King of Baseball
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
League | Minor League Baseball |
Awarded for | Longtime dedication and service to professional baseball |
Country | United States Canada Mexico |
Presented by | Minor League Baseball |
History | |
First award | Pants Rowland (1951) |
Final award | Bob Lozinak (2019) |
King of Baseball was a ceremonial title awarded annually from 1951 to 2019 by Minor League Baseball to recognize an individual for their longtime dedication and service to professional baseball.[1] It was awarded during baseball's Winter Meetings and usually presented along with a crown and robe.[2]
The title originated in a beauty pageant held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Minor League Baseball in 1951. The first king was selected to accompany the winner, "Miss Golden Anniversary". The pageant was discarded after 1954, but crowning a king continued.[3] The title was not issued in 2020 after the cancellation of the minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] In 2021, Major League Baseball assumed control of the minor leagues.[5] Subsequently, the committee responsible for the award chose to discontinue the honor.[6]
Winners
![A man in a dark suit and hat](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Pants-rowland.jpg/220px-Pants-rowland.jpg)
![A man in a light baseball uniform and cap](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Donie_Bush_%281910%29.jpg/220px-Donie_Bush_%281910%29.jpg)
![A man in a dark and light plaid suit jacket](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Billy_Hitchcock_1978.jpg/220px-Billy_Hitchcock_1978.jpg)
![A man in a light baseball uniform and dark cap](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Don_Mincher.jpg/220px-Don_Mincher.jpg)
![A man in a black shirt and suspenders and gray pants](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Bill_Valentine_2007.jpg/220px-Bill_Valentine_2007.jpg)
References
Specific
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be "Minor League Baseball Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ Hill, Benjamin (December 9, 2014). "For Valentine, It's Good to Be the 'King'". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ Bates, Mike (December 14, 2018). "Crowning the King of Baseball". The Hardball Times. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ a b "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "King of Baseball Award". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ "Hillcats' Falwell Honored as 'King of Baseball'". Minor League Baseball. December 10, 2005. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Snyder Crowned 'King of Baseball'". Minor League Baseball. December 8, 2006. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Dave Walker Crowned King of Baseball". Minor League Baseball. December 7, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Mincher Named 'King of Baseball'". Minor League Baseball. December 9, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Rodriguez named King of Baseball". Minor League Baseball. December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "McGonagle Crowned 'King of Baseball'". Minor League Baseball. December 6, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Eshbach Named '2013 King of Baseball'". Minor League Baseball. December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Valentine Named 2014 King of Baseball". Minor League Baseball. November 20, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "William Gladstone Named King of Baseball". Minor League Baseball. November 23, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Elmore Named 2016 King of Baseball". Minor League Baseball. November 17, 2016. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Appy League's Landers Named King of Baseball". Minor League Baseball. November 8, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "PawSox's Tamburro Named King of Baseball". Minor League Baseball. November 6, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ "Altoona's Lozinak Named 2019 King of Baseball". Minor League Baseball. November 4, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
General
- "Minor League Baseball Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.