In Major League Baseball, the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards are presented annually to the players at each position judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances throughout each season. Since awards are presented in both the National League and the American League, 18 Gold Gloves have been given each year since 1958 after 9 awards were presented in the inaugural 1957 season. Because ties in the voting are permissible, 19 awards have been presented twice when four outfielders won: in 1985 and 2007. The Gold Glove is presented to outfielders irrespective of their specific position, meaning that it is possible for any combination of outfielders to win the award in the same season, rather than one left fielder, one center fielder, and one right fielder. Critics have argued that the three positions are not equivalent defensively, supporting other defensive recognition such as the Fielding Bible Awards. PitcherGreg Maddux has won the most Gold Gloves of any player, capturing 18 awards—from 1990 to 2002, and again from 2004 to 2008. The only player ever to win Gold Gloves as an infielder and outfielder is Darin Erstad, who won as an outfielder in 2000 and 2002 and as a first baseman in 2004. (more...)
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