Baseball Guru
09-04-2003, 10:54 AM
History of the Hank Aaron Award
This coveted honor is awarded annually to the best overall offensive performer in both the American League® and National League®. Originally introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, the Hank Aaron Award was the first major award to be introduced in 30 years.
CENTURY 21® and MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball®, invite fans to help select the most outstanding offensive players through online voting. Submit your vote for one of six offensive player nominees from both the American League and National League. Click the "Vote Now!" button below to get started.
VOTE NOW (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/awards/hank_aaron_award_2003.jsp)
Previous Award Winners:
2002-AL Alex Rodriguez TEX
2001-Alex Rodriguez TEX
2000-Carlos Delgado TOR
1999-Manny Ramirez CLE NL
NL
2002-Barry Bonds SF
2001-Barry Bonds SF
2000-Todd Helton COL
1999-Sammy Sosa CHC
The Candidates:
American League
Carlos Delgado
After a subpar 2002, Carlos Delgado came out smoking in 2003, hitting .365 with 28 RBIs in April and stayed hot. Delgado has been among the Major League leaders in RBIs, slugging percentage, home runs, total bases, on-base plus slugging percentage and runs.
Vernon Wells
Hitting .252 on May 3, the Blue Jays center fielder has since caught fire and helped ignite a Toronto run that lasted well into July. Wells boosted his average above .300 by the All-Star break and is among the league leaders in total bases, home runs, RBIs, OPS, runs and hits.
Jason Giambi
The Yankees have been atop the American League East Division for most of the year and Jason Giambi has been instrumental in keeping the Yankees in first place. The big first baseman is among the league leaders in home runs, RBIs, total bases, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.
Bret Boone
The All-Star second baseman is enjoying another terrific year while helping the Mariners take control in the American League West. Boone ranks among the league leaders in several offensive categories, including batting average, homers, RBIs, slugging percentage, OPS and total bases.
Garret Anderson
Anderson started out hot (.342 in April) and stayed that way and is on a pace to set career highs in several categories. Anderson, who also won the Century 21 Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game, is among the league leaders in hitting, runs, total bases, doubles, RBIs and home runs.
Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramirez slumped during May but bounced back to hit .351 with nine homers and 27 RBIs in June. The right fielder has ranked among the league leaders in hitting, home runs, RBIs, runs, total bases, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.
National League:
Barry Bonds
Bonds is having another MVP-caliber year. The left fielder has been near the top of the league in home runs, walks, slugging percentage, batting average and on-base plus slugging percentage all season.
Albert Pujols
Pujols is flirting with a triple crown as he ranks near the top of the league in batting average, RBIs and home runs. He is also among the leaders in hits, doubles, runs, slugging percentage and OPS.
Gary Sheffield
The Braves own the best record in baseball and Sheffield has been a key contributor to the league's top offense. Sheffield ranks among the league leaders in hitting, homers, runs, hits, RBIs, total bases, on-base percentage and OPS. Sheffield is also in double figures in steals.
Sammy Sosa
A broken toenail led to a dismal May for Sosa and the corked bat incident further interrupted what had been a disappointing season but since his return to health the Chicago right fielder is among the league leaders in several categories, including home runs, RBIs, total bases and OPS.
Preston Wilson
Wilson has been one of the league's best all-around offensive performers since joining the Rockies. Wilson's offensive prowess has him ranked among the league leaders in hitting, RBIs, total bases, runs and OPS.
Todd Helton
The talented Colorado first baseman has been solid all season and is a major force in the improvement of the Rockies this year. Helton is among the league leaders in hitting, RBIs, runs, hits, and slugging percentage.
This coveted honor is awarded annually to the best overall offensive performer in both the American League® and National League®. Originally introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, the Hank Aaron Award was the first major award to be introduced in 30 years.
CENTURY 21® and MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball®, invite fans to help select the most outstanding offensive players through online voting. Submit your vote for one of six offensive player nominees from both the American League and National League. Click the "Vote Now!" button below to get started.
VOTE NOW (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/awards/hank_aaron_award_2003.jsp)
Previous Award Winners:
2002-AL Alex Rodriguez TEX
2001-Alex Rodriguez TEX
2000-Carlos Delgado TOR
1999-Manny Ramirez CLE NL
NL
2002-Barry Bonds SF
2001-Barry Bonds SF
2000-Todd Helton COL
1999-Sammy Sosa CHC
The Candidates:
American League
Carlos Delgado
After a subpar 2002, Carlos Delgado came out smoking in 2003, hitting .365 with 28 RBIs in April and stayed hot. Delgado has been among the Major League leaders in RBIs, slugging percentage, home runs, total bases, on-base plus slugging percentage and runs.
Vernon Wells
Hitting .252 on May 3, the Blue Jays center fielder has since caught fire and helped ignite a Toronto run that lasted well into July. Wells boosted his average above .300 by the All-Star break and is among the league leaders in total bases, home runs, RBIs, OPS, runs and hits.
Jason Giambi
The Yankees have been atop the American League East Division for most of the year and Jason Giambi has been instrumental in keeping the Yankees in first place. The big first baseman is among the league leaders in home runs, RBIs, total bases, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.
Bret Boone
The All-Star second baseman is enjoying another terrific year while helping the Mariners take control in the American League West. Boone ranks among the league leaders in several offensive categories, including batting average, homers, RBIs, slugging percentage, OPS and total bases.
Garret Anderson
Anderson started out hot (.342 in April) and stayed that way and is on a pace to set career highs in several categories. Anderson, who also won the Century 21 Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game, is among the league leaders in hitting, runs, total bases, doubles, RBIs and home runs.
Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramirez slumped during May but bounced back to hit .351 with nine homers and 27 RBIs in June. The right fielder has ranked among the league leaders in hitting, home runs, RBIs, runs, total bases, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS.
National League:
Barry Bonds
Bonds is having another MVP-caliber year. The left fielder has been near the top of the league in home runs, walks, slugging percentage, batting average and on-base plus slugging percentage all season.
Albert Pujols
Pujols is flirting with a triple crown as he ranks near the top of the league in batting average, RBIs and home runs. He is also among the leaders in hits, doubles, runs, slugging percentage and OPS.
Gary Sheffield
The Braves own the best record in baseball and Sheffield has been a key contributor to the league's top offense. Sheffield ranks among the league leaders in hitting, homers, runs, hits, RBIs, total bases, on-base percentage and OPS. Sheffield is also in double figures in steals.
Sammy Sosa
A broken toenail led to a dismal May for Sosa and the corked bat incident further interrupted what had been a disappointing season but since his return to health the Chicago right fielder is among the league leaders in several categories, including home runs, RBIs, total bases and OPS.
Preston Wilson
Wilson has been one of the league's best all-around offensive performers since joining the Rockies. Wilson's offensive prowess has him ranked among the league leaders in hitting, RBIs, total bases, runs and OPS.
Todd Helton
The talented Colorado first baseman has been solid all season and is a major force in the improvement of the Rockies this year. Helton is among the league leaders in hitting, RBIs, runs, hits, and slugging percentage.