Branch Rickey Award

The Branch Rickey Award is given annually to a Major League Baseball player in recognition of his exceptional community service. The award is named for former player and executive Branch Rickey, who is best known as the president and general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and as the executive who broke the major-league color barrier. The award was created by the Rotary Club of Denver, and was first awarded in 1992.

Selection process

One player is nominated by each Major League Baseball team. A vote is then conducted by the national selection committee, which consists of members of the sports media, previous winners of the award, and Rotary district governors in major-league cities.

Criteria for award winners

As illustrated by the standards set by the late Branch Rickey, criteria for the award are:

• An outstanding individual currently involved in Major League Baseball -- a player, owner, manager, front-office staff, scout, etc.
• A role model for young people as evidenced by baseball accomplishments coupled with high ethical standards.
• An unselfish contributor to the community whose volunteer activities exemplify Rotary International's motto, "Service Above Self."

Previous winners

Year	Recipient	Team
1992	Winfield, DaveDave Winfield	Toronto Blue Jays
1993	Puckett, KirbyKirby Puckett	Minnesota Twins
1994	Smith, OzzieOzzie Smith	St. Louis Cardinals
1995	Gwynn, TonyTony Gwynn	San Diego Padres
1996	Butler, BrettBrett Butler	Los Angeles Dodgers
1997	Biggio, CraigCraig Biggio	Houston Astros
1998	Molitor, PaulPaul Molitor	Minnesota Twins
1999	Leiter, AlAl Leiter	New York Mets
2000	Stottlemyre, ToddTodd Stottlemyre	Arizona Diamondbacks
2001	Schilling, CurtCurt Schilling	Arizona Diamondbacks
2002	Valentine, BobbyBobby Valentine	New York Mets
2003	Hemond, RolandRoland Hemond	Chicago White Sox
2004	Moyer, JamieJamie Moyer	Seattle Mariners
2005	Gonzalez, LuisLuis Gonzalez	Arizona Diamondbacks
2006	Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda	Los Angeles Dodgers
2007	Smoltz, JohnJohn Smoltz	Atlanta Braves
2008	Hoffman, TrevorTrevor Hoffman	San Diego Padres
2009	Hunter, ToriiTorii Hunter	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2010	Wells, VernonVernon Wells	Toronto Blue Jays
2011	Victorino, ShaneShane Victorino	Philadelphia Phillies

See also

• Roberto Clemente Award
• Players Choice Awards (The Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award)
• Bart Giamatti Award
• Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
• Baseball awards #United States

Sources

• The Branch Rickey Award homepage. Branch Rickey Award website. Rotary Club of Denver