NewsRamirez earns NL Silver Bat Award
Marlins star first shortstop to lead NL in average since 1960
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
10/07/09 2:00 PM EST
In honor of winning his first batting title, Hanley Ramirez is the National League recipient of the Silver Bat Award from Louisville Slugger.Louisville Slugger on Wednesday officially recognized the Marlins All-Star shortstop as well as Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer, who paced the American League with a .365 average.
Ramirez finished with a franchise-record .342 batting average, and he became the first Marlins player to win a batting title. The 25-year-old, voted in as the N.L. starting shortstop in the All-Star Game, had another remarkable season.
To go along with his league-high average, Ramirez collected 42 doubles, 24 home runs, 106 RBIs and scored 101 runs. He also stole 27 bases.
"Nothing surprises me about this guy," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said a few days before the team's season ended. "To me, the sky is the limit. We're just reaching the tip of the iceberg with him."
Ramirez is the first NL shortstop to win the batting title since Dick Groat of the Pirates in 1960.
The Silver Bat Award is one of the most prestigious honors in sports, and this is the 60th year it is being presented.
In its inaugural 1949 season, the first winners were Jackie Robison of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Detroit's George Kell.
The Silver Bat, which weighs approximately 56 ounces, is silver-plated in sterling and it's 34 inches long. It is engraved with the player's autograph and has his statistics from his batting title season.
Ramirez and Mauer will be presented their respective awards during home games early in the 2010 season.
On Nov. 12, MLB Network and Louisville Slugger will announce the winners of the 2009 Silver Slugger Awards during an hour-long telecast beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
The Silver Sluggers are presented to the best offensive producers at each position in the National and American Leagues. The managers and coaches select the winners in a secret ballot.
Ramirez has a strong chance to claim a Silver Slugger Award at shortstop.
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
