View source for Baseball Writers' Association of America

{{Short description|American journalist association}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{infobox organization
|logo = BBWAA Logo.png
|abbreviation = BBWAA
|founded = {{start date|1908|10|14}}
|leader_title = President
|leader_name = C. Trent Rosecrans (2021)<ref name = 2021Officers>{{cite tweet|number = 1341801127734464512|user = officialBBWAA|title = The BBWAA has elected new officers for 2021...|date = December 23, 2020}}</ref>
|leader_title2 = Vice President
|leader_name2 = Larry Stone (2021)<ref name = 2021Officers/>
|field = Sportswriting
|membership = At least<!--This is an approximate number; not all members are eligible to vote, or choose to--> 394<ref>{{cite web|url = https://bbwaa.com/22-hof-voters/|title = 2022 Hall of Fame voters|website = Baseball Writers Association of America|accessdate = November 21, 2022}}</ref>
|membership_year = 2022
}}
The '''Baseball Writers' Association of America''' ('''BBWAA''') is a [[professional association]] for [[sports journalist|journalists]] writing about [[Major League Baseball]] for daily newspapers, magazines, and qualifying websites. The organization was founded in 1908 and is known for its annual awards and voting on membership in the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]].

==Early years==
The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908,<ref>{{cite web |title=Base Ball Writers Association of America |publisher=BaseballLibrary.com |url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Base_Ball_Writers_Association_of_America.stm |access-date=April 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513234321/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/B/Base_Ball_Writers_Association_of_America.stm |archive-date=May 13, 2011 }}</ref> to improve working conditions for [[sports journalism|sportswriters]] in the early part of the 20th century; It also sought to promote uniformity of scoring methods, and to professionalize the press box, such that access was limited only to working reporters, telegraphers, and others who had a reason to be there.

The organization began with 43 founding members.<ref>"Baseball Writers Have Formally Organized." Duluth News-Tribune, December 10, 1908, p. 12.</ref> They included [[Joe S. Jackson]], who became the association's first president. At that time, Jackson was the sporting editor (today called ''sports editor'') of the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]''. Also selected as officers were [[Sy Sanborn|Irving E. Sanborn]] of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', syndicated columnist [[Hugh Fullerton]], and ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' baseball writer [[Tim Murnane]].<ref>"Baseball Writers Unite," ''The Washington Post'', October 15, 1908, p. 9.</ref> A second meeting was held in New York City in December; Sanborn decided he could not serve as an officer at that time, and he was replaced by William Weart of the ''[[Public Ledger (Philadelphia)#The Ochs era|Philadelphia Times]]''. The slate of officers was ratified, and anyone who wrote about baseball in major league cities was eligible for membership. This policy changed, however, in December 1913, at which time it was decided that minor-league baseball writers could also become members.<ref>"Mike Lynch Gets Jess Baker and Danny Shea for Spokane." Seattle Daily Times, December 10, 1913, p. 19.</ref> Then, Jackson became a dominant force in the early years of the baseball writers, being elected as president of the association during nine consecutive terms.<ref>"Joe Jackson To Head Baseball Writers for Ninth Straight Term." ''The Seattle Times'', February 14, 1918, p. 19.</ref>

Jackson finally retired in 1919, while Sanborn returned to assume the position of president. After that, Jackson became a member of the BBWAA Board of Directors.<ref>"Majors and Minors Rupture Relations." Omaha (NE) World-Herald, January 17, 1919, p. 6.</ref>

===Web membership===
In 2007, the BBWAA opened its membership to web-based writers employed on a full-time basis by "websites that are credentialed by MLB for post-season coverage."<ref name="baseballanalysts2007"/>

==Mission==
The organization's primary function is to work with [[Major League Baseball]] and individual teams to assure [[locker room|clubhouse]] and [[press box|press-box]] access for BBWAA members. In addition, BBWAA members also elect [[baseball positions|players]] to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]], which is the organization's most public function. All writers with 10 continuous years of membership in the BBWAA, plus active BBWAA membership at any time in the preceding 10 years, are eligible to vote for the Hall of Fame. The BBWAA also votes annually for the Kenesaw Mountain Landis [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]], [[Cy Young Award]], Jackie Robinson [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]], and [[Manager of the Year Award]] in each of the two major [[sports league|leagues]]. The Hall of Fame also empowers the BBWAA's Historical Overview Committee, made up of 11 or 12 veteran BBWAA members, to formulate the annual ballot for the [[Veterans Committee]].

