WILLIS FIRST ROOKIE WINNER FOR MARLINS

For release Monday, Nov. 10; do not move on wires before 2 p.m., EST

Pitcher Dontrelle Willis became the first member of the Florida Marlins to win a BBWAA award in the franchise’s 11 seasons as he was named the National League winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award.

Willis, 21, was listed first on 17 of the 32 ballots cast by two writers from each league city, second on nine and third on six to finish with 118 points, based on a 5-3-1 tabulation system. The lefthander, who won nine of his first 10 decisions and finished the regular season with a 14-6 record and a 3.30 ERA, was the only player named to every ballot.

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Scott Podsednik (.314, 9 HR, 58 RBI, 100 R, 43 SB) received eight first-place votes and was the runnerup with 81 points. The other seven first-place votes went to Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb (10-9, 2.84 ERA), who placed third with 73 points. In all, nine players gained mention on the ballot.

The vote:

Player Club 1st 2nd 3rd Points
DONTRELLE WILLIS Florida
17
9
6
118
SCOTT PODSEDNIK Milwaukee
8
10
11
81
BRANDON WEBB Arizona
7
10
8
73
MARLON BYRD Philadelphia
1
3
6
MIGUEL CABRERA Florida
1

3
BRAD LIDGE Houston
1

3
JERIOME ROBERTSON Houston

2
2
JOSE REYES NY Mets

1
1
TY WIGGINTON NY Mets

1
1

Previous winners (*—Unanimous):
2002 JASON JENNINGS, Colorado Rockies; 2001 *ALBERT PUJOLS, St. Louis Cardinals; 2000 RAFAEL FURCAL, Atlanta Braves; 1999 SCOTT WILLIAMSON, Cincinnati Reds; 1998 KERRY WOOD, Chicago Cubs; 1997 *SCOTT ROLEN, Philadelphia Phillies; 1996 TODD HOLLANDSWORTH, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1995 HIDEO NOMO, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1994 *RAUL MONDESI, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1993 *MIKE PIAZZA, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1992 ERIC KARROS, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1991 JEFF BAGWELL, Houston Astros; 1990 DAVID JUSTICE, Atlanta Braves; 1989 JEROME WALTON, Chicago Cubs; 1988 CHRIS SABO, Cincinnati Reds; 1987 *BENITO SANTIAGO, San Diego Padres; 1986 TODD WORRELL, St. Louis Cardinals; 1985 *VINCE COLEMAN, St. Louis Cardinals; 1984 DWIGHT GOODEN, New York Mets; 1983 DARRYL STRAWBERRY, New York Mets; 1982STEVE SAX, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1981 FERNANDO VALENZUELA, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1980 STEVE HOWE, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1979 RICK SUTCLIFFE, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1978 BOB HORNER, Atlanta Braves; 1977 ANDRE DAWSON, Montreal Expos; 1976 (Tie) BUTCH METZGER, San Diego Padres, and PAT ZACHRY, Cincinnati Reds; 1975 JOHN MONTEFUSCO, San Francisco Giants; 1974 BAKE McBRIDE., St. Louis Cardinals; 1973 GARY MATTHEWS, San Francisco Giants; 1972 JON MATLACK, New York Mets; 1971 EARL WILLIAMS, Atlanta Braves; 1970 CARL MORTON, Montreal Expos; 1969 TED SIZEMORE, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1968 JOHNNY BENCH, Cincinnati Reds; 1967 TOM SEAVER, New York Mets; 1966 TOMMY HELMS, Cincinnati Reds; 1965 JIM LEFEBVRE, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1964 DICK ALLEN, Philadelphia Phillies; 1963 PETE ROSE, Cincinnati Reds; 1962 KEN HUBBS, Chicago Cubs; 1961 BILLY WILLIAMS, Chicago Cubs; 1960 FRANK HOWARD, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1959 *WILLIE McCOVEY, San Francisco Giants; 1958 *ORLANDO CEPEDA, San Francisco Giants; 1957 JACK SANFORD, Philadelphia Phillies; 1956 *FRANK ROBINSON, Cincinnati Reds; 1955 BILL VIRDON, St. Louis Cardinals; 1954 WALLY MOON, St. Louis Cardinals; 1953 JUNIOR GILLIAM, Brooklyn Dodgers; 1952 JOE BLACK, Brooklyn Dodgers; 1951 WILLIE MAYS, New York Giants; 1950 SAM JETHROE, Boston Braves; 1949 DON NEWCOMBE, Brooklyn Dodgers; 1948 ALVIN DARK, Boston Braves; 1947 JACKIE ROBINSON, Brooklyn Dodgers.