Dodgers-White Sox Gold Glovers

By Paul Jensen

The Dodgers and White Sox were well represented when the 2009 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners were announced in mid-November.

            Dodger center fielder Matt Kemp and second baseman Orlando Hudson were named National League Gold Glovers; White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle won an American League Gold Glove.

            Buehrle and Kemp are first-time winners; Hudson now owns four Gold Gloves.

            The Dodgers now have won 38 Gold Gloves in their history, led by Wes Parker’s six consecutive awards at first base from 1967–72. The White Sox have earned 32 Gold Gloves in their history, led by Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio, a seven-time honoree.

            Kemp — Kemp led all major-league center fielders and ranked third among all big-league outfielders with 14 outfield assists. His .995 fielding percentage ranked third among National League center fielders behind Gold Glove winner Shane Victorino and Nate McLouth. Kemp made just two errors.

            Kemp is the first Dodger outfielder to win a Gold Glove since center fielder Steve Finley in 2004, also the last time more than one Dodger won the award in the same season. The only other everyday Dodger Gold Glove center fielder was Willie Davis who took home the honor three consecutive years from 1971–73.

            Kemp logged 1,355.1 innings in center field in 2009, the most by a Dodger center fielder in a Gold Glove season.

            Over the last two seasons, Kemp’s 30 outfield assists are tied for second in the major leagues with Baltimore’s Nick Markakis. Houston’s Hunter Pence leads with 32.

 Hudson — In 145 games at second base, Hudson made just eight errors and posted a .988 fielding percentage to tie for fourth in the National League and rank fifth on the franchise’s single-season list by a second baseman, trailing Jody Reed (.993 in 1993), Jackie Robinson (.992 in 1951), Charlie Neal (.989 in 1959), and Mark Grudzielanek (.989 in 2002).

            Hudson becomes the third Dodger second baseman to win a Gold Glove and the first since Davey Lopes in 1978. Neal was the franchise’s first second baseman to win the honor.

            The 2009 season marks just the eighth time since the inception of the Gold Glove Award that two Dodgers have won them in the same season.

            Buehrle — The Gold Glove capped a memorable 2009season for the White Sox lefty who indelibly etched his name into baseball lore on July 23 when he twirled a perfect game against Tampa Bay at U.S. Cellular Field.

            Buehrle, one of the game’s most respected fielding pitchers, earned his Gold Glove in part by leading the American League in pickoffs (8), total chances (55), and assists (41). He tied for the league lead by assisting with five double plays. He committed just one error.

            Since the start of the 2001 season, Buehrle leads all major-league pitchers with 63 pickoffs and ranks third with 501 total chances and 373 assists.

            Over his 10-year career, Buehrle has allowed just 40 stolen bases in 95 attempts, a 42.1 percent success rate.

            Buehrle is the first White Sox player to win a Gold Glove since third baseman Robin Ventura in 1998. Ventura won five Gold Gloves. Current Sox manager Ozzie Guillen won a Gold Glove as the Sox shortstop in 1990.

            Rawlings Gold Glove Award — Rawlings established the Gold Glove Award in 1957 as the greatest measure of fielding excellence. The award is presented annually to 18 players — one for each position — in both the American and National leagues. Winners are selected by major-league coaches and managers prior to the conclusion of the regular season. Managers and coaches may not vote for players from their own clubs and only vote for players in their own leagues.

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Joe Jareck (Dodgers public relations) and Scott Merkin (MLB.com) contributed to this story.