The Tony Conigliaro Award is a national recognition instituted in 1990 by the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB) to honor the memory of Tony Conigliaro. It is given annually to the MLB player who best "overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage that were trademarks of Conigliaro."

Conigliaro debuted with the Red Sox in 1964, and was selected to the MLB All-Star Game in the 1967 season. Subsequently, he was hit in the face by a pitch at Fenway Park on August 18, 1967. After missing the rest of the year and all of 1968, he made a comeback in 1969, homering on opening day. He then hit 20 home runs in that season, winning The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award. In 1970, he posted career highs in home runs with 36 and RBIs with 116, but vision problems continued to persist; his performance fell off, and he was never the same player. After a final comeback attempt in 1975, Conigliaro retired at age 30.

Conigliaro died in 1990, and the Red Sox instituted the award in his honor. A panel is composed of the media, representatives of the commissioner, and the two leagues' offices. The selection is made by a panel of voters and the award is presented at the annual dinner of the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), normally held in December or January, by members of the Conigliaro family.

Award winners

Indicates multiple award winners in the same year Denotes player who is still active

YearPlayerTeamAdversity overcomeRef1990 Kansas City RoyalsTourette syndrome1991Philadelphia PhilliesA 1984 beaning very similar to the one that shortened Conigliaro's career1992California AngelsBorn without a right hand1993Chicago White SoxHip replacement surgery in 19921994California AngelsDeath of 9-month-old son to spinal muscular atrophy during the offseason1995Chicago White SoxDiagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma1996Montreal ExposBorn deaf1997Baltimore OriolesDiagnosed with colon cancer early that season1998Boston Red SoxSerious shoulder injuries1999Florida MarlinsTesticular cancer2000Anaheim AngelsCerebral hemorrhage2000Tampa Bay Devil RaysBroke arm while throwing a pitch2001Montreal ExposArthroscopic shoulder surgery in 2000, and the death of his wife from Crohn's disease2001Baltimore OriolesType 1 diabetes that required Johnson to wear an insulin pump on the field2002Cincinnati RedsElbow injuries that required five surgeries and sidelined him for five years2003Oakland AthleticsBorn with two club feet2004Tampa Bay Devil RaysReconstructive knee surgery and Tommy John surgery while in high school2005Colorado RockiesBlood clots in both lungs2006Pittsburgh PiratesBorn with a club foot (right) and a severely pigeon-toed foot (left)2007Boston Red SoxDiagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 20062008Tampa Bay RaysDiagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder that causes chronic muscle fatigue2009St. Louis CardinalsHad Tommy John surgery and nerve problems in his throwing arm2010Tampa Bay RaysSat out a year after a rotator cuff tear2011Chicago CubsDiagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma as a child2012New York MetsVictim of child sexual abuse, born without an ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm2013Boston Red SoxUnderwent Tommy John surgery in 2012 2014Washington NationalsKidnapped in 2011, multiple injuries including a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a broken hamate bone, and repeated hamstring strains2015St. Louis CardinalsDelayed baseball career five years while serving in the United States Navy; first Naval Academy graduate to make MLB debut since 1921 2016San Diego PadresDeath of his wife to cancer during the season, caring for their three young daughters2017 Colorado RockiesDiagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2016, underwent surgery eight days later, went through chemotherapy until May 2017, and returned to baseball activities one month later2018Oakland AthleticsDeath of his mother to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 2019Los Angeles DodgersNumerous arm injuries and the public announcement of the death of his son Brooks2020Colorado RockiesPrior to the 2020 season, had last pitched in MLB in 2013 and had retired from professional baseball in 2017 due to control issues2021Baltimore OriolesMissed 2020 season after being diagnosed with colon cancer in March that year2022Kansas City RoyalsArduous journey to MLB2023Chicago White SoxNon-Hodgkin lymphoma that kept him out of baseball for almost the entire season2024Boston Red SoxHad retired from baseball in 2017 following injuries and alcohol abuse, returned and made MLB debut2025New York YankeesSurviving stage 3 colon cancer at age 25

The award is presented at the annual banquet of the Boston chapter of the BBWAA, which was not held in December 2021, possibly due to the 2021–22 Major League Baseball lockout. The 2021 winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award was instead announced the following year.

See also

Baseball awards

References

External links