Good Citizen Vaughn Gains A Narrow Victory In Voting For A.L. Mvp

Mo Vaughn posted big numbers early, carrying the Boston Red Sox when there was no one else. Albert Belle poured it on later, after the Cleveland Indians were running away.

So is that why Vaughn won the American League MVP award, or was it because of another factor, one far from the field?

Vaughn beat out Belle for the trophy Thursday in one of the closest elections ever, a vote that called into question whether the Cleveland star’s surliness cost him the honor.

Vaughn, considered one of baseball’s nice guys, and Belle, regarded by many as Mr. Nasty, tied for the league lead with 126 RBIs. Belle, however, led the majors with 50 home runs in the shortened season and became the first player to get 100 extra-base hits since Stan Musial in 1948.

But Belle has earned a reputation for being uncooperative and downright rude to reporters - who do the voting. He is expected to be penalized by Major League Baseball this month for berating a television reporter during the World Series, although that outburst came after all 28 ballots were returned.

“I guess it really does say something,” Vaughn said at a news conference in Boston, held at a center where he founded a youth development program. “People are looking at the whole thing and that it’s just not numbers.”

Vaughn, regarded by media members and fans as one of the nice guys in baseball, hit .300 with 39 home runs as the first baseman for the A.L. East champion Boston Red Sox. Belle batted .317 as an All-Star outfielder for the Indians, whose 100 wins were the most in the majors.

Vaughn received 12 first-place votes, 12 seconds and four thirds for a total of 308 points. Belle got 11 first-place votes, 10 seconds and seven thirds for 300 points.

Seattle designated hitter Edgar Martinez received four first-place votes and was third with 244 points. Indians reliever Jose Mesa got the other first-place vote and was fourth with 130.

Mariners outfielder Jay Buhner was fifth in the voting and Seattle’s Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson was sixth.

Maricopa County (Ariz.) supervisors have delayed a vote on stadium funding that could affect the future of spring baseball in Mesa and Chandler.

At issue are requests for $17.5 million to help build a new Chicago Cubs training complex in Mesa, and $15.25 million for a ballpark proposed for western Phoenix by developer John F. Long, whose intended tenant is the Milwaukee Brewers.

With a legal challenge hanging in the air, the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball District approved increasing the sales tax one-tenth of 1 percent in five area counties to pay for a new Milwaukee Brewers stadium.

The Oakland Athletics made it official by giving former Houston skipper Art Howe a two-year contract to become their manager.