Ford C. Frick Award

The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball." The award, named after the late broadcaster, National League President, Commissioner, and Hall of Famer, has been presented annually since 1978. Frick was a driving force behind the creation of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and he helped foster the relationship between radio and the game of baseball.

Mel Allen and Red Barber were the first two recipients in 1978. A single winner has been selected in each year following.

The annual Frick Award ballot is created by a subcommittee of the voting electorate. A new election cycle has been established, with a composite ballot featuring local and national voices in four consecutive years, followed by a fifth year featuring a ballot of candidates whose broadcasting careers concluded prior to the advent of the Wild Card Era in 1994. The new cycle began with the 2023 Frick Award, with composite ballots of local and national voices continuing with the Awards in 2024, 2025 and 2026 before the pre-Wild Card Era ballot is considered for the 2027 Award. The cycle then repeats every five years. Each ballot will consist of 10 candidates, with a requirement that at least one candidate be a foreign language broadcaster.

The Frick Award Committee casts ballots during November, and the results are announced during the Baseball Winter Meetings in December. The Frick Award electorate is comprised of the living Frick Award recipients and four broadcast historians/columnists.

Voters are asked to base their selections on "Commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers." To be considered, an active or retired broadcaster must have a minimum of 10 years of continuous major league broadcast service with a ball club, network, or a combination of the two.

The Ford C. Frick Award is presented annually during Hall of Fame Weekend. Each award recipient (not to be confused with an inductee) is presented with a calligraphy of the award and is recognized in the "Scribes & Mikemen" exhibit in the Library of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Below is a complete list of the Ford C. Frick Award recipients, linking to more information.

1978 - 1979

1978 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Mel Allen

1978 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Red Barber

1979 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Bob Elson

1978 - 1979

1978 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Mel Allen

1978 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Red Barber

1979 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Bob Elson

1980 - 1989

1980 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Russ Hodges

1981 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Ernie Harwell

1982 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Vin Scully

1983 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Jack Brickhouse

1984 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Curt Gowdy

1985 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Buck Canel

1986 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Bob Prince

1987 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Jack Buck

1988 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Lindsey Nelson

1989 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Harry Caray

1990 - 1999

1990 Ford C. Frick Award Winner By Saam

1991 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Joe Garagiola

1992 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Milo Hamilton

1993 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Chuck Thompson

1994 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Bob Murphy

1995 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Bob Wolff

1996 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Herb Carneal

1997 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Jimmy Dudley

1998 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Jaime Jarrín

1999 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Arch McDonald

2000 - 2009

2000 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Marty Brennaman

2001 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Felo Ramírez

2002 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Harry Kalas

2003 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Bob Uecker

2004 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Lon Simmons

2005 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Jerry Coleman

2006 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Gene Elston

2007 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Denny Matthews

2008 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Dave Niehaus

2009 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Tony Kubek

2010 - 2019

2010 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Jon Miller

2011 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Dave Van Horne

2012 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Tim McCarver

2013 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Tom Cheek

2014 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Eric Nadel

2015 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Dick Enberg

2016 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Graham McNamee

2017 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Bill King

2018 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Bob Costas

2019 Ford C. Frick Award winner Al Helfer

2020 - present

2020 Ford C. Frick Award winner Ken Harrelson

2021 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Al Michaels

2022 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Jack Graney

2023 Ford C. Frick Award winner Pat Hughes

2024 Ford C. Frick Award winner Joe Castiglione

2020 - present

2020 Ford C. Frick Award winner Ken Harrelson

2021 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Al Michaels

2022 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Jack Graney

2023 Ford C. Frick Award winner Pat Hughes

2024 Ford C. Frick Award winner Joe Castiglione

Hall of Fame Awards

Hall of Fame Awards

Frick (broadcasters), BBWAA Career Excellence (writers) and O'Neil (lifetime achievement)

BBWAA Career Excellence Award

For meritorious contributions to baseball writing.

Buck O'Neil Award

For lifetime achievement.

Hall of Fame Awards

Hall of Fame Awards

Frick (broadcasters), BBWAA Career Excellence (writers) and O'Neil (lifetime achievement)

BBWAA Career Excellence Award

For meritorious contributions to baseball writing.

Buck O'Neil Award

For lifetime achievement.