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10/28/2005 8:20 AM ET
Watch the Players Choice Awards live
Show airs 1 ET Thursday on MLB.com, MLBPLAYERS.com
By Doug Miller / MLB.com
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Albert Pujols is a finalist for the Player of the Year, Man of the Year and NL Outstanding Player. (Ron Heflin/AP)
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The regular season is long gone and the postseason is over, so that means it's time for Major League Baseball's awards season to begin.
The Players Choice Awards are a good place to start. Fans can watch the live presentation of the 2005 Players Choice Awards on BaseballChannel.TV, available exclusively on MLB.com and MLBPLAYERS.com. The show, hosted by Casey Stern and Billy Sample, will be broadcast from the MLB.com studios on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. ET.
National League sluggers Andruw Jones, Derrek Lee and Albert Pujols are the headliners as the finalists for the Player of the Year Award. There also is strong competition for the other awards, which include the Marvin Miller Man of the Year and honors for the outstanding players, pitchers, comeback players and rookies in each league.
The Players Choice Awards are the culmination of a unique process that annually allows players on all 30 teams to cast their votes. It is a responsibility that they don't take lightly considering how meaningful it is to win it, according to Washington Nationals catcher Brian Schneider.
"People respect what their peers think," Schneider said. "It means more to the guys to get selected by your peers and the people you play against. We're voting for our fellow friends and guys we play against, and it's our votes that matter. They don't get lost in the shuffle."
The overall Player of the Year award is the most prestigious, and Jones, Lee and Pujols make up a powerful trio. In fact, they finished 1-2-3 in the NL in home runs. Already one of the game's top defensive center fielders, Jones' 51 homers led the Majors and highlighted a breakthrough offensive season. Lee, in his first season with the Cubs, was considered a Triple Crown threat for most of the year and led the Majors with a .335 average to go with 46 home runs and 107 RBIs. Pujols was outstanding across the board with a .330 average, 41 homers and 117 RBIs.
Pujols is also a finalist for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, a designation recognizing performance and service on and off the field.
Winners of Players Choice Awards will receive a grant from the Players Trust toward a charity of their choice.
Here are profiles of the finalists for this year's Players Choice Awards:
Marvin Miller Man of the Year
Derek Jeter, SS, New York Yankees
Derek Jeter has been a fixture in New York and on baseball's October stage for years, but the Yankees' veteran shortstop also spends his fair share of time working with children. Jeter established the "Turn 2 Foundation" during his rookie season in 1996, making the decision to do so while sharing a pizza with his father in a Detroit hotel. The Turn 2 mission, according to its Web site, is to "support and create programs and activities that motivate youth to choose healthy lifestyles and 'turn away' from substances such as drugs and alcohol."
Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
His exploits on the field are well-known, but not everyone knows how much time Pujols spends working in the community and giving his time to -- among other things -- the Down's Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis. Pujols, whose daughter Isabella suffers from Down's Syndrome, serves as the spokesman for the organization. He and his wife Deidre head up the Pujols Family Foundation, an organization that raises money for multiple charities that are selected for donations three to four times per year.
Mike Sweeney, 1B, Kansas City Royals
As the face of the Royals for many years, Mike Sweeney has become a pillar on and off the field in Kansas City. Aside from his outstanding play on the field, Sweeney has given a great deal of time to several local children's groups, including Children's Mercy Hospital, the Boys & Girls Club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Youth Front. Mike also heads up "Sween Team," and through this organization hosts multiple Kansas City-area charity and non-profit groups.
Overall Player of the Year and NL Outstanding Player
Andruw Jones, CF, Atlanta Braves
On a team full of rookies and hit hard with injuries, Jones carried the load for much of the season, helping the Braves capture their 14th consecutive division title. Jones led the Major Leagues with 51 home runs and drove in 128 runs while playing in 160 games. Jones has played in 153 or more games in each season since 1997.
