 Each year, the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity presents the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award to the Major League Baseball Player who best exemplifies the spirit and character of Brother Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field. This award is the first and only “officially” sanctioned Major League Baseball award given to ballplayers by a fraternity.
Lou Gehrig was a distinguished member of Phi Delta Theta and a man of integrity. The award was created to acknowledge an individual player’s outstanding commitment to both his community and philanthropy.
Since the award’s inception in 1955, the name of each recipient has been placed on the permanent Gehrig Award plaque, located at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Committee, a team of alumni brothers associated in some capacity with Major League Baseball, selects the recipient. Though any active Major League Baseball player is eligible to receive a vote on his behalf, the committee does utilize a nomination process. The suggested nominees consist of the most qualified candidates submitted to the committee, including nominations from a player’s team, Phi Delt alumni clubs, and individuals.
2008 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Winner
Shane Victorino, Philadelphia Phillies
Typically when fraternities are featured on a national television broadcast, it’s about something that is far from positive. However, when Phi Delta Theta was mentioned by Fox's play-by-play announcer, Kenny Albert, on Saturday, July 4th, during the Phillies/Mets game, it was to celebrate the Fraternity, Brother Lou Gehrig, the fight against his namesake disease ALS, and the winner of this year’s Gehrig Memorial Award, Shane “The Flying Hawaiian” Victorino of the World Series Champion, Philadelphia Phillies.
The Fox broadcast featured the Phi Delta Theta Lou Gehrig Awards and its history since 1955, as well as the award being presented to Victorino by President of the General Council, Mark Ochsenbein, Gamma North Province President Nick Schaefer, Philadelphia Alumni Club President Mike York, True Blue Society representative Moe Stephens, and Associate Executive Vice President, Sean Wagner. The presenters were also joined in the stands by the Philadelphia Alumni Club who held a tailgate event prior to the game and proudly waved the Fraternity flag during Victorino’s at bats.
 Originally scheduled to participate in this presentation was Phillies Hall of Fame Announcer and member of Phi Delta Theta, Harry Kalas. Although he passed away prior to the presentation, Kalas was with his Fraternity Brothers in spirit for the presentation of the award to Victorino. Kalas had served as a member of the Gehrig Committee since 1994, helping select the winner each year and represented the committee at Veterans Stadium in 1995 when Curt Schilling won the award.
The presentation of the Gehrig Award to Victorino came in the midst of an incredible year in his young career. During the 2008 season, Victorino set career highs in starts, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, RBI’s, home runs, and walks, and was an integral piece as starting center fielder of the World Series Champion, Philadelphia Phillies. During the Phillies’ playoff run, Victorino made crucial hits and defensive plays and became the first player in Major League Baseball post-season history to have a home run, double, and two steals in a game and hit the first grand slam in the Phillies’ post-season history. In 2009, fans and Phi Delts voted Victorino to the National League All-Star team, recognizing him for his excellence in performance, just days after receiving the Gehrig Award.
 While Victorino became a champion in 2008, and an all-star in 2009 on the field, he has been known as both a champion and all-star in the community for quite some time, especially with regard to the ALS Association, the Phillies’ principal charity. In 2006, his participation in the Phillies Phestival helped raise $600,000 for ALS. In 2008, Victorino became an active supporter of the SaVes4ALS program which raises thousands of dollars for the Philadelphia Chapter of ALSA by events such as “Dining and Dancing with the Stars” and through the fund raising program that earns donations from sponsors based on pledge levels for every Save (SV) recorded by the Phillies’ bullpen. “When Shane makes a commitment, you can count on him to do his very best work and rely on his positive attitude” says Suzanne Bruce, Co-Founder of the SaVes4ALS program. “We are proud to have him recognized for his support and efforts in this meaningful way.” He is also committed to a number of other causes outside of ALS. Victorino is one of three Action Team Captains for MLB, promoting volunteerism in schools throughout the country. Locally, Victorino hosts “A Round to Remember,” a celebrity golf tournament featuring local celebrities to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter. With teammate Chase Utley, he co-hosted the Philadelphia Futures "Get In The Game" charity bowling/billiards tournament in April of 2008, raising over $150,000 for Philadelphia Futures, a mentoring program for inner city high school students. He also recently received an Honorary Badge from the Police Athletic League in 2007, recognizing his community service.
