The Tip O'Neill Award is given annually to a Canadian baseball player who is "judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to the highest ideals of the game of baseball."[1] The award was created by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and first presented in 1984.[1][2] It is named after James "Tip" O'Neill, one of the earliest Canadian stars in Major League Baseball (MLB).[1][3]

Tip O'Neill Award
A man in a striped cap, white baseball uniform with the words "ST. LOUIS" obscured on the front and black belt pretends to swing an imaginary bat.
Tip O'Neill, the namesake of the award
LocationSt. Marys, Ontario
CountryCanada
Presented byCanadian Baseball Hall of Fame
First awarded1984
Currently held byJordan Romano - Toronto Blue Jays
WebsiteCanadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Larry Walker, Jason Bay, Joey Votto, and Justin Morneau are the only players to win the Tip O'Neill Award at least three times.[4] Walker won the award nine times,[5] and Votto has won it seven times.[6] Six winners – Walker, Bay, Terry Puhl, Rob Ducey, Ryan Dempster, and Corey Koskie – are members of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.[7] The award has been presented to one amateur player, Daniel Brabant.[8] Walker, Votto, and Justin Morneau won the MLB Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award alongside the Tip O'Neill Award;[9] the trio are the only Canadians to win the MLB MVP Award.[10] Éric Gagné, the 2002 and 2003 recipient, compiled a major league record of 84 consecutive save opportunities converted from 2002 to 2004 and won the Cy Young Award in 2003.[11][12] He and John Axford went on to win the Rolaids Relief Man Award in the same year as the Tip O'Neill Award.[13] Bay became the first Canadian to win the Rookie of the Year Award, which he won the same year he won his first Tip O'Neill Award.[14] Votto is the only award winner to also win the Hank Aaron Award.[15]

Initially, the award was presented annually at either Exhibition Stadium or Rogers Centre in Toronto or Olympic Stadium in Montreal, depending on which venue the award winner's team was scheduled to play at during the MLB season. However, as the Montreal Expos moved to Washington, D.C., and the Toronto Blue Jays do not host all the National League teams on an annual basis, the award has since also been presented at the home park of the yearly winning player.[16]

Josh Naylor of the Cleveland Guardians is the latest recipient (2023) of the award.[17]

Winners

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Larry Walker has the most awards with nine and is the only player who has won the award to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
 
Joey Votto is the only player to win the award four consecutive times.[18][19]
Key
Year Links to the article about that corresponding year in baseball
Player (X) Denotes winning player and number of times they had won the award at that point (if more than one)
^ Indicates multiple award winners in the same year
Member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
§ Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
Player is active[a]
Winners
Year Recipient Position Team(s) Ref(s)
1984 Terry Puhl Outfielder Houston Astros [20]
1985 Dave Shipanoff Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies [21]
1986 Rob Ducey Outfielder Ventura County Gulls
Knoxville Smokies
[22][23]
1987 Larry Walker§ Outfielder Jacksonville Expos [24]
1988 Kevin Reimer Outfielder Texas Rangers [25]
1989 Steve Wilson Pitcher Chicago Cubs [26]
1990 Larry Walker§ (2) Outfielder Montreal Expos [27]
1991 Daniel Brabant Pitcher Canada national baseball team [8]
1992 Larry Walker§ (3) Outfielder Montreal Expos [27]
1993 Rob Butler Outfielder Toronto Blue Jays [28]
1994 Larry Walker§ (4) Outfielder Colorado Rockies [27]
1995 Larry Walker§ (5) Outfielder Colorado Rockies [27]
1996 Jason Dickson Pitcher California Angels [29]
1997 Larry Walker§ (6) Outfielder Colorado Rockies [27]
1998 Larry Walker§ (7) Outfielder Colorado Rockies [27]
1999 Jeff Zimmerman Pitcher Texas Rangers [30]
2000 Ryan Dempster Pitcher Florida Marlins [30]
2001^ Corey Koskie Third baseman Minnesota Twins [31][32]
2001^ Larry Walker§ (8) Outfielder Colorado Rockies [31][32]
2002^ Éric Gagné Pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers [33]
2002^ Larry Walker§ (9) Outfielder Colorado Rockies [33]
2003 Éric Gagné (2) Pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers [34]
2004 Jason Bay Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates [14]
2005 Jason Bay (2) Outfielder Pittsburgh Pirates [14]
2006 Justin Morneau First baseman Minnesota Twins [5][35]
2007 Russell Martin Catcher Los Angeles Dodgers [36]
2008 Justin Morneau (2) First baseman Minnesota Twins [37]
2009 Jason Bay (3) Outfielder Boston Red Sox [38]
2010 Joey Votto First baseman Cincinnati Reds [39]
2011^ John Axford Pitcher Milwaukee Brewers [40]
2011^ Joey Votto (2) First baseman Cincinnati Reds [40]
2012 Joey Votto (3) First baseman Cincinnati Reds [18]
2013 Joey Votto (4) First baseman Cincinnati Reds [19]
2014 Justin Morneau (3) First baseman Colorado Rockies [4]
2015 Joey Votto (5) First baseman Cincinnati Reds [41]
2016 Joey Votto (6) First baseman Cincinnati Reds [42]
2017 Joey Votto (7) First baseman Cincinnati Reds [6]
2018 James Paxton Pitcher Seattle Mariners [43]
2019 Mike Soroka Pitcher Atlanta Braves [44]
2020 Jamie Romak First baseman SK Wyverns [45]
2021 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. First baseman Toronto Blue Jays [46]
2022 Jordan Romano Pitcher Toronto Blue Jays [47]
2023 Josh Naylor First baseman Cleveland Guardians [17]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The Baseball Almanac general reference below links to the profiles of each player, where their active status can be verified.

