Hanley Ramirez gets the Silver Bat

Hanley Ramirez brings home the first Silver Bat in franchise history.

In honor of winning his first batting title, Hanley Ramirez is the National League recipient of the Silver Bat Award from Louisville Slugger.

---

Ramirez is the first NL shortstop to win the batting title since Dick Groat of the Pirates in 1960.

The Silver Bat Award is one of the most prestigious honors in sports, and this is the 60th year it is being presented.

---

The Silver Bat, which weighs approximately 56 ounces, is silver-plated in sterling and it's 34 inches long. It is engraved with the player's autograph and has his statistics from his batting title season.

 

Impressive on Hanley's part in a numbers of ways.   One being the first short stop to garner the award in the NL in 49 years.  Now don't confuse the Silver Bat with the Silver Slugger award.  They are completely different, though, Hanley could win both.

On Nov. 12, MLB Network and Louisville Slugger will announce the winners of the 2009 Silver Slugger Awards during an hour-long telecast beginning at 6 p.m. ET.

The Silver Sluggers are presented to the best offensive producers at each position in the National and American Leagues. The managers and coaches select the winners in a secret ballot.

Hanley, as stated before, is the first Marlin to ever win a batting crown.  And the way I keep score, that ain't bad.

Congratulations Hanley!