.^[3] The team was selected by the fans. The results were announced at the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

[edit] Balloting

Rawlings asked 70 baseball reporters, former players and former managers to select 50 names for the ballot, from an initial selection of 250 names.^[4] Fans voted at the Rawlings Gold Glove website, at United States Postal Service offices and at sporting goods stores.