References

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General

  • "Tip O'Neill Award". Baseball-Almanac.com. Baseball Almanac. Retrieved April 24, 2013.

Specific

  1. ^ a b c "Awards – James "Tip" O'Neill Award". BaseballHallofFame.ca. Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  2. ^ Fleitz, David L. (2011). Silver Bats and Automobiles: The Hotly Competitive, Sometimes Ignoble Pursuit of the Major League Batting Championship. McFarland. p. 49. ISBN 9780786486847. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  3. ^ Jensen, Chris (July 26, 2012). Baseball State by State: Major and Negro League Players, Ballparks, Museums and Historical Sites. McFarland. p. 331. ISBN 9780786468959. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Justin Morneau captures his third Tip O'Neill Award". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. December 3, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Canadian Hall of Fame gives Tip O'Neill Award to AL MVP Morneau". Canada.com. Postmedia News. December 16, 2006. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Joey Votto is Tip O'Neill Award winner for seventh time". Baseball Canada. December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  7. ^ "Inductees – By Name". BaseballHallofFame.ca. Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Griffin, Richard (November 27, 2002). "Dodgers' Gagne is likely O'Neill winner". The Toronto Star. p. E06. Retrieved April 25, 2013. Only one amateur has won the O'Neill award (presented since 1984): right-handed pitcher Daniel Brabant in '91, leading Canada to a gold medal in the world junior championship. (subscription required)
  9. ^ "Most Valuable Player MVP Awards & Cy Young Awards Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  10. ^ Harrison, Doug (November 23, 2010). "Q&A: Larry Walker on Votto winning NL MVP". CBC Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  11. ^ Gurnick, Ken (July 5, 2004). "Streak Over: Gagne's run ends". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  12. ^ "Baseball: Roundup; Gagne's Streak Ends, But Dodgers Win". The New York Times. July 6, 2004. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  13. ^ "Rookie of the Year Awards & Rolaids Relief Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  14. ^ a b c Eagle, Ed (December 2, 2005). "Bay honored as top Canadian player". MLB.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.[dead link]
  15. ^ "Hank Aaron Award & Branch Rickey Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  16. ^ "Joey Votto to accept Tip O'Neill Award Friday in Cincinnati". Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (Press release). International Baseball Federation. April 18, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Baseball Canada | Josh Naylor captures Tip O'Neill Award for 2023". www.baseball.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  18. ^ a b "Votto named Canada's top baseball player for 3rd year in a row". CBC Sports. Canadian Press. December 5, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Sheldon, Mark (December 13, 2013). "Votto Canada's best player for fourth straight year". MLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  20. ^ "Terry Puhl Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  21. ^ "Dave Shipanoff Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  22. ^ "Rob Ducey player of year". The Toronto Star. March 10, 1987. p. B3. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013. (subscription required)
  23. ^ "Rob Ducey Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  24. ^ "Larry Walker Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  25. ^ "Kevin Reimer Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  26. ^ "Steve Wilson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "Larry Walker Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  28. ^ "Rob Butler Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  29. ^ "Jason Dickson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  30. ^ a b "Names In The Game". Associated Press Archive. April 24, 2001. Retrieved April 24, 2013. (subscription required)
  31. ^ a b "Walker, Koskie top Canadians; Hall of Fame names our top ball players". The Hamilton Spectator. Canadian Press. December 11, 2001. p. E08. Retrieved April 25, 2013. (subscription required)
  32. ^ a b Moore, Bryan A. (December 11, 2001). "Rockies' Walker honored". The Denver Post. p. D-09. Retrieved April 25, 2013. (subscription required)
  33. ^ a b Gurnick, Ken (November 25, 2002). "Gagne, Walker win O'Neill award". MLB.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  34. ^ "Gagne wins Tip O'Neill Award as top Canadian player for 2003". MLB.com. December 18, 2003. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  35. ^ "Justin Morneau Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  36. ^ Gurnick, Ken (December 14, 2007). "Martin wins Tip O'Neill Award". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  37. ^ Thesier, Kelly (December 12, 2008). "Morneau named top Canadian player". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2010. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  38. ^ "Jason Bay wins Tip O'Neill Award". The Globe and Mail. March 10, 1987. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  39. ^ "Votto Wins Tip O'Neill Award As Top Canadian In Baseball". TSN.ca. The Sports Network. Canadian Press. December 10, 2010. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  40. ^ a b Star, Jon (December 14, 2011). "Axford, Votto share 2011 Tip O'Neill Award". MLB.com. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  41. ^ "Toronto-born Reds first baseman wins Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame award". CTV News. The Canadian Press. December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  42. ^ "Joey Votto wins Tip O'Neill Award as top Canadian baseball player". Sportsnet. The Canadian Press. December 2, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  43. ^ "James Paxton is Tip O'Neill Award winner". Baseball Canada. December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  44. ^ "Braves pitcher Mike Soroka named top Canadian baseball player in 2019". CBC Sports. Canadian Press. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  45. ^ "Jamie Romak wins Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's Tip O'Neill Award". Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  46. ^ "Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wins 2021 Tip O'Neil award". Sportsnet. December 7, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  47. ^ "Blue Jays' Romano captures Tip O'Neill Award as top Canadian baseball player". Sportsnet. December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.