Garciaparra, Thome feted

NEW YORK – Re-emerging with the Los Angeles Dodgers after two injury-shortened seasons with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, Nomar Garciaparra was voted National League Comeback Player of the Year.

Jim Thome was the American League winner in his first season with the Chicago White Sox.

Garciaparra won the award despite playing the final weeks of the season with an injured oblique muscle and left quadriceps, which he tore during Thursday night’s N.L. divisional league game against the New York Mets.

The 33-year-old first baseman played in 122 games and hit .303 with 20 homers and 93 runs batted in, making his sixth All-Star game.

Garciaparra, who played a total of 143 games in 2004-05, received 72,054 votes in fan balloting announced Saturday by Major League Baseball commissioner’s office.

“It’s quite an honor, I’m fortunate to win something like that,” Garciaparra said. “I’ve always said it’s a byproduct of my team. These guys are special guys.”

Thome, dealt to Chicago by Philadelphia last November following the emergence of Ryan Howard, batted .288 with 42 homers, 109 RBIs and 107 walks. He received 55,587 votes.