JOSE REYES NAMED METS NOMINEE FOR 2011 HANK AARON AWARD
Fan Voting Begins Today at MLB.com; Award Recognize Most Outstanding Offensive Performers in Each League
Roberto Alomar and Joe Morgan Added to Hall of Fame Panel, with Returning Members Tony Gwynn, Paul Molitor, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams and Robin Yount
Major League Baseball and MLB Advanced Media announced that Jose Reyes was named the Mets nominee for the 2011 Hank Aaron Award.
Fan voting begins today exclusively online at MLB.com and the 30 Club sites. For the second straight year, a special panel of Hall of Fame players led by Hank Aaron will join fans in voting for the award, which is officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball and has recognized the most outstanding offensive performer in each League since it was established in 1999.
Reyes, 28, became the first Mets player to win a batting title, finishing the year with a NL-best .337 average (181-537). He also tied for the major league lead in triples (16) and the NL lead with 57 multi-hit games. For the season, Reyes appeared in 126 games and finished with 101 runs, 31 doubles, seven home runs, 44 RBI and 39 stolen bases. This season marked his fourth with triple-digit runs, extending his franchise record.
“It’s an honor to be nominated for the Hank Aaron Award,” Reyes said. “He is an all-time great who all the players look up to no matter where you grew up. He was, and continues to be, a true gentleman of the game and I think everyone should try to be like him on and off the field.”
This year, the Hall of Fame panel will include two new members – personally selected by Hank Aaron – Roberto Alomar and Joe Morgan. They join panelists from last year, which included Tony Gwynn, Paul Molitor, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams and Robin Yount, forming a group comprised of some of the greatest offensive players of all-time. These Hall of Famers – who combined for 23,536 hits, 11,445 RBI and exactly 2,800 home runs – have all agreed to join Hank Aaron in lending their expertise to select the best offensive performers in each League.
Beginning today and continuing through Sunday, October 9, fans will have the opportunity to select one American League and one National League winner from a list comprising one finalist per Club. The winners of the 2011 Hank Aaron Award will be announced during the 2011 World Series.
