Since 1957 there have been 85 Gold Gloves awarded to 28 different catchers.
Each year managers and coaches select nine position players from each league
to be the recipients recognized by the Rawlings Sporting Goods Company with
a specially made gold lame-tanned leather glove mounted trophy as having
demonstrated superior individual fielding performance.
Since its inception in 1980 there have been 42 Silver Slugger awards to 14 different catchers. Similar to the Gold Glove voting process, managers and coaches select one player at each position in each league based upon individual superior offensive performance. Hillerich & Bradsby Company, maker of Louisville Sluggers, presents the recipients with a Silver Slugger trophy bat.
If a Gold Glove award is a symbol of superior fielding and a Silver Slugger
award is a sign of superior offensive performance, then a catcher who
receives both in the same year has clearly demonstrated all around excellence at his position that season. This has been accomplished 11 times by four different catchers. Six of those times the distinguished honor fell to Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. The list of the simultaneous Gold & Silver Catchers is:
» 1981 NL Gary Carter (MON)
» 1982 NL Gary Carter (MON)
» 1983 AL Lance Parrish (DET)
» 1984 AL Lance Parrish (DET)
» 1990 NL Benito Santiago (SD)
» 1994 AL Ivan Rodriguez (TEX)
» 1995 AL Ivan Rodriguez (TEX)
» 1996 AL Ivan Rodriguez (TEX)
» 1997 AL Ivan Rodriguez (TEX)
» 1998 AL Ivan Rodriguez (TEX)
» 1999 AL Ivan Rodriguez (TEX)
Although Carlton Fisk has won both awards, he earned them in different years (Gold Glove 1972 & Silver Slugger in 1981, 85 and 88). Mike Piazza holds the record with eight Silver Slugger Awards (1992-2000), yet he has never earned a Gold Glove. Johnny Bench holds the
Gold Glove record with 10 awards (1968-1977), but he had no chance to earn a Silver Slugger Award because it began later. Bob Boone and Tony Pena have
the distinction of earning Gold Gloves in both leagues. No catcher has won a
Silver Slugger Award in both leagues.
Also by Chuck Rosciam
» Catching Three No-Hitters
» More submissions
Posted May 21, 2001.
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