He’s Golden Grady again.
Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore won his second straight Gold Glove on Thursday, the first Indians player to win in consecutive seasons since shortstop Omar Vizquel in 2000-01.
Sizemore was selected in voting done at the end of this season by AL managers and coaches. He’s the first Cleveland outfielder to win in back-to-back seasons since center fielder Kenny Lofton (1995-96).
Sizemore made only two errors in 386 total chances and finished the season with a 36-game errorless streak. Not only was the
26-year-old able to run down balls hit into the gaps, he frequently caught them at full sprint before crashing into the wall.
The All-Star wasn’t all-field, either. Sizemore hit 33 homers and stole 38 bases, joining Joe Carter as the only Cleveland players in the 30-30 club.
Sizemore was also the first player since “Shoeless” Joe Jackson to lead the Indians in hitting four straight seasons, and he’s the only player in Cleveland’s 108-year history to have at least 30 doubles,
30 homers and 30 steals in the same season.
In other American League Gold Glove selections, Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena raised his profile with his first award, making him one of four newcomers on the AL team.
Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia, Texas shortstop Michael Young and Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer also were first-time winners for fielding excellence.
The outfield was a repeat from last season: Los Angeles’ Torii Hunter and Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki each won for the eighth straight year, joining Sizemore.
New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina, coming off his first 20-win season, added to his accolades with his seventh Gold Glove. Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre won for the second straight year.
Pena bounced around the majors for several seasons before joining Tampa Bay in 2007, and quickly got a regular spot by hitting 46 home runs.
Pena starred with the bat this year, too, with 31 homers and 102 RBIs in helping lead the surprising Rays to their first playoff spot. He also sparkled with the glove, making only two errors as Tampa Bay reached the World Series, where it lost to Philadelphia.
The 30-year-old Pena has shown improvement in the field, cutting down from
13 errors with Detroit in 2003. He made eight last year with the Rays.
Rawlings has presented Gold Gloves since 1957. Managers and coaches pick players in their own leagues near the end of the regular season, and can’t vote for someone on their team.
The Gold Gloves often raise the ire of many baseball fans. Critics claim the best fielders are overlooked in favor of more popular players, and further insist that better hitters get a break in the voting.
Hunter and Sizemore earned $100,000 bonuses in their contracts for winning Gold Gloves. Beltre and Suzuki got $50,000 each and Pena, Mauer and Young won $25,000 apiece. Mussina and Pedroia did not have Gold Glove clauses.
The NL Gold Gloves were announced Wednesday. Winners were pitcher Greg Maddux, catcher Yadier Molina, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, second baseman Brandon Phillips, shortstop Jimmy Rollins, third baseman David Wright and outfielders Nate McLouth, Carlos Beltran and Shane Victorino.

Gold Glove winners

(With player, gold gloves won and team)
American League
P—Mike Mussina, 7, New York
C—Joe Mauer, 1, Minnesota
1B—Carlos Pena, 1, Tampa Bay
2B—Dustin Pedroia, 1, Boston
3B—Adrian Beltre, 2, Seattle
SS—Michael Young, 1, Texas
OF—Torii Hunter, 8, Los Angeles
OF—Grady Sizemore, 2, Cleveland
OF—Ichiro Suzuki, 8, Seattle
National League
P—Greg Maddux, 18, Los Angeles
C—Yadier Molina, 1, St. Louis
1B—Adrian Gonzalez, 1, San Dego
2B—Brandon Phillips, 1, Cincinnati
3B—David Wright, 2, New York
SS—Jimmy Rollins, 2, Philadelphia
OF—Nate McLouth, 1, Pittsburgh
OF—Carlos Beltran, 3, New York
OF—Shane Victorino, 1, Philadelphia

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