Eckstein named series MVP

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- David Eckstein took his mom to dinner at the White House, made a believer of Barry Bonds and got married at Walt Disney World.

To Tigers manager Jim Leyland, the 5-foot-7 shortstop looks like a "cute, little kid."

Make that a World Series MVP, too.

Call Eckstein lucky or charmed or whatever, the St. Louis Cardinals were glad that baseball's biggest little man was on their side.

"It was unreal out there," he told the roaring crowd Friday night. "We got ourselves a championship."

Eckstein struggled to an 0-for-11 start in the Series. But showing the true spirit of St. Louis, the blond wonder boy came on strong.

He hit three doubles and a single to win Game 4, then singled twice and drove in two runs in Game 5 as St. Louis beat Detroit 4-2 to clinch the title.

Eckstein finished 8-for-22, driving in four runs and scoring three.

When it was over, he hugged every player in the middle of the diamond -- and get hoisted off the ground.

Then it was his turn to lift the MVP trophy and get the prize that comes with it: keys to a spanking new, bright yellow Corvette. When the car was wheeled onto the field, it came to a stop right near the spot where Eckstein plays.

"This is my first car I can call my own from the beginning," he told the fans.