*Bonds wins record 12th Silver Slugger award*
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LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Ticker) - A total of 12 players won 
their first Silver Slugger Award. Barry Bonds claimed a 12th
for himself.

The San Francisco Giants slugger and first baseman Albert 
Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals were among the winners of 
the National League Silver Slugger Awards announced on 
Wednesday.

Most Valuable Player candidates Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz 
of the Boston Red Sox and Vladimir Guerrero were among the 
American League winners.

The Silver Slugger awards are given to the top offensive players
at each position and are voted on by major league managers and
coaches.

For the first fime ever, there was a tie at one position as Ivan
Rodriguez of the Detroit Tigers and Victor Martinez of the
Cleveland Indians received the same number of votes at catcher
in the AL.

Bonds won the award for a record 12th time after winning the
batting title with a .362 average and recording 45 homers and
101 RBI.  He walked a record 232 times, including 120
intentional.

This past season, Bonds became the third player in major league
history to reach the 700 home run plateau.

Joining Bonds in the outfield are a pair of first-time winners -
Jim Edmonds of St. Louis and Bobby Abreu of the Philadelphia
Phillies.

Other first-time winners in the NL were second baseman Mark
Loretta of the San Diego Padres, shortstop Jack Wilson of the
Pittsburgh Pirates, third baseman Adrian Beltre of the Los
Angeles Dodgers, catcher Johnny Estrada of the Atlanta Braves
and pitcher Livan Hernandez of the Montreal Expos.

Pujols won his third Silver Slugger Award after hitting .331
with 46 homers and 123 RBI.

First-time winners in the American League were Ortiz as 
the designated hitter, Martinez, first baseman Mark Teixeira 
of the Texas Rangers, shortstop Miguel Tejada and third 
baseman Melvin Mora of the Baltimore Orioles.

Ramirez and Rodriguez each won for the seventh time. Ramirez had
43 homers and 130 RBI and Rodriguez hit .334 with 19 homers and
86 RBI.

Joining Ramirez in the outfield were Guerrero and Gary Sheffield
of the New York Yankees.  Guerrero earned his fourth award
after hitting .337 with 39 homers and 126 RBI.  Sheffield won
for the third time, collecting 36 homers and 121 RBI.

Alfonso Soriano of Texas won for the second time at second base.

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