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Glove story Pudge still golden; three Indians infielders honored
Updated: Tuesday November 07, 2000 8:39 AM
NEW YORK (AP) -- Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez won his ninth straight AL Gold Glove despite missing the last two months of the season because of a broken right thumb, and three Cleveland infielders were honored for their fielding excellence. Second baseman Roberto Alomar, shortstop Omar Vizquel and third baseman Travis Fryman all won for Cleveland, the team announced Monday. The Indians became the first club to have three infielders earn Gold Gloves in the same season since Baltimore in 1975. Alomar earned his ninth award overall and Vizquel won for the eighth year in a row. The Rangers announced Monday that Rodriguez and pitcher Kenny Rogers had won Gold Gloves. Kansas City outfielder Jermaine Dye also was honored, the Royals said. Rawlings, which presents the awards, will officially announce the AL team at 6 p.m. EST Tuesday and the NL team at 6 p.m. EST Wednesday. Major league managers and coaches vote on the honors.
Rodriguez broke his thumb on July 24 and appeared in just 87 games as a catcher. He led all AL qualifiers with a career-high .996 fielding percentage (two errors in 543 total chances). "I was surprised because I got hurt two month before the season was over," Rodriguez said. "I played the best I could until I got hurt." Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves for Cincinnati from 1968-77. Rodriguez went 61 consecutive games without an error and threw out 16 of 33 (48 percent) baserunners attempting to steal against him during his abbreviated season. Rogers became the first Texas pitcher ever to win a Gold Glove. In the process, he ended Mike Mussina's four-year hold on the award for AL pitchers. "It was a real surprise," Rogers said. "This is something I try to do well. Fielding is important to me. It's something I care about." Rogers led AL pitchers with 66 total chances, 46 assists, and six double plays, the latter tying the club record. He had two errors (.970 fielding percentage). Rogers also led AL pitchers with nine pickoffs. It is only the fourth time that a pitcher and catcher from the same team have won Gold Gloves. The last pitcher-catcher combo to do so was Bret Saberhagen and Bob Boone of Kansas City in 1989. Vizquel tied a major league record for shortstops by committing only three errors. Alomar won from 1991-96, and also has won the last three years. Fryman won for the first time. Dye became the first Kansas City outfielder to win a Gold Glove since Willie Wilson in 1980. "I know I can't get too high on myself," said Dye, who was also voted to start in the All-Star team. "I've still got to go out there and work and make myself better because I know I can get better at this game and become a real impact player in this league." Dye, 26, is the first Royals player to win a Gold Glove since catcher Boone and pitcher Saberhagen did it in 1989.
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