The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball (MLB). These voters consider several offensive categories in selecting the winners, including batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, in addition to "coaches' and managers' general impressions of a player's overall offensive value".[1] Managers and coaches are not permitted to vote for players on their own team.[1] The Silver Slugger was first awarded in 1980 and is given by Hillerich & Bradsby, the manufacturer of Louisville Slugger bats.[2] The award is a bat-shaped trophy, 3 feet (91 cm) tall, engraved with the names of each of the winners from the league[1] and plated with sterling silver.[3]
Helton holds the record for the highest batting average in a first baseman's Silver Slugger-winning season with the .372 mark he set in 2000.[5] In the American League, Frank Thomas' .353 batting average in 1994 ranks first,[20] and is the third-best in the history of the award. Mark McGwire holds the records in both leagues for highest slugging percentage, and the National League record for most home runs. McGwire slugged .730 for the Oakland Athletics in 1996, the year before he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.[15] In 1998, McGwire hit 70 home runs on his way to the Major League home run record, slugging .752 while battling the entire season with Sammy Sosa.[15]Chris Davis holds the American League record for most home runs in a Silver Slugger season when he hit 53 in 2013.[21]Andrés Galarraga had 150 runs batted in (RBI) in 1996 when he won the award,[22] followed closely by Ryan Howard's 2006 total of 149.[23] The American League record for a Silver Slugger winner is 145 RBI, achieved by Mattingly (1985)[11] and Delgado (2003).[10]
Key
Year
Links to the corresponding Major League Baseball season
a The Brewers were members of the American League until 1997, when Commissioner Bud Selig offered the team the option to switch leagues due to a realignment of Major League Baseball's divisions. The Brewers have been members of the National League since 1998.[113]
b The Astros were members of the National League until 2012, when the team moved from the National League Central to the American League West in order to balance out the divisions. The Astros have been members of the American League since 2013..[114]