Tadahito Iguchi’s five first-place votes were second most among American League Rookie of the Year candidates.
But Iguchi’s support fell off from there, as the White Sox’s valuable second baseman was left off 20 of 28 ballots and closer Huston Street became the second consecutive Oakland player to win the award announced Monday by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Street received 15 first-place votes, six second-place votes and four third-place votes for 97 points on a 5-3-1 system. Street, 22, the son of former University of Texas quarterback James Street, converted 23 of 27 save chances and posted a 1.72 ERA.
Street struck out 72 in 78 1/3 innings and opponents batted only .194 against him–second only to the New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera (.138) among AL closers.
Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard took the NL award. Called up from the minors for good on July 1, Howard replaced injured star Jim Thome and led all rookies with 22 home runs. He received 19 of 32 first-place votes and 109 points to beat out Houston outfielder Willy Taveras, who got 78 points. Atlanta right fielder Jeff Francoeur was third with 60.
Iguchi finished a distant fourth in the AL balloting with only one second-place vote and two thirds for 30 points. Despite repeatedly being referred to as the Sox’s most valuable player by manager Ozzie Guillen, Iguchi didn’t even finish as the top rookie second baseman in the balloting.
That distinction went to the Yankees’ Robinson Cano, who finished second and was named on 21 ballots. Cano, who received four first-place votes, batted .297 with 14 home runs and 62 RBIs.
Voters were reminded on their ballots that “all players in their first seasons in the AL are eligible, including those with experience in leagues outside North America (Japan, Mexico, Italy, Australia, e.g.).”
This became a greater issue after the Yankees’ Hideki Matsui finished second to Kansas City’s Angel Berroa in the 2003 AL rookie voting despite having superior statistics.
Iguchi, 31, making the transformation from a power hitter during his eight seasons in Japan, placed second in six offensive categories among AL rookies and third in extra-base hits and home runs (14).
His .278 batting average ranked fourth among AL rookies, and Guillen and batting coach Greg Walker estimated Iguchi would have hit 20 points higher if he wasn’t an unselfish hitter.
“Obviously, Cano and Iguchi had tremendous years, as well as [Tampa Bay’s] Jonny Gomes,” Street said. Gomes, who hit .282 with 21 homers, finished third.
Iguchi became the first Japanese infielder to finish in the top five in Rookie of the Year voting.
Extra innings
Sox outfielder Brian Anderson underwent successful surgery last week to remove a plate and screws from his right wrist from an operation two years ago. Rehabilitation will take about five weeks and Anderson should be fully recovered by spring training.
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AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTING
(1st place: 5 points; 2nd place: 3 points; 3rd place: 1 point)
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PLAYER 1ST 2ND 3RD TOT
Huston Street, Oak 15 6 4 97
Robinson Cano, NY 4 10 7 57
Jonny Gomes, TB 2 8 5 39
Tadahito Iguchi, SOX 5 1 2 30
Gustavo Chacin, Tor 2 – 4 14
Nick Swisher, Oak – 2 – 6
Joe Blanton, Oak – 1 3 6
Jesse Crain, Min – – 2 2
Scott Kazmir, TB – – 1 1
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VOTING
PLAYER 1ST 2ND 3RD TOT
Ryan Howard, Phi 19 3 5 109
Willy Taveras, Hou 7 11 10 78
Jeff Francouer, Atl 2 14 8 60
Garrett Atkins, Col 1 2 6 17
Zach Duke, Pit 3 – 1 16
Jeff Francis, Col – 1 – 3
Ricky Weeks, Mil – 1 – 3
Clint Barmes, Col – – 1 1
Jason Vargas, Fla – – 1 1
RECENT ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
AL HITTERS AB H HR RBI AVG
2004 Crosby, Oak 545 130 22 64 .239
2003 Berroa, KC 567 163 17 73 .287
2002 Hinske, Tor 566 158 24 84 .279
2001 Suzuki, Sea 692 242 8 69 .350
1999 Beltran, KC 663 194 22 108 .293
1998 Grieve, Oak 583 168 18 89 .288
1997 Grcparra, Bos 684 209 30 98 .306
1996 Jeter, NY 582 183 10 78 .314
1995 Cordova, Mn 512 142 24 84 .277
1994 Hamelin, KC 312 88 24 65 .282
1993 Salmon, Cal 515 146 31 95 .283
1992 Listach, Mil 579 168 1 47 .290
1991 Knoblch, Mn 565 159 1 50 .281
1990 Alomar, Cle 445 129 9 66 .290
1988 Weiss, Oak 452 113 3 39 .250
1987 McGwire,Oak 557 161 49 118 .289
1986 Canseco, Oak 600 144 33 117 .240
1985 Guillen, SOX 491 134 1 33 .273
AL PITCHERS IP W-L SO SV ERA
2005 Street, Oak 78.1 5-1 72 23 1.72
2000 Sasaki, Sea 62.2 2-5 78 37 3.16
1989 Olson, Bal 85 5-2 90 27 1.69
1981 Righetti, NY 105 8-4 89 0 2.06
NL HITTERS AB H HR RBI AVG
2005 Howard, Phi 312 90 22 63 .288
2004 Bay, Pit 411 116 26 82 .282
2001 Pujols, StL 590 194 37 130 .329
2000 Furcal, Atl 455 134 4 37 .295
1997 Rolen, Phi 561 159 21 92 .283
1996 Hlndswrth,LA 478 139 12 59 .291
1994 Mondesi, LA 434 133 16 56 .306
1993 Piazza, LA 547 174 35 112 .318
1992 Karros, LA 545 140 20 88 .257
1991 Bagwell, Hou 554 163 15 82 .294
1990 Justice, Atl 439 124 28 78 .282
1989 Wlton, CUBS 475 139 5 46 .293
NL PITCHERS IP W-L SO SV ERA
2003 Willis, Fla 160.7 14-6 142 0 3.30
2002 Jnnings, Col 185.1 16-8 127 0 4.52
1999 Willmsn, Cin 93.1 12-7 107 0 2.41
1998 Wood, Chi 166.2 13-6 233 0 3.40
1995 Nomo, LA 191.1 13-6 236 0 2.54
1986 Worrell, StL 103.2 9-10 73 36 2.08
(page 7)
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mgonzales@tribune.com %%
