BOSTON — Cam Booser, a left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, has been honored with the Tony Conigliaro Award in recognition of his remarkable journey through adversity. Booser, who has faced alcohol dependency, physical injuries, and a serious bicycle accident, made a noteworthy return to baseball this season, debuting in the major leagues at nearly 32 years of age after a stint in construction work.
Booser expressed his gratitude, stating, “To have my name in the same conversation as Tony Conigliaro is something that I will always hold close. This is truly humbling.” The award, named after the former Red Sox outfielder, celebrates players who embody the spirit, determination, and courage that Conigliaro was known for. Other players such as Lucas Erceg from Kansas City, Atlanta’s Chris Sale, Mason Miller from Oakland, Baltimore’s Albert Suárez, and Cleveland’s Matthew Boyd also received votes for this prestigious honor.
Notable past recipients of the award include Jim Eisenreich, Bo Jackson, and Curtis Pride. Red Sox legends who have previously earned this recognition include Bret Saberhagen, Jon Lester, and John Lackey. The winner was determined by a committee consisting of Red Sox officials, Major League Baseball representatives, media members, and a member of the Conigliaro family.
Cam Booser had initially exited baseball in 2017 at the age of 25 due to a combination of alcoholism and a series of serious injuries, which encompassed a broken leg, broken vertebrae, and severe issues necessitating Tommy John surgery. Most notably, a bicycle accident resulted in a broken back after being struck by a vehicle. Following his departure from the sport, he joined a carpenters union and began a career in construction. However, in late 2020, he started to throw off a mound again, reigniting his baseball aspirations.
In 2021, Booser pitched in independent leagues and spent time with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization in 2022. He signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox the following year and made a significant impact by appearing in 48 relief games for Triple-A Worcester in 2023. His continued success afforded him a call-up on April 19, which culminated in him securing the final three outs during his major league debut in a game against Pittsburgh.
Over the course of the previous season, Booser posted an impressive 3.38 ERA with 43 strikeouts across 42 2/3 innings in 43 games, notably achieving a streak of 15 consecutive games without allowing a run.
Tony Conigliaro, the award’s namesake, was a promising Boston native who debuted in Major League Baseball in 1964 at just 19 years old, hitting a home run in his first at-bat at Fenway Park. During his second season, he made history as the youngest player to lead his league in home runs, tallying 32, and hitting his 100th homer by the age of 22, making him the youngest in American League history.
His career took a tragic turn in 1967 when a pitch struck him in the face, leading to severe injuries to his cheekbone, jaw, and retina. After sitting out the entire 1968 season, he returned to play two more seasons for the Red Sox before having to retire due to deteriorating eyesight. Conigliaro passed away in 1990 at the age of 45 after suffering a heart attack in 1982, and the award has been given annually to commemorate his legacy.