The Tony Conigliaro Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who best overcomes a major, often life altering obstacle and continues to thrive through the adversity.
Tony Conigliaro played for the Boston Red Sox and he was a truly gifted player, until he was hit on the cheek with a fastball thrown by Jack Hamilton. Tony-C returned to the lineup a year and a half later, hit another twenty home runs, had thirty-six dingers the year after that, but was then forced to retire due to his eyesight being permanently damaged.
Conigliaro died in 1990, eight years after a debilitating heart attack, at the age of forty-five. The Tony Conigliaro Award has been given annually in honor of his life and each recipient, along with a brief note about their adversity. Research by Baseball Almanac.
"Young men on the fast track to Cooperstown, all derailed before their promise was fulfilled. Players like Herb Score and Tony Conigliaro were never the same after being hit in the head; Pete Reiser ran into a few too many outfield fences; J.R. Richard suffered a stroke; Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash... great expectations shattered by fate." - Silverman, Jeff. They Tasted Glory: Among the Missing at the Baseball Hall of Fame. Linkugel, Wil A. Author. McFarland Publishing. 1 July 1998. Forward.
Tony Conigliaro AwardTony Conigliaro Injury | 1971 Topps-Style Baseball Card | Baseball Almanac Collection In Chronological Order | Baseball Awards | Tony Conigliaro |
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Year | Name (Qty) | Team (Qty) | POS | Notes |
1990 | Jim Eisenreich (1) | Philadelphia Phillies (1) | OF | Tourette Syndrome |
1991 | Dickie Thon (1) | Philadelphia Phillies (2) | OF | Hit by Pitch |
1992 | Jim Abbott (1) | Chicago White Sox (1) | LHP | Born Without Hand |
1993 | Bo Jackson (1) | Chicago White Sox (2) | OF | Hip Replacement Surgery |
1994 | Mark Leiter (1) | California Angels (1) | RHP | Death of Son |
1995 | Scott Radinsky (1) | Chicago White Sox (3) | LHP | Hodgkin's Lymphoma |
1996 | Curtis Pride (1) | Montreal Expos (1) | OF | Born Deaf |
1997 | Eric Davis (1) | Baltimore Orioles (1) | OF | Colon Cancer |
1998 | Bret Saberhagen (1) | Kansas City Royals (1) | RHP | Shoulder Injuries |
1999 | Mike Lowell (1) | Florida Marlins (1) | 3B | Testicular Cancer |
2000 | Kent Mercker (1) | Anaheim Angels (2) | LHP | Cerebral Hemorrhage |
Tony Saunders (1) | Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1) | LHP | Broken Arm While Pitching | |
2001 | Jason Johnson (1) | Baltimore Orioles (2) | RHP | Type 1 Diabetes |
Graeme Lloyd (1) | Montreal Expos (2) | LHP | Shoulder Injuries | |
2002 | Jose Rijo (1) | Cincinnati Reds (1) | RHP | Severe Elbow Injuries |
2003 | Jim Mecir (1) | Oakland Athletics (1) | RHP | Born With Two Club Feet |
2004 | Dewon Brazelton (1) | Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2) | RHP | Tommy John & Knee Surgery |
2005 | Aaron Cook (1) | Colorado Rockies (1) | RHP | Blood Clots in Lungs |
2006 | Freddy Sanchez (1) | Pittsburgh Pirates (1) | 3B | Born With Club Foot |
2007 | Jon Lester (1) | Boston Red Sox (1) | LHP | Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma |
2008 | Rocco Baldelli (1) | Tampa Bay Devil Rays (3) | OF | Mitochondrial Disorder |
2009 | Chris Carpenter (1) | St. Louis Cardinals (1) | RHP | Tommy John Surgery |
2010 | Joaquin Benoit (1) | Tampa Bay Devil Rays (4) | RHP | Rotator Cuff Tear |
2011 | Tony Campana (1) | Chicago Cubs (1) | OF | Hodgkin's Lymphoma |
2012 | R.A. Dickey (1) | New York Mets (1) | RHP | Sexual Abuse (As Child) |
2013 | John Lackey (1) | Boston Red Sox (2) | RHP | Tommy John Surgery |
2014 | Wilson Ramos (1) | Washington Nationals (1) | C | Kidnapped / Suffered Injuries |
2015 | Mitch Harris (1) | St. Louis Cardinals (1) | RHP | Delayed Career (US Navy) |
2016 | Yangervis Solarte (1) | San Diego Padres (1) | 3B | Wife Died of Cancer |
2017 | Chad Bettis (1) | Colorado Rockies (1) | RHP | Testicular Cancer |
2018 | Stephen Piscotty (1) | Oakland Athletics (2) | OF | Mom who died from ALS |
2019 | Rich Hill (1) | Los Angeles Dodgers (1) | LHP | Several Injuries / Loss of Child |
2020 | Daniel Bard (1) | Colorado Rockies (2) | RHP | 7-Year Gap (Control Issues) |
2021 | Trey Mancini (1) | Baltimore Orioles (3) | 1B/LF | Colon Cancer |
2022 | Jose Cuas (1) | Kansas City Royals (2) | RHP | Arduous journey to majors |
2023 | Liam Hendriks (1) | Chicago White Sox (4) | RHP | Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma |
2024 | Not Yet Awarded (x) | -- | -- | -- |
Year | Name (Qty) | Team (Qty) | POS | Notes |
Tony Conigliaro Award | Research by Baseball Almanac | Baseball Awards |
Did you know that Tony Conigliaro holds the Major League record for most home runs hit by a teenage player with twenty-four long balls?
Liam Hendriks said in a press release (29 November 2023): "As baseball players we all dream about winning World Series rings, but if this year has taught me anything it’s that the biggest impact I can make is by being a source of inspiration to others who are dealing with their own difficult circumstances. I’ve spent a good deal of time sitting in the bullpen at Fenway Park, and to be awarded this honor and have my name associated with Tony Conigliaro's is something I will forever cherish. I’d like to thank the committee, the media members, Major League Baseball, the Red Sox organization, and the Conigliaro family for believing that I deserve this incredible recognition."
In 1965, Tony Conigliaro led the American League in home runs with thirty-two while Willie Mays led the National League with fifty-two.
Mike Lowell, who won the Tony Conigliaro Award in 1999, had testicular cancer and surgery was performed on February 21, 1999. He returned to the lineup on May 29, 1999, and hit .253 as a rookie with 12 home runs and 47 runs batted in!