Showalter, Cox earn managing accolades

NEW YORK -- Bobby Cox was voted NL Manager of the Year on Wednesday for leading the rebuilt Atlanta Braves to a record 13th straight division title, and Buck Showalter won the AL honor after his Texas Rangers went from also-ran to contender.

Cox received 22 first-place votes and 10 seconds for 140 points to win easily. Tony La Russa of St. Louis, who has won four manager of the year awards, was second with 62 points, and Jim Tracy of Los Angeles was third with 52.

La Russa's Cardinals were a major league-best 105-57.

"I thought Tony deserved it, to be honest," Cox said. "I would be more than happy to split that trophy and have both our names on it."

Atlanta, trying to overcome injuries, was 33-39 after a loss at Baltimore on June 25, then went 63-27.

"We were treading water for a good part of the season until we got everybody back and finally took off," he said.

It was the third award for Cox, who won in the AL with Toronto in 1985 and in the NL with the Braves in 1991, the first year of Atlanta's record run.

"This was a tough year on the players,"Cox said. "Some of the fans probably thought we weren't going to make it this year, but we did. I think I'm as thrilled this year as I ever have been with one single team."

Showalter kept Texas in the chase for a playoff berth until the final week of the season after four straight last-place finishes. He received 14 first-place votes, nine seconds and four thirds for 101 points, finishing ahead of Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire.