Derek Jeter and Ryan Howard were among the 13 first-time winners of the Silver Slugger Award on Friday, an honour given to the top offensive performers in Major League Baseball at their respective positions.
Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Tejada split time garnering the award during Jeter's nine-year career, but the New York Yankees shortstop finally broke through after batting .343 with 14 home runs and 97 runs batted in 2006.
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter hit .343 and drove in 97 runs last season.
(Bill Kostroun/Associated Press)
Howard erupted for 58 homers and 149 RBIs in his sophomore season with Philadelphia while maintaining a .313 batting average.
He and Pete Rose are the only two first basemen in Phillies history to win a Silver Slugger.
Teammate Chase Utley was tabbed as the top offensive second baseman in the National League, with Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann, Florida Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera and New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes rounding out the NL infield.
New York's Carlos Beltran, Washington's Alfonso Soriano and Colorado's Matt Holliday were the three outfielders tabbed for the award, and Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano rounded out the NL.
In the American League, Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez took home his eighth straight Silver Slugger and ninth overall, which ties him with Barry Larkin for third place all-time. Only Barry Bonds (12) and Mike Piazza (10) have more.
Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels picked up his sixth Silver Slugger, while Boston's David Ortiz received his third trophy.
All of the other AL recipients were tabbed for the first time — Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, Chicago White Sox third baseman Joe Crede and Minnesota Twins teammates Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau rounded out the infield; Jermaine Dye of the White Sox got the final spot in the outfield.
