Rawlings Announces 50th Edition Rawlings Gold Glove® National League® Winners
Pujols, Beltran win first awards; Maddux ties Katt
ST. LOUIS (Nov. 3, 2006) — Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., today revealed the 50th edition of the Rawlings Gold Glove National League® team, as part of the launch of the golden anniversary celebration of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award®.
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, the 2005 National League Most Valuable Player, has openly contended that he would not consider himself a complete player without a Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Pujols today is complete, winning his first Rawlings Gold Glove.
On the other end of the spectrum, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux claimed his 16th Rawlings Gold Glove Award, tying Jim Kaat for the most Rawlings Gold Gloves won by a pitcher or any other fielder.
Rawlings, the Official Baseball Supplier to Major League Baseball® and the No. 1 brand in baseball gloves, established the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 1957 as the greatest measure of fielding excellence. The award is presented annually to 18 players — one for each position — in the American and National Leagues, selected by Major League coaches and managers prior to the conclusion of the regular season. Managers and coaches may not vote for players from their own club and only vote for players in their own league.
Pujols, who just helped the Cardinals to their first World Series championship in 24 years, is joined by teammate and third baseman Scott Rolen, who won his seventh Rawlings Gold Glove Award. San Francisco Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel won his 11th Rawlings Gold Glove, two shy of position leader and Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran snagged his first Rawlings Gold Glove.
The complete National League lineup:
| Greg Maddux (16) |
Los Angeles Dodgers™ |
P |
| Brad Ausmus (3) |
Houston Astros™ |
C |
| Albert Pujols (1) |
St. Louis Cardinals™ |
1B |
| Orlando Hudson (2) |
Arizona Diamondbacks™ |
2B |
| Scott Rolen (7) |
St. Louis Cardinals™ |
3B |
| Omar Vizquel (11) |
San Francisco Giants™ |
SS |
| Andruw Jones (9) |
Atlanta Bravess™ |
OF |
| Carlos Beltran (1) |
New York Mets™ |
OF |
| Mike Cameron (3) |
San Diego Padres™ |
OF |
The American League winners were revealed Thursday:
| Kenny Rogers (5) |
Detroit Tigers™ |
P |
| Ivan Rodriguez (12) |
Detroit Tigers™ |
C |
| Mark Teixeira (2) |
Texas Rangers™ |
1B |
| Mark Grudzielanek (1) |
Kansas City Royals™ |
2B |
| Eric Chavez (6) |
Oakland Athletics™ |
3B |
| Derek Jeter (3) |
New York Yankees™ |
SS |
| Ichiro Suzuki (6) |
Seattle Mariners™ |
OF |
| Torii Hunter (6) |
Minnesota Twins™ |
OF |
| Vernon Wells (3) |
Toronto Blue Jays™ |
OF |
The 2006 teams kick off a year-long celebration of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award® during which Rawlings will challenge America to select the all-time Rawlings Gold Glove Golden Anniversary team: the greatest fielder at each position.
A panel of Major League Baseball historians and experts — including those who played the game, managed the game, governed the game, and reported on the game — will set the initial ballot of 50 players. Beginning in spring training 2007, fans will vote through mobile devices, at retail, and online, including www.rawlingsgoldglove.com. The all time Rawlings Gold Glove Golden Anniversary Team will be revealed mid-summer.
As part of the celebration, Rawlings also plans to honor the original 1957 Rawlings Gold Glove team: Bobby Shantz (P), Sherm Lollar (C), Gil Hodges (1B), Nellie Fox (2B), Roy McMillan (SS), Frank Malzone (3B), Minnie Minoso (OF), Al Kaline (OF), Willie Mays (OF).