MLB Managers of the Year: Francona and Hurdle

Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians and Clint Hurdle of the Pittsburgh Pirates won the Manager of the Year awards Tuesday. Francona (left in photo) edged John Farrell of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox for the American League honor 112 points to 96 in a close vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. It was the first Manager of the Year honor for Francona.In his first season with the Indians, he directed them to a 24-win improvement and their first playoff berth in six years. Hurdle (right) was a runaway winner, selected first on 25 of 30 ballots by the N.L. panel after taking the Pirates to the playoffs in their first winning season since 1992. Don Mattingly of the Dodgers came in second. It also was the first Manager of the Year honor for the 56-year-old Hurdle. – AP