Summer of Glove

As part of the Golden Anniversary of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Rawlings released the names of the top 50 Rawlings Gold Glove players ever at a press conference in New York City. In attendance were three of the original members 1957 Rawlings Gold Glove Team — Frank Malzone, Willie Mays and Minnie Minoso — as well as legendary sports broadcaster Chris Berman.

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 Award®. The panel identified 18 outfielders, six fielders at each infield position (first, second and third base and shortstop), five catchers and three pitchers

The ballot of the 50 greatest Rawlings Gold Glove players of all time was then turned over to the fans to select the nine best — one at each position — to form the All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove Team.

This endeavor led to a great debate among fans, transcending generations, eras and teams.

Following is a listing of how players finished in voting order at each position:

Pitcher: Greg Maddux (17 Rawlings Gold Gloves), Bob Gibson, Jim Kaat.

Catcher: Johnny Bench (10), Ivan Rodriguez, Bob Boone, Bill Freehan, Jim Sundberg.

First Baseman: Wes Parker (6), Don Mattingly, Keith Hernandez, J.T. Snow, Vic Power, Bill White.

Second Baseman: Joe Morgan (5), Roberto Alomar, Ryne Sandberg, Bill Mazeroski, Frank White, Bobby Richardson.

Third Baseman: Brooks Robinson (16), Mike Schmidt, Scott Rolen, Eric Chavez, Buddy Bell, Ken Boyer.

Shortstop: Ozzie Smith (13), Derek Jeter, Omar Vizquel, Dave Concepcion, Luis Aparicio, Mark Belanger.

Outfielders: Willie Mays (12), Roberto Clemente (12), Ken Griffey, Jr. (10), Jim Edmonds, Andruw Jones, Carl Yastrzemski, Ichiro Suzuki, Al Kaline, Torii Hunter, Kirby Puckett, Paul Blair, Dave Winfield, Curt Flood, Andre Dawson, Dwight Evans, Garry Maddox, Larry Walker, Devon White.

Maddux received 50 percent of the vote among pitchers; Bench, 59 percent among catchers; Parker, 53 percent among first basemen; Morgan, 27 percent among second basemen; Robinson, 61 percent among third basemen; Smith, 56 percent among shortstops; and Mays, 23 percent, Clemente, 21 percent, and Griffey Jr., 9 percent, led the outfielders.