A-Rod captures AL-record tying third MVP Award
November 19th, 2007
New York, NY (Sports Network) - New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has been named the American League's Most Valuable Player for the third time, as voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Rodriguez, who ties the AL record with his three awards, garnered 382 points to outdistance Detroit's Magglio Ordonez, marking the 22nd time that a Yankee has won this award. Rodriguez placed first on 26 of the 28 ballots cast by two writers from each AL city and second on two others.
Ordonez picked up two first-place votes, with 22 seconds and was third on four other ballots for a total of 258, based on a tabulation system that rewards 14 points for first place, nine for second, eight for third on down to one for 10th.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Vladimir Guerrero finished third with 203 points.
Rodriguez, who won this award in 2003 with Texas and two years ago with the Yankees, hit .314 and led the majors with both 54 home runs and 156 RBI to help his team to its 13th straight postseason appearance. He also became the youngest player to hit his 500th home run this season, while also leading the league in runs scored with 143 and total bases with 376.
The 32-year-old superstar, who finished 29 homers and 53 RBI ahead of his closest teammate, answered some of his critics this season, as he batted .333 with 18 homers and 98 RBI with runners in scoring position, and hit .349 in the seventh inning or later.
Rodriguez, though, became a free agent after he chose to opt out of his deal with the Yankees, despite the team saying they would not pursue him if he did. Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, who leaked the announcement of the opt out during the final game of the World Series, boasted about a potential $350 million payday, all while his client was taking a huge PR hit for the way the whole situation was being handled.
But low and behold, Rodriguez went back to the Yankees through a third party, and according to reports both sides are closing in on a 10-year deal that will pay him anywhere from $270-275 million.
In addition to Rodriguez's two awards, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig (2), Spud Chandler, Joe DiMaggio (3), Joe Gordon, Phil Rizzuto, Yogi Berra (3), Mickey Mantle (3), Roger Maris (2), Elston Howard, Thurman Munson and Don Mattingly have also been honored as Yankees.