Friday, October 13, 2006
Horton, Blasingame win Rookie honors
Oct. 8, 1965
Willie Horton led all PWBL rookies with 34 homeruns while Wade Blasingame placed first with 17 rookie wins, and today the two were honored with Rookie of the Year awards.
Horton, the 22-year-old left fielder for the San Diego Padres, outpolled 16-game winner Pete Richert of the New York Mets by 42 votes to 33 to take home the trophy for best rookie in the Players League.
Meanwhile, Blasingame prevailed in a tight three-way Federal League race, edging Curt Blefary of the Cincinnati Reds by 34 votes to 28. The San Francisco Giants' Joe Morgan was a close third with 21 votes.
The 21-year-old Houston Buffs southpaw won 17 games against 14 losses while compiling an ERA of 3.29 in 34 starts. Blasingame became the fifth Rookie of the Year in Houston history.
Horton, the first Rookie of the Year since his franchise relocated to San Diego from Milwaukee, clubbed 34 homers and drove in 95 runs while hitting .265. His slugging percentage of .501 was seventh best in the Players League.
Blefary was the second-best slugger among rookies, banging out 29 homeruns. The 21-year-old Brooklyn native hit just .233, however.
Morgan, the Giants' 21-year-old second baseman, reached base at a .348 clip, but he too suffered because of his .235 batting average.
Richert's record of 16 wins and 6 losses duplicated that of 16-years-older teammate Robin Roberts. The 22-year-old southpaw from Floral Park, N.Y., went 7 and 1 in July and August as the Mets sprinted to the Williams Division title.
No other Players League rookie received more than five votes.
Voting results:
Willie Horton led all PWBL rookies with 34 homeruns while Wade Blasingame placed first with 17 rookie wins, and today the two were honored with Rookie of the Year awards.
Horton, the 22-year-old left fielder for the San Diego Padres, outpolled 16-game winner Pete Richert of the New York Mets by 42 votes to 33 to take home the trophy for best rookie in the Players League.
Meanwhile, Blasingame prevailed in a tight three-way Federal League race, edging Curt Blefary of the Cincinnati Reds by 34 votes to 28. The San Francisco Giants' Joe Morgan was a close third with 21 votes.
The 21-year-old Houston Buffs southpaw won 17 games against 14 losses while compiling an ERA of 3.29 in 34 starts. Blasingame became the fifth Rookie of the Year in Houston history.
Horton, the first Rookie of the Year since his franchise relocated to San Diego from Milwaukee, clubbed 34 homers and drove in 95 runs while hitting .265. His slugging percentage of .501 was seventh best in the Players League.
Blefary was the second-best slugger among rookies, banging out 29 homeruns. The 21-year-old Brooklyn native hit just .233, however.
Morgan, the Giants' 21-year-old second baseman, reached base at a .348 clip, but he too suffered because of his .235 batting average.
Richert's record of 16 wins and 6 losses duplicated that of 16-years-older teammate Robin Roberts. The 22-year-old southpaw from Floral Park, N.Y., went 7 and 1 in July and August as the Mets sprinted to the Williams Division title.
No other Players League rookie received more than five votes.
Voting results:
Federal League
W.Blasingame, Hou 34
C.Blefary, Cin 28
J.Morgan, SFG 21
J.Cardenal, Pit 6
J.Gosger, Hou 1
Players League
W.Horton, SD 42
P.Richert, NYM 33
T.Perez, Sea 5
J.Lonborg, LA 3
D.Sutherland, NYM 3
G.Wagner, Cle 2
J.Alou, Det 1
J.Lefebvre, StL 1
# posted by PWBL : 3:43 PM
