How Many Gold Gloves Are Awarded Each Year
Each season, Major League Baseball awards 18 Rawlings Gold Glove trophies per league, for a total of 36 Gold Gloves per year across both the American League and National League. The awards are split among nine defensive positions in each league: pitcher, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, left fielder, center fielder, and right fielder. The winners are selected by a vote of managers and coaches, who are not permitted to vote for players on their own team. The most recent complete data shows the same 36 total awards structure, with no changes to the number of positions or leagues in the latest cycle. For the full rules and position breakdown, see the official Rawlings Gold Glove Award page here.
The 18-per-league format has remained consistent in recent seasons, though the number of teams and roster sizes have shifted slightly. This stability means the award count per year is predictable and easy to compare across eras. The only recent structural change was the merger of the American and National Leagues under a single umpiring crew and a universal designated hitter rule, which did not alter the Gold Glove count. The awards are typically announced during the MLB offseason, shortly after the conclusion of the regular season. For historical context on the award's evolution, see the Baseball Hall of Fame's Gold Glove overview here.
Gold Glove Award Breakdown by League and Position
In the American League, the 18 Gold Gloves are divided equally among the nine standard defensive positions, with one winner at pitcher, catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, center field, and right field. The National League follows the same structure, awarding one Gold Glove per position for a total of 18 per league. This means each league has exactly two outfielders honored, reflecting the importance of defensive range and reliability in all three outfield spots. The per-position count has stayed fixed at one winner per position per league in the latest award cycle. For a full list of recent winners and position-by-position results, see MLB's official Gold Glove page here.
Managers and coaches submit their votes before the postseason, and the raw vote totals are often released alongside the winners. The voting process emphasizes defensive metrics, range, arm strength, and error avoidance, though the exact weight of each factor is not publicly disclosed. In recent years, advanced defensive statistics such as Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved have increasingly influenced voter perception. Despite this, the number of awards per year remains tied directly to the number of positions and leagues, not to statistical changes. For deeper analysis of the voting criteria and historical trends, see the Society for American Baseball Research's Gold Glove page here.
Historical Trends and Notable Gold Glove Facts
Since the award's inception in 1957, the total number of Gold Gloves per year has generally remained at 36, though early years occasionally saw different structures for pitchers and catchers. The modern format of 18 per league has been stable for decades, making year-over-year comparisons straightforward. Some players have won multiple Gold Gloves in a single season, but each award still counts as one per position per league. The consistency of the award count allows analysts to track defensive excellence across eras with a fixed metric. For a timeline of award changes and notable winners, see the ESPN Gold Glove history page