WILLIE, MICKEY AND THE DUKE AWARD

New York Chapter of the BBWAA | Baseball Almanac

The Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award is presented annually by the New York Baseball Writers Association to a group of players, or a specific team, forever linked in baseball history.

In New York, three legends once roamed the outfield for all three teams, Willie, Mickey and the Duke. Willie Mays, with the New York Giants; Mickey Mantle, with the New York Yankees; and Duke Snider, with the Brooklyn Dodgers — a legendary trio of baseball personalities who are forever linked in baseball history. Research by Baseball Almanac.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"I'm talkin' baseball! Like Reggie, Quisenberry. Talkin' baseball! Carew and Gaylord Perry, Seaver, Garvey, Schmidt and Vida Blue, If Cooperstown is calling, it's no fluke. They'll be with Willie, Mickey, and the Duke." - Terry Cashman (Lyrics to Willie, Mickey & The Duke, 1981, PKM Music)

Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award

By The New York Baseball Writers Association

1995 Willie Mays (New York Giants Outfielder)
Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees Outfielder)
Duke Snider (Brooklyn Dodgers Outfielder)
1996 Phil Rizzuto (New York Yankees Shortstop)
Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers Shortstop)
Al Dark (New York Giants Shortstop)
1997 Cleon Jones (New York Mets Outfielder)
Tommie Agee (New York Mets Outfielder)
Ron Swoboda (New York Mets Outfielder)

1998

Warren Spahn (Braves Pitcher / Spahn & Sain)
Johnny Sain (Braves Pitcher / Spahn & Sain)
1999 Tom Seaver (New York Mets Pitcher)
Jerry Koosman (New York Mets Pitcher)

2000

Don Larsen (Perfect Game Pitcher)
David Wells (Perfect Game Pitcher)
David Cone (Perfect Game Pitcher)
2001 Bobby Thomson (The Shot Heard Round the World)
Ralph Branca (The Shot Heard Round the World)
2002 Joe Torre (New York Yankees Manager)
Don Zimmer (New York Yankees Coach)
Mel Stottlemyre (New York Yankees Coach)
2003 Bucky Dent (Bucky "Fucking" Dent Home Run)
Mike Torrez (Bucky "Fucking" Dent Home Run)
2004 Keith Hernandez (New York Mets First Baseman)
Don Mattingly (New York Yankees First Baseman)
2005 The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers (The Boys of Summer)
2006 Bill Buckner (1986 World Series / Game 6)
Mookie Wilson (1986 World Series / Game 6)

2007

Reggie Jackson (1977 World Series / Game 6)
Charlie Hough (1977 World Series / Game 6)
2008 Bob Gibson (Summer of '68)
Denny McLain (Summer of '68)
Luis Tiant (Summer of '68)
2009 Ed Kranepool (Career Mets Player, Fan Favorite)
Bernie Williams (Career Yankees Player, Fan Favorite)
2010 Derek Jeter (Longtime Yankees Teammates)
Mariano Rivera (Longtime Yankees Teammates)
Andy Pettitte (Longtime Yankees Teammates)
Jorge Posada (Longtime Yankees Teammates)
2011 Joe Torre (Longtime Career Manager)
Bobby Cox (Longtime Career Manager)
Lou Piniella (Longtime Career Manager)
2012 The 1962 New York Mets (The Amazin' Mets)
2013 The 1973 New York Mets (So Close...)
2014 Hank Aaron (Hit Home Run #715)
Al Downing (Surrendered Home Run #715)
2015 Bob Hendley (1965 Perfect Game Losing Pitcher)
Sandy Koufax (1965 Perfect Game Winning Pitcher)
Vin Scully (1965 Perfect Game Announcer)
2016 Tim Hudson (Oakland Athletics - Trio of Aces)
Mark Mulder (Oakland Athletics - Trio of Aces)
Barry Zito (Oakland Athletics - Trio of Aces)
2017 Dellin Betances (Formidable Trio of Yankees)
Aroldis Chapman (Formidable Trio of Yankees)
Andrew Miller (Formidable Trio of Yankees)
2018 1998 New York Yankees (114 Wins / 1998 Champions)
2019 1969 New York Mets (The Miracle Mets)
2020 Al Leiter (2000 World Series / Game 5 / Losing Pitcher)
Luis Sojo (2000 World Series / Game 5 / 9th Inning Game-Winning Hit)
2022 Steve Karsay (RHP — 20th anniversary of HR in Shea after 9/11)
Mike Piazza (HOF C — 20th anniversary of HR in Shea after 9/11)
2022 A League of Their Own (AAGPBL Movie)
2023 1999 New York Mets (Infield Players)
2024 Not Yet Announced (11-2024)
Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award | Baseball Awards
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CBS 2, New York, covered the 2011 New York Baseball Writers Association Dinner Gala and shared the story below. They have covered the event since that year!

Joe Torre, Bobby Cox and Lou Piniella stood together behind the podium, a trio of retiring managers honored for a combined 81 years leading major league clubs. "Played the game for 16 years and then had an opportunity to manager five different ballclubs, very special teams," Torre said. "But you know when you managed five teams that means you've been fired a few times." The hotel ballroom audience laughed. The three were presented the Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award from the Baseball Writers' Association of America's New York chapter on Saturday night, introduced by Yankees manager Joe Girardi to cap the annual dinner.

Source: CBS 2, New York, January 22, 2011, 'Torre, Cox, Piniella Honored by BBWAA.

The "brief description" added to each Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award winners simply does not do any set with their true measure of greatness. Share stories, learn more, and ask questions about any of the winners in our Baseball Almanac Facebook Group, on Baseball Almanac Twitter, via Baseball Almanac Messenger, or our baseball forum — Baseball Fever.

Did you notice which receipient won the Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award more than once? It's happened only one time (2002 & 2011), to date!