| | LAS VEGAS -- Boston Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez and Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. were the evening's big winners at the 1999 Players Choice Awards.
Martinez took home the Player of the Year award and was also selected on nearly every ballot for American League's Outstanding Pitcher. His domination was so complete that no other finalists emerged in the category. |  | | Martinez took home two awards |
"It's just an incredible honor," said Martinez. "To be selected by my peers means so much."
Martinez was 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA, five complete games, 313 strikeouts and just 37 walks over 213.1 innings pitched. He held opponents to a .205 batting average. It was the third straight year he has won an Outstanding Pitcher award.
Griffey got the nod as the Player of the '90s by beating out Barry Bonds and Greg Maddux. Junior finished the decade with 382 HRs, 1,002 runs and 1,091 RBI while hitting at a .300 clip. In addition, he has won nine straight gold gloves and was selected as an All-Star starter each year of this decade.
The Outstanding Player honors went to Chipper Jones in the National League and Manny Ramirez in the American League. Jones solidified his quest for the honor late in September when he crushed four HRs to help the Braves sweep the Mets in a four-game series to win their Division title. For the season, Jones hit .319 with a career-high 45 HRs and 110 RBI.
Ramirez, who was not at the ceremony, set career-highs with a .333 average, 131 runs scored. His 44 HRs ranked third in the AL. He also became the first major leaguer to top 160 RBI since Jimmie Foxx did it in 1938.
Astros left-hander Mike Hampton was picked as the NL Outstanding Pitcher. Hampton finished the season with a career-high 22 wins to lead the league. His 2.90 ERA ranked third in the NL and he helped Houston claime their third straight NL Central title.
Preston Wilson of the Marlins and Carlos Beltran of the Royals were chosen as the top rookies while Alex Fernandez of the Marlins and John Jaha of the Athletics were chosen as the Comeback Players.
The finalists for the Players Choice Awards are listed below. All winners were voted upon by major league players in balloting conducted in late September by the Arthur Andersen accounting firm.
American League
Outstanding Player
Roberto Alomar
Rafael Palmeiro
Manny Ramirez (winner)
Outstanding Pitcher
Pedro Martinez (winner)
Outstanding Rookie
Carlos Beltran (winner)
Freddy Garcia
Jeff Zimmerman
Comeback Player of the Year
John Jaha (winner)
Luis Polonia
Randy Velarde
National League
Outstanding Player
Jeff Bagwell
Chipper Jones (winner)
Sammy Sosa
Outstanding Pitcher
Randy Johnson
Mike Hampton (winner)
Jose Lima
Outstanding Rookie
Warren Morris
Scott Williamson
Preston Wilson (winner)
Comeback Player of the Year
Kent Bottenfield
Alex Fernandez (winner)
Rickey Henderson
Both Leagues
Player of the Decade
Barry Bonds
Ken Griffey Jr. (winner)
Greg Maddux
Player of the Year
Pedro Martinez (winner)
Rafael Palmeiro
Sammy Sosa
Man of the Year
Cal Ripken
Sammy Sosa (winner)
Matt Williams | |
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