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Ichiro wins American League MVP Award; second rookie ever to do so

Ichiro Suzuki won his fourth Most Valuable Player Award, just like Barry Bonds. Only the first three came in Japan.

"There's no way I can compare the MVPs in the two countries," Suzuki said Nov. 21 after he became only the second rookie MVP in the major leagues

"No matter how many times I won MVP in Japan, that does not mean I could play with total confidence," Suzuki commented.

Ichiro, who came to the major leagues after nine seasons in Japan's Pacific League, received 11 first-place votes and 289 points to win the American League MVP in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Jason Giambi, last year's AL MVP, got eight first-place votes and 281 points

"I didn't expect I would be the one to win," Ichiro said through a translator.

The only other rookie to win MVP was Boston's Fred Lynn in 1975. Ichiro took the AL Rookie of the Year Award Nov. 12.

The 28-year-old outfielder, the first rookie to win a batting title since Tony Oliva in 1964, led the AL with a .350 average and topped the major leagues with 56 stolen bases. His 242 hits were a rookie record, and the most for anyone since Bill Terry's 254 for the 1930 New York Giants.

"To have him win the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards is really something," said Japanese baseball commissioner Hiromori Kawashima.

"That's incredible, but that's Ichiro for you," said Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Shukan ST: Nov. 30, 2001

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