Rafael Furcal Named NL Rookie of Year

Nov. 7 -- Atlanta Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal was a runaway winner today in voting for the NL Rookie of the Year.

Furcal, who hit .295 with 40 steals in 54 chances, received 25of 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’Association of America.

The only player listed on all 32 ballots, Furcal got six secondsand one third for 144 points.

Sixth Prize for the BravesRick Ankiel of the St. Louis Cardinals, who gained notorietyduring the playoffs by becoming the first pitcher in 110 years tothrow five wild pitches in one inning, was second with 87 points,getting six firsts, 17 seconds and six thirds.

New York Mets outfielder Jay Payton was third with 37 points,followed by Philadelphia outfielder-first baseman Pat Burrell with10 points and Houston catcher Mitch Meluskey with seven.

Furcal, whose claimed age of 19 has been disputed, became thefirst middle infielder to win the NL award since Steve Sax of LosAngeles in 1982. He became the sixth Braves player to win, joiningAlvin Dark (1948), Sam Jethroe (1950), Earl Williams (1971), BobHorner (1978) and David Justice (1990).

After spending 1999 at Class A, Furcal led NL rookies in runs(87), walks (73), steals and on-base percentage (.394). He had onlyfour homers — all in September — and 37 RBIs,

While he batted .306 against right-handers, he slumped to .250against left-handers.

Ankiel Goes WildAnkiel was 11-7 with a 3.50 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 175innings, helping St. Louis win the NL Central.

That was overshadowed by his performance in the third inning ofthe Cardinals’ postseason opener, when he became only the secondpitcher in major league history to throw five wild pitches, joiningBert Cunningham, who did it for Buffalo of the Players League onSept. 15, 1890.

“Something obviously was wrong,” Ankiel said. “What do youdo? Put it behind you and look forward to the next one.”

During the regular season, Ankiel threw 12 wild pitches. By thetime the postseason was done, Ankiel had nine wild pitches and 11walks in only four innings.