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Hutch Award finalists announced

Winner will be announced at January luncheon

By Jim Street / MLB.com

 

 

 

Mike Lowell of the world champion Marlins is a finalist for the Hutch Award. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

 

 

 

SEATTLE -- Three pitchers, a third baseman and a designated hitter are the finalists for the Hutch Award, named in honor of former MLB pitcher and manager Fred Hutchinson.

Right-handers Jason Schmidt of the Giants and Braves closer John Smoltz, along with Mariners left-hander Jamie Moyer are among the finalists for the award that is presented annually to the player displaying honor, courage and dedication to baseball both on and off the field.

 

Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell and Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez are the other finalists.

 

The award winner is determined by the Hutch Award Selection Committee, which is comprised of past Hutch Award winners. The award was created in 1965 in honor of Hutchinson, the courageous and inspirational former player and manager, who died of cancer at the age of 45. A fiery competitor who earned respect with his no-nonsense command, Hutch won 95 games as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and later managed three big-league clubs. His greatest achievement was piloting the Cincinnati Reds to the World Series in 1961.

 

The original award plaque resides at baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

 

The Hutch Award Luncheon will be held Monday, Jan. 26, 2004 at Safeco Field. It has raised over $740,000 over the last four years and this year's event will benefit Fred Hutchinson's Gregory Fund for early cancer detection research. Later that evening, the award will be formally presented to the winner at the annual Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sports Star of the Year banquet.

 

In December 1963, Hutch detected small lumps in his throat and upper chest. He sought help from his brother, Dr. Bill Hutchinson, a respected Seattle cancer surgeon. Hutch was told he had no more than a year to live. He returned to Cincinnati determined to manage the Reds. He received treatment on a regular basis but decided to conceal the true nature of his illness, telling his team and the media that he had been given a clean bill of health.

 

By midseason however, Hutch's illness had overcome him. He was forced to stop traveling, and the team finished under the direction of coach Dick Sisler. After the season ended, Hutch returned to his home in Bradenton, Fla. where he died Nov. 12.

 

A year after his death, Hutch's longtime friends, Bob Prince, broadcaster of the Pirates; Chicago sportswriter Jim Enright; and Ritter Collett, sports editor of the Dayton Journal Herald, created the Hutch Award. The award is now presented each January in Seattle, Hutch's hometown and the site of the world-renowned cancer center that bears his name.

 

The Hutch Award is hosted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Recipients traveling to Seattle to accept the award have visited and lifted the spirits of patients at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

 

"These are remarkable individuals who mean a great deal to their teams, local communities and numerous worthy charitable organizations," said Tori Griffith, director of guilds and special events at the cancer center. "They represent the spirit of Hutch well."

 

Past Hutch Award winners include Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax, Carl Yastrzemski, Al Kaline, George Brett, Jason Giambi and Willie McCovey. Curt Schilling and Tim Salmon are the past two award winners. Hutch Award winners include 12 League MVPs; 10 Hall of Fame inductees and nine World Series MVPs.

 

The finalists:

 

Mike Lowell

Lowell was drafted by the Yankees in 1995 and moved up quickly in their minor league system. In 1999, he was traded to the Marlins and just three weeks later was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Fortunately, the cancer had not spread and radiation treatments helped Lowell regain normal health. He not only made it back, but reached new heights with his on-field performance. In 2002, Lowell played in a career-high 160 games, batting .276 with 44 doubles, 24 home runs and 92 RBI. The 44 doubles, 24 home runs, 597 at-bats, 88 runs scored and 165 hits each represented new single-season highs as Lowell was selected to his first All Star Game.

