The 2014 Bob Feller Pitching Award winner added the Graduate of the Year award to his honors.
Houston Astros centerfielder Jake Meyers cherishes the Bob Feller Pitching Award he earned as part of the Omaha (Neb.) Post 1 team that played in the 2014 American Legion World Series.
But it may be the overall experience of playing with some of his best friends that he cherishes most from his day playing American Legion Baseball.
“I really, really enjoyed my time playing Legion ball in Nebraska. My favorite memories playing with some of my best friends to this day. I always tell people I absolutely loved playing Legion ball, so thank you,” Meyers said upon accepting the 2025 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year Award.
The award, presented annually since 1958, honors a current Major League Baseball player who played American Legion Baseball. But, as National Vice Commander Roger Mathison said in presenting the award, it’s not just about athleticism.
“It’s also about character, leadership, teamwork, and a commitment to community service and activism. And Jake Meyers personifies that,” Mathison said.
Meyers threw 29 strikeouts in national tournament competition during Post 1’s run to the 2014 ALWS to earn the Bob Feller Pitching Award, named for American Legion Baseball’s first alumnus to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. “It was cool to get recognition for it,” he said after receiving the Graduate of the Year Award on May 31 before the Astros’ game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“Going to the Legion World Series, that was a really special memory for me because that was our goal. Being with our high school coach, Bob Greco, who’s a really good friend of mine. I learned a lot from him. So that was our goal, and us being able to go and get really close to achieving winning that World Series was really cool for me in high school,” Meyers said.
A dual threat in high school, Legion Baseball and in college with the University of Nebraska, Meyers has become one of the majors’ better defensive centerfielders. In 2024, he led all MLB centerfielders with a .997 fielding percentage, was second in total zone runs, and third in putouts.
He’s also found his groove at the plate this season, batting a career-best .293 entering Saturday’s game.
Meyers becomes the second player all-time to follow up the Bob Feller Pitching Award with recognition as Graduate of the Year. Chad Billingsley, who played American Legion Baseball for Post 300 in Napoleon, Ohio, won the Feller Award in 2001, with 43 strikeouts in national competition, then was named Graduate of the Year in 2013.
“American Legion (Baseball) is an awesome part of the game. It’s a great way to learn the game, and play every day with the same teammates, and continually get better. And grow that enjoyment in the game,” Meyers said.
The American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year
2025: Jake Meyers (Post 1, Omaha, Neb.)
2024: Paul Sewald (Post 76, Las Vegas, Nev.)
2023: Corey Seager (Post 115, Kannapolis, N.C.)
2022: Brandon Woodruff (Post 49, Tupelo, Miss.)
2021: Jacob deGrom (Post 3, Deland, Fla.)
2020: no award
2019: Neil Walker (Post 548, Gibsonia, Pa.)
2018: Brian Duensing (Post 374, Omaha, Neb.)
2017: Brian Dozier (Post 49, Tupelo, Miss.)
2016: Cliff Lee (Benton, Ark.)
2015: Alex Gordon (Post 3, Lincoln, Neb.)
2014: Michael Cuddyer (Post 280, Chesapeake, Va.)
2013: Chad Billingsley (Post 300, Napoleon, Ohio)
2012: Mark Ellis (Post 22, Rapid City, S.D.)
2011: Corey Hart (Kentucky)
2010: Brandon Inge (Lynchburg, Va.)
2009: Lyle Overbay (Post 15, Centralia, Wash.)
2008: Justin Verlander (Post 201, Powhatan, Va.)
2007: Chris Carpenter (Post 79, Manchester, N.H.)
2006: Albert Pujols (Post 340, Independence, Mo.)
2005: Scott Rolen (Jasper, Ind.)
2004: Darin Erstad (Jamestown, N.D.)
2003: Jeff Bagwell (Post 75, Middletown, Conn.)
2002: Luis Gonzalez (Post 248, Tampa, Fla.)
2001: Todd Stottlemyre (Washington)
2000: Chipper Jones (Post 6, Deland, Fla.)
1999: Steve Finley (Post 31, Paducah, Ky.)
1998: Tony Gwynn (Post 27, Long Beach, Calif.)
1997: Mo Vaughn (Norwalk, Conn.)
1996: Paul Molitor (Post 606, St. Paul, Minn.)
1995: Bob Tewksbury (New Hampshire)
1994: Greg Maddux (Post 8, Las Vegas, Nev.)
1993: Bill Swift (Portland, Maine)
1992: Terry Steinbach (Post 132, New Ulm, Minn.)
1991: Sid Bream (Carlisle, Pa.)
1990: Harold Reynolds (Post 11, Corvallis, Ore.)
1989: Alan Trammell (San Diego, Calif.)
1988: Roger Clemens (Spring Woods, Ohio)
1987: Don Mattingly (Evansville, Ind.)
1986: Dale Murphy (Portland, Ore.)
1985: Jeff Reardon (Dalton, Mass.)
1984: Ryne Sandberg (Spokane, Wash.)
1983: Andre Thornton (Phoenixville, Pa.)
1982: Jim Sundberg (Galesburg, Ill.)
1981: Gary Carter (Fullerton, Calif.)
1980: George Brett (El Segundo, Calif.)
1979: Mike Flanagan (Post 2, Manchester, N.H.)
1978: Ron Guidry (Lafayette, La.)
1977: Dave Winfield (Post 606, St. Paul, Minn.)
1976: Rick Monday (Post 123, Santa Monica, Calif.)
1975: Carlton Fisk (Post 37, Bellows Falls, Vt.)
1974: Wilbur Wood (Post 99, Watertown, Mass.)
1973: Johnny Bench (Anadarko, Okla.)
1972: Al Kaline (Baltimore, Md.)
1971: Steve Carlton (Miami, Fla.)
1970: Dave McNally (Post 4, Billings, Mont.)
1969: Harmon Killebrew (Payette, Idaho)
1968: Mickey Lolich (Post 102, Portland, Ore.)
1967: Carl Yastrzemski (Bridgehampton, N.Y.)
1966: Frank Robinson (Post 237, Pleasanton, Calif.)
1965: Eddie Fisher (Oklahoma)
1964: Brooks Robinson (Post 1, North Little Rock, Ark.)
1963: Warren Spahn (Buffalo, N.Y.)
1962: Bobby Richardson (Sumter, S.C.)
1961: Stan Musial (Donora, Pa.)
1960: Ted Williams (San Diego, Calif.)
1958: Sherm Lollar (Arkansas)
- Baseball