NEW YORK -- Major League baseball
players named starter Chris Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals as National
League Outstanding Pitcher of the Year, when they today announced the winners of
the 2005 Players Choice Awards.
Carpenter was the only pitcher to
finish in the top five in all three of Major League Baseball's "Triple Crown"
pitching categories. He threw 213 strikeouts to finish second in the majors,
tied Colon for second with 21 wins, and posted the MLB's fifth-best ERA at 2.83.
This is Carpenter's second Player's Choice award, after being voted the 2004
National League Comeback Player of the Year.
Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves
was chosen as the Player of the Year and the National League's Outstanding
Player. Jones helped guide the Braves to their 14th consecutive NL East Division
championship, by leading all Major Leaguers with 51 home runs and all National
Leaguers with 128 RBI. Jones, the NL Player of the Month for June and August,
set the club record for homers in a season, and he reached the 40-home run mark
quicker than any player in club history (126 games). He became just the 12th
player in history to reach 300 career home runs before the age of 30, when he
reached that milestone at Philadelphia on September 14.
The 2005 Players Choice Marvin
Miller Man of the Year winner is Kansas City Royals first baseman Mike Sweeney.
The Man of the Year award, named in honor of the MLBPA's first executive
director, is given to the player in either league whose on-field performance and
contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement.
Sweeney and his wife, Shara, have donated $100,000 to build an inner-city
stadium in Kansas City, and he created the "Swing for Sweeney" program, pledging
$100 for each RBI during the 2005 season, to name just two of the many
charitable endeavors he has undertaken. His community involvement inspired kids
from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City to name him their "Role
Model of the Year," in January 2005. On the field, he led the Royals with a .300
batting average and added 21 home runs and 83 RBI despite being limited to 121
games because of injury.
Boston Red Sox designated hitter
David Ortiz was selected AL Outstanding Player after posting some impressive
numbers in 2005. Ortiz' 148 RBIs led the majors, and his mark of 47 home runs
ranked third on the season. The Red Sox' slugger hit 43 of his 47 homers as a
designated hitter, breaking Edgar Martinez's record of 37 in 2000. Ortiz also
furthered his reputation as a clutch player, hitting .396 when he had the
opportunity (in the seventh inning or later) to tie or put the Red Sox ahead. He
now totals 119 home runs in his three seasons in Boston.
Los Angeles Angels starter Bartolo Colon, captured the American League's Outstanding Pitcher award, by finishing
the season as the AL's only 20-game winner, going 21-8 with two complete games.
This mark made him the first Angels' pitcher, since Nolan Ryan in 1974, to win
20 or more games. Colon's 3.48 ERA and 157 strikeouts also ranked in the Top 10
among AL starters.
The National League's Outstanding
Rookie award went to center fielder Willy Taveras of the Houston Astros.
Taveras' 172 hits, 82 runs scored, and 34 stolen bases led all rookies in the
NL. The Astros' speedster started 143 regular-season games and led the majors in
infield hits, tallying 71. His .291 batting average ranked among the top 20 in
the NL.
Oakland A's reliever Huston Street
was named Outstanding Rookie for the American League. Street saved 23 games in
2005, leading all MLB rookies. He also crushed the A's rookie save record of 12,
set in 1969 by Rollie Fingers. Street's ERA of 1.72 ranked second among all AL
relievers and was the third lowest in A's history based on a minimum of 70
innings pitched.
The National League's Comeback
Player of the Year was awarded to Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Cincinnati Reds.
Griffey came back from a string of injuries, most notably tearing his right
hamstring from the bone. The center fielder had a revolutionary surgery
performed in August 2004, having the hamstring reattached with three screws.
After months of rehab, Griffey came back to post a .301 batting average, as well
as hit 35 home runs and 92 RBIs. This will be Griffey's third Player's Choice
award after being named Player of the Decade in 1999 and AL Player of the Year
in 1997.
Rounding out the 2005 awards is New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi, the Players Choice for American League
Comeback Player of the Year. Giambi came back from a list of problems, which
included a benign pituitary tumor, inflamed knee, and respiratory and intestinal
infections. Giambi finished the season with 32 home runs, hitting his 300th
career home run against the Los Angeles Angels on July 31st. He also led the AL
in walks with 108 and on-base percentage at .440.
