Shortstop Angel Berroa of the Kansas City Royals was elected the American League winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award by a narrow margin over left fielder Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees in balloting announced by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Berroa, 25, who batted .287 with 17 home runs and 73 runs batted in, received 12 first-place votes among the 28 ballots submitted by two writers from each league city to 10 for Matsui, 29, who hit .287 with 16 home runs and 106 RBI. Berroa was second on seven ballots and third on seven for a total of 88 points to 84 for Matsui, who was second on eight ballots and third on seven.

The four-point difference is the closest since the 5-3-1 tabulation system was adopted in 1980, the year after the only tie in this election between Minnesota Twins third baseman John Castino and Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Alfredo Griffin. The previous voting system called for voters to list one player. Castino and Griffin each received seven votes in 1979.

The previous closest election in AL balloting since 1980 was the six-point differential in 1995 between Twins outfielder Marty Cordova and California Angels outfielder Garret Anderson, 105-99. There was also a six-point differential in the National League election of 1982. Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Steve Sax won over Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Johnny Ray, 63-57.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays center fielder Rocco Baldelli (.289, 11 HR, 78 RBI, 27 SB) received five first-place votes and finished third with 51 points. The other first-place vote went to Texas Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira (.259, 26 HR, 84 RBI), who placed fifth behind Cleveland Indians outfielder Jody Gerut (.279, 22 HR, 75RBI ).

The vote:

Previous winners (*-Unanimous):
2002 ERIC HINSKE, Toronto Blue Jays; 2001 ICHIRO SUZUKI, Seattle Mariners; 2000 KAZU SASAKI, Seattle Mariners; 1999 CARLOS BELTRAN, Kansas City Royals; 1998 BEN GRIEVE, Oakland Athletics; 1997 *NOMAR GARCIAPARRA, Boston Red Sox; 1996 *DEREK JETER, New York Yankees; 1995 MARTY CORDOVA, Minnesota Twins; 1994 BOB HAMELIN, Kanas City Royals; 1993 *TIM SALMON, California Angels; 1992 PAT LISTACH, Milwaukee Brewers; 1991 CHUCK KNOBLAUCH, Minnesota Twins; 1990 *SANDY ALOMAR, Jr., Cleveland Indians; 1989 GREGG OLSON, Baltimore Orioles; 1988 WALT WEISS, Oakland Athletics; 1987 *MARK McGWIRE, Oakland Athletics; 1986 JOSE CANSECO, Oakland Athletics; 1985 OZZIE GUILLEN, Chicago White Sox; 1984 ALVIN DAVIS, Seattle Mariners; 1983 RON KITTLE, Chicago White Sox; 1982 CAL RIPKEN, Jr., Baltimore Orioles; 1981 DAVE RIGHETTI, New York Yankees; 1980 JOE CHARBONEAU, Cleveland Indians; 1979 (Tie) JOHN CASTINO, Minnesota Twins, and ALFREDO GRIFFIN, Toronto Blue Jays; 1978 LOU WHITAKER, Detroit T igers; 1977 EDDIE MURRAY, Baltimore Orioles; 1976 MARK FIDRYCH, Detroit Tigers; 1975 FRED LYNN, Boston Red Sox; 1974 MIKE HARGROVE, Texas Rangers; 1973 AL BUMBRY, Baltimore Orioles; 1972 *CARLTON FISK, Boston Red Sox; 1971 CHRIS CHAMBLISS, Cleveland Indians; 1970 THURMAN MUNSON, New York Yankees; 1969 LOU PINIELLA, Kansas City Royals; 1968 STAN BAHNSEN, New York Yankees; 1967 ROD CAREW, Minnesota Twins; 1966 TOMMIE AGEE, Chicago Whit e Sox; 1965 CURT BLEFARY, Baltimore Orioles; 1964 TONY OLIVA, Minnesota Twins; 1963 GARY PETERS, Chicago White Sox; 1962 TOM TRESH, New York Yankees; 1961 DON SCHWALL, Boston Red Sox; 1960 RON HANSEN, Baltimore Orioles; 1959 BOB ALLISON, Washington Senators; 1958 ALBIE PEARSON, Washington Senators; 1957 TONY KUBEK, New York Yankees; 1956 LUIS APARICIO, Chicago White Sox; 1955 HERB SCORE, Cleveland Indians; 1954 BOB GRIM, New York Yankees; 1953 HARVEY KUENN, Detroit Tigers; 1952 HARRY BYRD, Philadelphia Athletics; 1951 GIL McDOUGALD, New York Yankees; 1950 WALT DROPO, Boston Red Sox; 1949 ROY SIEVERS, St. Louis Browns.