King of Baseball
King of Baseball is a ceremonial title awarded by Minor League Baseball to one person each year in recognition of longtime dedication and service to professional baseball. The title was first awarded in 1951. The winner is announced at the annual Winter Meetings awards banquet and is typically presented with an inscribed bat, as well as a crown and robe symbolizing the winner's "king" status.
Winners
Year | Award winner | Winter Meetings site |
1951 | Clarence "Pants" Rowland | Columbus, OH |
1952 | J. Alvin Gardner | Phoenix, AZ |
1953 | Frank "Shag" Shaughnessy | Atlanta, GA |
1954 | Shelby Pease | Houston, TX |
1955 | Herman White | Columbus, OH |
1956 | Tommy Richardson | Jacksonville, FL |
1957 | Charles Hurth | Colorado Springs, CO |
1958 | Washington, D.C. | |
1959 | Bonneau Peters | St. Petersburg, FL |
1960 | Joe Engel | Louisville, KY |
1961 | Rosy Ryan | Tampa, FL |
1962 | Phil Howser | Rochester, NY |
1963 | Donie Bush | San Diego, CA |
1964 | Eddie Mulligan | Houston, TX |
1965 | Ray Winder | Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
1966 | Eddie Leishmann | Columbus, OH |
1967 | Alejo Peralta | Mexico City, Mexico |
1968 | Dewey Soriano | San Francisco, CA |
1969 | Chauncey DeVault | Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
1970 | George MacDonald, Sr. | Los Angeles, CA |
1971 | Phil Piton | Phoenix, AZ |
1972 | Vince McNamara | Honolulu, HI |
1973 | Ray Johnston | Houston, TX |
1974 | Fred Haney | New Orleans, LA |
1975 | Joe Buzas | Hollywood, FL |
1976 | Don Avery | Los Angeles, CA |
1977 | Bill Weiss | Honolulu, HI |
1978 | Zinn Beck | Orlando, FL |
1979 | Harry Simmons | Toronto, Ont., Canada |
1980 | Billy Hitchcock | Dallas, TX |
1981 | Jack Schwarz | Hollywood, FL |
1982 | Sy Berger | Honolulu, HI |
1983 | Oscar Roettger | Nashville, TN |
1984 | Donald Davidson | Houston, TX |
1985 | Stan Wasiak | San Diego, CA |
1986 | Lefty Gomez | Hollywood, FL |
1987 | Bill Schweppe | Dallas, TX |
1988 | Max Patkin | Atlanta, GA |
1989 | George Sisler Jr. | Nashville, TN |
1990 | John Moss | Los Angeles, CA |
1991 | George Pfister | Miami Beach, FL |
1992 | Johnny Lipon | Louisville, KY |
1993 | George Kissell | Atlanta, GA |
1994 | Jim Bragan | Dallas, TX |
1995 | Gene DaCosse | Los Angeles, CA |
1996 | Sheldon "Chief" Bender | Boston, MA |
1997 | Max Schumacher | New Orleans, LA |
1998 | Leo Pinckney | Nashville, TN |
1999 | Tom Saffell | Anaheim, CA |
2000 | P. Patrick McKernan | Dallas, TX |
2001 | Roland Hemond | Boston, MA |
2002 | George Zuraw | Nashville, TN |
2003 | Bob Wilson | New Orleans, LA |
2004 | Dave Rosenfield | Anaheim, CA |
2005 | Calvin Falwell | Dallas, TX |
2006 | Paul Snyder | Orlando, FL |
2007 | Dave Walker | Nashville, TN |
2008 | Pat Gillick | Las Vegas, NV |
2009 | Milo Hamilton | Indianapolis, IN |
2010 | Don Mincher | Orlando, FL |
2011 | Cuauhtemoc "Chito" Rodriguez | Dallas, TX |
2012 | George McGonagle | Nashville, TN |
2013 | Charlie Eshbach | Lake Buena Vista, FL |
2014 | Bill Valentine | San Diego, CA |
2015 | William "Bill" Gladstone | Nashville, TN |
2016 | David G. Elmore | National Harbor, MD |
2017 | Lee Landers | Orlando, FL |
2018 | Mike Tamburro | Las Vegas, NV |
2019 | Bob Lozinak | San Diego, CA |