ST. LOUIS, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez has been voted by his peers as the 2002 Sporting News Player of the Year, far outdistancing San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds.
Rodriguez, who hit 57 home runs and drove in 142 runs for the Rangers, who finished last in the American League West, received 197 votes in balloting by major league players. Bonds, the 2001 winner of the award, finished second with 48 votes.
"To me, that's the most flattering honor in baseball, or any sport, to receive an award chosen by your peers," said Rodriguez, who previously won the award in 1996 while he was with the Seattle Mariners.
Oakland Athletics shortstop Miguel Tejada was third with 31 votes, while second baseman Alfonso Soriano of the New York Yankees was fourth with 23.
"Despite a disappointing season by the Rangers, the players couldn't overlook the year A-Rod put together," said Sporting News Senior Vice President John Rawlings. "This is the second time he has won top honors, and we wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't his last. He is an enormously gifted player."
Mike Scioscia of the Anaheim Angels, who guided the franchise to 99 wins and its first-ever trip to the World Series, and Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Braves earned Manager of the Year honors in their respective leagues.
It was the fifth Sporting News award for Cox, who previously won the American League honor with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1985 and the National League award with Atlanta in 1991, '93 and 1999.
"I consider it a huge honor," Cox said. "I appreciate my peers thinking that of me."
Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks was voted National League Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season, and lefthander Barry Zito of the Oakland Athletics earned American League honors.
Third baseman Eric Hinske of the Toronto Blue Jays won the Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year award, and outfielder Brad Wilkerson of the Montreal Expos captured the NL Rookie honors.
