The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball (MLB). These voters consider several offensive categories in selecting the winners, including batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, in addition to "coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value". Managers and coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their own team. The Silver Slugger was first awarded in 1980 and is given by Hillerich & Bradsby, the manufacturer of Louisville Slugger bats. The award is a bat-shaped trophy, 3 feet (91 cm) tall, engraved with the names of each of the winners from the league and plated with sterling silver.
From 1980 to 2019, and in 2021, a Silver Slugger Award for designated hitters (DH) was only given in the American League, because use of a DH in place of the pitcher in the batting order was prohibited in the National League; a Silver Slugger Award for pitchers was given for the National League instead. In the 2020 season, the National League temporarily allowed use of the designated hitter, and no pitcher was awarded the Silver Slugger Award. An award was given instead to the best designated hitter in the National League. The first NL Silver Slugger Award for designated hitter was given to Marcell Ozuna. Beginning in 2022, the pitcher Silver Slugger Award was retired after MLB announced the full-time implementation of the universal DH rule in both leagues. The Silver Slugger Award for DH is now awarded in both leagues.
David Ortiz has won the most Silver Sluggers as a designated hitter, capturing four consecutively from 2004 to 2007, and winning again in 2011, 2013, and 2016. Two players are tied with four wins. Paul Molitor won the award four times with three different teams: the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987 and 1988; the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, when the team won the World Series; and the Minnesota Twins in 1996. Edgar Martínez won the award four times with the Seattle Mariners (1995, 1997, 2001, 2003). Shohei Ohtani is the only player to win the designated hitter Silver Slugger Award in both the American and National League. Ohtani won two in 2021 and 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels of the American League and added a third in 2024 with the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League. Don Baylor won the Silver Slugger three times in four years (1983, 1985–1986) as a designated hitter with the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, and Frank Thomas won it twice with the Chicago White Sox (1991, 2000). Harold Baines won the award while playing for two separate teams in the same season; he was traded by the White Sox to the Texas Rangers in the middle of the 1989 season. Shohei Ohtani and Brent Rooker were the most recent winners.
Martínez set the records for the highest batting average and on-base percentage in a designated hitter's winning season with his .356 and .479 marks, respectively, in 1995. Shohei Ohtani's slugging percentage of .654 is best among all winners at the position. Ohtani is also tied with David Ortiz for the most home runs hit in a Silver Slugger-winning season. Ortiz hit 54 home runs during the 2006 season, when he won his third consecutive award, and Ohtani tied his record in 2024. Ortiz also tied Rafael Palmeiro with 148 runs batted in to lead all Silver Slugger-winning DH. Palmeiro set his record in 1999, and Ortiz tied it in 2005.
Key
Year | Links to the corresponding Major League Baseball season |
AVG | Batting average |
OBP | On-base percentage |
SLG | Slugging percentage |
HR | Home runs |
RBI | Runs batted in |
Ref | References |
* or ** | Winner of the most Silver Sluggers in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter (** indicates tie) |
† | Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum |
American League winners
Year | Player | Team | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Reggie Jackson | New York Yankees | .300 | .398 | .597 | 41 | 111 | |
1981 | Al Oliver | Texas Rangers | .309 | .348 | .411 | 4 | 55 | |
1982 | Hal McRae | Kansas City Royals | .308 | .369 | .542 | 27 | 133 | |
1983 | Don Baylor | New York Yankees | .303 | .361 | .494 | 21 | 85 | |
1984 | Andre Thornton | Cleveland Indians | .271 | .366 | .484 | 33 | 99 | |
1985 | Don Baylor (2) | New York Yankees | .231 | .330 | .430 | 23 | 91 | |
1986 | Don Baylor (3) | Boston Red Sox | .238 | .344 | .439 | 31 | 94 | |
1987 | Paul Molitor | Milwaukee Brewers | .353 | .438 | .566 | 16 | 75 | |
1988 | Paul Molitor (2) | Milwaukee Brewers | .312 | .384 | .452 | 13 | 60 | |
1989 | Harold Baines | Chicago White Sox Texas Rangers |
.309 | .395 | .465 | 16 | 72 | |
1990 | Dave Parker | Milwaukee Brewers | .289 | .330 | .451 | 21 | 92 | |
1991 | Frank Thomas | Chicago White Sox | .318 | .453 | .553 | 32 | 109 | |
1992 | Dave Winfield | Toronto Blue Jays | .290 | .377 | .491 | 26 | 108 | |
1993 | Paul Molitor (3) | Toronto Blue Jays | .332 | .402 | .509 | 22 | 111 | |
1994 | Julio Franco | Chicago White Sox | .319 | .406 | .510 | 20 | 98 | |
1995 | Edgar Martínez | Seattle Mariners | .356 | .479 | .628 | 29 | 113 | |
1996 | Paul Molitor (4) | Minnesota Twins | .341 | .390 | .468 | 9 | 113 | |
1997 | Edgar Martínez (2) | Seattle Mariners | .330 | .456 | .554 | 28 | 108 | |
1998 | Jose Canseco | Toronto Blue Jays | .237 | .318 | .518 | 46 | 107 | |
1999 | Rafael Palmeiro | Texas Rangers | .324 | .420 | .630 | 47 | 148 | |
2000 | Frank Thomas | Chicago White Sox | .328 | .436 | .625 | 43 | 143 | |
2001 | Edgar Martínez (3) | Seattle Mariners | .306 | .423 | .543 | 23 | 116 | |
2002 | Manny Ramirez | Boston Red Sox | .349 | .450 | .647 | 33 | 107 | |
2003 | Edgar Martínez (4) | Seattle Mariners | .294 | .406 | .489 | 24 | 98 | |
2004 | David Ortiz* | Boston Red Sox | .301 | .380 | .603 | 41 | 139 | |
2005 | David Ortiz* (2) | Boston Red Sox | .300 | .397 | .604 | 47 | 148 | |
2006 | David Ortiz* (3) | Boston Red Sox | .287 | .413 | .636 | 54 | 137 | |
2007 | David Ortiz* (4) | Boston Red Sox | .332 | .445 | .621 | 35 | 117 | |
2008 | Aubrey Huff | Baltimore Orioles | .304 | .360 | .552 | 32 | 108 | |
2009 | Adam Lind | Toronto Blue Jays | .305 | .370 | .562 | 35 | 114 | |
2010 | Vladimir Guerrero | Texas Rangers | .300 | .345 | .496 | 29 | 115 | |
2011 | David Ortiz* (5) | Boston Red Sox | .309 | .398 | .554 | 29 | 96 | |
2012 | Billy Butler | Kansas City Royals | .313 | .373 | .510 | 29 | 107 | |
2013 | David Ortiz* (6) | Boston Red Sox | .309 | .395 | .564 | 30 | 103 | |
2014 | Víctor Martínez | Detroit Tigers | .335 | .409 | .565 | 32 | 103 | |
2015 | Kendrys Morales | Kansas City Royals | .290 | .362 | .485 | 22 | 106 | |
2016 | David Ortiz* (7) | Boston Red Sox | .315 | .401 | .620 | 38 | 127 | |
