Longoria Unanimous Choice As AL Top Rookie

ST. PETERSBURG - Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was a unanimous choice today as the American League Rookie of the Year.

Longoria, 23, becomes the first Tampa Bay player so honored in the 11-year history of the franchise.

Voting was done by two members of the Baseball Writers Association of America in each league city. They listed three choices per ballot. Longoria was listed first on all 28 ballots. He was also the only player listed on every ballot.

"It's so special. It's tough to put into words," Longoria said. "Obviously, I appreciate every vote and every … writer who thought that I was No. 1. I didn't even start the year in the big leagues. I struggled all the way through high school ball and college ball and stuff. There's so many emotions that come to my mind when I think about it, and it just means a whole heck of a lot more now."

Longoria was Tampa Bay's first-round choice and the third overall pick in the 2006 first-year player draft. He began this past season in the minors, but was promoted to the Rays in the second week. He went on to hit .272 in 122 games and 448 at-bats and led AL rookies with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs.

Chicago White Sox second baseman Alexei Ramirez, who hit .297 with 77 RBIs and 21 home runs, finished second in the voting. Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (.280, 9 home runs, 47 RBIs, 50 stolen bases, 98 runs) was third.

Longoria is only the seventh AL rookie to win the award by a unanimous vote and the first since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997.

Longoria's award wasn't the Rays' only honor today. Joe Maddon, the heavy favorite for the BBWAA's AL Manager of the Year award, which will be announced Wednesday, was named the Chuck Tanner Major League Manager of the Year.

The award, named for former manager Chuck Tanner, is presented by the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh. Proceeds from a banquet held in Pittsburgh support the club's humanitarian service initiatives and Rotary Foundation programs.

Accepting the award for Maddon at the banquet will be Scott Challis, father of John Challis, a 16-year-old who died this year of liver cancer. Maddon and the Challis family developed a close friendship.