Sawamura Award

The Sawamura Award is given to the top starting pitcher in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball each year. The only exceptions were in 1971, 1980, 1984, and 2000, when no one won the award, and 1966 and 2003 when the award was given to two pitchers. The award, created in 1947, is named after Eiji Sawamura, the legendary Yomiuri Giants pitcher of the 1930's and 1940's. The award was formerly a selection of best starter in the Central League, before being open to Pacific League pitchers in 1989. The first Pacific League winner of the award was Hideo Nomo (1990).

The award's recipient is decided by a panel of five great former pitchers. The 2007 panel consisted of Masayuki Dobashi (chairman), Kazuhisa Inao (who later withdrew from the panel due to health issue), Masaji Hiramatsu, Tsuneo Horiuchi, and Yutaka Ohno.

election Criteria

In 1982, a set of standards were established for selecting winners. Achieving each of the seven standards below is not a requirement for the award; generally, winners achieve at least four of the milestones.

Standards:
* Games started: 25
* Wins: 15
* Complete games: 10
* W/L Percentage: .600
* Innings Pitched: 200
* ERA: 2.50
* Strikeouts: 150

Yu Darvish, the 2007 winner, achieved all seven standards. He started 26 games for a record of 15-5(.750 W/L percentage), with 12 CGs, pitched 207.2 innings, compiled a 1.85 ERA, and struck out 205 batters.

awamura Award Winners

(Bold names indicate pitchers who have achieved all seven standards)