Derrek Lee, 1B, Chicago Cubs
For a good portion of the 2005 campaign, Lee was a legitimate threat to win the Triple Crown, carrying the Cubs' offense in the tough NL Central. By season's end, Lee led the Majors with a .335 batting average and hit 36 home runs and drove in 107 runs. Lee was the first member of the Cubs to win a batting title since Bill Buckner did so in 1980.
Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
Pujols was once again phenomenal in 2005, leading the Cardinals to the NL Central crown and the NL Championship Series with his .330 batting average, 41 home runs and 117 RBIs in 161 games. Already well-established in St. Louis as one of the all-time Redbird greats, Pujols displayed his ability to respond to pressure when he crushed a two-out, three-run home run against Houston star closer Brad Lidge in Game 5 of the NLCS, giving the Cardinals a 5-4 victory and life in the series.
AL Outstanding Player
David Ortiz, DH, Boston Red Sox
Ortiz is one of the most feared hitters in the game and he once again put up spectacular numbers in 2005. Ortiz finished in the top four in the AL in seven offensive categories and led the league with 148 RBIs. He ranked second in home runs (47), third in runs scored (119), fourth in on-base percentage (.397), third in OPS (1.001), second in walks (102) and second in slugging (.604).
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees
Year in and year out, you can count on one thing from Alex Rodriguez -- consistency. So it should not have come as a surprise that A-Rod was once again at or near the top of the AL in most offensive categories in 2005. Rodriguez led the league with 48 home runs, 124 runs scored, a .610 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.031. He also finished second in the league in hitting (.321), fourth in RBIs (130), third in walks (91), second in on-base percentage (.421) and ninth in stolen bases (21).
Mark Teixeira, 1B, Texas Rangers
Teixeira played in all 162 of his team's games in 2005 and finished in the top 10 in six offensive categories. His .379 on-base percentage was 10th best in the AL, while he ranked eighth in runs scored (112), seventh in OPS (.954), fifth in slugging (.575), fourth in home runs (43) and third in RBIs (144). In 155 games played at first base, Teixeira made three errors.
AL Outstanding Pitcher
Mark Buehrle, LHP, Chicago White Sox
Through August, Buehrle put together an amazing streak during which he pitched at least six innings in 49 straight starts. With a knack for working deep into games, the White Sox lefty led the AL with 236 2/3 innings pitched and tossed three complete games. He also was third in the AL with a 3.12 ERA and notched 16 victories for the AL champions.
Bartolo Colon, RHP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
As the go-to man for the AL West-champion Angels, Colon didn't disappoint. During his outstanding season, Colon racked up 222 2/3 innings pitched and led the AL with 21 victories. He also finished eighth in the league with 157 strikeouts and a 3.48 ERA. Colon tossed two complete games on his way to a 21-8 record (third-best winning percentage in the AL).
Jon Garland, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Garland, who through April and May worked his record to 8-0 for the division-leading White Sox, ended the season second in the league with 18 victories and finished with a top-10 ERA of 3.50. As part of a solid staff that put together a dominating playoff run, Garland worked 221 innings and was sixth in the league with three complete games.
NL Outstanding Pitcher
Chris Carpenter, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
In one stretch, Carpenter had compiled 22 consecutive quality starts and finished the season tops in the league with seven complete games. Carpenter also won 21 games against five losses, and his .808 winning percentage was best in the league. He was also second in strikeouts (213), third in innings pitched (241 2/3), and fifth in ERA (2.83).
Roger Clemens, RHP, Houston Astros
At the age of 43, Clemens' only trouble came because of a lack of run support. As a result, he recorded only 13 victories despite an ERA of 1.87 -- easily the best in the league. He was also tops in the league in opponents' batting average (.198), and finished in the top 10 with 185 strikeouts. This was Clemens' 21st big league season, and over that time, he has notched 341 career wins.
Dontrelle Willis, LHP, Florida Marlins
Willis put together an outstanding campaign for the Marlins and ended up leading the league with 22 victories. Willis also was tops in the NL with seven complete games, third in the league with a 2.63 ERA and a .688 winning percentage, and fourth with 236 1/3 innings pitched. Willis started the year with a 6-0 record and was 15-8 in early August before reeling off six straight wins to get to 21-8. He finished with a 22-10 record.
