The Yankees today announced that outfielder Brett Gardner is the recipient of the 2009 James P. Dawson Award, given annually to the outstanding Yankees rookie in spring training. Gardner will receive the award in a pre-game ceremony on Wednesday, prior to the Yankees' 1:15 p.m. game vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Gardner, 25, is batting .390 (23-for-59) in 24 games this spring, with two doubles, two triples, three home runs and seven RBI. He is leading the team in hits and stolen bases (5), while tying for the team lead in home runs. A third-round pick by the Yankees in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Gardner hit .228 (29-for-127) with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 16RBI and 13SB in 42 games with the Yankees in 2008 in his Major League debut.
The award was established in honor of James P. Dawson (1896-1953), who began a 45-year career with The New York Times as a copy boy in 1908. Eight years later, he became boxing editor and covered boxing and baseball until his death during spring training in 1953.
Two winners of the honor, Tony Kubek in 1957 and Tom Tresh in 1962, went on to win the American League “Rookie of the Year” Award. Last season's winner was infielder/outfielder Shelley Duncan. The award first was presented to rookie Norm Siebern by Manager Casey Stengel in St. Petersburg, Fla., at the conclusion of spring training in 1956. New York Yankees beat writers vote on the winner.
In conjunction with the award, Gardner will receive an engraved Tissot watch from William Barthman Jewelers.
Previous winners
1956...Norm Siebern OF
1957...Tony Kubek SS
1958...John Blanchard C
1959...Gordon Windhorn OF
1960... John James P
1961...Roland Sheldon P
1962...Tom Tresh SS
1963...Pedro Gonzalez 2B
1964...Pete Mikkelsen P
1965...Arturo Lopez OF
1966...Roy White OF
1967...Bill Robinson OF
1968...Mike Ferraro 3B
1969...Jerry Kenney OF/Bill Burbach P
1970...John Ellis 1b-C
1971...None Selected
1972...Rusty Torres OF
1973...Otto Velez OF
1974...Tom Buskey P
1975...Tippy Martinez P
1976...Willie Randolph 2B
1977...George Zeber INF
1978...Jim Beattie P
1979...Paul Mirabella P
1980...Mike Griffin P
1981...Gene Nelson P
1982...Andre Robertson SS
1983...Don Mattingly 1B/OF
1984...Jose Rijo P
1985...Scott Bradey C
1986...Bob Tewksbury P
1987...Kevin Hughes OF
1988...Al Leiter P
1989...None Selected
1990...Alan Mills P
1991...Hensley Muelens OF
1992...Gerald Williams OF
1993...Mike Humphreys OF
1994...Sterling Hitchcock P
1995...None Selected
1996...Mark Hutton P
1997...Jorge Posada C
1998...Homer Bush INF
1999...None Selected
2000...None Selected
2001...Alfonso Soriano 2B
2002...Nick Johnson 1B
2003...Hideki Matsui OF
2004...Bubba Crosby OF
2005...Andy Phillips INF
2006...Eric Duncan INF
2007...Kei Igawa P
2008...Shelley Duncan INF/OF
2009...Brett Gardner OF
