NEW YORK -- Huston Street kept the AL rookie of the year award in-house.
Oakland's poised closer became the second consecutive winner from the Athletics, and Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard won the NL award on Monday.
Street hardly had to look far for inspiration. The previous AL winner was his roommate this season, A's shortstop Bobby Crosby.
"Maybe he rubbed off," Street said.
Street, who took over as Oakland's closer in May, got 15 of 28 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and finished with 97 points. New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano came in second with 57 points, followed by Tampa Bay designated hitter Jonny Gomes with 39.
Called up from the minors for good on July 1, Howard replaced injured star Jim Thome at first base and led all rookies with 22 home runs. He received 19 of 32 first-place votes and 109 points to beat out Houston outfielder Willy Taveras, who got 78 points. Atlanta right fielder Jeff Francoeur was third with 60.
|
|
| Huston Street is the sixth rookie of the year for the A's in 19 years. (Getty Images) |
"Things just started falling in," said Howard, surprised by his comfortable margin of victory. "You never want to see anyone hurt or injured, but I just came up and tried to make the most of my opportunity."
Street is the son of former Texas quarterback James Street, who led the Longhorns to a national title in 1969. The 22-year-old righty became Oakland's closer when Octavio Dotel went down May 20 with a season-ending elbow injury and went 5-1 with 23 saves in 27 chances and a 1.72 ERA -- second among AL closers to New York's Mariano Rivera.
"It's a tremendous honor. Coming into the season my goal was just to stay, one day at a time. Coming out of spring training it didn't even look like I had a chance to make the team," Street said. "Rookie of the year, it's something that's pretty cool -- you've got one chance to get it done."
Street had 72 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings, and opponents batted only .194 against him.
"He worked hard," James Street said. "The biggest thing is he got lucky with the Dotel situation, but he went out and got the job done. I'm awful proud of him, his mom and I both are. I told him, 'In sports they give you awards for things you've already done, so what are you going to do next year?' He still got the job done. They can't ever take that away from him."
Now the family has another prize to put in the crowded trophy room at home.
