Diamondbacks bench coach Bob Melvin is selected to be the Mariners’ twelfth manager in franchise history. The 41 year-old former major league catcher is replacing Lou Piniella, who asked to be released from his contract with Seattle to take a job closer to his home as the Devil Rays’ skipper next season.
2002 – The San Francisco Giants select former Montreal Expos veteran skipper Felipe Alou to replace Dusty Baker as their new manager. The 67-year-old Dominican Republic native compiled a 691-717 record during his ten years at the helm with Montreal and was selected as the National League Manager of the Year in the 1994 strike-shortened season.
Miguel Tejada, who receives 356 points from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, including 21 first-place votes of the 28 cast, is selected as the American League’s Most Valuable Player. The A’s shortstop joins countrymen Sammy Sosa and George Bell as Dominican Republic natives to win the award.
Barry Bonds becomes the first player in major league history to win the Most Valuable Player Award five times. The 38 year-old Giant left fielder, who also won the award with the Pirates in 1990 and ’92 and with San Francisco in 1993 and last season, was the National League’s batting champion with a .370 average and broke 1941 Ted Williams’ on-base percentage record with an amazing .582 OBP.
Dusty Baker signs a four-year deal to pilot the Cubs, leaving the Giants after guiding the club to a pennant this season. The three-time National League Manager of the Year compiled an 840-715 record during his ten-year tenure with San Francisco.
A’s southpaw Barry Zito (23-5, 2.75) is selected as the American League Cy Young Award winner by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The 24 year-old sophomore, who led the AL in wins, out points Red Sox right-hander Pedro Martinez, 114 to 96.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America selects Mike Scioscia (World Champions Angels – 99-63) and Tony La Russa (Cardinals – 97-65) as Manager of the Year for their respective leagues. The St. Louis skipper, who also won the award in the American League with the White Sox (1983) and the A’s (1988, 1992), joins Braves’ field boss Bobby Cox as the only managers to win the top honors in both leagues.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Barry Zito wins the 2002 American League Cy Young Award.
Mike Scioscia of the Anaheim Angels wins the American League Manager of the Year Award while Tony LaRussa of the St. Louis Cardinals takes National League honors.
Citing Dusty Baker’s reluctance to stay with the organization, an unhappy general manager Brian Sabean announces the Giant skipper of the last ten years will not be back to manage in San Francisco next season. The National League pennant-winning skipper has supposedly expressed an interest in the Cubs and Mariners.
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