The award is named after James «Tip» O'Neill, often considered Canada's first baseball star and dubbed Canada's Babe Ruth. The Award was created by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and was first presented in 1984.
It is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s second time winning the Tip O'Neill Award which goes to the Canadian baseball player who is «judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to the highest ideals of the game of baseball.» Although Vlad Jr. was raised in the Dominican Republic, he was born in Montreal and is a Canadian citizen.
While the award has been presented since 1984, Vlad is only one of two players to win the award while playing for the Blue Jays. The other is Jordan Romano, who received it back in 2022, giving the Jays winners in back-to-back years.
Three non-major leaguers have won the award - Rob Ducey received in 1986 while still in the minor leagues, amateur player and team Canada star Daniel Brabant won it in 1991, and outfielder Jamie Romak was awarded it while playing in Korea for the SK Wyverns.
While Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has now won the award twice, there have only been four players who have won the award three times or more - Hall of Fame Larry Walker, Joey Votto, Jason Bay and Justin Morneau. Bay and Morneau each have three, while Votto has seven and Walker has nine.
Cleveland Guardians star Josh Naylor won the Tip O'Neill Award in 2023.
The Tip O'Neill Award is a huge honour for Canadian players and not only cements Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s status as a superstar player, but his receiving this award also honours his Canadian connection and reminds the population that he is one of them.
POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 5 | 137 ANSWERS Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Wins Tip O'Neill Award Can Vladimir Guerrero Jr. win the Tip O'Neill Award a third time | ||
Yes | 127 | 92.7 % |
No | 10 | 7.3 % |
List of polls |