St. Marys – If it is true that we are judged by the company we keep, then Justin Morneau chose the right travelling companion to Las Vegas this weekend to do some charity work.
Morneau has been selected as the recipient of the 2008 Tip O'Neill Award by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, awarded annually to the player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball's highest ideals. It is the second time in three years that the Minnesota Twins slugger has snagged the honour, and by doing so he becomes the fourth Canadian to win it more than once.
The 2008 runner-up for the American League MVP award joins Jason Bay and Eric Gagné as two-time winners, now trailing only his fellow passenger, Larry Walker, who was awarded the Tip nine times over his prolific career.
The New Westminster, BC native just completed his fifth full major league season, and while he needs to repeat himself for another decade in order to attain Walker-like status, he's certainly out of the gate impressively. Morneau has mashed 133 homeruns in his career so far, while Walker had 99 after his first five years. Over that same time period, Morneau has out-hit Walker 754 to 666, and has compiled 523 RBI compared to Walker's 384.
Morneau batted .300 in 2008 and he led the major leagues by playing in all 163 of the Twins games (including a tie-breaker at the end of the regular season). he amassed 187 hits (fifth in AL), 23 homeruns, 47 doubles and 129 RBI (2nd in AL), while compiling a .499 slugging percentage. Named to AL All-Star team, Morneau became the first Canadian ever to win the MLB Homerun Derby that was staged in Yankee Stadium. He won his second Silver Slugger Award, becoming only the second Canadian to win the award more than once (Walker has won three). He won the Twins MVP Award for 2008, as well as the Bob Allison Award for Leadership and the Oscar Charleston Legacy Award, in addition to being nominated for the Marvin Miller Award, the Pepsi Clutch Hitter of the Year, the "Hitter of the Year " by This Year in Baseball, and the Hank Aaron Award. Morneau was also a finalist for Canada's Lou Marsh Award.
"I've got a long way to go to match Larry - he's a Hall of Famer in my books," said Morneau from his cell phone in McCarran International Airport.
"But anytime you want to mention my name in the same sentence as his, that's cool with me!"
Morneau, who will marry his girlfriend Krista in January, works out daily in Phoenix with fellow Canucks Adam Loewen and Pete Laforest right now. Hesitant to talk about himself, the 2006 AL MVP went on to elaborate about the sensational seasons of the contenders for the 2008 Tip, who will hopefully be joining him on Team Canada in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
"Ryan (Dempster) had a great year. Not only did he return to being a starter, but he was dominant, and won 17 games in a hitters' park! He is aggressive on the mound and one of the game's most fun guys to be around."
"(Jason) Bay's hard work paid off this year, getting himself into a pennant race thanks to the trade for Man Ram (Manny Ramirez), and he performed big-time in the playoffs. Now that he is in Boston, his talent is really going to be given the attention he deserves."
"I met Joe Votto at the Baseball Canada gala last January, and had a feeling he was on his way to big things. He is confident, not cocky, and has the tools to back it up. He'll be a big asset for us at the Classic."
"Every year when I get asked about who will win the Cy Young, I pick Rich Harden in my top three candidates. He's just nasty. I knew him in high school, and his game has become as good as anybody's in baseball. His control, his splitty, and his fastball make him one of the game's very best."
"When Stairsy (Matt Stairs) hit the the big home run for Philly (in Game 4 of the NLCS), I was cheering for him out loud. He's a total team player, no messing around, he knows his role, and he comes to play. I really look up to him."
"I feel real good knowing (2007 Tip O'Neill winner) Russ Martin is going to be the guy behind the plate for us in the Classic. He's an All-Star, a two-way player, and can carry us when he's hot."
Also among the top vote-getters was Ashley Stephenson, the MVP of the women's Team Canada, who batted .625 in the World Cup.
"I haven't met Ashley, but it really made me feel good to learn about her accomplishments. She must be pretty special. I don't remember ever hitting .625, well, not for more than two games in a row anyway!"
Others receiving votes were first-round draft pick Brett Lawrie, as well as fellow Olympians Chris Begg and Nick Weglarz. Morneau will receive the Tip O'Neill trophy and silver plate at a ceremony in Minneapolis early in the 2009 season.
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). The former US Speaker of the House was named after the Canadian baseball icon.
