American Association (1902–1997) Most Valuable Pitcher Award

American Association
Most Valuable Pitcher Award
SportBaseball
LeagueAmerican Association
Awarded forBest regular-season pitcher in the American Association
CountryUnited States
Presented byAmerican Association
History
First awardSal Campisi (1969)
Final awardRick Helling (1996)

The American Association Most Valuable Pitcher Award was an annual award given to the best pitcher in Minor League Baseball's American Association based on their regular-season performance. Though the league was established in 1902,[1] the award was not created until 1969.[2] From 1929 to 1962, pitchers were eligible to win the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP). Eight pitchers won the MVP Award before the league disbanded after the 1962 season.[1][2] The Most Valuable Pitcher Award was first issued starting with the league's revival in 1969, and it continued to be awarded through 1996; no winner was selected in the 1997 season, after which the circuit disbanded again.[1][2]

Five players from the Denver Bears, Indianapolis Indians, and Oklahoma City 89ers were each selected for the Most Valuable Pitcher Award, more than any other teams in the league, followed by the Buffalo Bisons (4); the Iowa Cubs, Nashville Sounds, and Omaha Royals (2); and the Evansville Triplets, Louisville Redbirds, and Tulsa Oilers (1).

Six players from the Montreal Expos Major League Baseball (MLB) organization won the award, more than any other, followed by the Chicago White Sox organization (5); the Philadelphia Phillies organization (3); the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and Texas Rangers organizations (2); and the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers organizations (1).

Winners

A man in a light baseball jersey and dark cap
Jim Kern, the 1974 winner, won the American League Rolaids Relief Man Award in 1979.[3]
A man in a dark baseball uniform and cap
Jay Howell, the 1982 Most Valuable Pitcher, was selected to play in three Major League Baseball All-Star Games.[4]
A man in a white baseball uniform and red cap
Chris Hammond was chosen for the award in 1990.
Key
Record The pitcher's win–loss record during the regular season
Saves The number of saves earned by the pitcher, if any, during the regular season
ERA The pitcher's earned run average (ERA) during the regular season
SO The number of strikeouts recorded by the pitcher during the regular season
Winners
Year Winner Team Organization Record Saves ERA SO Ref.
1969 Sal Campisi Tulsa Oilers St. Louis Cardinals 13–2 15 1.99 63 [5]
1970 Milt Wilcox Indianapolis Indians Cincinnati Reds 12–10 0 2.84 110 [6]
1971 Garland Shifflett Denver Bears Washington Senators 12–7 18 4.78 64 [7]
1972 Lloyd Gladden Evansville Triplets Milwaukee Brewers 15–9 0 2.71 141 [8]
1973 Mark Littell Omaha Royals Kansas City Royals 16–6 0 2.51 133 [9]
1974 Jim Kern Oklahoma City 89ers Cleveland Indians 17–7 0 2.52 220 [10]
1975 Steve Dunning Denver Bears Chicago White Sox 15–9 0 3.49 139 [11]
1976 John Montague Oklahoma City 89ers Philadelphia Phillies 14–6 0 2.64 120 [12]
1977 Jim Wright 14–6 0 3.13 118 [13]
1978 Dan Warthen 13–8 0 4.09 144 [14]
1979 Dewey Robinson Iowa Oaks Chicago White Sox 13–7 9 2.93 76 [15]
1980 Steve Ratzer Denver Bears Montreal Expos 15–4 2 3.59 50 [16]
1981 Bryn Smith 15–5 1 3.05 127 [17]
1982 Jay Howell Iowa Cubs Chicago Cubs 13–4 0 2.36 139 [18]
1983 Rich Barnes Denver Bears Chicago White Sox 11–6 0 4.17 62 [19]
1984 Joe Hesketh Indianapolis Indians Montreal Expos 12–3 0 3.05 135 [20]
1985 Mark Huismann Omaha Royals Kansas City Royals 5–5 33 2.01 70 [21]
1986 Pete Filson Buffalo Bisons Chicago White Sox 14–3 6 2.27 81 [22]
1987 Pascual Pérez Indianapolis Indians Montreal Expos 9–7 0 3.79 125 [23]
1988 Bob Sebra 12–6 0 2.94 126 [24]
1989 Mark Gardner 12–4 0 2.37 175 [25]
1990 Chris Hammond Nashville Sounds Cincinnati Reds 15–1 0 2.17 149 [26]
1991 Rick Reed Buffalo Bisons Pittsburgh Pirates 14–4 0 2.15 102 [27]
1992 René Arocha Louisville Redbirds St. Louis Cardinals 12–7 0 2.70 128 [28]
1993 Roy Smith Buffalo Bisons Pittsburgh Pirates 15–11 0 4.13 87 [29]
1994 Scott Ruffcorn Nashville Sounds Chicago White Sox 15–3 0 2.72 144 [30]
1995 Eric Bell Buffalo Bisons Cleveland Indians 13–9 0 3.90 86 [31]
1996 Rick Helling Oklahoma City 89ers Texas Rangers 12–4 0 2.96 157 [32]
1997 None selected [2]

Wins by team

Team Award(s) Year(s)
Denver Bears 5 1971, 1975, 1980, 1981, 1983
Indianapolis Indians 1970, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989
Oklahoma City 89ers 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1996
Buffalo Bisons 4 1986, 1991, 1993, 1995
Iowa Cubs (Iowa Oaks) 2 1979, 1982
Nashville Sounds 1990, 1994
Omaha Royals 1973, 1985
Evansville Triplets 1 1972
Louisville Redbirds 1992
Tulsa Oilers 1969

Wins by organization

Organization Award(s) Year(s)
Montreal Expos 6 1980, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989
Chicago White Sox 5 1975, 1979, 1983, 1986, 1994
Philadelphia Phillies 3 1976, 1977, 1978
Cincinnati Reds 2 1970, 1990
Cleveland Indians 1974, 1995
Kansas City Royals 1973, 1985
Pittsburgh Pirates 1991, 1993
St. Louis Cardinals 1969, 1992
Texas Rangers (Washington Senators) 1971, 1996
Chicago Cubs 1 1982
Milwaukee Brewers 1972

References

Specific

  1. ^ a b c "American Association (AAA) Encyclopedia and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "American Association Special Award Winners". Triple-A Baseball. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  3. ^ "Jim Kern Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  4. ^ "Jay Howell Stats". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sal Campisi Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "Milt Wilcox Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Garland Shifflett Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "Lloyd Gladden Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "Mark Littell Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Jim Kern Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  11. ^ "Steve Dunning Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "John Montague Winter, Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Jim Wright Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  14. ^ "Dan Warthen Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "Dewey Robinson Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "Steve Ratzer Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  17. ^ "Bryn Smith Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  18. ^ "Jay Howell Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  19. ^ "Rich Barnes Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "Joe Hesketh Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  21. ^ "Mark Huismann Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  22. ^ "Pete Filson Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  23. ^ "Pascual Perez Minor & CPBL Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  24. ^ "Bob Sebra Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  25. ^ "Mark Gardner Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  26. ^ "Chris Hammond Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  27. ^ "Rick Reed Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  28. ^ "René Arocha Cuban, Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  29. ^ "Roy Smith Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  30. ^ "Scott Ruffcorn Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  31. ^ "Eric Bell Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  32. ^ "Rick Helling Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2022.

General