Midwest League Reference Pages

Awards

This page lists the annual award winners--Most Valuable Player, Manager of the Year, and so forth--awarded by to players and other participants in the Midwest League, a Single-A minor baseball league with teams in several states. This table includes some winners for the MWL predecessors the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League and the Illinois State League. Most of these awards were given by the league itself, though some were awarded by other bodies.

Some winners are missing; so are some awards. If you can help fill the gaps, please drop me a line. Thanks.

The King of Baseball

2007 Dave Walker, Burlington

Warren Giles Award

1985 William K. Walters, Burlington (MWL President)

Manager of the Year

2007 Tom Brookens, West Michigan
2006 Matt Walbeck, West Michigan
2005 Mark Haley, South Bend
2004 Dave Joppie, Kane County
2003 Webster Garrison, Kane County
2002 Todd Claus, Cedar Rapids
2001 Russ Morman, Kane County
2000 Bruce Fields, West Michigan
1999 Rick Renteria, Kane County
1998 Billy Gardner, Michigan
1997 Bruce Fields, West Michigan
1996 Roy Silver, Peoria
1995 DeMarlo Hale, Michigan
1994 John Mizerock, Rockford
1993 Jack Mull, Clinton
1992 Tom Poquette, Appleton
1991 Gary Jones, Madison
1990 Don Long, Quad City
1989 Dave Miley, Cedar Rapids
1988 Marc Bombard, Cedar Rapids
1987 Don Leppert, Kenosha
1986 Gaylen Pitts, Springfield
1985 Duffy Dyer, Kenosha
1984 Tom Gamboa, Beloit
1983 Gomer Hodge, Waterloo
1982 George Enright, Quad City
1981 Gomer Hodge, Waterloo
1980 Rich Stelmaszek, Wisconsin Rapids
1979 Tom Robson, Wausau
1978 Gordon Lund, Appleton
     Woody Smith, Waterloo
1977 Denis Menke, Burlington
1976 Francis "Salty" Parker, Cedar Rapids
1975 John Sullivan, Waterloo
1974 John Goryl, Wisconsin Rapids
1973 Bernie Smith, Danville
1972 Joe Nossek, Danville
1971 Joe Sparks, Appleton
1970 Frank Calo, Danville
1969 Tom Saffell, Appleton
1968 Jack Krol, Cedar Rapids
1967 Alex Cosmidis, Appleton
1966 Al Ronning, Burlington
1965 Gus Niarhos, Burlington

1963 Don Bacon, Clinton
1962 Cal Ripken, Appleton
1961 Buddy Kerr, Quincy
1960 Matt Sczesny, Waterloo
1959 Stubby Overmire, Decatur
1958 Buddy Kerr, Michigan City

1956 Len Okrie, Lafayette

1947 Walter DeFreitas, Belleville

Most Valuable Player

2007 Gorkys Hernandez, West Michigan
2006 Jeff Baisley, Kane County
2005 Carlos Gonzales, South Bend
2004 Brian Dopirak, Lansing
2003 Prince Fielder, Beloit
2002 Jason Stokes, Kane County
2001 Adrian Gonzalez, Kane County
2000 Albert Pujols, Peoria
1999 Aaron McNeal, Michigan
1998 Pablo Ozuna, Peoria
1997 Robert Fick, West Michigan
1996 Larry Barnes, Cedar Rapids
1995 Jesse Ibarra, Burlington
1994 Sal Fasano, Rockford
1993 Dean Biasucci, Springfield
1992 Steve Gibralter, Cedar Rapids
1991 Salomon Torres, Clinton
1990 Reggie Sanders, Cedar Rapids
1989 Tom Redington, Burlington
1988 Lenny Webster, Kenosha
1987 Greg Vaughn, Beloit
     Todd Zeile, Springfield
1986 Luis Medina, Waterloo
1985 Eddie Williams, Cedar Rapids
1984 Joey Meyer, Beloit
1983 Curt Ford, Springfield
1982 Tom Romano, Madison
1981 Ed Saavedra, Waterloo
1980 Von Hayes, Waterloo
1979 Dave Stockstill, Wausau
1978 Bill Foley, Burlington
1977 Paul Molitor, Burlington
1976 Wayne Cato, Cedar Rapids
1975 Willie Wilson, Waterloo

1962 Tony Torchia, Keokuk/Midwest
1961 Hector Cardenas, Dubuque
1960 Tom Haake, Dubuque
1959 Joel McDaniel, Decatur
1958 Gus Sancimino, Kokomo

1956 Grover "Deacon" Jones, Dubuque

Prospect of the Year

2007 Clayton Kershaw, Great Lakes
2006 Cameron Maybin, West Michigan
2005 Carlos Gonzales, South Bend
2004 Brian Dopirak, Lansing
2003 Prince Fielder, Beloit
2002 Joe Mauer, Quad City
2001 Adrian Gonzalez, Kane County
2000 Albert Pujols, Peoria
     Austin Kearns, Dayton
1999 Corey Patterson, Lansing
1998 Pablo Ozuna, Peoria
1997 Francisco Cordero, West Michigan
1996 Britt Reames, Peoria
1995 Javier Valentin, Fort Wayne
1994 Alex Rodriguez, Appleton
1993 Johnny Damon, Rockford
1992 Steve Gibralter, Cedar Rapids
1991 Salomon Torres, Clinton
1990 Reggie Sanders, Cedar Rapids
1989 Tom Redington, Burlington
1988 Tom Gordon, Appleton
1987 Derek Parks, Kenosha
1986 Luis Medina, Waterloo
     Steve Gasser, Kenosha
1985 B.J. Surhoff, Beloit
1984 Kurt Stilwell, Cedar Rapids
1983 Shawon Dunston, Quad City
1982 Mark Grant, Clinton
1981 Harold Reynolds, Wausau
1980 Von Hayes, Waterloo
1979 Dave Stockstill, Wausau
1978 Bill Foley, Burlington
1977 Paul Molitor, Burlington
1976 Clint Hurdle, Waterloo
1975 Willie Wilson, Waterloo

