Ford C. Frick Award

Ford C. Frick, the award's namesake

The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the United States to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." It is named for Ford C. Frick, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Before his career as an executive, Frick was a baseball writer; he gained fame as the ghostwriter for Babe Ruth in the 1920s. The award was created in 1978, and named in tribute to Frick following his death that year.

Though they are sometimes erroneously referred to as "Hall of Famers", honorees are not inducted into the Hall of Fame.[1] Honorees (if living) give a speech at the Hall of Fame during induction weekend, and their names are added to a plaque in the Hall's library. For several years in the early 2000s, Frick Award honorees also became life members of the Veterans Committee, which considers candidates for Hall of Fame induction who are not eligible for the regular voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America specifically, players no longer on the BBWAA ballot and all non-players. However, starting with the 2008 elections, voting for players on the main Veterans Committee ballot was restricted to Hall of Fame members. After further changes announced for the 2011 elections, Frick Award winners are eligible to serve on all three of the Veterans Committee voting bodies that consider candidates from different eras of baseball.

Since 2004, fans have been allowed to vote for three of the award's ten annual nominees; this voting is currently conducted on the Hall's Facebook page. Through 2013, seven candidates were selected by a committee consisting of previous Frick Award winners and broadcast historians and columnists, which also determined the final recipient. Beginning with the 2014 award, the final election committee no longer selects any of the finalists; that role is now handled by a Hall of Fame research committee.[2]

Other changes in the selection process were also announced for the 2014 award; these changes are similar to those instituted in 2010 for Veterans Committee balloting. Candidates are now considered every third year, based on the era in which they made their most significant contributions:[2]

Recipients

Year Honoree Primary Affiliation(s)
1978Allen, MelMel AllenNew York Yankees
1978Barber, RedRed BarberBrooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees
1979Elson, BobBob ElsonChicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Mutual
1980Hodges, RussRuss HodgesNew York/San Francisco Giants
1981Harwell, ErnieErnie HarwellDetroit Tigers
1982Scully, VinVin ScullyBrooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, NBC
1983Brickhouse, JackJack BrickhouseChicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox
1984Gowdy, CurtCurt GowdyBoston Red Sox, NBC
1985Canel, BuckBuck CanelNew York Yankees, New York Mets
1986Prince, BobBob PrincePittsburgh Pirates
1987Buck, JackJack BuckSt. Louis Cardinals, CBS
1988Nelson, LindseyLindsey NelsonNew York Mets
1989Caray, HarryHarry CaraySt. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs
1990Saam, ByBy SaamPhiladelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics
1991Garagiola, JoeJoe GaragiolaNBC
1992Hamilton, MiloMilo HamiltonHouston Astros
1993Thompson, ChuckChuck ThompsonBaltimore Orioles
1994Murphy, BobBob MurphyNew York Mets
1995Wolff, BobBob WolffWashington Senators, NBC
1996Carneal, HerbHerb CarnealMinnesota Twins
1997Dudley, JimmyJimmy DudleyCleveland Indians
1998Jarrín, JaimeJaime JarrínLos Angeles Dodgers
1999McDonald, ArchArch McDonaldWashington Senators
2000Brennaman, MartyMarty BrennamanCincinnati Reds
2001Ramírez, FeloFelo RamírezFlorida Marlins
2002Kalas, HarryHarry KalasPhiladelphia Phillies
2003Uecker, BobBob UeckerMilwaukee Brewers
2004Simmons, LonLon SimmonsSan Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics
2005Coleman, JerryJerry ColemanSan Diego Padres
2006Elston, GeneGene ElstonHouston Astros, CBS Radio
2007Matthews, DennyDenny MatthewsKansas City Royals
2008Niehaus, DaveDave NiehausSeattle Mariners
2009Kubek, TonyTony KubekNBC, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees
2010Miller, JonJon MillerBaltimore Orioles, ESPN, San Francisco Giants
2011Van Horne, DaveDave Van HorneMontreal Expos, Florida Marlins
2012McCarver, TimTim McCarverNew York Mets, ABC, CBS, Fox
2013Cheek, TomTom CheekToronto Blue Jays
2014Nadel, EricEric NadelTexas Rangers
2015 Enberg, DickDick Enberg California Angels, NBC, San Diego Padres
2016 McNamee, GrahamGraham McNamee NBC Radio

See also

References

General

Specific

  1. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Hall of Famers FAQ
  2. 1 2 "Baseball Hall of Fame Restructures Frick Award Selection Process" (Press release). National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. September 4, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
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