National Baseball Site

By virtue of a special arrangement with officials of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, an American Legion Baseball player is selected each year as the "George W. Rulon Player of the Year." The selection is made on the basis of integrity, mental attitude, cooperation, citizenship, sportsmanship, scholastic aptitude, and general good conduct. George W. Rulon was the National Staff Coordinator who operated the American Legion Baseball Program for 25 years, until his retirement in 1986. Recipient of this award receives a total of $4,000 in scholarships. The American Legion awards a $1,000 scholarship and The Quaker Oats Company, makers of Gatorade, award an additional $3,000.

1949 Ray Herrara, Captain Bill Erwin Post No. 337, Oakland, CA (SS)
1950 J. W. Porter, Captain Bill Erwin Post No. 337, Oakland, CA (C)
1951 Grover Jones, Jr., White Plains Post No. 135, White Plains, NY (C)
1952 Russell Nixon, Robert E. Bentley Post No. 50, Cincinnati, OH (C)
1953 Charles Lindstrom, Winnetka Post No. 10, Winnetka, IL (P)
1954 Billy Capps, Downtown Post No. 492, San Diego, CA (3B)
1955 Frank Birri, U. S. Postal Employees Post No. 216, Cincinnati, OH (3B)
1956 Jim Harwell, Fellowship Post No. 345, New Orleans, LA (P)
1957 Fred Fox, Robert E. Bentley Post No. 50, Cincinnati, OH (3B)
1958 Kiebler James, Greenwood Post No. 20, Greenwood, SC (P-SS)
1959 Fred Bowen, Jr., Thomas A. Edison Post No. 187, Detroit, MI (SS)
1960 Richard R. Roniger, Crescent City Post No. 125, New Orleans, LA (P)
1961 James J. Gerber, Edward C. Gehlert Post No. 554, Cincinnati, OH (SS)
1962 William D. Matan, Jr., Anheuser-Busch Post No. 299, St. Louis, MO (C)
1963 Richard Allen Dash, Arthur L. Peterson Post No. 27, Long Beach, CA (2B)
1964 Roland G. Fingers, Upland Post No. 73, Upland, CA (P-OF)
1965 Kenneth J. Fila, Omaha Post No. 1, Omaha, NE (P)
1966 William C. Parker, Jr., Farley W. Moody Post No. 34, Tuscaloosa, AL (OF)
1967 Ray Lynn Larson, George W. Benjamin Post No. 791, Northbrook, IL (C)
1968 Donald Hardy Castle, Memphis Post No. 1, Memphis, TN (P-OF)
1969 John David Adeimy, Palm Beach Post No. 12, West Palm Beach, FL (SS)
1970 Carroll Wayne Watts, Carson-Wilson Post No. 1, Tulsa, OK (SS)
1971 Randolph Gregory Haas, West Covina Post No. 790, West Covina, CA (OF)
1972 Michael Charles Murphy, Ballwin Memorial Post No. 611, Ballwin, MO (P-OF)
1973 Thomas Steven Ashford, Memphis Post No. 1, Memphis, TN (SS)
1974 Edwin C. Lopez, Monte Carlo Post No. 146, Rio Piedras, PR (OF)
1975 David Delmar Edler, Logan Wheeler Post No. 36, Yakima, WA (P-OF)
1976 Gustavo Martin Malespin, Metairie Post No. 175, Metairie, LA (OF)
1977 William Floyd Schell, South Bend Post No. 50, South Bend, IN (SS)
1978 Ross Jones, Sullivan-Babcock Post No. 32, Hialeah, FL (1B)
1979 Patrick Scott Allen, Logan Wheeler Post No. 36, Yakima, WA (2B)
1980 Tomas Gil, Sullivan-Babcock Post No. 32, Hialeah, FL (OF)
1981 David J. Magadan, West Tampa Memorial Post No. 248, W. Tampa, FL (3B-P)
1982 Ivan S. Snyder, Charles B. Yerger Post No. 471, Boyertown, PA (OF-P)
1983 Michael Halloran, Edina Post No. 471, Edina, MN (C)
1984 Jorge Robles, Jesus Bruno Post No. 134, Guaynabo, PR (SS)
1985 Tris Lipscomb, Midlothian Post No. 186, Midlothian, VA (P-2B)
1986 Joe Grahe, Jensen Beach Post No. 126, Jensen Beach, FL (P)
1987 Wilbur Stout, Charles B. Yerger Post No. 471, Boyertown, PA (C)
1988 Mike Kessler, George Budde Post No. 507, Cincinnati, OH (1B-P)
1989 Del Marine, Woodland Hills Post No. 826, Woodland Hills, CA (C)
1990 Mark Foster, Cummings-Behlke Post No. 226, Mayo, MD (P-OF)
1991 Ryan Beeney, Newark Post No. 85, Newark, OH (SS)
1992 David Lamb, Newbury Park Oaks, Newbury Park, CA (SS)
1993 Ben Thomas, Rapid City Post No. 22, Rapid City, SD (1B-P)
1994 Fernando Rodriguez, Miami Post 346, Miami, FL (P)
1995 Jason Adaro, Aiea Legion Baseball, Aiea, HI (P-C-OF)
1996 Christian Bourgeois, Post 81, Gonzales, LA (1B)
1997 Nate Philo, Post 15, Medford, OR (OF)
1998 Chad Opel, Post 199, Edwardsville, IL (SS)
1999 Jeremy S. Roberts, Post 83, Rison, AR (OF)
2000 Josh Zender, Post 83, Deming, WA (P)
2001 Jay Threet, Post 275, Adrian, MI (P/1B)