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Sasaki Named AL Rookie Of The Year

November 6, 2000 / 2:05 PM EST / CBS/AP

Seattle Mariners reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki became the second-oldest player to become a rookie of the year when he easily won the American League's award Monday.

The 32-year-old right-hander, Japan's career saves leader, had 37 saves this year as the Mariners won the AL's wild card berth in the playoffs.

He received 17 first-place votes, five seconds and four thirds for 104 points in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Oakland center fielder Terrence Long, who hit .288 with 18 homers and 80 RBIs, was second with 83 points, getting seven firsts, 15 seconds and three third.

Kansas City left fielder Mark Quinn, who batted .294 with 20 homers and 78 RBIs, was third with 56 points, getting four firsts, eight seconds and 12 thirds. No other player received more than three points.

The only older player than Sasaki to win a rookie award was former Negro leagues star Sam Jethroe, who was 33 days older in 1950, when he won the NL honor playing for the Boston Braves.

Sasaki becomes the second Japanese player to win a rookie award in the majors: Hideo Nomo won the 1995 NL award for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The only other Seattle player voted AL rookie was first baseman Alvin Davis in 1984.

"Anybody would love to get an honor like that," Sasaki said late in the season.

"I really didn't look at what Nomo did," Sasaki said through an interpreter. "But I had accomplished all I wanted to do in Japan and I decided to give baseball a try over here."

Sasaki was 2-5 with a 3.16 ERA, and his saves total was the third-highest in the AL, behind Detroit's Todd Jones and Boston's Derek Lowe, who each had 42.

Athletics manager Art Howe didn't want to get drawn into the debate over whether Sasaki, who pitched 10 years in Japan, should be eligible.

"I just know our kid deserves it," Howe said. "I don't have a vote, but I'd vote for my kid if I did. But I'm sure Lou (Piniella, the Seattle manager) would say the same thing about Sasaki."

In Japan, Sasaki had a Japanese-record 229 saves in 10 seasons for Yokohama, becoming a six-time All-Star. He beat out Jose Mesa in spring training to become the Mariners' closer.

"All his experience pitching in Japan is paying big dividends here," Piniella said. "He doesn't get rattled out on the mound."

His consistency was a big reason the Mariners got to the playoffs as the AL wild card, then swept Chicago in the first round before losing to the New York Yankees.

"He's a pretty good dude," teammate Jay Buhner said. "You know, what he's done isn't easy. It's tough going from the National League to the American League and vice versa. Can you imagine going from one country to another?"