Considering the ready availability of [[Broadcasting of sports events|television broadcasts]] for the majority of baseball games, plus instant access to information through the Internet, some have called into question why the BBWAA has not broadened its membership rules to include [[sports commentator|broadcasters]] and researchers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://proxy.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=caple/070103|title=ESPN.com: Page 2: Hall voting remains archaic|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=February 22, 1999|access-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref> (Similar arguments were made for the inclusion of Web-based journalists, before the BBWAA added Web writers to its ranks in December 2007.)<ref name="baseballanalysts2007">{{cite web|last=Lederer|first=Rich|url=https://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2007/12/bbwaa_opens_up.php|title=BBWAA Opens Up Its Membership to Web-Based Writers|publisher=The Baseball Analysts|date=December 6, 2007|access-date=October 4, 2011}}</ref>

Others have openly questioned why the BBWAA is involved in the award and Hall of Fame [[voting]] [https://bbwaa.com/hof-elec-req/ processes] at all,<ref name="chron2007">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2007/01/tuna_not_headed.html|title=I'm not sure reporters should vote in Hall of Fame elections. &#124; SportsJustice &#124; a Chron.com blog|publisher=Blogs.chron.com|date=January 10, 2007|access-date=October 4, 2011|archive-date=September 21, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070921135938/http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2007/01/tuna_not_headed.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> citing in some cases journalistic integrity and the need to remain unbiased in their coverage of newsworthy events.<ref>{{cite web|author=The Dallas Morning News|url=http://apse.dallasnews.com/2006/dec2006/120606roberson.html|title=APSE &#124; Associated Press Sports Editors|publisher=Apse.dallasnews.com|date=December 6, 2006|access-date=October 4, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928011559/http://apse.dallasnews.com/2006/dec2006/120606roberson.html|archive-date=September 28, 2011}}</ref>

==Awards==
===Voting===
The BBWAA's most public function is to annually vote on candidates for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

In addition, the BBWAA is responsible for voting on several annual awards in each major league which are presented annually at the New York chapter's dinner:
*[[MLB Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]] (one for each league)<ref name=2007Murcer>{{cite web|last=DiComo|first=Anthony|date=January 28, 2008|publisher=MLB Advanced Media, LP (MLB.com)|title=Murcer honored for rousing recovery: Ex-Yankee's emotional acceptance punctuates BBWAA Awards|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080127&content_id=2357419&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|access-date=January 30, 2010|archive-date=October 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023125532/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080127&content_id=2357419&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&fext=.jsp|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Cy Young Award]] (one for each league)<ref name=2007Murcer/>
*[[MLB Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]] (one for each league)<ref name=2007Murcer/>
*[[Manager of the Year Award]] (one for each league)<ref name=2007Murcer/>

In or about 2000, the BBWAA took over the voting responsibility for the [[Edgar Martínez Award]], given each year to the outstanding designated hitter in the [[American League]].

From 1953 to 1962, the BBWAA presented a "Sophomore of the Year Award" in each league.<ref>Mondout, Patrick, [http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Awards/SOY.asp Sophomore of the Year Award Winners] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003174942/http://www.baseballchronology.com/Baseball/Awards/SOY.asp |date=October 3, 2011 }}. BaseballChronology.com. Retrieved August 1, 2011.</ref>

In 1997, a 36-member BBWAA panel selected the [[Major League Baseball All-Time Team]].

===BBWAA Career Excellence Award===
{{main|BBWAA Career Excellence Award }}
The annual BBWAA Career Excellence Award is the highest award given by the BBWAA. First awarded in 1962 to [[J. G. Taylor Spink]], longtime publisher of ''[[The Sporting News]]'', it was named the J. G. Taylor Spink Award until adopting its current name in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2021 |title=BBWAA removes J.G. Taylor Spink's name from Hall of Fame writing award over racist language |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30840064/bbwaa-removes-jg-taylor-spink-name-hall-fame-writing-award-racist-language |access-date=February 27, 2021 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> It has been awarded annually for "meritorious contributions to baseball writing", except for one year during the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike]]. Recipients are not considered members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame but are permanently recognized in an exhibit at the Hall's library.

===Chapter awards===
For information about the chapter and its presiding officer, see footnote<ref>{{cite news|title=Daily News' Mark Feinsand elected Baseball Writers Association of America's New York chairman|date=November 10, 2010|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2010/11/10/2010-11-10_feinsand_takes_command_of_ny_scribes.html|access-date=January 23, 2011}}</ref> and [[Red Foley (sportswriter)|Red Foley]] (past chairman).

