“Our philosophy is simply that we do what we do for the team – the ‘me’ part doesn't enter into the equation,” said Morneau from Vancouver.

“That being said, I'm more than happy to receive this honour, and anytime you want to put my name next to Larry Walker's, you go right ahead,” the slugger said referring to his fellow BC native and boyhood idol, who won the Tip O'Neill Award a record nine times. The Tip O'Neill Award is presented annually by the Canadian Ball Hall to the Canadian player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals.  The award will be presented in person to Morneau during the 2007 season either in Minnesota or when the Twins visit Toronto in July to play the Blue Jays.

“I used to pretend I was Larry Walker batting whiffle balls around my backyard, versus getting into mischief or wasting my time doing other dumb things.  If I can influence some Canadian kids to do something wholesome like that by being a role model, that would be the best thing about winning this award.”

The 6'4", 225 pound hulkster was the first Canadian ever to be named the American League MVP (Walker was name National League MVP in 1997), and led the Twins to the playoffs with career highs in batting average (.321), homeruns (34), RBI (130), slugging percentage (.559), on-base percentage (.375), hits (190), doubles (37) and runs scored (97).  He joined Walker as the second Canadian ever to win a Silver Slugger Award, was named by The Sporting News as All-Star first baseman, and was named the Twins Player of the Year.  The three-time Canadian Player of the Month also batted .308 for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

The left-handed slugging first baseman led the Majors with a .362 batting average from June 8th until the end of the season.  Morneau, 25, had a career-high 16-game hit-streak, going 26 for 59 (.441) from June 22 through July 9, followed by hitting safely in 24 of 26 games, going 40 for 99 (.404) from July 14 through August 9.  His 130 RBI rank second on the Twins all-time single season RBI list (Harmon Killebrew had 140 in 1969), and tied Walker (1997) for the most RBI in a single season by a Canadian.

Greg Hamilton was the general manager who put together Canada's entry into the inaugural World Baseball Classic.  He also coached Morneau on the Canadian Junior National team, where he remembers the Morneau as an 18-year-old playing every inning of every game against a string of several Major League affiliate teams, yet striking out only once.

“A pure hitter, and his strength complements his swing immensely, but Justin's success also stems from his outstanding disposition,” says Hamilton from the Baseball Canada headquarters in Ottawa.

“He always has a smile on his face, even at the end of the long, hot days.  Justin was a catcher at the time, and no matter how dirty or sweaty he was, the rigors of the game never got to him - he loved being out there and always wanted more.”

Like Walker, Morneau also gets the importance of having fun playing baseball.

“It was mainly Justin, along with Pete Laforest, who went out and found the hockey sticks and organized a road hockey game for Team Canada prior to the WBC.  Then he insisted that the entire team go to his place for a barbecue.  His skills and stats speak for themselves, but Justin's passion his understanding of how chemistry plays a key role in success were highly appreciated as well,” added Hamilton.

While it is difficult to get Morneau to talk about himself, he's very open to praising the virtues of others, such as the 2006 Tip O'Neill runner-up Jason Bay, and other top vote getters Erik Bedard, Jeff Francis and Amanda Asay.

“Jason Bay (Trail, BC) is pounding out 30 jacks and a hundred RBI per year for the Pirates - he makes it look easy, but believe me, it isn't easy,” said Morneau of the Tip O'Neill winner from the past two years. “He was my teammate in Taiwan for Team Canada in 2001, and again at the World Baseball Classic.  I just love watching him play.” On Oriole pitcher Erik Bedard (Navan, ON), Morneau says he never looks forward to facing him. “He's just nasty, a tough lefty who hides the ball well.  2006 won't likely be the last time Erik wins 15 or more games in a season,” says Morneau.

On the southpaw Jeff Francis, who was Morneau's teammate as a teenager for the North Delta Blue Jays, and just signed a $13 million dollar four-year deal with the Rockies, he says: "I'm just amazed and thrilled to see Jeff emerging as a Major League star.  He was throwing 80 miles an hour coming out of high school, has worked his butt off, and deserves everything that has come his way."

Amanda Asay (Prince George, BC) was very popular in the website voting poll taken by the Ball Hall.

"Earning the right to wear the Maple Leaf on your jersey, playing for Team Canada, whether it be men or women, is an unbelievable accomplishment in itself.  For Amanda to bat .500 at the highest level that women's baseball has to offer, a World Cup, that speaks volumes.  I have a lot of respect for her," Morneau added.

Others receiving votes were the Dodgers catcher Russell Martin (Montreal), Royals third baseman Mark Teahen (St. Marys, ON), Reds prospect Joey Votto (Toronto), Reds reliever Rheal Cormier (Shediac, NB), Ryan Dempster (Gibson, BC), and Crain (Toronto).

Note: James 'Tip' O'Neill was one of Major League baseball's first legitimate stars. With the St. Louis Browns in 1887, O'Neill batted .492, SLG-.691, Hits-225, Doubles-52, Triples-19, Homeruns-14, Total Bases-357, Runs-167 (4th all-time for a single season), RBI-123. The outfielder from Woodstock, Ontario set major league records in hits, doubles, slugging percentage, and total bases that season while compiling an astounding .492 batting average (walks were included as hits in 1887, but if his average was calculated by today's standard, it was .435, the second highest in major league history to Hugh Duffy, .438).

ST. MARYS – 16 December 2006