Branch Rickey Award

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The Branch Rickey Award is given annually to a Major League Baseball player in recognition of their exceptional community service. The award is named for former player and executive Branch Rickey, who is best known as the President and General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and as the executive who broke the major league color barrier. The award was created by the Rotary Club of Denver, and was first awarded in 1992.

[edit] Criteria for award winners

As illustrated by the standards set by the late Branch Rickey, criteria for the award are:

• An outstanding individual currently involved in Major League Baseball -- a player, owner, manager, front office staff, scout, etc.

• A role model for young people as evidenced by baseball accomplishments coupled with high ethical standards.

• An unselfish contributor to the community whose volunteer activities exemplify Rotary International's motto, "Service Above Self."

[edit] Previous winners

Year	Player
1992	Dave Winfield, Toronto Blue Jays
1993	Kirby Puckett, Minnesota Twins
1994	Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals
1995	Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres
1996	Brett Butler, Los Angeles Dodgers
1997	Craig Biggio, Houston Astros
1998	Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins
1999	Al Leiter, New York Mets
2000	Todd Stottlemyre, Arizona Diamondbacks
2001	Curt Schilling, Arizona Diamondbacks
2002	Bobby Valentine, New York Mets
2003	Roland Hemond, Chicago White Sox
2004	Jamie Moyer, Seattle Mariners
2005	Luis Gonzalez, Arizona Diamondbacks
2006	Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles Dodgers