Willie Mays Leads Early Voting for All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team
One Week into the Season, Fans Cast 50,000 Ballots, 500,000 Votes in Debate to Determine 'Finest in the Field' Since 1957
Robinson, Bench, Ozzie Smith, Maddux Among Other Favorites; Tight Races at Several Positions Fuel 'Summer of Glove'
ST. LOUIS (April 10, 2007) — It's been 34 years since the "Say 'Hey' Kid" roamed the outfield snaring line drives, throwing out runners, and making his trademark basket catches. But Willie Mays' excellence and performance in the field transcends generations: he is the top vote-getter in early fan balloting for the All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team.
Rawlings today released the first returns of worldwide voting for the All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team. One week into the regular season, about 50,000 ballots and 500,000 votes already have been cast to select the 50 greatest Rawlings Glove Glovers of all time. Mays leads the outfield position and all vote-getters with 34,995 votes. (See complete voting results below.)
Brooks Robinson, the "Human Vacuum" at third base, is second in overall votes with 30,969, good for a four-fold lead at the hot corner. Outfielder Roberto Clemente has 30,511 votes — third overall and second to Mays in the outfield. Johnny Bench (29,454), Ozzie Smith (28,960), and Greg Maddux (25,342) are also among the fan favorites and early leaders at their positions.
In celebration of the golden anniversary of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award®, Rawlings is empowering fans around the world to select the nine greatest defensive players — one at each position — since the award was introduced in 1957. Fans can review the ballot and vote at www.RawlingsGoldGlove.com, at thousands of participating sporting goods retailer locations, by mobile device and text messaging, or via the U.S. Postal Service. Voting ends June 19. The All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove team will be announced in mid-July.
In one of the most hotly disputed races in early voting, former New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez (17,127) leads former New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly (16,777) by only 350 votes.
The debate continues in the outfield where two current players are splitting votes to join Mays and Clemente as the third outfielder on the All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team. Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey, Jr. (12,804) has a slight lead over St. Louis Cardinals' Jim Edmonds (11,306).
At second base, it's a four-way race between Joe Morgan (13,360), Roberto Alomar (11,039), Ryne Sandberg (10,653), and Bill Mazeroski (10,000).
Rawlings tasked nearly 70 baseball pundits and purists — those who played the game, managed the game, and reported on the game — to select the initial ballot of 50 from the more than 250 players who have ever won a Rawlings Gold Glove. The panel identified 18 outfielders, six fielders at each infield position (first, second and third base and shortstop), five catchers and three pitchers.
Panelists included current and former baseball officials, managers who won multiple Manager of the Year awards, Ford C. Frick award winners, J.G. Taylor Spink award winners, and other baseball experts, including broadcasters, historians, and current and past presidents of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Fans can also enter a sweepstakes to win a Rawlings Gold Glove of their own — a special Golden Anniversary edition Rawlings Pro Preferred Glove filled with 50 one-ounce American Eagle gold coins (approximate value: $35,000).
Voting totals to date:
Pitcher: Greg Maddux (25,342), Bob Gibson (15,096), Jim Kaat (9,555).
Catcher: Johnny Bench (29,454), Ivan Rodriguez (14,194), Bill Freehan (2,479), Bob Boone (2,361), Jim Sundberg (1,421).
First Baseman: Keith Hernandez (17,127), Don Mattingly (16,777), Wes Parker (10,293), J.T. Snow (4,818), Vic Power (3,088), Bill White (2,296).
Second Baseman: Joe Morgan (13,360), Roberto Alomar (11,039), Ryne Sandberg (10,653), Bill Mazeroski (10,000), Frank White (3,135), Bobby Richardson (2,427).
Third Baseman: Brooks Robinson (30,969), Mike Schmidt (8,359), Scott Rolen (5,219), Eric Chavez (2,487), Buddy Bell (1,868), Ken Boyer (1,594).
Shortstop: Ozzie Smith (28,960), Omar Vizquel (5,874), Derek Jeter (5,765), Dave Concepcion (4,566), Luis Aparicio (2,965), Mark Belanger (2,381).
Outfielders: Willie Mays (34,995), Roberto Clemente (30,511), Ken Griffey, Jr. (12,804), Jim Edmonds (11,306), Andruw Jones (9,453), Carl Yastrzemski (7,793), Ichiro Suzuki (6,377), Torii Hunter (5,909), Al Kaline (5,504), Kirby Puckett (4,708), Paul Blair (3,603), Curt Flood (3,313), Andre Dawson (3,061), Dwight Evans (2,911), Dave Winfield (2,839), Garry Maddox (1,821), Larry Walker (1,723), Devon White (967).
About the Rawlings Gold Glove Award®
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award® is a Registered Service Mark owned by Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. The award is correctly identified as the Rawlings Gold Glove Award®. The name should not be shortened, abbreviated or otherwise misused. Proper identification of this service mark using the registration symbol and the Rawlings name is important to protect the integrity of the program and perpetuate this worthy tradition.
The greatest measure of fielding excellence since 1957, the heralded Rawlings Gold Glove Award® is presented annually to 18 Major League Baseball players, one for each position, in both the National and American Leagues. (In 1957, only nine players received the award.) These outstanding players are selected as the best fielding players at their respective positions by Major League coaches and managers prior to the conclusion of the regular season. Managers and coaches may not select players from their own club and only vote for players in their own league.
About Rawlings
Rawlings is a leading marketer and manufacturer of baseball equipment and other sporting goods in the United States. Rawlings is the Exclusive Official Baseball and Helmet of Major League Baseball® and official ball of the NCAA® baseball championships. Rawlings is also the official basketball for the NAIA®, NJCAA®, AAU® and many other organizations as well as official football of the NAIA®. Rawlings is the official basketball, football, baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer ball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit www.rawlings.com.