Ford Frick Award

From BR Bullpen

The Ford C. Frick Award is named after Commissioner Ford Frick, who began his involvement with baseball as a member of the media. It has been awarded annually for "meritorious service by baseball broadcasters" since 1978. The winner's name is inscribed on a plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Often, winners of the Frick Award are introduced as a "Hall of Famer;" this is incorrect as Frick Award winners are not inducted to the Hall of Fame. It is, however, the highest award given to broadcasters by the Hall of Fame. To date, no broadcaster has been elected to the actual Hall.

Traditionally, winners of the Frick Award are living broadcasters. It has only been awarded posthumously three times, to Russ Hodges, Bob Prince, and Arch McDonald.

Since the 2004 election, the Hall of Fame has allowed fans to winnow the list of nominees from ten to three. After the internet voting, a committee of twenty, composed of past winners and other media personalities, selects the recipient. The winner was usually announced in February, although the format for the internet vote and the date of the award's announcement has varied considerably in recent years, with the Winter Meetings in early December being the most recent venue, along with a announcement of the winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award given out to print writers, and of persons elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.

Winners may also be elected to other media Hall of Fames, most notably the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in Salisbury, North Carolina.

[edit] Award Winners