NewsWilson wins Pittsburgh's Tanner Award
Honor given for help writers carry out coverage duties
By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
10/14/09 7:35 PM ET
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced Wednesday that shortstop Jack Wilson has won the chapter's Chuck Tanner Award, given annually to the Pirates player who is the most cooperative in helping writers carry out their daily work.This marks the second time in the past four seasons that Wilson has won the honor.
Wilson finished the season with the Mariners after being part of a seven-player trade on July 29 in which the Pirates acquired five players. That ended Wilson's nine-year tenure with Pittsburgh, a tenure during which Wilson appeared in 1,128 Major League games as a shortstop. That total ranks him fourth in franchise history.
Thirteen Pirates players received at least a third-place vote in the balloting, though left fielder Nyjer Morgan and left-hander Zach Duke finished closest to Wilson in the voting.
Interestingly enough, Wilson's selection marked the second consecutive year in which the Chuck Tanner Award winner was a player who was traded away at the non-waiver Trade Deadline. Jason Bay, who was dealt to Boston on July 31, 2008, was the award's recipient last year.
This award is the second of two that the Pittsburgh BBWAA chapter votes on each October. On Tuesday, the chapter named center fielder Andrew McCutchen the Roberto Clemente Award winner. The Clemente Award recognizes the Pirates' top player that season.
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
