On Friday, April 19 in Cincinnati the Hall of Fame presented Joey Votto with his 2012 James Tip O’Neill award for his outstanding season. On the road trip that included stops in Cleveland to visit Ryan Dempster (who plays for visiting Red Sox) and Pittsburgh to meet Russell Martin (who hit a HR that night) were Board Members John Starzynski and Phil Parkinson, Director of Operations Scott Crawford and Hall of Fame Volunteer Paul Podsadecki.
The Tip O’Neill Award is presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball’s highest ideals.
Past winners of the James “Tip” O’Neill Award:
1984-Terry Puhl
1985-Dave Shipanoff
1986-Rob Ducey
1987-Larry Walker
1988-Kevin Reimer
1989-Steve Wilson
1990-Larry Walker
1991-Daniel Brabant
1992-Larry Walker
1993-Rob Butler
1994-Larry Walker
1995-Larry Walker
1996-Jason Dickson
1997-Larry Walker
1998-Larry Walker
1999-Jeff Zimmerman
2000-Ryan Dempster
2001-Larry Walker(tie)
2001-Corey Koskie (tie)
2002-Larry Walker(tie)
2002-Eric Gagne (tie)
2003-Eric Gagne
2004-Jason Bay
2005-Jason Bay
2006-Justin Morneau
2007-Russell Martin
2008-Justin Morneau
2009-Jason Bay
2010-Joey Votto
2011-John Axford (tie)
2011-Joey Votto (tie)
2012-Joey Votto