 

The inaugural Mike Lowell Foundation Charity Golf Classic took place in December 2002. The event donates all proceeds to the League Against Cancer and local sports programs. In addition, Mike Lowell donates $25 for every RBI to the League Against Cancer (which raised $2,500 for the 2001 season, $2,400 for 2002, and $2,625 in 2003) and he has participated in the "Adopt-A-Classroom" program in his local community. Lowell also participates in the Marlins' annual caravan program, visiting schools throughout the greater Miami area and he is the team representative to the Budweiser Homerunazo Scholarship Program which benefits the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

 

 

 

Edgar Martinez

Throughout his career, Martinez has battled through numerous painful injuries, yet with over 2,500 hits he will likely be the first designated hitter to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Martinez's determination and tenacity have carried over in his accomplishments away from the field. In 2003, the United Way of King County honored him with the Community All Star Award. He was recognized for support of the Community Safety Net Fund, which included the donation of his time for a public service announcement and personal contributions to the fund. Also in 2003, Edgar and wife, Holli, joined forces with Overlake Hospital to kick off the community phase of their capital campaign to raise $2.5 million.

 

He served as the honorary chairman for the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center's Wishing Well Night (donations thrown into the wishing well at Safeco Field are donated each year to Children's Hospital). In 2001, Edgar and Holli supported Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy by serving as spokespersons and fundraising chairs in support of research grants. Additionally, throughout his career with the Mariners, Edgar has partnered with Mariners Care and the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant wishes of children living with illnesses.

 

 

 

Jamie Moyer

The 40-year-old left-hander broke into the Major Leagues in 1986 and has his sights on 200 career victories. The crafty lefty is a study of hard work and determination and an example for all his teammates, as well as opposing players, with his professionalism, determination and work ethic. In 2001, the then 39-year-old lefty played a key role in Seattle's record-setting season, becoming the oldest player to post 20 wins for the first time.

 

The magic continued in 2003, when Jamie won 21 games, the most ever by a Mariners pitcher, and was selected to his first All-Star Game. Founded three years ago by Jamie and his wife, Karen, The Moyer Foundation has raised more than $3 million for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research, LifeCenter Northwest Donor Network, Northwest Harvest, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Hospice of Snohomish County, and numerous other charities around the country.

 

This year, the Moyer Foundation and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center created The Gregory Fund, which raises funds and awareness for early detection cancer research.

 

Moyer was awarded the 2003 Roberto Clemente Award, presented by John Hancock and Major League Baseball, at the World Series.

 

 

Jason Schmidt

Soon after re-signing with the Giants prior to the 2002 season, Schmidt learned that his mother, Vicki, had a cancerous brain tumor. She passed away in April 2003. In the midst of his supporting his mother in her fight against cancer off the field, Schmidt played a critical role in the Giants' World Series appearance in 2002 and again led his team to the playoffs in 2003 posting a 17-5 record with a 2.23 ERA and 208 strikeouts.

 

Schmidt has also found time to give back to the San Francisco community donating more than $25,000 towards ticket purchases to bring kids to the ballpark in conjunction with the San Francisco Dream Center and personally met with hundreds of children. Jason also donated $20,000 for a field renovation project in East Palo Alto, Calif., spearheaded by the Giants Community Fund and the Good Tidings Foundation.

 

 

 

John Smoltz

After missing the entire 2000 season following elbow surgery, the Braves' starter-turned-closer has turned himself into arguably the best closer in the Major Leagues. Since the end of 2001, Smoltz has been automatic coming out of the bullpen to secure his team's victories. In May, The Sporting News called it "Baseball's Surest Thing: If Smoltz is in, the Braves will win." The Braves didn't lose a game in a Major League record 73 games in which he appeared from May 29, 2002, to May 25, 2003. Smoltz set a National League record with 55 saves in 2002. He finished the 2003 season with 45 saves and a 1.12 ERA, striking out 73 batters in 63 innings.

 

Smoltz once again required elbow surgery following this season, after playing with severe pain through the first round of the playoffs in which the Braves were eliminated.

 

 

 

I apologize if already posted...

Thats a good group of people. After this year's cancer scare and the injury, Mikey should win the award

What an honor it must be to even be nominated.