The Players Choice Awards winners
are selected by all Major League players via secret balloting at ballparks under
the supervision of KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm. This year's vote
took place on September 13 & 14.
Each Players Choice Award winner
will designate the charity of his choice to receive a grant from the Players
Trust, a not-for-profit foundation created and administered by the players, in
an amount ranging from $20,000 to $50,000. Through the Players Trust, Major
leaguers contribute their time, money and celebrity to call attention to
important causes affecting the needy and to help encourage others to get
involved in their own communities. The Players Trust makes financial and in-kind
contributions to charities around the world.
The 2005 Players Choice Awards
Winners & Runners-up (winners in bold type):
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
Outstanding
Player: David Ortiz (Boston), Alex Rodriguez (NY
Yankees), Mark Teixeira (Texas)
Outstanding Pitcher: Mark Buehrle (Chicago White Sox), Bartolo Colon (LA Angels), Jon Garland (Chicago White Sox)
Outstanding Rookie: Gustavo Chacin (Toronto), Jonny Gomes (Tampa Bay), Huston Street
(Oakland)
Comeback Player of the Year: Jason Giambi (NY
Yankees), Richie Sexson (Seattle), Bob Wickman (Cleveland)
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
Outstanding Player: Andruw
Jones (Atlanta), Derrek Lee (Chicago Cubs), Albert Pujols (St. Louis)
Outstanding Pitcher: Chris Carpenter (St. Louis),
Roger Clemens (Houston), Dontrelle Willis (Florida)
Outstanding
Rookie: Jeff Francoeur (Atlanta), Ryan Howard (Philadelphia),
Willy Taveras (Houston)
Comeback Player of the
Year: Tony Clark (Arizona), Ken Griffey Jr.
(Cincinnati), Todd Jones (Florida)
EITHER LEAGUE:
Player of the Year: Andruw
Jones (Atlanta), Derrek Lee (Chicago Cubs), Albert Pujols (St.
Louis)
Marvin Miller Man of the Year: Derek Jeter (NY
Yankees), Albert Pujols (St. Louis), Mike Sweeney (Kansas City)
Past Players Choice Awards winners:
2004
Player of
the Year: Barry Bonds; Marvin Miller Man of the Year: Jim Thome; Outstanding
Player, AL: Ichiro Suzuki; Outstanding Player, NL: Barry Bonds; Outstanding
Pitcher, AL: Johan Santana; Outstanding Pitcher, NL: Jason Schmidt; Outstanding
Rookie, AL: Bobby Crosby; Outstanding Rookie, NL: Jason Bay; Comeback Player,
AL: Orlando Hernandez; Comeback Player, NL: Chris Carpenter
2003
Player of
the Year: Albert Pujols; Marvin Miller Man of the Year: John Smoltz; Outstanding
Player, AL: Alex Rodriguez; Outstanding Player, NL: Albert Pujols; Outstanding
Pitcher, AL: Roy Halladay; Outstanding Pitcher, NL: Eric Gagne; Outstanding
Rookie, AL: Angel Berroa; Outstanding Rookie, NL: Scott Podsednik; Comeback
Player, AL: Estaban Loaiza; Comeback Player, NL: Rod Beck
2002
Player of
the Year: Alex Rodriguez; Marvin Miller Man of the Year: John Smoltz;
Outstanding Player, AL: Alex Rodriguez; Outstanding Player, NL: Barry Bonds;
Outstanding Pitcher, AL: Barry Zito; Outstanding Pitcher, NL: Curt Schilling;
Outstanding Rookie, AL: Eric Hinske; Outstanding Rookie, NL: Jason Jennings;
Comeback Player, AL: Tim Salmon; Comeback Player, NL: Mike Lieberthal & John
Smoltz (tie)
2001
Player of
the Year: Barry Bonds; Marvin Miller Man of the Year: Jim Thome; Outstanding
