In March, just before the inaugural World Baseball Classic, a heartfelt message for Justin Morneau arrived via a baseball bat. It read: “To Justin, make Canada proud.”
It was signed by fellow Canadian Larry Walker, the former Rockies slugger who was the National League MVP in 1997.
“I thought that was pretty cool for a guy that has been around that long and done so many things as Walker,” Morneau said. “That’s something I will never forget.”
The Minnesota Twins first baseman more than backed up Walker’s faith this year and was rewarded Tuesday by being named the American League’s most valuable player, edging New York Yankees superstar shortstop Derek Jeter. Morneau, 25, and Walker are baseball’s only Canadians to be named MVP.
“To be put next to a guy, who in my opinion belongs in the Hall of Fame and is the greatest position player ever from Canada, is a real honor,” Morneau said.
Beating out Jeter is a pretty big honor, too. Morneau received 15 first-place votes and a total of 320 points in voting by a Baseball Writers’ Association of America panel. Jeter got 12 first-place votes and 306 points.
“Last night I was saying to myself that I don’t expect to get it. I might have given myself maybe a 50-50 chance,” Morneau said. “I didn’t want to set myself up for disappointment if I didn’t get it.”
Morneau, who grew up in New Westminster, British Columbia, where he played summer baseball with Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis, hit .321 this year with 34 homers and 130 RBIs. His RBI total ranks second in Twins history, trailing only the 140 runs driven in by Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew in 1969. Morneau’s hot bat helped propel the Twins to their fourth AL Central title in five years. Jeter led the Yankees to the AL East title, batting .343 with 14 homers and 97 RBIs.
Morneau, in just his second full season as a starter, rebounded from a disappointing 2005 season when he hit .239 with 22 homers and 79 RBIs. He began the 2006 season in a deep slump, but went on a torrid streak in June and stayed hot the rest of the season.
Two other Twins – pitcher Johan Santana, who won the AL Cy Young Award last week, and catcher Joe Mauer, who won the American League batting title this year – finished among the top seven in the MVP voting.
“That says a lot about this team,” Morneau said. “I’d love to play my whole career here. We have a great young team.”
Morneau became the fourth Minnesota player selected MVP. The others were Zoilo Versalles in 1965, Killebrew in 1969 and Rod Carew in 1977.
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
