Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award

Delivery Man of the Year Award
Mariano Rivera in a gray baseball uniform and navy blue cap stands on a dirt mound. He is striding forward to the left as he holds a baseball in his forward-extended right arm. His face is contorted in concentration.
Mariano Rivera, winner of the Delivery Man of the Year Award in 2005, 2006, and 2009
Awarded forBest relief pitcher in MLB
Sponsored byDHL (2005–2010)
Presented byMajor League Baseball
History
First award2005
Final award2013
Most winsMariano Rivera (3)

Major League Baseball (MLB) annually honored its best relief pitcher with the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award from 2005 through 2013. It was initially part of a sponsorship agreement between MLB and package delivery company DHL Express; DHL's sponsorship ran from 2005 to 2010.[1][2] There was also a Delivery Man of the Month Award. From its inception in 2005 through 2008, the award was given to a single reliever who was selected online by fans from a group of 10 finalists chosen by an MLB panel.[3][4] The panel took sole responsibility to select the annual winner starting in 2009.[3][5]

Mariano Rivera was the only pitcher to win the annual award more than once, receiving it in 2005, 2006, and 2009. The award was discontinued after 2013, replaced by the Reliever of the Year Awards.[6]

List of annual winners

A man prepares to deliver a baseball pitch, holding the ball behind his body with his right hand. He is wearing a gray baseball uniform with "Boston" across the chest in navy letters and a navy blue baseball cap with a red "B". A black baseball glove is on his left hand, held in front of his body as he strides forward.
Jonathan Papelbon won the Delivery Man of the Year Award in 2007.
Year Player Team SV ERA WHIP K IP Ref
2005 Mariano Rivera (1) New York Yankees 43 1.38 0.87 80 78+1⁄3 [7]
2006 Mariano Rivera (2) New York Yankees 34 1.80 0.96 55 75 [8]
2007 Jonathan Papelbon Boston Red Sox 37 1.85 0.77 84 58+1⁄3 [9]
2008 Brad Lidge Philadelphia Phillies 41 1.95 1.23 92 69+1⁄3 [10]
2009 Mariano Rivera (3) New York Yankees 44 1.76 0.90 72 66+1⁄3 [11]
2010 Heath Bell San Diego Padres 47 1.93 1.20 86 70 [12]
2011 José Valverde Detroit Tigers 49 2.24 1.19 69 72+1⁄3 [13]
2012 Fernando Rodney Tampa Bay Rays 48 0.60 0.78 76 74+2⁄3 [14]
2013 Craig Kimbrel Atlanta Braves 50 1.21 0.88 98 67 [15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "DHL named exclusive express delivery and logistics provider for Major League Baseball, MLB Advanced Media: Major League Baseball, DHL deliver new corporate sponsorship agreement; Introduce "DHL presents the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Month/Year Award"". MLB.com. March 31, 2005. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  2. ^ Sessa, Danielle (November 18, 2008). "DHL May End Sponsorship of Baseball's Atlanta Braves (Update1)". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Delivery Man of the Year Award". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 5, 2011. All finalists from 2005–2008 are listed because voting was conducted online and all finalists were known. Those from 2009 are not made public.
  4. ^ Mark Newman (September 25, 2007). "DHL Delivery Man voting has begun: Fans part of process to choose Majors' top reliever". Major League Baseball. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  5. ^ "Mariano Rivera named winner of the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year award" (Press release). Major League Baseball. October 14, 2009. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014.
  6. ^ Fordin, Spencer (April 9, 2014). "Yearly relief awards named after Rivera, Hoffman". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014.
  7. ^ Mark Feinsand (October 13, 2005). "Rivera named DHL Delivery Man of Year: Award recognizes most outstanding relief pitcher of season". Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  8. ^ Mark Feinsand (October 24, 2006). "Rivera is DHL Delivery Man of the Year". Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  9. ^ Ian Browne (October 11, 2007). "Papelbon brings home DHL award: Closer tabbed Delivery Man of the Year in fan balloting". Major League Baseball. Retrieved September 25, 2009.
  10. ^ "Lidge named "Delivery Man of the Year"". Major League Baseball. October 27, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  11. ^ DiComo, Anthony (October 14, 2009). "Mariano wins Delivery Man of Year Award". MLB.com. Retrieved October 15, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Heath Bell Named Winner Of The Major League Baseball Delivery Man Of The Year Award" (Press release). Sandiego.padres.mlb.com. October 13, 2010. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  13. ^ "Jose Valverde Named Winner of the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award" (Press release). Major League Baseball. October 5, 2011. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013.
  14. ^ "Rodney is Comeback, Delivery Man awards winner" (Press release). Major League Baseball. October 19, 2012.
  15. ^ "Kimbrel named Delivery Man of the Year" (Press release). Major League Baseball. November 21, 2013.