This Year in Baseball Awards

Major League Baseball (MLB.com) began an online program in 2002 allowing "connected" fans to first select nominees for various awards then vote for those they selected in the categories. Those who won a This Year in Baseball Awards are presented below.

Notes: Clicking the award title will bring up a list of EVERY nominee and full voting percetanges. Each year the list of This Year in Baseball Awards varied so the chart below groups the awards by year with all 2002 awards first, 2003 next and so on. Awards are listed in the order they appeared on MLB.com and bold entries denote the winner of the award.

"I think EVERYBODY was speechless (after the Torii Hunter All-Star catch). It's always awesome in an All-Star Game to see an All-Star do what got him there. Those are the moments people will never forget." - Curt Schilling
2002 This Year in Baseball Awards

This Year in Baseball Award

Image of Actual Award Received by Chris Carpenter
For 2005 Starting Pitching of the Year

by MLB.com via "The Fans"

2002 Play of the Year Award

% of Votes

Hunter's All-Star Catch

31%

Giambi's Grand Slam

26%

Tejada's Game-Winning HR

16%

Berkman's on the Hill Catch

14%

Long Robs Ramirez

13%

2002 Blooper of the Year Award

% of Votes

Grace the Ace

50%

Piniella Gets Tossed

22%

Millar Takes a Dive

10%

Miscues of Jason Lane

9%

Announcer Call It Like He Sees It

9%

This Year in Baseball Awards Winner

Team

Defensive Player of the Year Award Torii Hunter Minnesota
Player of the Year Award Alex Rodriguez Texas
Setup Man of the Year Award Chris Hammond Atlanta

Starting Pitcher of the Year Award

John Smoltz

Atlanta

2003 This Year in Baseball Awards

This Year in Baseball Award

Image of Actual Award Received by Chris Carpenter
For 2005 Starting Pitching of the Year

by MLB.com via "The Fans"

This Year in Baseball Awards

Winner

Team

Defensive Player of the Year Award Jim Edmonds St. Louis
Manager of the Year Award Dusty Baker Chicago
Player of the Year Award Albert Pujols St. Louis
Rookie of the Year Award Scott Podsednik Milwaukee
Setup Man of the Year Award Brendan Donnelly Anaheim

Starting Pitcher of the Year Award

Mark Prior

Chicago

2003 Play of the Year Award

% of Votes

Furcal Unassisted Triple Play

19.5%

Matsui's Grand Slam

13.0%

Edmond's Catch

12.4%

Bonds' Homer

10.5%

Giles Robs Homer

10.1%

Boone's Catch and Flip

7.6%

2003 Individual Performance of the Year Award

% of Votes

Mueller First Grand Slams Both Side of Plate

34.0%

Damon's 3 Hits in an Inning

23.4%

Delgado's Four Homers

11.9%

Millwood's No-Hitter

9.4%

Byrnes Hitting for the Cycle

5.8%

Willis' One-Hitter

4.9%

2003 Bizarre Moment of the Year Award

% of Votes

Ozzy Osbourne Sings Take Me Out to the Ballgame

17.9%

Cust Falling Down

15.4%

Very Lucky Fan

13.8%

Misspelled Angels

13.0%

Infield Fly RBI

11.4%

Snow-ball Flight

10.1%

2004 This Year in Baseball Awards

This Year in Baseball Award

Image of Actual Award Received by Chris Carpenter
For 2005 Starting Pitching of the Year

by MLB.com via "The Fans"

This Year in Baseball Awards

Winner

Team

Closer of the Year Award Mariano Rivera New York
Defensive Player of the Year Award Jim Edmonds St. Louis
Hitter of the Year Award David Ortiz Boston
Manager of the Year Award Terry Francona Boston
Rookie of the Year Award David Wright New York
Setup Man of the Year Award Francisco Rodriguez Anaheim

Starting Pitcher of the Year Award

Johan Santana

Minnesota

2004 Individual Performance of the Year Award

% of Votes

40-Year old Johnson Tosses Perfect Game

52.4%

Pujols Has 3 Home Runs & 5 RBIs

13.3%

Vlad Hits 9 RBIs in a Game

9.5%

Sheets Strikes out 18

4.8%

Mackowiak Walk-Off Grand Slam

4.7%

2004 Play of the Year Award

% of Votes

Jeter Catch in the Stands

31.8%

Mueller Sinks Yanks with 9th Inning HR

13.5%

Ramirez Robs Cairo of a HR

11.2%

Edmonds Steals a homer in the 9th

9.9%

Finley's Grand Slam Clinches NL West

8.1%

2004 Blooper of the Year Award

% of Votes

Michaels Bobbles HR

22.7%

Manny Cuts off Damon

17.6%

Squirrel Invades Field

17.0%

Crisp and Duque Dance

11.9%

Fan Makes a Catch in Cup

11.5%

2005 This Year in Baseball Awards

This Year in Baseball Award

Image of Actual Award Received by Chris Carpenter
For 2005 Starting Pitching of the Year

by MLB.com via "The Fans"

