Joe Bauman Award

The Joe Bauman Award, or Joe Bauman Home Run Award as it's also called, is awarded to the top home run hitter in Minor League Baseball annually. The slugger with the most home runs receives the Joe Bauman Trophy and a check in the amount of $200 per home run hit at the Winter Meetings Award Luncheon.

Joe Bauman, who never played a game in Major League Baseball, hit 72 home runs in a minor league season in 1954 — a professional baseball record that stood until it was broken by Barry Bonds with 73 in 2001. The Joe Bauman Award was created in his honor in 2002 and each receipient appears below in chronological order.

"Looking back, (Joe) Bauman says he made several mistakes, especially spending three years of his prime in semipro ball, which might have kept him from ever stepping to the plate in the big leagues . . . He regrets not pushing himself to see if he could play in the majors. 'I still have that question in my mind: Could I have done it or not?'" - Sportswriter Leo Banks in Sports Illustrated (August 1991)

Joe Bauman Award

In Chronological Order / By MiLB

Year

Player Name

Team(s)

HRs Check

2002

Ivan Cruz

Memphis Redbirds

35

$7,000.00

2003

Graham Koonce

Sacramento River Cats

34

$6,800.00

2004

Ryan Howard

Reading Phillies & Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barrons

46

$9,200.00

2005

Brandon Wood

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

42

$8,600.00

2006

Kevin Witt

Durham Bulls

36

$7,200.00

2007

Craig Brazell

Wichita Wranglers & Omaha Royals

39

$7,800.00

2008

Dallas McPherson

Albuquerque Isotopes

42

$8,400.00

2009

Mitch Jones

Albuquerque Isotopes

35

$7,000.00

2010 Mike Moustakas Northwest Arkansas Naturals & Omaha Royals 36 $7,200.00
2011 Bryan LaHair Iowa Cubs 38 $7,600.00
2012 Darin Ruf Reading Phillies 38 $7,600.00

2013

Not Yet Announced (11-2013)

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Year

Player Name

Team(s)

HRs Check

Joe Bauman Award



In 2009 the first tiebreaker to decide the winner of the Joe Bauman Award was used. Jon Gaston of Lancaster also hit thirty-five home runs, but Mitch Jones was declared the winner by virtue of driving in three more runs (103 to 100) than Gaston.

Each home run leader in each Minor League classification (Triple-A, Double-A & Class A), besides the actual overall leader / winner, receives a $500 check for their achievement.

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