Maddux Ap Player Of Year

Greg Maddux added another award, becoming the first pitcher selected the Associated Press baseball player of the year.

Maddux received 30 votes in nationwide balloting by sportswriters and broadcasters. Cleveland’s Albert Belle was second with 24, followed by Boston’s Mo Vaughn with five and Seattle’s Randy Johnson with three.

Since the award was instituted in 1988, it had been won each year by position players. But Maddux’s amazing season, which earned him an unprecedented fourth consecutive Cy Young Award, was too much for the voters to overlook.

“This is a very nice honor, considering all the other players they could have chosen,” Maddux said. “I really believe it could have gone to any number of guys. A lot of great players had great years this year.”

When he won the Cy Young Award last week, Maddux said it still was hard for him to understand when people compare him with Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton.

Maddux was 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA last season, leading the N.L. in wins. He became the first major leaguer since Walter Johnson in 1918-19 to have an ERA under 1.80 in consecutive seasons.