King of Baseball Award by Minor League Baseball

The "King of Baseball Award" is a long-standing tradition (started in 1951) in which Minor League Baseball honors a veteran from the world of professional baseball for their long-time dedication and service to the game of baseball.

For the previous half-century plus, Minor League Baseball has honored the "King of Baseball" at the annual banquet at the Baseball Winter Meetings. Baseball Almanac is pleased to present each recipient of the King of Baseball Award along with the location of the Baseball Winter Meetings and if the receipient was a former Major League ballplayer, a link to his playing career is presented as well.

"(Shag) Shaughnessy invented a playoff system that bears his name in 1933 to improve minor league attendance by giving teams that were out of the pennant race a postseason opportunity." - Normal L. Macht on BaseballLibrary.com
King of Baseball Award

by Minor League Baseball

Year King of Baseball Baseball Winter Meetings
1951 Clarence "Pants" Rowland Columbus, OH
1952 J. Alvin Gardner Phoenix, AZ
1953 Frank "Shag" Shaughnessy Atlanta, GA
1954 Shelby Pease Houston, TX
1955 Herman White Columbus, OH
1956 Tommy Richardson Jacksonville, FL
1957 Charles Hurth Colorado Springs, CO
1958

No Award Given

Washington D.C.
1959 Bonneau Peters St. Petersburg, FL
1960 Joe Engel Louisville, KY
1961 Rosy Ryan Tampa, FL
1962 Phil Howser Rochester, NY
1963 Donnie Bush San Diego, CA
1964 Eddie Mulligan Houston, TX
1965 Ray Winder Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1966 Eddie Leishmann Columbus, OH
1967 Alejo Peralta Mexico City, Mexico
1968 Dewey Soriano San Francisco, CA
1969 Chauncey DeVault Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1970 George MacDonald, Sr. Los Angeles, CA
1971 Phil Piton Phoenix, AZ
1972 Vince McNamara Honolulu, HI
1973 Ray Johnston Houston, TX
1974 Fred Haney New Orleans, LA
1975 Joe Buzas Hollywood, FL
1976 Don Avery Los Angeles, CA
1977 Bill Weiss Honolulu, HI

1978

Zinn Beck Orlando, FL

1979

Harry Simmons Toronto, Canada

1980

Billy Hitchcock Dallas, TX

1981

Jack Schwarz Hollywood, FL

1982

Sy Berger Honolulu, HI

1983

Oscar Roettger Nashville, TN

1984

Donald Davidson Houston, TX

1985

Stan Wasiak San Diego, CA

1986

Lefty Gomez Hollywood, FL

1987

Bill Schweppe Dallas, TX

1988

Max Patkin Atlanta, GA

1989

George Sisler, Jr. Nashville, TN

1990

John Moss Los Angeles, CA

1991

George Pfister Miami Beach, FL

1992

Johnny Lipon Louisville, KY

1993

George Kissell Atlanta, GA

1994

Jimmy Bragan Dallas, TX

1995

Gene DaCosse Los Angeles, CA

1996

Sheldon “Chief” Bender Boston, MA

1997

Max Schumacher New Orleans, LA

1998

Leo Pinckney Nashville, TN

1999

Tom Saffell Anaheim, CA

2000

Pat McKernan Dallas, TX

2001

Roland Hemond Boston, MA

2002

George Zuraw Nashville, TN
2003 Bob Wilson New Orleans, LA
2004 Dave Rosenfield Anaheim, CA
2005 Calvin Falwell Dallas, TX
2006 Paul Snyder Orlando, FL
2007 Dave Walker Nashville, TN
2008 Pat Gillick Las Vegas, NV
2009 Milo Hamilton Indianapolis, IN
2010 Don Mincher Orlando, FL

2011

Not Yet Awarded Lake Buena Vista, FL
Year King of Baseball Baseball Winter Meetings

King of Baseball Award



The 2002 recipient, Georze Zuraw, began his involvement in professional baseball in 1949 and over the course of forty-five years has scouted players for the Big Red Machine, the Seattle Mariners, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

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The first former player to win was Frank "Shag" Shaughnessy who is best remembered for his longtime leadership in the International League (1936 through 1950) and his creation of the postseason "Shaughnessy playoff" format.

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