King of Baseball was a ceremonial title awarded annually from 1951 to 2019 by Minor League Baseball to recognize an individual for their longtime dedication and service to professional baseball. It was awarded during baseball's Winter Meetings and usually presented along with a crown and robe.
The title originated in a beauty pageant held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Minor League Baseball in 1951. The first king was selected to accompany the winner, "Miss Golden Anniversary". The pageant was discarded after 1954, but crowning a king continued. The title was not issued in 2020 after the cancellation of the minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Major League Baseball assumed control of the minor leagues. Subsequently, the committee responsible for the award chose to discontinue the honor.
Winners
+WinnersYearWinnerWinter Meetings site1951Columbus, Ohio1952Phoenix, Arizona1953Atlanta, Georgia1954Houston, Texas1955Columbus, Ohio1956Jacksonville, Florida1957Colorado Springs, Colorado1958None selectedWashington, D.C.19591960Louisville, Kentucky1961Tampa, Florida1962Rochester, New York1963San Diego, California1964Houston, Texas1965Fort Lauderdale, Florida1966Columbus, Ohio1967Mexico City, Mexico1968San Francisco, California1969Fort Lauderdale, Florida1970Los Angeles, California1971Phoenix, Arizona1972Honolulu, Hawaii1973Houston, Texas1974New Orleans, Louisiana1975Hollywood, Florida1976Los Angeles, California1977Honolulu, Hawaii1978Orlando, Florida1979Toronto, Ontario, Canada1980Dallas, Texas1981Hollywood, Florida1982Honolulu, Hawaii1983Nashville, Tennessee1984Houston, Texas1985San Diego, California1986Hollywood, Florida1987Dallas, Texas1988Atlanta, Georgia1989Nashville, Tennessee1990Los Angeles, California1991Miami Beach, Florida1992Louisville, Kentucky1993Atlanta, Georgia1994Dallas, Texas1995Los Angeles, California1996Boston, Massachusetts1997New Orleans, Louisiana1998Nashville, Tennessee1999Anaheim, California2000Dallas, Texas2001Boston, Massachusetts2002Nashville, Tennessee2003New Orleans, Louisiana2004Anaheim, California2005Dallas, Texas2006Lake Buena Vista, Florida2007Nashville, Tennessee2008Las Vegas, Nevada2009Indianapolis, Indiana2010Lake Buena Vista, Florida2011Dallas, Texas2012Nashville, Tennessee2013Lake Buena Vista, Florida2014San Diego, California2015Nashville, Tennessee2016National Harbor, Maryland2017Orlando, Florida2018Las Vegas, Nevada2019San Diego, California2020
References Specific
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