In MLB, how do players win a 'gold glove award'?

Question

Is it a vote? If so by who? Or is it the player who makes the least amount of errors at their position? I've always wondered this, and thought maybe someone here would know. Thanx.

Answer 1

To expand and expound a bit on the weaknesses of the Gold Glove voting system -- what was cited from Wiki is correct, it is voted by managers and coaches, with the constraint that they cannot vote for someone on their own team. Since they can only vote for opposing players, they are basing their electoral opinions on players they witnessed live for at most 19 games in the season (intradivisional opponents) -- that's less than 12% of the schedule -- and figuring that another 10% is wasted on interleague games (can't vote for those players, opposite league), that leaves precious little opportunity to witness any GG candidates. And they might never see an opposing starting pitcher at all (relievers never win the GG).

So there's really four factors that go into GG voting:
1. real-time observation (as described, severely limited);

2. highlight shows, where flashy defense (which isn't the same as good defense) gets all the air time;

3. stats -- but since defensive stats are less familiar and far less advanced, there is little doubt that excelling offensively (and therefore building name recognition) plays a role, which it really should not; and

4. reputation -- some players, once they've won two or three, continue on a roll even past when the GG should, if it really is intended to honor the best position fielders, go to someone else. (Hey, Ozzie was fantastic, but those last two or three belonged to a different shortstop.)

Rawlings obviously sees no need to change the voting methodology, as it never even blinked when Palmeiro won the 1999 AL 1B GG, a season in which he played first base in 28 games (and DH'd in 135; a few games overlap) -- it was his best season ever with the bat but he had no call whatsoever to take home a defense award.

Answer 2

Jeter: I guess so. There was probably some other worthy people, but he already has won a few so he automatically goes to the top of the list if there's really no outstanding differences. Teixeira: Yes, he had great defense this season. Torri Hunter: I guess so. Again, he's already had 8 so the 9th one was inevitable. There's definately other outfielders who deserved it, but it's gonna take a lot to have Torii Hunter not win another glove no matter how outstanding the competition is. Ichiro: Same as above. Evan Longoria: I suppose. Beltre was out for most of the season, but Inge did make some really nice plays for the Tigers. No arguements though. Adam Jones: I'll have to watch some clips of him, but he's up there so yes. Mark Buehrle: It's hard to decide who to give it for to pitchers, and he threw the perfect game, so yes. Placido Polanco: Yes. 2 errors, enough said. Joe Mauer: This is the worst decision made I can think of. It's the gold GLOVE. Yes people like Gerald Laird and Kurt Suzuki did not even approach the bat Mauer had, but it's the golden GLOVE. Mauer was vastly outperformed by Laird in defense and he should have won it.

Answer 3

The Gold Glove is possible the worst award given out, and it shouldn't be. It is voted on by writer who have favorites instead of watching a the games or looking at stats they just vote on who they think should win. One guy played under 50 games at first and won the gold glove.

Answer 4

This is directly from wikipedia and answers your question.

"In American baseball, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to simply as the Gold Glove, is the award annually given to the major league player judged to be the most "superior individual fielding performance" at each position (in each league), as voted by the managers and coaches in each league.[1] Managers are not allowed to vote for their own players.[1] Eighteen Gold Gloves are awarded each year, one at each of nine positions to a player in both the National League and American League.

Note: The term "at each position" is not strictly accurate. Three outfielders are selected, but the award does not distinguish among left, center, and right fielders. Some critics have long called for awarding a single Gold Glove for each individual outfield position, arguing that the three outfield positions are not equivalent defensively."

* As an aside to your question in a question, and to other answers posted, it is not a direct correlation to who has the best fielding pct. or who commits the least errors, although I'm sure that factors into people's votes. See my quote and the link I provided. A lot of the time it can go to someone who is the most exciting to watch at the position, rather than necessarily whether that person commits the least errors or has the best fielding pct. For instance, in 2006 Juan Pierre played in all 162 games and committed 0 errors, yet was not a gold glove winner. The NL winners were Andruw Jones, Mike Cameron, and Carlos Beltran. Jones has 2 errors in 153 games w/ a .995 FPCT, Cameron played in 141 games, had 6 errors, and a .984 FPCT, and Beltran played in 136 games, had 2 errors and a .995 FPCT. To expand, Pierre had 384 total chances, 5 assists, 0 double plays, 379 put outs, and started all 162 games he played in for 1426 innings played. Beltran had 372 total chances, 13 assists, 6 double plays, 357 put outs, but did start all 136 games he played for 1184 innings. Cameron had 379 total chances, 6 assists, 2 double plays, 367 put outs, started 139 of his141 games for 1244 innings. Jones had 384 total chances, 4 assists, 1 double play, 378 putouts, and started 152 of his 153 games for 1317 innings.

Jones wins every year, yet last year, he had nearly identical stats to Pierre. Look at a list of who wins in the NL. Last several years it's basically Jones, Edmonds, and some other guy. There's no reason Pierre couldn't have won. Statistically he compares quite well to the three winners, but he pulls ahead w/ 0 errors over the most total chances, games played, games started, and innings played, w/ a perfect fielding percentage.

The truth is that it's basically a popularity contest, like anything voted on in this kinda thing. The managers and coaches don't get to see every game played, let alone every play in every inning, but rely on word of mouth and highlight reels on ESPN. Pierre is just as good a fielder, but he's not as flashy as the other guys. I'm too lazy to look, but I guarantee statistically he compares great to Torii Hunter, and to Jim Edmonds in his prime. I'll bet statistically his year last year compares quite well to any of the best fielders in their prime. He's not flashy though, and he played on the Cubs. It's a popularity vote, plain and simple.

By the by, I'm not a big Pierre fan or anything. I just went to Yahoo Sports and ranked players last year by fielding percentage and he came up at the top for everyday starters, so I went from there.

** As a response to the guy a few posts down who says writers vote on it, they don't. Managers and Coaches do. Can't anyone read?

Answer 5

The gold glove is the most rediculous award given out. I dont disagree with its nature...I think the best efinsively player at each position deserves recognition, but after they choose a player, unless he royally screws himself...he is chosen every year after that, despite being the best player in the leauge or not

Answer 6

I think it's a popularity contest. Take last year, for instance.

Alex Gonzalez had a fielding percentage of .985

Derek Jeter had a fielding percentage of .975

Derek Jeter wins the gold glove.

Answer 7

I think 1 in every position in both leagues. Except outfield, there is 1 award for all outfield positions.

Answer 8

It is a joke! Look at how many times certain players have won it. They win over and over, even though they do not have the numbers to support it!

Answer 9

its the person who comitted the least errors all season and had the highest fileding percentage at their position, they win the award..people such as andruw jones in atlanta have won it several times in a row for their expertise in their position..one person in every position in the majors, both american and national league, gets one