Ceremony slated prior to game
St. Marys – The 2012 James “Tip” O’Neill award will be presented to Cincinnati Reds slugging first baseman Joey Votto from Etobicoke, Ontario Friday, April 19 during a pre-game ceremony at The Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.
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.
Last season Votto was selected to his third consecutive all-star game and registered more walks (94) and doubles (44) than any other Canadian. He also tied for the National League lead and placed second respectively in those two offensive categories and led the Senior Circuit in intentional walks with 18. These accomplishments were despite missing seven weeks of the season with a knee injury.
His .474 on-base percentage, .567 slugging percentage and .337 batting average were also the best among Canadian big leaguers. He also hit .389 in five playoff games. Defensively, Votto was a Gold Glove finalist and he topped National League first basemen with 116 assists.
Votto also won the Tip O’Neill Award in 2010 and shared the award with John Axford in 2011.
“I thank the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame for recognizing my contributions to our division championship team,” Votto said.
“It’s a great honour to present Joey with the Tip O’Neill award for his 2012 season.” He’s not only one of the best Canadians in the game, but he’s one of the best players in the game.” says Scott Crawford, Ball Hall’s Director of Operations.
The award is named after Woodstock, Ontario native James ‘Tip’ O’Neill, one of Major League baseball’s first legitimate stars. With the St. Louis Browns in 1887, O’Neill amassed staggering statistics: .492 average, SLG-.691, Hits-225, Doubles-52, Triples-19, Homeruns-14, Total Bases-357, Runs-167 (4th all-time for a single season), RBI-123. The outfielder set major league records in hits, doubles, slugging percentage, and total bases that season while compiling his astounding .492 batting average. Bases on balls were included as hits in 1887, but if O’Neill’s average was calculated by today’s standard, it was .435, the second highest in major league history to Hugh Duffy (.438).
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
For more information please contact: Scott Crawford, Director of Operations
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum
P.O. Box 1838, 140 Queen St. E.
St. Marys, ON, Canada, N4X 1C2
Tel: 519-284-1838, Toll Free: 1-877-250-BALL
[email protected]
www.baseballhalloffame.ca
Please Note: The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame will induct George Bell, Tim Raines, Rob Ducey, Tom Cheek and Nat Bailey on Saturday, June 29, 2013 on the Ceremonial Grounds inSt. Marys,Ontario.
