NEW YORK--Second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who led the Chicago Cubs to their first championship in 39 years, was named the Most Valuable Player in the National League yesterday, gaining 22 of the 24 first-place votes cast by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Sandberg, who also had two second-place votes, totaled 326 points in the balloting, easily outdistancing first baseman Keith Hernandez of the New York Mets, who finished with 195. Batting champion Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres was third with 184 points. Hernandez and Gwynn each had one first-place vote.
Sandberg and the rest of the Cubs were on a cruise off the Mexican coast when the award was announced.
"It's raining," said Sandberg. "I felt like I was in Chicago. I came in out of the shower and found out."
He said he would join his team mates in a celebration aboard ship.
"It's a great feeling, there's no doubt about that," Sandberg said. "When I heard about it, I got a real big thrill. It's one of the big moments of my career so far."
Cubs Manager Jim Frey wasn't surprised by the announcement.
"I said for the last couple of months it was a one-horse race," Frey said.
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