Player, AL: Alex Rodriguez; Outstanding Player, NL: Barry Bonds; Outstanding
Pitcher, AL: Roger Clemens; Outstanding Pitcher, NL: Curt Schilling; Outstanding
Rookie, AL: Ichiro Suzuki; Outstanding Rookie, NL: Albert Pujols; Comeback
Player, AL: Ruben Sierra; Comeback Player, NL: Matt Morris
2000
Player of
the Year: Carlos Delgado; Marvin Miller Man of the Year: Eric Davis; Outstanding
Player, AL: Carlos Delgado; Outstanding Player, NL: Todd Helton; Outstanding
Pitcher, AL: Pedro Martinez; Outstanding Pitcher, NL: Randy Johnson; Outstanding
Rookie, AL: Terrence Long; Outstanding Rookie, NL: Rafael Furcal; Comeback
Player, AL: Frank Thomas; Comeback Player, NL: Andres Galarraga
1999
Player of
the Decade: Ken Griffey; Player of the Year: Pedro Martinez; Man of the Year:
Sammy Sosa; Outstanding Player, AL: Manny Ramirez; Outstanding Player, NL:
Chipper Jones; Outstanding Pitcher, AL: Pedro Martinez; Outstanding Pitcher, NL:
Mike Hampton; Outstanding Rookie, AL: Carlos Beltran; Outstanding Rookie, NL:
Preston Wilson; Comeback Player, AL: John Jaha; Comeback Player, NL: Alex Fernandez
1998
Player of
the Year: Mark McGwire; Man of the Year: Paul Molitor; Outstanding Player, AL:
Alex Rodriguez; Outstanding Player, NL: Sammy Sosa; Outstanding Pitcher, AL:
(tie) Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens; Outstanding Pitcher, NL: Greg Maddux;
Outstanding Rookie, AL: Ben Grieve; Outstanding Rookie, NL: Kerry Wood; Comeback
Player, AL: Eric Davis; Comeback Player, NL: Greg Vaughn
1997
Man of the
Year: Mark McGwire; Outstanding Player, AL: Ken Griffey, Jr.; Outstanding
Player, NL: Larry Walker; Outstanding Pitcher, AL: Roger Clemens; Outstanding
Pitcher, NL: Pedro Martinez; Outstanding Rookie, AL: Nomar Garciaparra;
Outstanding Rookie, NL: Scott Rolen; Comeback Player, AL: David Justice;
Comeback Player, NL: Darren Daulton
1996
Outstanding Player,
AL: Alex Rodriguez; Outstanding Player, NL: Ken Caminiti; Outstanding Pitcher,
AL: Pat Hentgen; Outstanding Pitcher, NL: John Smoltz; Outstanding Rookie, AL:
Derek Jeter; Outstanding Rookie, NL: Todd Hollandsworth
1995
Outstanding Player,
AL: Albert Belle; Outstanding Player, NL: Dante Bichette; Outstanding Pitcher,
AL: Randy Johnson; Outstanding Pitcher, NL: Greg Maddux; Outstanding Rookie, AL:
Marty Cordova; Outstanding Rookie, NL: Chipper Jones
1994
Outstanding Player,
AL: Frank Thomas; Outstanding Player, NL: Jeff Bagwell; Outstanding Pitcher, AL:
Jimmy Key; Outstanding Pitcher, NL: Greg Maddux; Outstanding Rookie, AL: Bob
Hamelin; Outstanding Rookie, NL: Raul Mondesi
1993
Outstanding Player,
AL: Frank Thomas ; Outstanding Player, NL: Barry Bonds
1992
Outstanding Player,
AL: Dennis Eckersley; Outstanding Player, NL: Barry Bonds
The Major League Baseball Players
Association (www.MLBPLAYERS.com) is the collective bargaining representative for
all professional baseball players of the thirty Major League Baseball teams and
serves as the exclusive group licensing agent for commercial and licensing
activities involving active Major League baseball players. On behalf of its
members, it operates the Players Choice licensing program and Players Choice
Awards, which benefit the needy through the Major League Baseball Players Trust,
a charitable foundation established and run entirely by Major League baseball
players.