Suzuki second rookie voted MVP award

<br>NEW YORK (AP) _ Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki narrowly beat Jason Giambi for the American League's Most Valuable Player award Tuesday, becoming only the second rookie to win the honor. <br><br>Suzuki,

Tuesday, November 20th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki narrowly beat Jason Giambi for the American League's Most Valuable Player award Tuesday, becoming only the second rookie to win the honor.

Suzuki, who came to the major leagues after nine seasons in Japan's Pacific League, received 11 first-place votes and 289 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Oakland's Giambi, last year's AL MVP, got eight first-place votes and 281 points.

It was the tightest MVP race since Juan Gonzalez defeated Alex Rodriguez 290-287 for the 1996 AL award.

The only other rookie to win the MVP in either league was Boston's Fred Lynn in 1975.

Last week, the 28-year-old Suzuki received 27 of 28 first-place votes in balloting for AL Rookie of the Year.

Suzuki, the first rookie to win a batting title since Tony Oliva in 1964, led the major leagues with a .350 average and 56 stolen bases. His 242 hits were a rookie record and the most for anyone since Bill Terry's 254 for the 1930 New York Giants.

Giambi batted .342 with 38 homers and 120 RBIs for the Athletics, then became a free agent after the World Series. He is expected to be one of the most sought-after free agents, and the New York Yankees intend to aggressively court him.

Seattle second baseman Bret Boone, who hit .331 with 37 homers and 141 RBIs, was third in the balloting with 259 points, followed by Cleveland second baseman Roberto Alomar (165), Gonzalez (156) and Rodriguez (141).

Seattle paid Japan's Orix Blue Wave $13,125,000 after the 2000 season for the rights to Suzuki, then gave him a three-year contract that guaranteed him $14,088,000.

Suzuki, who got a $75,000 bonus for winning the rookie award, gets a $150,000 bonus for the MVP. Giambi gets $75,000 for finishing second.

On Monday, San Francisco's Barry Bonds won the National League MVP award, becoming the first four-time MVP.