AL Outstanding Rookie
Gustavo Chacin, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Chacin made quite an impression by notching 13 victories against nine losses while striking out 121. Chacin finished the season with an ERA of 3.72 in 34 appearances -- all of them as a starter. He also turned into an innings-eater for Toronto, working 203 frames.
Jonny Gomes, LF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Gomes displayed what the future might look like for the Rays as he smashed 21 home runs in 348 at-bats. Gomes also showed his ability to hit for average and run, batting .282 with nine stolen bases. He added to that with six triples and 54 RBIs.
Huston Street, RHP, Oakland A's
It's not every day when a rookie can step in and be an effective closer, but that's exactly what Street did. In 67 games, Street worked 78 1/3 innings and picked up five victories and 23 saves while maintaining an impressive 1.72 ERA. He also had an outstanding strikeouts-to-walks ratio, whiffing 72 while offering 26 free passes.
NL Outstanding Rookie
Jeff Francoeur, OF, Atlanta Braves
Recalled by Atlanta from Double-A in early July, Francoeur hit 14 home runs and drove in 45 while batting a cool .300 in 70 games. He also managed 20 doubles and a triple to go with three stolen bases.
Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
When the Phillies had to place Jim Thome on the shelf in July, Howard arrived on the scene and it didn't take long to see what a talent he was. In 88 games, Howard turned heads around the league with 22 home runs and 63 RBIs to go with a .288 batting average. He scored 52 runs and hit 20 doubles and two triples.
Willy Taveras, OF, Houston Astros
With so many veterans and better-known youngsters around him in Houston, Taveras has not gotten a lot of attention. But Taveras became an important part of a team that reached the World Series for the first time in its history. His 34 stolen bases ranked fifth in the NL, he batted .292, hit four triples and drove in 29 runs.
AL Comeback Player
Jason Giambi, 1B/DH, New York Yankees
For a short time, there was talk that perhaps Giambi should go back to Triple-A to get back his swing. That idea was short-lived, though: Giambi came back strong by batting .271 with 32 home runs and 87 RBIs. He led the AL with 108 walks, and his slugging percentage of .535 was also in the top 10. Giambi hit his 300th career home run in 2005, and finished the season with 313 in his career.
Richie Sexson, 1B, Seattle Mariners
After logging fewer than 100 at-bats with Arizona in 2004 because of shoulder surgery, Sexson came back strong in 2005 with the Mariners with 39 home runs and 121 RBIs -- both of which were sixth-best in the league. He also set a career-high with 99 runs scored while batting .263.
Bob Wickman, RHP, Cleveland Indians
After missing the entire 2003 season and only appearing in 30 games in 2004 because of elbow surgery, Bob Wickman restored order in the Cleveland bullpen, saving a career-high 45 games in 64 appearances. Wickman, who finished second in the league in saves, had an ERA of 2.47 and struck out 41 against 21 walks. He finished the season with 214 career saves.
NL Comeback Player
Tony Clark, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Clark was back to his old ways in 2005, blasting 30 home runs and driving in 87 runs while batting a career-best .304. His 22 doubles were the most he had hit since 2001, and his 1.002 OPS was his best ever.
Ken Griffey Jr., CF, Cincinnati Reds
A series of unfortunate setbacks over the past few years had some wondering if the end was near for Griffey. But in 2005, he proved to any doubters that there was still plenty of baseball in his future. Griffey had 491 at-bats in 2005, smacked 35 home runs (seventh-best in the league) and had 92 RBIs. His .301 batting clip was the best Griffey had posted since 1997 when he was with the Mariners, and his .576 slugging percentage (fourth in the league) was his best since 1999.
Todd Jones, RHP, Florida Marlins
After saving 42 games for the 2000 Detroit Tigers, Jones went through several seasons during which he never saved more than 13 games. In the past three seasons, Jones had only three saves. But in 2005, Jones was again on top of his game with 40 saves and an ERA of 2.10.
Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com.
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