AL Gold Glove Winners

[Murphy3]

Seattle sweeps four AL Gold Gloves


November 4, 2003
NEW YORK (AP) -- Seattle outfielders Ichiro Suzuki and Mike Cameron and Mariners infielders Bret Boone and John Olerud won AL Gold Gloves on Tuesday.

All nine winners had previously earned the honor for fielding excellence. There were seven repeat winners from last season -- New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina and Cameron rejoined the list this year.

Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez, Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez, Minnesota outfielder Torii Hunter and Anaheim catcher Bengie Molina also were chosen.


A-Rod won for the second straight season. Last year, he broke Omar Vizquel's string of nine consecutive Gold Gloves.

``I worked very, very hard,'' Rodriguez said, ``to back it up this year with my second one.''

``For a long time, you get overlooked when you're an offensive player and put up offensive numbers,'' he said.

Rodriguez hit 47 home runs, tied with Philadelphia's Jim Thome for most in the majors, with 118 RBIs while batting .298.

Rodriguez said he isn't holding out much hope of being picked as the AL MVP later this month. The Rangers finished last at 71-91.

``That award, I've pretty much given up on,'' he said. ``If I finish second or third for 10 or 15 years, that's equivalent to one.''

The NL Gold Glove winners will be announced Wednesday.

Gold Gloves, presented since 1957 by St. Louis-based Rawlings, are voted on by managers and coaches before the end of the regular season. They may not select players on their own teams, and they vote only for players in their own league.

Mussina won for the sixth time overall. Last year, Texas pitcher Kenny Rogers was picked.

Cameron won for the second time, replacing Anaheim's Darin Erstad in the outfield. Suzuki and Hunter each won for the third straight season.

Olerud won at first base for the third time. Boone won his third AL Gold Glove at second base -- he also got one with Cincinnati in 1998.

Chavez was picked for his third Gold Glove and Molina won his second in a row.

[bogey]

Congrats ARod!