| Awarded for | Best relief pitcher in MLB |
|---|---|
| Sponsored by | DHL (2005–2010) |
| Presented by | Major League Baseball |
| History | |
| First award | 2005 |
| Final award | 2013 |
| Most wins | Mariano Rivera (3) |
Major League Baseball (MLB) annually honored its best relief pitcher with the Major League Baseball Delivery Man of the Year Award from 2005 through 2013. It was initially part of a sponsorship agreement between MLB and package delivery company DHL Express; DHL's sponsorship ran from 2005 to 2010.[1][2] There was also a Delivery Man of the Month Award. From its inception in 2005 through 2008, the award was given to a single reliever who was selected online by fans from a group of 10 finalists chosen by an MLB panel.[3][4] The panel took sole responsibility to select the annual winner starting in 2009.[3][5]
Mariano Rivera was the only pitcher to win the annual award more than once, receiving it in 2005, 2006, and 2009. The award was discontinued after 2013, replaced by the Reliever of the Year Awards.[6]
| Year | Player | Team | SV | ERA | WHIP | K | IP | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Mariano Rivera (1) | New York Yankees | 43 | 1.38 | 0.87 | 80 | 78+1⁄3 | [7] |
| 2006 | Mariano Rivera (2) | New York Yankees | 34 | 1.80 | 0.96 | 55 | 75 | [8] |
| 2007 | Jonathan Papelbon | Boston Red Sox | 37 | 1.85 | 0.77 | 84 | 58+1⁄3 | [9] |
| 2008 | Brad Lidge | Philadelphia Phillies | 41 | 1.95 | 1.23 | 92 | 69+1⁄3 | [10] |
| 2009 | Mariano Rivera (3) | New York Yankees | 44 | 1.76 | 0.90 | 72 | 66+1⁄3 | [11] |
| 2010 | Heath Bell | San Diego Padres | 47 | 1.93 | 1.20 | 86 | 70 | [12] |
| 2011 | José Valverde | Detroit Tigers | 49 | 2.24 | 1.19 | 69 | 72+1⁄3 | [13] |
| 2012 | Fernando Rodney | Tampa Bay Rays | 48 | 0.60 | 0.78 | 76 | 74+2⁄3 | [14] |
| 2013 | Craig Kimbrel | Atlanta Braves | 50 | 1.21 | 0.88 | 98 | 67 | [15] |
All finalists from 2005–2008 are listed because voting was conducted online and all finalists were known. Those from 2009 are not made public.
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