2005 Individual Performance of the Year Award

% of Votes

Alex Rodriguez 3 HR & 10 RBI Game

42.1%

Chris Carpenter 1-Hitter

14.1%

Ryan Freel 3-4 & Team Record 5 Steals in 1 Game

8.5%

Mark Grudzielanek Hitting for the Cycle

8.0%

Randy Winn Hitting for the Cycle

7.9%

This Year in Baseball Awards

Winner

Team

Closer of the Year Award Mariano Rivera New York
Defensive Player of the Year Award Ichiro Suzuki Seattle
Hitter of the Year Award David Ortiz Boston
Manager of the Year Award Ozzie Guillen Chicago
Rookie of the Year Award Robinson Cano New York
Setup Man of the Year Award Neal Cotts Chicago

Starting Pitcher of the Year Award

Chris Carpenter

St. Louis

2005 Blooper of the Year Award

% of Votes

Pedro Gets Soaked

25.3%

K-Rod Misses the Ball

21.5%

Twin Trio of Errors

11.4%

Cordero Bounces it In

10.4%

Security Guard Interference

9.8%

2005 Play of the Year Award

% of Votes

Wright's Barehander

32.8%

Jeter's Catch

13.6%

Linden's Catch

7.8%

Eckstein's Walk-Off Slam

5.9%

Ichiro's Amazing Grab

4.6%

2006 This Year in Baseball Awards

This Year in Baseball Award

Image of Actual Award Received by Chris Carpenter
For 2005 Starting Pitching of the Year

by MLB.com via "The Fans"

Endy Chavez: Robs Rolen of home run

30.0%

Magglio Ordonez: Home runs win AL pennant

19.4%

Yadier Molina: Game 7, NLCS homer gives Cards lead

15.5%

Adam Wainwright: Game 7, NLCS Beltran k, NL pennant

11.0%

Paul Lo Duca: Game 1, NLDS Tags out two at home

8.4%

David Eckstein: Game 4 WS double puts Cards ahead

5.9%

Adam Wainwright: Game 5 WS, Inge k wins Series

5.5%

Mark Kotsay: Game 2 ALDS, inside the park homer

4.5%

Closer of the Year Award Mariano Rivera New York
Defensive Player of the Year Award Mike Lowell Boston
Hitter of the Year Award Derek Jeter New York
Manager of the Year Award Jim Leyland  Detroit
Rookie of the Year Award Francisco Liriano Minnesota
Setup Man of the Year Award Joel Zumaya Detroit

Starting Pitcher of the Year Award

Chien-Ming Wang

New York

NYY: Melky Cabrera robs Manny Ramirez

14.0%

TEX: Gary Matthews, Jr. goes above and beyond

11.0%

BOS: Mike Lowell dives into crowd

7.4%

PHI: Aaron Rowand runs into fence

7.0%

MIN: Twins turn into triple play

6.9%

SLN: Scott Rolen displays airtight 'D'

6.7%

NYM: Carlos Beltran robs Lance Berkman

6.4%

CHA: Tadahito Iguchi defies gravity

6.3%

DET: Brandon Inge makes backhanded grab

4.1%

ATL: Andruw Jones brings back homer

2.6%

SEA: Ichiro Suzuki fires laser to home

2.4%

CIN: Ryan Freel robs Albert Pujols

2.3%

SFN: Omar Vizquel turns heads-up DP

2.1%

HOU: Willy Taveras displays dominant 'D'

