Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw named finalists for Rawlings Gold Glove Awards
Awards to be announced tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. PT live on ESPN2
LOS ANGELES – Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH), today announced that Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw are finalists for Gold Glove Awards at their respective positions, right field and pitcher. Both players won the award for the first time last season, when the Dodgers established a franchise record with three Rawlings Gold Glove winners, which included center fielder Matt Kemp. ESPN2 will air the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® Announcement Show on Tuesday, October 30, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. PT. The Rawlings Gold Glove Awards honor the best individual fielding performances at each position in the American League™ and National League™, as voted by Major League managers and coaches.
Ethier, 30, ranked second among National League right fielders with a .988 fielding percentage, committing just three errors in 146 games (142 starts) in right field this season. Ethier’s streak of 282 games (276 starts) from July 10, 2010-July 25, 2012 without an error was the second-longest active run among non-pitchers in baseball behind only Franklin Gutierrez and the second-longest errorless run by a Dodger outfielder behind only Brett Butler’s 306-game run from 1992-94.
Kershaw, 24, completed his second consecutive errorless season and has not committed an error since Aug. 1, 2010, a span of 76 games. The Texas native led the Majors with 11 pickoffs and has either led or tied for the National League lead in pickoffs in each of the last three seasons since 2010.
Changes implemented into the award program last year remain for 2012, including the separation of the three outfield positions and the unveiling of the top-three finalists plus ties at each position.
A number of players are vying for the designation as the best defender at his position, including 21 past recipients and 11 reigning Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners. The Cincinnati Reds™ lead all teams with six finalists, including reigning Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto. The battle for National League pitcher includes three former winners of the award: Cincinnati’s Bronson Arroyo (2010 NL winner), Miami’s Mark Buehrle (3-time AL winner with the Chicago White Sox™) and defending NL winner, Clayton Kershaw.
The longest, active consecutive streak of Rawlings Gold Glove Award wins belongs to St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina with four, beginning in 2008.
Each manager and up to six (6) coaches on his staff vote from a pool of qualified players in their League, and cannot vote for players on their own team. The 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists are:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Pos Player 2012 Team
P Jeremy Hellickson Tampa Bay Rays™
Jake Peavy Chicago White Sox™
C.J. Wilson Los Angeles Angels™ of Anaheim
C Alex Avila Detroit Tigers™
Russell Martin New York Yankees™
A.J. Pierzynski Chicago White Sox™
Matt Wieters Baltimore Orioles™
1B Adrian Gonzalez Boston Red Sox™
Eric Hosmer Kansas City Royals™
Mark Teixeira New York Yankees™
2B Dustin Ackley Seattle Mariners™
Robinson Cano New York Yankees™
Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox™
3B Adrian Beltre Texas Rangers™
Brandon Inge Oakland Athletics™
Mike Moustakas Kansas City Royals™
SS Elvis Andrus Texas Rangers™
J.J. Hardy Baltimore Orioles™
Brendan Ryan Seattle Mariners™
LF Alex Gordon Kansas City Royals™
Desmond Jennings Tampa Bay Rays™
David Murphy Texas Rangers™
CF Austin Jackson Detroit Tigers™
Adam Jones Baltimore Orioles™
Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels™ of Anaheim
RF Shin-Soo Choo Cleveland Indians™
Jeff Francoeur Kansas City Royals™
Josh Reddick Oakland Athletics™
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pos Player 2012 Team
P Bronson Arroyo Cincinnati Reds™
Mark Buehrle Miami Marlins™
Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers™
C Yadier Molina St. Louis Cardinals™
Miguel Montero Arizona Diamondbacks™
Carlos Ruiz Philadelphia Phillies™
1B Freddie Freeman Atlanta Braves™
Adam LaRoche Washington Nationals™
Joey Votto Cincinnati Reds™
2B Darwin Barney Chicago Cubs™
Aaron Hill Arizona Diamondbacks™
Brandon Phillips Cincinnati Reds™
3B Chase Headley San Diego Padres™
Aramis Ramirez Milwaukee Brewers™
David Wright New York Mets™
SS Zack Cozart Cincinnati Reds™
Ian Desmond Washington Nationals™
Jose Reyes Miami Marlins™
Jimmy Rollins Philadelphia Phillies™
LF Ryan Braun Milwaukee Brewers™
Carlos Gonzalez Colorado Rockies™
Martin Prado Atlanta Braves™
CF Michael Bourn Atlanta Braves™
Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates™
Drew Stubbs Cincinnati Reds™
RF Jay Bruce Cincinnati Reds™
Andre Ethier Los Angeles Dodgers™
Jason Heyward Atlanta Braves™
Following the ESPN2 announcement telecast, voting for the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award™ will begin at www.rawlings.com, allowing the general public to weigh in as to who is “The Finest in the Field®” in each League. To determine the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners, fans can only select one player among the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners from each League.
The Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners will be unveiled during the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony presented by Gold Sport Collectibles on Friday, November 9, 2012, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City, with Jerry Seinfeld entertaining this year’s Rawlings Gold Glove Award recipients and key executives in the industry, and Joe Piscopo serving as the master of ceremonies.