Rawlings Gold Glove Award: Baseball's Defensive Benchmark

Ozzie Smith, Johnny Bench, Brooks Robinson—These are some of baseball's greatest defensive players. And great defensive players get honored with the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

Since its creation in 1957, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award has been the benchmark by which all defense is measured. Today, the award remains the highest symbol of defensive excellence and ultimately determines who is “the Finest in the Field.”

In its first year, nine professional players received the award.

The next year, 18 players received the honor, one for each position in both the National and American Leagues.

Managers and coaches from the Major Leagues select the winners prior to the conclusion of the regular season. They may not vote for players from their own club and can only vote for players in their own league.

In 2007, in conjunction with the award’s 50th anniversary, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award expanded to recognize athletes at the collegiate and high school levels. Nine awards are given to each division in the NCAA (1,2,3), the NJCAA (1,2,3), the NAIA, as well as high school athletes from around the country.

The storied history of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award has inspired a new class of athletes to attempt jaw-dropping plays and acrobatic snags in the dirt, all in the hopes of taking home the gold. More than 50 years later, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award remains the game’s greatest measure of defensive excellence, and its legacy is sure to live on for years to come.

Award the players on your team for their hard work and efforts with the Miniature Rawlings Gold Glove Award (style number MINI). Then customize it by putting their name on the nameplate.

Visit RawlingsGear.com or contact a Rawlings Gear Customer Care representative at (866) 678-GEAR(4327) to purchase Miniature Gold Glove Awards for your team.