1st Annual BTP Awards - Aidan Flynn, Nick Rabasco

   As the 108th World Series is about to kick off, we here at BTP wish to unveil our first annual Behind the Plate Award Winners, in honor of each player's tremendous season. We carefully selected each player after much conversation and debate, trying to ensure we selected the most deserving candidates. Many of our awards derive their names from the players that best exhibited what each award represents. A short description for each award is as follows:

Best Player Award: Pretty self-explanatory, we wanted to remove the term "valuable," as it can be interpreted several different ways.
Walter Johnson Award: Named after arguably the greatest pitcher of all-time, this award is presented to the pitcher who had the best season in his respective league.
Babe Ruth Award: Named after arguably the greatest hitter of all-time, this award is presented to the hitter who had the best season in his respective league.
Mariano Rivera Award: Named after arguably the greatest relief pitcher of all time, this award is presented to the reliever who had the best season in his respective league.
Mike Trout Award: Named after the player who arguably completed the greatest rookie season of all time, this award is presented to the rookie who had the best season in his respective leagve.
Connie Mack Award: Named after the winning-est manager in Major League history, this is presented to the best manager in his respected league.
Branch Rickey Award: Named after one of the most innovative and influential executives in Major League history, this is presented to the executive that made the best transactions toward improving his club for the 2012 season.

And without further adieu...

Best Player Award: 
American League: Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
National League: Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants

Walter Johnson Award: 
American League: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
National League: R.A. Dickey, New York Mets

Babe Ruth Award: 
American League: Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers
National League: Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants


Mariano Rivera Award:
American League: Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay Rays
National League: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves


Mike Trout Award
American League: (Surprise!) Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
National League: Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals

Connie Mack Award: 
American League: Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles
National League: Davey Johnson, Washington Nationals

Branch Rickey Award:
American League: Billy Beane, Oakland Athletics
National League: Mike Rizzo, Washington Nationals

All BTP 1st Team:
C: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
1B: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers
2B: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
3B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
SS: Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals
OF: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
OF: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
DH: David Wright, 3B, New York Mets
SP: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
SP: R.A. Dickey, New York Mets
SP: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
SP: David Price, Tampa Bay Rays
RP: Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay Rays
RP: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
RP: Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds

All BTP 2nd Team:
C: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
1B: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
2B: Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks 
3B: Chase Headley, San Diego Padres
SS: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
OF: Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals
OF: Austin Jackson, Detroit Tigers
OF: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
DH: Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers
SP: Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
SP: Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals
SP: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
SP: Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
RP: Kris Medlen, Atlanta Braves
RP: Jim Johnson, Baltimore Orioles
RP: Sergio Romo, San Francisco Giants

Mike Trout and Buster Posey took home the most BTP Awards