2.0%

TAM: Rays turn historic triple play

1.9%

CHI: Juan Pierre robs Albert Pujols

1.8%

CLE: Grady Sizemore lays out

1.7%

OAK: Barry Zito goes behind the back

1.7%

MIL: Bill Hall delivers Mays-like grab

1.4%

SDN: Khalil Greene starts sweet DP

1.4%

BAL: Corey Patterson holds on

1.3%

LAN: Greg Maddux snares liner

1.2%

LAA: Juan Rivera nails Mark Kotsay at home

1.2%

TOR: Eric Hinske flies to make game-ending grab

1.1%

COL: Brad Hawpe displays arm strength

1.0%

KCR: Middle men turn spectacular DP

0.8%

WAS: Ryan Zimmerman snags tough pop

0.7%

PIT: Freddy Sanchez snags foul pop

0.6%

ARI: Eric Byrnes, Johnny Estrada deny Jamey Carroll

0.5%

FLO: Diving Miguel Cabrera flashes leather

0.5%

Sean Casey: Casey thrown out on sure-fire single

38.1%

Andruw Jones: Andruw floored over homer

24.8%

Giants Balldude: Balldude wins battle for ball

16.4%

President Race: Thomas Jefferson bites the dust

8.3%

Jeter and A-Rod: Yanks' duo flubs easy fly out

5.4%

Reggie Sanders: Big swing leads to sanders' stumble

3.6%

Giles and Walker: Padres pair teams up on bobbled ball

1.8%

Rios and Cora: Rios gives away Red Sox homer

1.8%

Albert Pujols

3-4, 3HR (walk off), 5RBI

26.7%

Anibal Sanchez

No Hitter

25.4%

Ryan Howard

4-4, 3 HR, 4 RBI

13.0%

Dontrelle Willis

3-4, 2 HR & 8.1 IP

12.0%

James Loney

4-5, 2HR, 9RBI

5.0%

John Lackey

1-Hitter

4.9%

Carl Crawford

5-5, HR, 5 R, 4SB

3.5%

Gary Matthews, Jr.

Hit fo the Cycle

3.3%

Marlon Anderson

5-5, 3B, 2HR, SB

3.2%

Jason Schmidt

CG, 7 H, 16K's

3.0%

This Year in Baseball Awards

This Year in Baseball Award

Image of Actual Award Received by Chris Carpenter
For 2005 Starting Pitching of the Year

by MLB.com via "The Fans"

Closer of the Year Award Jonathan Papelbon Boston
Defensive Player of the Year Award Placido Polanco Detroit
Hitter of the Year Award Alex Rodriguez New York
Manager of the Year Award Joe Torre New York
Rookie of the Year Award Troy Tulowitzki Colorado
Setup Man of the Year Award Hideki Okajima Boston

Starting Pitcher of the Year Award

Josh Beckett

Boston

2008 This Year in Baseball Awards

Winner

Team

Closer of the Year Award Brad Lidge Philadelphia
Defensive Player of the Year Award Orlando Cabrera Chicago
Hitter of the Year Award Albert Pujols St. Louis
Manager of the Year Award Charlie Manuel Philadelphia
Rookie of the Year Award Evan Longoria Tampa Bay
Setup Man of the Year Award Hong-Chih Kuo Los Angeles

Starting Pitcher of the Year Award

Tim Lincecum San Francisco

2009 This Year in Baseball Awards

Winner

Team

Closer of the Year Award Mariano Rivera New York
Defensive Player of the Year Award Jacoby Ellsbury Boston
Hitter of the Year Award Joe Mauer Minnesota
Manager of the Year Award Jim Tracy Colorado
Rookie of the Year Award J.A. Happ Philadelphia

Setup Man of the Year Award

Jeremy Affeldt

San Francisco

Starting Pitcher of the Year Award Zack Greinke Kansas City

2010 This Year in Baseball Awards

Winner

Team

Closer of the Year Award Brian Wilson Philadelphia
Defensive Player of the Year Award Elvis Andrus Texas
Manager of the Year Award Bruce Bochy San Francisco
Player of the Year Award Josh Hamilton Texas
Rookie of the Year Award Buster Posey San Francisco

Setup Man of the Year Award

Joaquin Benoit Tampa Bay
Starting Pitcher of the Year Award Roy Halladay Philadelphia

2011 This Year in Baseball Awards

Winner

Team

Closer of the Year Award Not Yet Announced --
Defensive Player of the Year Award Not Yet Announced

--

Manager of the Year Award Not Yet Announced --
Player of the Year Award Not Yet Announced --
Rookie of the Year Award Not Yet Announced --

Setup Man of the Year Award

Not Yet Announced

--

Starting Pitcher of the Year Award Not Yet Announced --

This Year in Baseball Award

Winner

Team

This Year in Baseball Awards


Team

The description (on MLB.com) of the Play of the Year Award was, "Torii Hunter jumped high above the wall to rob Barry Bonds of a first-inning home run at the 2002 All-Star Game."

This Year in Baseball Awards are the brainchild of Greg Klayman, the director of fantasy and interactive games at MLB.com, who hit a grand slam — in 2010 more than thirteen million fans voted for their favorites!

Did you vote? Do you agree with the choices made by the fans? What bloopers do you recall and which ones were your favorite? Share the answers to these questions and these awards on Baseball Fever.

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