NewsCallaspo captures Joe Burke Award
Switch-hitter's offensive results yield Special honor
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
11/13/09 4:22 PM EST
KANSAS CITY -- Alberto Callaspo never says much but, as the saying goes, he talks with his bat.Callaspo banged out a .300 average and raked 60 extra-base hits last season and on Friday was awarded the 2009 Joe Burke Special Achievement Award by the Kansas City chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
"Alberto had a special year, especially at the plate, and truly deserves this honor," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "He was a consistent and reliable performer who seemed to have a knack for big hits in key situations."
A switch-hitting second baseman, Callaspo finished with 41 doubles, eight triples and 11 home runs. He had gone 441 at-bats in his Major League career before he finally connected with his first homer on April 24. After that, he didn't stop and even hit his first grand slam.
"I'm just doing my job," is what he'd usually tell reporters after a big game. That he did, batting fifth much of the season and knocking in 73 runs. In 634 plate appearances, he struck out just 51 times, which made him the third-toughest in the American League to fan (12.43 plate appearances for each strikeout).
Callaspo is now playing winter ball in his native Venezuela.
The award is in memory of Joe Burke, long-time team general manager and president and a member of the Royals Hall of Fame.
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
