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Jet, Dec 1, 1997

Seattle Mariners center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who had a career-best 56 home runs this season, was unanimously selected as the American League's (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

"I'm happy, but I'm still in a little bit of shock. I just really don't know what to say or how to say or how to react," Griffey told reporters from Hawaii. "This award means a lot. You go out and play hard. It's the one award that writers choose. As a kid, you always think about being MVP of your team."

The most popular personality in the majors, Griffey was the ninth unanimous choice for AL MVP. He received all 28 first-place votes cast by the jury of two writers from each of the league cities. He easily outdistanced New York Yankees first baseman Tino Martinez, who received 24 second-place votes. Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas placed third.

Griffey set major league records with 13 homers through April and 24 homers through May. His 32 homers through June tied a major league record. He also led the majors with 147 RBIs.

His 56 homers were first in the AL. He also led the league in runs scored (125), total bases (393) and slugging percentage (.646).

While his first MVP award means a great deal, Griffey said his accomplishments in baseball will be complete only when he earns a World Series ring like his father, Ken Griffey Sr., who, however, never won an MVP award. "He has three and I have none," he said. "When people talk about winners, that's a part of it. It is something I want to be a part of. He's got the flags hanging off the mantle and I don't."

Griffey, who gets a $150,000 bonus for being named MVP, hopes his first World Series ring is just a season away.

The National League's MVP is Colorado Rockies right fielder Larry Walker, who is White.