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(AP) --  Joe Mauer has become only the second catcher in
33 years to win the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
 

The Minnesota Twins star was a near-unanimous winner in voting
announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America,
receiving 27 of 28 first-place votes and 387 points. Yankees
teammates Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter were second and third.

 Mauer topped the AL in batting with a .365 average. He also led
in on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

 Teixeira finished with 225 points after leading the league with
122 RBIs and tying for first with 39 homers. Jeter had 193 points
while Detroit's Miguel Cabrera drew the other first-place vote and
was fourth.

(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)