LOU GEHRIG MEMORIAL AWARD

MLB Player Who Best Exemplifies The Character of Lou Gehrig

The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award was established by Lou Gehrig's college fraternity, Phi Delta Theta at Columbia University. The award is presented annually to the Major League baseball player who both on and off the field best exemplifies the character of Lou Gehrig.

Note: The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award winner is made annually based on the merits of the ballplayer from the previous year. The most recent winner, Salvador Perez, was announced on Lou Gehrig Day during the 2022 regular season, but recognized for his actions and accomplishments during the previous year, so he is officially considered the 2021 recipient.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"In the beginning I used to make one terrible play a game. Then I got so I'd make one a week and finally I'd pull a bad one about once a month. Now, I'm trying to keep it down to one a season." - Lou Gehrig in Get in the Game: 8 Elements of Perseverance That Make the Difference (Ripken, Cal Jr. & Phillips, Donald Thomas. Gotham Press. 1 May 2007. Page 67.)

Lou Gehrig Memorial Award

Lou Gehrig Memorial Award

In Chronological Order | Lou Gehrig History

1955 Alvin Dark New York Giants NL SS
1956 Pee Wee Reese Brooklyn Dodgers NL SS
1957 Stan Musial St. Louis Cardinals NL 1B
1958 Gil McDougald New York Yankees AL 2B
1959 Gil Hodges Los Angeles Dodgers NL 1B
1960 Dick Groat Pittsburgh Pirates NL SS
1961 Warren Spahn Milwaukee Braves NL P
1962 Robin Roberts Baltimore Orioles AL P
1963 Bobby Richardson New York Yankees AL 2B
1964 Ken Boyer St. Louis Cardinals NL 3B
1965 Vern Law Pittsburgh Pirates NL P
1966 Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles AL 3B
1967 Ernie Banks Chicago Cubs NL 1B
1968 Al Kaline Detroit Tigers AL RF
1969 Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds NL RF
1970 Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves NL RF
1971 Harmon Killebrew Minnesota Twins AL 1B
1972 Wes Parker Los Angeles Dodgers NL 1B
1973 Ron Santo Chicago Cubs NL 3B
1974 Willie Stargell Pittsburgh Pirates NL LF
1975 Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds NL C
1976 Don Sutton Los Angeles Dodgers NL P
1977 Lou Brock St. Louis Cardinals NL LF
1978 Don Kessinger Chicago White Sox AL SS
1979 Phil Niekro Atlanta Braves NL P
1980 Tony Perez Boston Red Sox AL 1B
1981 Tommy John New York Yankees AL P
1982 Ron Cey Los Angeles Dodgers NL 3B
1983 Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Phillies NL 3B
1984 Steve Garvey San Diego Padres NL 1B
1985 Dale Murphy Atlanta Braves NL CF
1986 George Brett Kansas City Royals AL 3B
1987 Rick Sutcliffe Chicago Cubs NL P
1988 Buddy Bell Cincinnati Reds NL 3B
1989 Ozzie Smith St. Louis Cardinals NL SS
1990 Glenn Davis Houston Astros NL 1B
1991 Kent Hrbek Minnesota Twins AL 1B
1992 Cal Ripken, Jr. Baltimore Orioles AL SS
1993 Don Mattingly New York Yankees AL 1B
1994 Barry Larkin Cincinnati Reds NL SS
1995 Curt Schilling Philadelphia Phillies NL P
1996 Brett Butler Los Angeles Dodgers NL CF
1997 Paul Molitor Minnesota Twins AL DH
1998 Tony Gwynn San Diego Padres NL RF
1999 Mark McGwire St. Louis Cardinals NL 1B
2000 Todd Stottlemyre Arizona Diamondbacks NL P
2001 John Franco New York Mets NL P
2002 Danny Graves Cincinnati Reds NL P
2003 Jamie Moyer Seattle Mariners AL P
2004 Jim Thome Philadelphia Phillies NL 1B
2005 John Smoltz Atlanta Braves NL P
2006 Trevor Hoffman San Diego Padres NL P
2007 Mike Timlin Boston Red Sox AL P
2008 Shane Victorino Philadelphia Phillies NL CF
2009 Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals NL 1B
2010 Derek Jeter New York Yankees AL SS
2011 Ryan Zimmerman Washington Nationals NL 3B
2012 Barry Zito San Francisco Giants NL P
2013 Josh Hamilton Los Angeles Angels AL RF
2014 Adrian Beltre Texas Rangers AL 3B
2015 Curtis Granderson New York Mets NL RF
2016 Jose Altuve Houston Astros AL 2B
2017 Joey Votto Cincinnati Reds NL 1B
2018 Corey Kluber Cleveland Indians AL P
2019 Buster Posey San Francisco Giants NL C
2020 Stephen Piscotty Oakland Athletics AL RF
2021 Salvador Perez Kansas City Royals AL C
2022 Brandon Crawford San Francisco Giants NL SS
2023 Not Yet Awarded Announced June 2024 -- --
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award | Baseball Awards
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Did you know the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award was the first officially sanctioned Major League Baseball award given to ballplayers by a fraternity? Too easy? Did you know that the 1995 recipient, Curt Schilling, named his son after Lou Gehrig (Gehrig Schilling)?

The Major League Baseball Press Release (June 2, 2021) for 2020 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award winner, Stephen Piscotty, described in detail why he received this truly prestigous honor:

OAKLAND, Calif. — A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty has been named the recipient of this year’s Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity presents the award annually to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, a member of the fraternity. Piscotty, who is the first member of the Oakland A’s to win the award, will receive it in a pregame presentation on June 8 during the A’s ALS Awareness Day at the Coliseum.

Since 2017, Piscotty has been deeply involved with organizations dedicated to raising awareness and funds for much-needed ALS research. After Piscotty’s mother, Gretchen, passed away from ALS in 2018, Stephen and his family founded the ALS CURE Project, which has one goal: rid the world of ALS so no one has to suffer Gretchen’s fate. To learn more about the organization or get involved, visit alscure.net.

Throughout the years, Piscotty has participated in several fundraising events benefiting ALS research and has served as an ALS Ambassador for the league. Piscotty was a spokesperson for the 2019 MLB Winter Meetings Auction, which raised funds for ALS research by auctioning exclusive items and experiences from all 30 clubs. In 2020, the Piscotty family participated in the Mike Crawford Golf Tournament that featured 30 MLB players and benefited the ALS CURE Project. Piscotty and his dad, Mike, also participated in the Bay Bridge Series Virtual Auction, which included virtual experiences with Stephen.

During the 2020 season, Piscotty and the A’s teamed up to introduce the ALS CURE Project Foul Ball Zone as part of the Coliseum Cutouts program. The nearly 1,200 fans who purchased a cutout in this special section each received an autographed photo from Piscotty, and fans who “caught” a foul ball also received an autographed baseball. All of the proceeds from this section were donated to the ALS CURE Project in support of its mission.

Piscotty will receive the Lou Gehrig Memorial Day Award during a pregame presentation on June 8, when the A’s host their annual ALS Awareness Day. Ten dollars from each Field Level ticket sold for this game will be donated to the A’s Bay Area ALS partners, including the ALS CURE Project, the ALS Therapy Development Institute, and the ALS Association Golden West Chapter.

Positional breakdown for the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award winners: sixteen pitchers, thirteen first basemen, nine shortstops, nine third basemen, seven right-fielders, two center-fielders, two left-fielders, three second basemen, three catchers, and one designated hitter.