"The best pitcher in the Major Leagues today," 28-year old Dominican Pedro Martínez received 56 votes to 14 to win the Associated Press award for Player of the Year in the Major Leagues. Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves was next with 14 votes, and Dominican Manny Ramírez of the Cleveland Indians followed with 12 votes. Martínez ended the year with 23 wins and 4 losses, and 313 batters struck out.
