Mauer Wins AL MVP
Mauer Becomes Fifth Minnesota Twin to Recieve MVP Award
Joe Mauer completed the season with a major league best .365 batting average, his third batting title. Mauer is the only catcher who has won three batting titles, and the only catcher who has ever won a batting title in the American League. Mauer added to his amazing year by leading the majors in on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587). It is the first year a catcher has led the MLB in all three categories.
Joe Mauer received a total of 387 points in balloting done by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Mauer finished ahead of a pair of New York Yankees, first baseman Mark Teixeira and shortstop Derek Jeter. Teixeira finished with 225 points and Jeter 193. Miguel Cabrera finished fourth in the balloting with 171 points in balloting.
The season started late for Joe Mauer due to a back injury suffered during spring training. Mauer missed the entire month of April, but returned May 1 to help keep the Minnesota Twins in contention in the American League Central division. May was a good month for Joe Mauer as he held a hot bat for the Twins. Mauer hit .414 with 11 home runs and 32 runs batted in, in 28 games, for the month of May. His efforts earned him AL Player of the Month honors.
Joe Mauer did not disappoint with the changing of the seasons, keeping the Minnesota Twins within striking distance of the division leading Detroit Tigers. Joe Mauer's hot bat kept the Twins in contention when injuries to key players Justin Morneau and Joe Crede left the Twins wanting for a powerful bat. Mauer hit .378 with 2 home runs and 14 runs batted in during his final 21 games. The Twins did catch the Detroit Tigers to win the American League Central crown.
Mauer is the fifth Minnesota Twin to win the AL MVP award. Justin Morneau won the award in 2006. Other Twins to win the award are Zoilo Versalles (1965), Harmon Killebrew (1969), and Rod Carew (1977).
Mauer is the first catcher since Ivan Rodriguez to win an MVP award. Rodriguez won the MVP award in 1999.
The Baseball Writers Association of America votes each year for the Most Valuable Player award.
2009 AL MVP
Baseball Writers Association of America
Published by Mark Lindgren
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