Articles by Jeff Fletcher

Craig Kimbrel wins NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year unanimously

Atlanta Braves pitcher Craig Kimbrel, who set a major league record for saves by a first-year pitcher with 46 in tying the Milwaukee Brewers’ John Axford for the National League lead, was elected the NL winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award. Kimbrel received all 32 first-place…


Jeremy Hellickson wins AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year

Tampa Bay pitcher Jeremy Hellickson, who went undefeated in five consecutive starts against American League East opponents in September as the Rays earned the wild-card playoff berth, was voted the AL winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award. Hellickson, 24, was listed first on 17 of the…


Awards Begin Today

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will begin announcing the winners of its annual awards today at 2 p.m. ET, with the AL and NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards. All results will be first posted right here. Voting was conducted at the end of the regular season….


Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven elected to Hall of Fame

Roberto Alomar, a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winning second baseman, and Bert Blyleven, a 287-game winning pitcher who ranks fifth on the all-time strikeout list, were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in balloting verified by Ernst & Young….


Philadelphia writer Bill Conlin wins Spink Award

Bill Conlin, whose professional career has covered half a century during which he distinguished himself as a reporter, author and television commentator with an emphasis on baseball, was elected the 2011 winner of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He will be…


Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton wins AL MVP

Josh Hamilton, who was a central figure in the Texas Rangers reaching the World Series for the first time in the franchise’s 50th season, was voted the American League Most Valuable Player in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Hamilton, 29, won the batting title with a .359…


Reds’ Joey Votto runs away with NL MVP Award

Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto, who helped the Reds win the National League Central title for their first post-season berth in 15 years, was an overwhelming choice as the NL Most Valuable Player in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Of the 32 ballots submitted by two writers…


Felix Hernandez’s Cy Young Award is a victory for looking beyond victories

Seattle Mariners righthander Felix Hernandez may have had trouble posting victories in 2010, but he was a convincing winner in the voting for the American League Cy Young Award. Hernandez, known as “King Felix,” was crowned despite posting a victory total that was the lowest for any winner in either…


Bud Black wins Manager of the Year by narrowest margin

Bud Black of the San Diego Padres narrowly out-pointed Dusty Baker of the Cincinnati Reds to win the National League Manager of the Year Award in one of the closest races in the history of BBWAA balloting. Black’s victory was by a single point, marking the third time in NL…


Five-time runner-up Ron Gardenhire wins Manager of the Year

Ron Gardenhire, who had been the runner-up in five previous elections, finished on top in 2010 in winning the American League Manager of the Year Award for the first time in balloting by the BBWAA. Gardenhire, 53, was listed first on 16 of the 28 ballots cast by two writers…