Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410210037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
The Dodgers have had the top rookie 14 times since Jackie Robinson - for whom the prize is now named - won the initial award in 1947 with Brooklyn. No other NL team has won more than six.
Mondesi, who batted .306 and led major-league outfielders with 16 assists, was the seventh unanimous winner in the NL. Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza was a unanimous winner last year, and Los Angeles first baseman Eric Karros won in a closer vote in 1992.
Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Howe, Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Sax won for Los Angeles from 1979-1982, respectively. The Dodgers, the only NL team to win as many as three consecutive awards, could make it four in a row again next year if either Class AAA outfielder Billy Ashley or third baseman Rom Coomer perform as advertised.
Mondesi, 23, received all 28 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America and finished with 140 points. Houston reliever John Hudek was runner-up with eight second-place votes and 27 points and Atlanta outfielder Ryan Klesko was third with six second-place votes and 25 points.
Mondesi had 16 home runs, 56 RBI and 11 stolen bases in the season that stopped Aug.12 because of the players' strike. He also hit 27 doubles and eight triples and scored 63 runs.
It was Mondesi's strong right arm, however, that often attracted the most attention. He threw out two runners in an exhibition game and went on to record the most outfield assists for the Dodgers since Willie Davis had 16 in 1964.
Mondesi, who made his major-league debut last season and played in 42 games, began spring training competing with Cory Snyder for the starting right field job.
Mondesi won the position in March, then impressed the Dodgers with his aggressiveness. Early in the season, in fact, he knocked out Dodgers second baseman Delino DeShields when they crashed going for a short fly ball.
Sometimes, though, Mondesi was perceived as cocky. During a June game in Florida, umpire Joe West made a rare strike call when he ordered Marlins pitcher Dave Weathers to throw the ball before Mondesi was in the batter's box. West said Mondesi was taking too much time to reach the plate from the on-deck circle and called an automatic strike on Weathers' low pitch, a play that Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda disputed.
Hudek, who began the season in the minors and made the NL All-Star team, had 16 saves after taking over the Astros' closer role from Mitch Williams. Klesko, one of several young Atlanta stars, had 17 homers and 47 RBI.
Chicago pitcher Steve Trachsel was fourth in the voting, with Montreal first baseman Cliff Floyd and San Diego pitcher Joey Hamilton tying for fifth.
The Dodgers already may have an edge for the award next season - if there is a next season - with Ashley and Coomer. Ashley hit .345 with 37 home runs and 105 RBI for Albuquerque in the Pacific Coast League. Coomer hit .338 with 22 homers and 123 RBI.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB