Jeter, Teixeira win Silver Slugger Awards

11/12/09 6:00 PM EST

Jeter, Teixeira win Silver Slugger Awards
After winning Gold Gloves, Yanks duo gets another honor
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira will have more keepsakes to add to their trophy cases from the 2009 season. Both Yankees were announced on Thursday as American League Silver Slugger Award winners, indicative of being the top offensive performers at their respective positions.
It had already been a good week after the World Series victory for both Jeter and Teixeira, who were informed on Tuesday of their selection as Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners. Now, they have received much-deserved credit for their offensive contributions.



Jeter, who won his fourth consecutive AL Silver Slugger Award, batted .334 with 107 runs scored, 27 doubles, 18 home runs, 66 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 153 games in leading New York to the crown.

It marked Jeter's 11th year with at least a .300 average, the 35-year-old's highest average since 2006 (.343) and the seventh time in his career he logged 200 or more hits.

In a season when he surpassed Lou Gehrig's franchise record for career hits, Jeter ranked second in the Majors in hits and fourth in batting average.

Jeter also ranked third in the AL in on-base percentage (.406) and tied with teammate Johnny Damon for fourth in the AL in runs scored, finishing third in the Majors with 66 multihit games.

Teixeira, 29, won his third Silver Slugger Award and first since 2005 after hitting .292 with 103 runs scored, 43 doubles, 39 home runs and 122 RBIs in 156 games for the Yankees.

The switch-hitting first baseman led the AL in RBIs and tied the Rays' Carlos Pena for the league lead in homers, joining the Cardinals' Albert Pujols as the only players to have at least 100 runs scored, 40 doubles and 35 homers in 2009.

After a slow start to his first season in pinstripes, Teixeira's year turned for the better on May 8, when Alex Rodriguez returned to the lineup.

From that date through the end of the regular season, Teixeira batted .310 and led the AL in homers (34) and RBIs (107) over that span as the Yankees went 88-43 to finish with a Major League-leading 103 victories.

The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by Major League coaches and managers.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.