====New York chapter====
*[[Babe Ruth Award]] – postseason MVP since 2007; previously awarded to the best postseason performer of the World Series from 1949 to 2006.<ref name=RodriguezChokesUpDuringSpeech>{{cite news|title=Rodriguez chokes up during speech|date=January 24, 2010|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[ESPN]]|work=[[ESPN.com]]|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4853444|access-date=October 21, 2011|quote=A-Rod picked up the hardware at the '''87th annual New York baseball writers' dinner''' Saturday night.}}</ref><ref name=2016Lester>{{cite web|title=Lester voted postseason MVP by New York baseball writers |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |work=Boston.com |date=November 4, 2016|url=https://www.boston.com/sports/mlb/2016/11/04/Jon-Lester-postseason-mvp |access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref>
*[[Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award]] – to a group of players forever linked in baseball history.<ref name=2007Murcer/><ref name=RodriguezChokesUpDuringSpeech/><ref name=2016Lester/>
*[[Joe DiMaggio]] "Toast of the Town" Award – for a player who has become a New York favorite.<ref name=2007Murcer/><ref name=RodriguezChokesUpDuringSpeech/><ref name=2016Lester/>
*Arthur and Milton Richman "You Gotta Have Heart" Award – presented to a member of the baseball community who has overcome difficult circumstances.<ref name=RodriguezChokesUpDuringSpeech/><ref name=2016Lester/>
*[[Sid Mercer]]–[[Dick Young (sportswriter)|Dick Young]] Player of the Year Award – presented to the best player on either the Yankees or Mets.<ref name=2009Alex>{{cite web|last=Rumberg|first=Howie|title=Alex Rodriguez is left speechless when accepting playoffs MVP from New York baseball writers|date=January 25, 2010|publisher=Associated Press (at Star Tribune, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN)|url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/82536362.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUqCP:iUiacyKUzyaP37D_MDua_eyD5PcOiUr|access-date=January 30, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>For a brief biographical sketch about BBWAA past president '''Sid Mercer''', see [[Honor Rolls of Baseball#Writers|Honor Rolls of Baseball § Writers]].</ref><ref name=2016Lester/>
*[[Casey Stengel]] "You Can Look It Up" Award – presented to someone never previously honored by the chapter, usually to recognize a career achievement.<ref name=2007Murcer/><ref name=2016Lester/>
*[[Joan Payson]]/[[Shannon Dalton Forde]] Award (formerly the Joan Payson Award, until 2016) – for excellence in community service.<ref name=2007Murcer/><ref name=RodriguezChokesUpDuringSpeech/><ref name=2016Lester/>
*Ben Epstein–Dan Castellano "Good Guy" Award – presented to a baseball person, often a New York player, for their candor and accessibility to writers.<ref name=2007Murcer/><ref name=RodriguezChokesUpDuringSpeech/><ref name=2008Maddux>{{cite web|title=Maddux, Mussina honored by NY baseball writers|publisher=Associated Press (at ESPN)|date=January 26, 2009|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=3860674&campaign=rsssrch&source=mark+brooks|access-date=January 30, 2010}}</ref><ref name=2016Lester/>
*[[William J. Slocum]]–[[Jack Lang (sportswriter)|Jack Lang]] Award – for long and meritorious service; usually presented to a recently retired player, media personality, or executive.<ref name=RodriguezChokesUpDuringSpeech/><ref>The Slocum Award is presented by the New York Baseball Writers Association. [https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/slocum_award.shtml Slocum Award]. Baseball-Almanac. Retrieved August 18, 2011.</ref><ref>For a brief biographical sketch about '''William J. "Bill" Slocum''', see [[Honor Rolls of Baseball#Writers|Honor Rolls of Baseball § Writers]].</ref><ref name=2016Lester/>

