MLB.com's Hagen nominated for Spink Award

KANSAS CITY -- MLB.com's Paul Hagen has been nominated by the Baseball Writers' Association of America for its prestigious J.G. Taylor Spink Award, the association announced at its annual All-Star Game meeting on Tuesday.

Along with two other writers, it is Hagen's second consecutive year that he was named on the ballot for an award that recognizes a lifetime of excellence in baseball writing. On Tuesday, he was nominated along with retirees Jim Hawkins of the Detroit Free Press and Russell Schneider of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Schneider was also on the 2011 ballot.

Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun is this year's electee and will be honored at the annual National Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend ceremonies on July 21-22 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Barry Larkin was the sole player elected this year by eligible members of the BBWAA, and the late Ron Santo was selected late last year by the Golden Era Committee. Tim McCarver also will be recognized with the Ford C. Frick Award for his long career in broadcasting.

"It's very special when you're recognized by your peers," said Hagen, who joined MLB.com as a reporter late last year after 25 years of covering baseball for the Philadelphia Daily News. "Last year, I was very happy just to be nominated. I was happy for Bob Elliott, because he's very deserving. Obviously, winning it would be great, but being nominated is such an honor."

Aside from his 25 years in Philadelphia covering the Phillies and the national baseball scene, Hagen also spent 10 years in the Dallas area covering the Rangers for the Dallas Times-Herald and Fort Worth Star-Telegram. His career began in San Bernardino, Calif., with three years of covering the Dodgers, among other beats.

At MLB.com, Hagen's coverage emphasizes the Phillies and enterprise pieces.

The entire membership of the BBWAA is eligible to vote for the Spink Award and does so every fall. The winner is announced in December at the Winter Meetings, which are scheduled this year for Nashville, Tenn.