Hutch Award


The Hutch Award is given annually to an active Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire" of Fred Hutchinson, by persevering through adversity. The award was created in 1965 in honor of Hutchinson, the former MLB pitcher and manager, who died of lung cancer the previous year. The Hutch Award was created by Hutch's longtime friends Bob Prince, a broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates and KDKA; Jim Enright, a Chicago sportswriter; and Ritter Collett, the sports editor of the Dayton Journal Herald. They also created a scholarship fund for medical students engaged in cancer research to honor Hutchinson's memory.
Eleven members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame have won the Hutch Award. The inaugural winner was Mickey Mantle. Danny Thompson, the 1974 recipient, was diagnosed with leukemia earlier that year. He continued to play through the 1976 season before dying that December at the age of 29. Jon Lester won the award in 2008 after recovering from anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.
The award is presented annually at the Hutch Award Luncheon hosted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, at Safeco Field. The award was originally presented at the annual Dapper Dan Banquet in Pittsburgh. Each winner receives a copy of the original trophy, designed by Dale Chihuly. The permanent display of the Hutch Award is at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, where it has been since 1979.

Recipients

YearAwardeeTeamPositionRef
1965New York YankeesOutfielder
1966Los Angeles DodgersPitcher
1967Boston Red SoxOutfielder
1968Cincinnati RedsOutfielder
1969Detroit TigersOutfielder
1970Boston Red SoxOutfielder
1971St. Louis CardinalsThird baseman
1972Cincinnati RedsOutfielder
1973Detroit TigersPitcher
1974Minnesota TwinsShortstop
1975Cincinnati RedsPitcher
1976Los Angeles DodgersPitcher
1977San Francisco GiantsFirst baseman
1978Pittsburgh PiratesOutfielder
1979St. Louis CardinalsOutfielder
1980Kansas City RoyalsThird baseman
1981Cincinnati RedsCatcher
1982Cleveland IndiansFirst baseman
1983Houston AstrosThird baseman
1984Pittsburgh PiratesPitcher
1985Pittsburgh PiratesPitcher
1986Kansas City RoyalsPitcher
1987Milwaukee BrewersThird baseman
1988Cincinnati RedsSecond baseman
1989San Francisco GiantsPitcher
1990Pittsburgh PiratesFirst baseman
1991Milwaukee BrewersPitcher
1992Oakland AthleticsThird baseman
1993Toronto Blue JaysFirst baseman
1994Boston Red SoxOutfielder
1995California AngelsPitcher
1996Cleveland IndiansShortstop
1997Baltimore OriolesOutfielder
1998New York YankeesPitcher
1999Cincinnati RedsFirst baseman
2000Oakland AthleticsFirst baseman
2001Arizona DiamondbacksPitcher
2002Anaheim AngelsOutfielder
2003Seattle MarinersPitcher
2004San Diego PadresPitcher
2005Houston AstrosSecond baseman
2006Boston Red SoxSecond baseman
2007Kansas City RoyalsDesignated hitter
2008Boston Red SoxPitcher
2009Kansas City RoyalsFirst baseman
2010Atlanta BravesPitcher
2011Kansas City RoyalsDesignated hitter
2012San Francisco GiantsPitcher
2013Seattle MarinersOutfielder
2014Kansas City RoyalsOutfielder
2015St. Louis CardinalsPitcher
2016Miami MarlinsPitcher
2017Texas RangersPitcher
2018Oakland AthleticsOutfielder
2019Seattle MarinersSecond baseman