Tony Conigliaro Award

The Tony Conigliaro Award is given annually to the player who best overcomes an obstacle and continues to thrive through the adversity.

Conigliaro was a truly gifted player himself with the Boston Red Sox until he was hit on the cheek with a fastball thrown by Jack Hamilton. Tony returned to the lineup a year and a half later, hit another twenty home runs, had thirty-six the year after, but was forced to retire due to his eyesight being permanently damaged.

Conigliaro died in 1990, eight years after a debilitating heart attack, at the age of forty-five and the Tony Conigliaro Award has been given annually in honor of his life.