List of Silver Slugger Award winners at shortstop

Barry Larkin is the Silver Slugger Award leader among shortstops, with nine wins.

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."^[1] Managers and coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their own team.^[1] The Silver Slugger was first awarded in 1980 and is given by Hillerich & Bradsby, the manufacturer of Louisville Slugger bats.^[2] The award is a bat-shaped trophy, 3 feet (91 cm) tall, engraved with the names of each of the winners from the league^[1] and plated with sterling silver.^[3]

Among shortstops, Barry Larkin is the leader in Silver Slugger Awards, with nine wins between 1988 and 1999, including five consecutive awards (1988–1992).^[4] Larkin is fourth all-time in Silver Slugger wins among all positions, behind outfielder Barry Bonds,^[5] catcher Mike Piazza^[6] and third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who won his first seven awards at shortstop before a position change.^[7] Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. won eight Silver Sluggers as a shortstop from 1983 to 1993.^[8] Other multiple awardees include three-time winners Alan Trammell (1987–1988, 1990),^[9] Derek Jeter (2006–2008)^[10] and Edgar Rentería (2000; 2002–2003),^[11] along with two-time champions Troy Tulowitzki (2010–2011),^[12] Hanley Ramírez (2008–2009),^[13] Miguel Tejada (2004–2005),^[14] Robin Yount (1980, 1982),^[15] Hubie Brooks (1985–1986),^[16] Dave Concepción (1981–1982)^[17] and Garry Templeton (1980, 1984).^[18]

Rodriguez' offensive statistics in his seven Silver Slugger-winning seasons lead American League and major league shortstops in most categories;^[7] his batting average of .358 and .631 slugging percentage in 1996, .420 on-base percentage in 2000 and 57 home runs in 2002 are records among winning shortstops.^[7] The lone category in which Rodriguez does not lead the American League is runs batted in (RBI), where Miguel Tejada is the leader; he batted in 150 runs in 2004.^[14] The RBI leaders in the National League are Rentería and Brooks, who each batted in 100 runs during the 2003 and 1985 seasons, respectively.^[11][16] In contrast, Rodriguez collected RBI totals over 100 (ranging from 111 in 1999 to 142 in 2002) in all of his Silver Slugger-winning seasons,^[7] highlighting the difference in power and production between American League and National League shortstops.^[19] Other National League leaders include Larkin, who leads in batting average (.348, 1989) and on-base percentage (.410, 1996), along with Rich Aurilia, who leads in slugging percentage (.572, 2001) and home runs (37, 2001).^[20] Though he has never played in the National League, Rodriguez' 40 or more home runs in six of his seven winning seasons at shortstop are greater than any total hit by a National League winner at third base.^[7]

Key

American League winners

Asdrúbal Cabrera won the 2011 AL Silver Slugger winner.

Derek Jeter won four consecutive AL Silver Slugger Awards at shortstop (2006–2009) and another in 2012.

National League winners

Troy Tulowitzki is the NL's most recent Silver Slugger winner. He has won the award in back-to-back seasons (2010 and 2011).

Hanley Ramirez won back-to-back NL Silver Slugger Awards in 2008 and 2009.

References

• "MLB Awards: History (Awards: Silver Slugger)". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 9, 2009. 

Inline citations

External links

• Louisville Slugger – The Silver Slugger Award

Silver Slugger Award
First basemen Second basemen Third basemen Shortstops Outfielders Catchers Pitchers (NL) Designated hitters (AL)