“I was inspired by the work being done through the SaVes4ALS program and other important causes in our community. I am honored to be the recipient of this award but it is really a team effort. I am glad to be a part of these organizations that make a tremendous difference - they are the real "Champions" and I congratulate their staff and supporters for their continued commitment” said Victorino after hearing that he was to be honored with the Gehrig Award.
Victorino is the 4th member of the Phillies to win the Gehrig Award. Previous winners include Mike Schmidt, Jim Thome, and as previously mentioned, Curt Schilling.
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Winners (Listed in Chronological Order)
1955 - Alvin Dark, New York Giants, Shortstop- Member of Phi Delta Theta (Louisiana State '45)
1956 - Pee Wee Reese, Brooklyn Dodgers, Shortstop
1957 - Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals, First Base
1958 - Gil McDougald, New York Yankees, Second Base
1959 - Gil Hodges, Los Angeles Dogers, First Base
1960 - Dick Groat, Pittsburgh Pirates, Shortstop
1961 - Warren Spahn, Milwaukee Braves, Pitcher
1962 - Robin Roberts, Baltimore Orioloes, Pitcher
1963 - Bobby Richardson, New York Yankees, Second Base
1964 - Ken Boyer, St. Louis Cardinals, Third Base
1965 - Vern Law, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitcher
1966 - Brooks Robinson, Baltimore Orioles, Third Base
1967 - Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs, First Base
1968 - Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers, Right Field
1969 - Pete Rose, Cincinnati Reds, Right Field
1970 - Hank Aaron, Atlanta Braves, Right Field
1971 - Harmon Killebrew, Minnesota Twins, First Base
1972 - Wes Parker, Los Angeles Dodgers, First Base
1973 - Ron Santo, Chicago Cubs, Third Base
1974 - Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates, Left Field
1975 - Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds, Catcher
1976 - Don Sutton, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pitcher
1977 - Lou Brock, St. Louis Cardinals, Left Field
1978 - Don Kessinger, Chicago White Sox, Shortstop
1979 - Phil Niekro, Atlanta Braves, Pitcher
1980 - Tony Perez, Boston Red Sox - First Base
1981 - Tommy John, New York Yankees - Pitcher
1982 - Ron Cey, Los Angeles Dodgers, Third Base - Member of Phi Delta Theta (Washington State '70)
1983 - Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies, Third Base
1984 - Steve Garvey, San Diego Padres, First Base
1985 - Dale Murphy, Atlanta Braves, Center Field
1986 - George Brett, Kansas City Royals, Third Base
1987 - Rick Sutcliffe, Chicago Cubs, Pitcher
1988 - Buddy Bell, Cincinnati Reds, Third Base
1989 - Ozzie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals, Shortstop
1990 - Glenn Davis, Houston Astros, First Base
1991 - Kent Hrbek, Minnesota Twins, First Base
1992 - Cal Ripken Jr., Baltimore Orioles, Shortstop
1993 - Don Mattingly, New York Yankees, First Base
1994 - Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Reds, Shortstop
1995 - Curt Schilling, Philadelphia Phillies, Pitcher
1996 - Brett Butler, Los Angeles Dodgers, Center Field
1997 - Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins, Designated Hitter
1998 - Tony Gwynn, San Diego Padres, Right Field
1999 - Mark McGwire, St. Louis Cardinals, First Base
2000 - Todd Stottlemyre, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pitcher
2001 - John Franco, New York Mets, Pitcher
2002 - Danny Graves, Cincinnati Reds, Pitcher
2003- Jamie Moyer, Seattle Mariners, Pitchers
2004 - Jim Thome, Philadelphia Phillies, First Base
2005 - John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves, Pitcher
2006 - Trevor Hoffman, San Diego Padres, Pitcher
2007 - Mike Timlin, Boston Red Sox, Pitcher - Member of Phi Delta Theta (Southwestern '88)
2008 - Shane Victorino, Philadelphia Phillies, Center Field
See links to all past winners online at Baseball Almanac.
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