Ryan Howard, who took over for injured Jim Thome at first base for the Philadelphia Phillies and led all first-year players in the major leagues in home runs with 22, was elected the National League winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Howard, who turns 26 next week, placed first on 19 of the 32 ballots cast by two writers in each league city, second on three and third on five for a total of 109 points, based on the 5-3-1 tabulation system. The left-handed slugger batted .288 and drove in 63 runs in 88 games and 312 at-bats, including 11 homers and 27 RBI in September/October. Howard is the fourth Phillies player honored, joining Scott Rolen, Dick Allen and Jack Sanford.

Houston Astros outfielder Willy Taveras (.291, 172 H, 82 R, 34 SB) received seven first-place votes and was the runner-up with 78 points. Atlanta Braves outfielder Jeff Francouer (.300, 14 HR, 45 RBI) ranked third with 60 points, including two first-place votes. Pittsburgh Pirates lefthander Zach Duke (8-2, 1.81 ERA) received three first-place votes but was listed on only one other ballot and was fifth. The other first-place vote went to Colorado Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins (.287, 13 HR, 89 RBI, 31 2B, 221 TB), who ranked fourth overall.

The vote:

Previous winners (*—Unanimous):
2004 JASON BAY, Pittsburgh Pirates; 2003 DONTRELLE WILLIS, Florida Marlins; 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; 1982 STEVE 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