Golden Tomahawk Award

Members of the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America voted annually for the Golden Tomahawk Award receipient from 1963 through 2002. The award, which was called in full the Gordon Cobbledick Golden Tomahawk Award, was awarded to the most underated player on the Cleveland Indians team.

"So, here I come walking in, a college guy and All-American with what they think is a pocketful of money. . . . they didn't know I left that money at home," Kindall said. "And what I didn't realize was that to make room for me, they had to send down a popular utility player, Ed Winceniak, who was a real nice guy." - SABR Historian Tom Tomashek on SABR.org (SABR Baseball Biography Project, Jerry Kindall Biography, Source)

Golden Tomahawk Award

by Cleveland Baseball Writers

Year

Winner (Quantity)

Position(s)

1963 Jerry Kindall (1) Shortstop / Second Base / First Base
1964 Fred Whitfield (1) First Base
1965 Dick Howser (1) Shortstop
1966 Larry Brown (1) Shortstop / Second Base
1967 Joe Azcue (1) Catcher

1968

Stan Williams (1)

Pitcher

1969

Jose Cardenal (1)

Center Field / Third Base / Left Field

1970

Sam McDowell (1)

Pitcher

1971

Ray Fosse (1)

Catcher / First Base

1972

Graig Nettles (1)

Third Base

1973

Gaylord Perry (1)

Pitcher

1974

John Ellis (1)

First Base / Catcher

1975

Frank Duffy (1)

First Baseman

1976

Alan Ashby (1)

Catcher / First Base / Third Base

1977

Buddy Bell (1)

Third Base / Left Field

1978

Duane Kuiper (1)

Second Base

Andre Thornton (1) First Base

1979

Andre Thornton (2)

First Base / Designated Hitter

1980

Toby Harrah (1)

Third Base / Shortstop

1981

Mike Hargrove (1)

First Base

1982

Jerry Dybzinski (1)

Shortstop / Third Base

1983

Andre Thornton (3)

First Base / Designated Hitter

1984

Rick Sutcliffe (1)

Pitcher

1985

Brett Butler (1)

Center Field

1986

Joe Carter (1)

Right Field / First Base / Left Field / Center Field

1987

Pat Tabler (1)

First Base / Designated Hitter

1988

Joe Carter (2)

Center Field

1989

Jerry Browne (1)

Second Base

1990

Doug Jones (1)

Pitcher

1991

Carlos Baerga (1)

Third Base / Second Base

1992

Carlos Baerga (2)

Second Base

1993

Albert Belle (1)

Left Field

1994

Kenny Lofton (1)

Center Field

1995

Albert Belle (2)

Left Field

Jose Mesa (1) Pitcher

1996

Charles Nagy (1)

Pitcher

1997

Sandy Alomar, Jr. (1)

Catcher

1998

Manny Ramirez (1)

Right Field

1999

Manny Ramirez (2)

Right Field

2000

Travis Fryman (1)

Third Base / First Base

2001

Roberto Alomar (1)

Second Base

2002

Jim Thome (1)

First Base / Designated Hitter

2003

Award Discontinued (n/a)

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Year

Winner (Quantity)

Position(s)

Golden Tomahawk Award


Did you know that five Cleveland Indians players have won the Golden Tomahawk Award more than once during their career, Andre Thornton (3x), Joe Carter, Carlos Baerga, Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez (2x)?

1966 Golden Tomahawk Award Winner Larry Brown

1966 Golden Tomahawk Award Winner Larry Brown

In 1997 Sandy Alomar, Jr. won the Golden Tomahawk. Four years later his brother Roberto Alomar won the award. Dad (Sandy Alomar) must have been proud!

Do you agree with the choices made by the Cleveland Chapter of the Baseball Writers? Who was the most underated players from 2003 through this year? Share the answers to these questions on Baseball Fever.

     

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