Rookie of the Year

1962 Barry Shollenberger, Waterloo
1961 Dennis Ribant, Quad Cities
1960 Bob Sprout, Decatur
1959 Dale Reichert, Kokomo
1958 Juan Marichal, Michigan City

1956 Arturo (Carbonell) Miro, Clinton

Rolaids Relief Men

1983 Al Jones, Appleton
1982 Ron Kaufman, Quad City

Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy

2007 West Michigan Whitecaps
				  
2005 Peoria Chiefs

1998 John Guthrie, West Michigan Whitecaps
1997 South Bend Silver Hawks staff

1988 Bill Kuehn, Clinton

Executive of the Year

2007 Rob Zerjav, Wisconsin
2006 Jim Jarecki, West Michigan
2005 Dave Walker, Burlington

2002 Rocky Vonachen, Peoria
2001 Chuck Brockett, Burlington

1999 Jeff Sedivy, Kane County
1998 Mike Birling, Wisconsin
1997 Jim Weigel, Lansing

1994 Scott Lane, West Michigan
1993 Bill Larsen, Kane County
1992 Jack Roeder, Cedar Rapids
1991 Kevin Temperly, Clinton
1990 Mike Tatoian, Quad City
1989 John Baxter, South Bend
1988 Bob Lee, Kenosha
1987 Jack Roeder, Wausau
1986 Jim Peterson, Waterloo
1985 Pete Vonachen, Peoria
1984 Dave Tarolly, Beloit
1983 Lee Landers, Springfield
1982 Paul Larson, Clinton
1981 Roger Crow, Quad City
     Gus Stokes, Clinton
1980 Roger Crow, Quad City
1979 Bob Arterburn, Wisconsin Rapids
1978 Dave Hersh, Appleton
1977 Harry Pells, Quad City
1976 Don Buchheister, Cedar Rapids
1975 Mike Feder, Wausau
     Jerry Lambert, Quad City
1974 Dave Brunk, Waterloo
1973 Fritz Colschen, Clinton

1971 Ed Holtz, Appleton
1970 Ed Holtz, Appleton
1969 Ed Holtz, Appleton

1967 Ed Holtz, Appleton
1966 Ed Holtz, Appleton

John H. Johnson President's Trophy

2007 Cedar Rapids Kernels
				  
2005 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

1998 Clinton LumberKings front office staff
1997 Dave Walker, Burlington

Minor League Class A Executive of the Year

1989 John Baxter, South Bend

1984 Dave Tarrolly, Beloit

1978 Dave Hersh, Appleton
1977 Harry Pells, Quad City
1976 Don Buchheister, Cedar Rapids

1973 Fritz Colschen, Clinton

1971 Ed Holtz, Appleton

Rawling Sportswoman of the Year

2007 Jessica Fergesen, Cedar Rapids
				  
2005 Laurie Schill, Wisconsin

1999 Stephanie Gray, Midwest League staff
1998 Sue Lesters and Amy Mason, Kane County
1997 Sarah Couey, Rockford

1994 Nancy Cram, Cedar Rapids
1993 Susan Oltowski, Rockford
1992 Lesley Kellison, Quad City
1991 Bobbi Landers, Springfield
1990 Rita Baxter, South Bend
1989 Bea Buchheister, Cedar Rapids

Woman of the Year

1979 Doris Krucker, Quad Cities/Midwest League staff 

Playing Facilities

1998 West Michigan (East)
     Wisconsin (Central)
     Quad City (West)
1997 West Michigan (East)
     Wisconsin (Central)
     Burlington (West)
1990 South Bend (best)
     Beloit (most improved)
1989 South Bend (best)
     Springfield (best)
     Davenport (most improved)
1988 South Bend (best)
     Springfield (best)
     Waterloo (most improved)
1987 Springfield (best)
     Peoria (best)
     Clinton (most improved)
1986 Burlington (most improved)
1984 Springfield (best)
     Kenosha (most improved)
1983 Springfield (best)
     Beloit (most improved)
1982 Cedar Rapids (best)
     Springfield (best)
     Wisconsin Rapids (most improved)
1981 Cedar Rapids (best)
     Cedar Rapids (most improved)
     Waterloo (most improved)
1980 Cedar Rapids
1979 Appleton
1978 Appleton
1977 Appleton

Groundskeeper of the Year

2005 Jesse Roeder, Cedar Rapids

1999 Greg Hofer, Wisconsin
1998 Gary Mayse, Wisconsin
1997 Chad Huss, Wisconsin

Stadium Operations

1998 West Michigan (East)
     Kane County (Central)
     Quad City (West)
1997 South Bend (East)
     Wisconsin (Central)
     Quad City (West)

Hugo H. Kohn Sportsmanship Award

1990 Kenosha, Wisconsin
1989 Beloit, Wisconsin
1988 Clinton, Iowa
1987 Clinton, Iowa
1984 Kenosha, Wisconsin