====Other chapters====
{{see also|Baseball awards#Awards given to members of specific teams}}
*Cincinnati: [[Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame]] (voting by Cincinnati chapter since 1998)
*Cincinnati: [[Ernie Lombardi Award]] (team MVP)
*Cincinnati: Team Pitcher of the Year
*Cleveland: [[Bob Feller Man of the Year Award]] (player or other team personnel) (since 1946)
*Cleveland: [[Cleveland Indians award winners and league leaders#Frank Gibbons-Steve Olin Good Guy Award|Frank Gibbons-Steve Olin Good Guy Award]] (since 1968)
*Detroit: [[Detroit Tigers award winners and league leaders#Tiger of the Year|Tiger of the Year]] (since 1965)
*Houston: [[Darryl Kile Award|Darryl Kile Good Guy Award]] (since 2003)
*[[Minnesota Twins award winners and league leaders#BBWAA chapter awards|Minnesota]]:<ref>{{cite web|title=Terry Ryan Award|publisher=Minnesota Twins Community Fund|work=Play Ball! Minnesota official website|url=http://playballmn.com/TerryRyanAward.aspx|access-date=November 3, 2011|quote=The winner is presented with the [Terry Ryan Award] at the '''annual Baseball Writers Association of America''' Diamond Awards along with many '''other prestigious Twins awards'''.}}</ref>
*Montreal: [[Montreal Expos Player of the Year]] ''(discontinued in 2004)''
*Philadelphia: [[Philadelphia Phillies annual franchise awards|Most Valuable Player, Most Valuable Pitcher, Special Achievement, Good Guy Award, and  Charlie Manuel Award for Service and Passion to Baseball]] (since 2004)
*St. Louis: [[Darryl Kile Award|Darryl Kile Good Guy Award]] (since 2003)
*Toronto: [[Neil MacCarl Award]] (since 1977)
*Note: The [[MLB Rookie of the Year Award]] was established by the Chicago chapter in 1940 and was known as the [[J. Louis Comiskey]] Memorial Award (after the Chicago White Sox owner of the 1930s). In 1947, the award became an official MLB award (voted on by the national BBWAA), with Jackie Robinson as its first recipient. In July 1987, the award was renamed the Jackie Robinson Award (see {{section link| |Awards voting}}, above).

==Presidents==
For a list of presidents and secretaries from 1908 to the present, see footnote<ref>'''Go to''' [https://www.bbwaa.com/constitution/ Constitution] (Baseball Writers' Association of America official website; retrieved March 30, 2017) '''and scroll down to the bottom''' for Addendum B (BBWAA Presidents) and Addendum C (BBWAA Secretaries).</ref>
During the 2012 World Series, the Association elected its first female president, [[Susan Slusser]], of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]''.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ann|last=Killion|title=Chronicle writer Slusser sets precedent|date=October 28, 2012|publisher=Hearst Communications, Inc.|work=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Chronicle-writer-Slusser-sets-precedent-3987603.php|access-date=October 29, 2012|quote=[She] was elected president ... at the annual World Series meeting of the BBWAA.}}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col}}
*[[Honor Rolls of Baseball#Writers|Honor Rolls of Baseball]] (writers)
*[[Baseball awards#United States|Baseball awards]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball awards]]
*[[Official scorer]]
*[[National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association]]
*[[National Sports Media Association]]
*[[Pro Basketball Writers Association]]
*[[United States Basketball Writers Association]] (college)
*[[Football Writers Association of America]] (college)
*[[Pro Football Writers Association]]
*[[Professional Hockey Writers' Association|Professional Hockey Writers Association]]
{{div col end}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

"Baseball Writers Unite." Washington Post, October 15, 1908, p.&nbsp;9.

==Further reading==
*{{cite news|title=Red Foley Dies at 79; Scorer in 10 World Series|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/16/sports/baseball/16foley.html?_r=2&oref=slogin|agency=The Associated Press|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 16, 2008|access-date=November 19, 2009|quote=He served for many years as an officer of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and was chairman of the New York chapter in 1969-70.}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://bbwaa.com/}}
*[https://bbwaa.com/awards/ Annual Awards] (2003–present). BBWAA official website
*[https://bbwaa.com/hof/ Hall of Fame]. BBWAA official website
*[https://bbwaa.com/voting-faq/ Voting FAQ] (national awards and HoF). BBWAA official website
*[https://bbwaa.com/constitution/ Constitution]. BBWAA official website
*[https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/ MLB Awards and Baseball Hall of Fame Results]. Baseball-Reference.com (including HOF inductees, Hall of Famer Batting and Pitching Stats, HOF Ballot and Voting Summaries, Projected or Official Ballots for 2012 to 2015, Voting Results for 1936 to present, and "Most times in the All-Star Game")

{{MLBATT|state=collapsed}}
{{MLB awards}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baseball Writers Association Of America}}

[[Category:Baseball mass media]]
[[Category:Baseball writers| ]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]]
[[Category:Baseball organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:American sports journalism organizations]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball mass media]]
[[Category:Journalism-related professional associations]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 1908]]
[[Category:1908 establishments in the United States]]