NEW YORK, 12 November 2003 — Kansas City Royals shortstop Angel Berroa was named American League rookie-of-the-year on Monday, while Florida Marlins young pitching sensation Dontrelle Willis won National League honors. Berroa beat New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui for the AL honor in the closest AL vote in 24 years.
The Royals shortstop picked up 88 points in the voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, four more than Matsui. Berroa had 12 first place votes, seven seconds and seven thirds in the 5-3-1 voting system, with Matsui getting 10 firsts, nine seconds and seven thirds.
Pena gave the good news to Berroa, who was home in the Dominican Republic and was soon inundated by local reporters.
“I asked him to sit down, but he couldn’t. He said he was jumping around,” said Pena, translating for Berroa. “He said it’s not much going on because many of his friends don’t know. The only people that have been showing up is the Dominican press — a lot of cameras and different papers in the Dominican Republic but he’s sure that once everybody hears the news, his house will be packed.”
In 1979, Minnesota’s John Castino and Toronto’s Alfredo Griffin shared the honor, leading to a change in the voting process the following year and Monday’s result was the closest since then.
Willis had an easier time winning the NL award, receiving 17 first-place votes and 118 points. Runner-up Scott Podsednik, an outfielder with the Milwaukee Brewers, got eight first place votes and 81 points.
Willis might have been the most publicized rookie in either league and there is little doubt that he gave the Marlins an emotional boost when they needed it most.
Willis started 11-2, but tailed off significantly before finishing 14-6 with a 3.30 ERA in 27 starts.
Berroa edged Matsui in most offensive categories, batting .287 with 17 homers and 73 RBI, along with 21 stolen bases and 92 runs scored. Matsui, a three-time MVP in Japan, hit .287 with 16 homers, 106 RBI, two stolen bases and 82 runs scored.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Rocco Baldelli finished a distant third with 51 points.
Willis was 14-6 with a 3.30 ERA, but endured a second-half slump after being 9-1 with a 2.08 ERA before the All-Star break. Podsednik batted .315 with nine home runs, 58 RBI, 43 stolen bases and 100 runs scored.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb was third in the NL voting.
Under the current system, members of the Baseball Writers’ Association select three players, with the first choice getting five points, second getting three points and third collecting a point.
