In 1957, Rawlings, along with the baseball industry, awarded Al Kaline, Willie Mays and Nellie Fox as, “The finest in the field.” Those three will forever be known as the first recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
As of November 2016, Akron Racers outfielder and former LSU standout A.J. Andrews went down in history as the first female Gold Glove winner.
“I am really honored to be able to achieve this award,” said Andrews. “It’s hard to really explain how much it really means to be that person for younger girls to look up to now that we have this platform.”
Talks of presenting the softball Gold Glove were ongoing since Rawlings became a sponsor of the National Pro Fastpitch league before the 2016 season.
“Up until this year, Worth was our sponsor and supplier and Rawlings was not,” said NPF Commissioner Cheri Kempf. “When Rawlings signed on, it made perfect sense and Gay Lynne (Vice President of NPF) really made her case and initiated the conversation with Rawlings.”
According to Kempf, there are people with Major League Baseball who see the vision of softball and the direction it is heading. It is because of that support that Andrews was invited to the Rawlings Gold Glove presentation ceremony at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
Steve Garvey, a four-time Gold Glove winner and Los Angeles Dodgers legend, presented Andrews with her award at the ceremony in New York City.
“Mike Thompson (Rawlings EVP of Marketing) called me and told me he had something special for me to do,” said Garvey about finding out who he was presenting the award to. “I have five daughters and a couple of them play softball so I was very honored to present A.J. with the first women’s Gold Glove.
Garvey has attended his fair share of award ceremonies but there was something different about this one.
“There are times when we are able to a part of something special,” said Garvey. “This inaugural event was special for everyone there and I think they all felt that. It was a very touching moment.”
Kempf, who attended the ceremony, said as soon as Andrews walked up on stage to accept the award, the whole room stood up.
“When the guy handed her the award, the room stood up, “said Kempf. “You know standing ovations sometimes start in a pocket and then people gradually come up? It wasn’t that way. It was unified.”
Andrews said after the ceremony, some of the baseball players and legends were asking to take photos with her.
“For those Major League Baseball players and legends in the room to be looking at me and wanting to take a picture with me, I honestly can’t explain how it felt,” said Andrews. “I was flabbergasted and honored to have people like that really support softball and this award.”
The players were nominated from within the NPF and the winner was decided with votes from NPF ownership and Rawlings. Going forward, the NPF will, hopefully, award more Gold Gloves for other positions.
“This award is monumental. I’m so honored and thankful that Rawlings gave me this award. I am blessed because I truly believe this award opened a lot of doors for softball and opened a lot of eyes for young women.”