2017 | Nelson Cruz | Seattle Mariners | .288 | .375 | .549 | 39 | 119 | |
2018 | J. D. Martinez | Boston Red Sox | .330 | .402 | .629 | 43 | 130 | |
2019 | Nelson Cruz (2) | Minnesota Twins | .311 | .392 | .639 | 41 | 108 | |
2020 | Nelson Cruz (3) | Minnesota Twins | .303 | .397 | .595 | 16 | 33 | |
2021 | Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Angels | .257 | .372 | .592 | 46 | 100 | |
2022 | Yordan Alvarez | Houston Astros | .306 | .406 | .613 | 37 | 97 | |
2023 | Shohei Ohtani (2) | Los Angeles Angels | .304 | .412 | .654 | 44 | 95 | |
2024 | Brent Rooker | Oakland Athletics | .293 | .365 | .562 | 39 | 112 |
National League winners
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the temporary implementation of a universal DH during the shortened season. A Silver Slugger Award for designated hitter in the National League was given for the first time. Starting in 2022, the National League adopted the designated hitter permanently, and the pitcher Silver Slugger Award was retired in favor of a similar honor for NL designated hitters.
Year | Player | Team | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Marcell Ozuna | Atlanta Braves | .338 | .431 | .636 | 18 | 56 | |
2021 | National League designated hitters' Silver Slugger Award not given | |||||||
2022 | Josh Bell | Washington Nationals San Diego Padres |
.266 | .362 | .422 | 17 | 71 | |
2023 | Bryce Harper | Philadelphia Phillies | .293 | .401 | .499 | 21 | 72 | |
2024 | Shohei Ohtani (3) | Los Angeles Dodgers | .310 | .390 | .646 | 54 | 130 |
See also
References
- "MLB Awards: History (Awards: Silver Slugger)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- Inline citations
- ^ McCalvy, Adam (November 13, 2008). "Braun nets first Silver Slugger Award". Brewers.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Louisville Slugger - The Silver Slugger Awards". Louisville Slugger. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "What are the Silver Bat and Silver Slugger Team Awards?". Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
- "Silver Slugger Award Winners — American League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Official Rules: 6.00 The Batter". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- "Silver Slugger Award Winners — National League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
- ^ "David Ortiz Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "Paul Molitor Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- ^ "Edgar Martinez Statistics". Baseball-Referencecom. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- ^ "Shohei Ohtani Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- "Don Baylor Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "Frank Thomas Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "Harold Baines Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "Rafael Palmeiro Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1980 New York Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1981 Texas Rangers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1982 Kansas City Royals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1983 New York Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1984 Cleveland Indians Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1985 New York Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1986 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1987 Milwaukee Brewers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1988 Milwaukee Brewers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1989 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1989 Texas Rangers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1990 Milwaukee Brewers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1991 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1992 Toronto Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1993 Toronto Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1994 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1995 Seattle Mariners Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1996 Minnesota Twins Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1997 Seattle Mariners Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1998 Toronto Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "1999 Texas Rangers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2000 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2001 Seattle Mariners Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2002 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2003 Seattle Mariners Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2004 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2005 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2006 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2007 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2008 Baltimore Orioles Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2009 Toronto Blue Jays Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- "2010 Texas Rangers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
- "2011 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
- "2012 Kansas City Royals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- "2013 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- "2014 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
- "2015 Kansas City Royals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- "2016 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- "2017 Seattle Mariners Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
- "2018 Boston Red Sox Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- "2019 Minnesota Twins Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- "2020 Minnesota Twins Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- "2021 Los Angeles Angels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- "2022 Houston Astros Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- "2023 Los Angeles Angels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- "2024 Oakland Athletics Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- "2020 Atlanta Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- "2022 Washington Nationals Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- "2022 San Diego Padres Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- "2023 Philadelphia Phillies Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- "2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
External links
Silver Slugger Award | ||
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American League Designated Hitter Silver Slugger Award | |
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National League Designated Hitter Silver Slugger Award | |
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