For one day, the rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox was put aside in honor of a courageous battle off the field.
Yankees reliever Tim Hill — who overcame colon cancer before reaching the majors — was named the winner of the 2025 Tony Conigliaro Award, the Red Sox announced Tuesday.
The award, established in 1990, honors a “Major Leaguer who overcame adversity through the qualities of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks” of the late Conigliaro, who was hit in the face by a pitch during the 1967 season and returned to the diamond two years later.
The honor has been awarded to players who have overcome adversity, including cancer survivors Trey Mancini and Jon Lester, former Mets standout RA Dickey after his historic 2012 season and one-handed pitcher Jim Abbott.
Hill, 35, is the first Yankees player to receive this award.
“I am humbled and grateful to be recognized as this year’s recipient of the Tony Conigliaro Award,” Hill, 35, said in a statement: according to MLB.com. “Tony’s story is one of determination and resilience, two qualities I have always admired. One thing I have learned is that a little inspiration along with determination can make a big difference. This award itself is a reminder that setbacks don’t have to define you. I want to thank the committee and the Conigliaro family for this award and for continuing to honor Tony’s legacy.”
Conigliaro debuted with the Red Sox in 1964 and quickly became a power-hitting All-Star before a pitch hit him in the face on August 18, 1967, breaking his left cheekbone, dislocating his jaw and severely damaging his left retina.
Although he returned to the majors, persistent vision problems ended his career at age 30.
He died in February 1990 at the age of 45 from complications of pneumonia and kidney failure, eight years after a heart attack and stroke.
Although his life was marked by tragedy, the award named in Conigliaro’s honor celebrates perseverance – a common thread that runs through Hill’s career.
Hill lost his father, Jerry, to colon cancer in 2007. Seven years later, the Royals selected the lefty in the 32nd round of the 2014 MLB Draft. But during his first professional spring training in 2015, Hill began feeling unwell, and tests revealed he had Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that increases the risk of cancer.
“[Doctors] said, ‘We want to give you a colonoscopy. We don’t think we’ll find anything,” Hill told The Post before the 2024 World Series. “But they did.”
Before he could play his first full professional season, Hill was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.
He underwent eight months of chemotherapy and radiation, plus surgery to remove half of his colon – a piece he described as the ‘worst eight months of my life’.
The treatment left him weighing 145 pounds, more than 70 pounds below his normal weight. Hill slowly rebuilt himself, eating six to seven meals a day, and resumed baseball work in 2016. Two years later, he reached the majors with Kansas City.
Since then, Hill has pitched for the Padres, White Sox and Yankees, who acquired him in June 2024 after Chicago designated him for assignment.
The side-armer has become a valuable bullpen weapon, posting a 2.68 ERA in 105 games for New York. Last season, he led the Yankees with 70 appearances and had a 3.09 ERA over 67 innings.
The Bombers were given a $3 million club option to retain Hill through 2026.
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