Justin Verlander, who was among the league leaders in the major pitching categories, was named the American League winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award in voting by the BBWAA.

Verlander, 21, was listed first on 26 of the 28 ballots submitted by two writers in each league city and second on one to total 133 points, based on the 5-3-1 tabulation system. The righthander was part of an impressive rotation for the Detroit Tigers, who won the AL wild-card berth. Verlander was 17-9 with a 3.63 ERA in 30 starts. He ranked fourth in victories and seventh in ERA.

Verlander’s victory marked the first time a Tigers player won the award since second baseman Lou Whitaker in 1978. Other Detroit winners were pitcher Mark Fidrych in 1976 and shortstop Harvey Kuenn in 1953. It was also the first time in 25 years that a starting pitcher was honored in the AL, since the New York Yankees’ Dave Righetti in 1981.

Boston Red Sox reliever Jonathan Papelbon (4-2, 0.92 ERA, 35 SV) finished second in the voting with 63 points, although he did not have a first-place vote. The other first-place votes went to Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano (12-3, 2.16 ERA), who finished third overall, and Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis (.291, 16 HR, 62 RBI), who was sixth.

The vote:

Previous winners (*—Unanimous):
2005 HUSTON STREET, Oakland Athletics; 2004 BOBBY CROSBY, Oakland Athletics; 2003 ANGEL BERROA, Kansas City Royals; 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 Tigers; 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 White 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.