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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 1996)
Caminiti unanimous choice for NL MVP ■ MLB: The San Diego third baseman became the first Padre to win the award By Ronald Blum The Associated Press NEW YORK — Ken Caminiti, who led San Diego into the play offs for the first time in 12 years, became the fourth unanimous winner of the NL Most Valuable Player Award on Wednesday. “I never considered myself on this level before,” Caminiti said. ‘I’m just happy to be here and be in such an elite crowd. This is a great honor.” i ne ju-year-oia tnira Daseman became the first Padres player to win the award in the 28-year histo ry of the team. Jeff Bagwell (1994), Mike Schmidt (1980) and Orlando Cepeda (1967) were the only other unanimous picks. “I got picked MVP for doing my job, basically,” Caminiti said dur ing a news conference in Houston. “I did my job to the best of my abi 1 ity, and I got rewarded for it. I take my job seriously, and I play as hard as I can play.” Caminiti set Padres records with 40 homers, 130 RBIs and a .621 slugging percentage, and led the NL during the second half in average (.360), homers (28) and RBIs (81). His most memorable perfor mance came Aug. 18 at Monterrey, Mexico, where the Padres and Mets were playing the first regu lar-season games outside of the United States and Canada. Battling dehydration and an up set stomach, Caminiti took two liters of intravenous fluid just be fore the series finale, then hit two homers for four RBIs in an 8-0 win against New York. “I didn’t think I was going to play that day,” he recalled. ‘Td have to thank the training staff for getting me on the field that day. They made a bigger deal than I thought it was.” The next night in San Diego, Caminiti hit a grand slam in a vic tory against Montreal. Two nights later, he homered from both sides of the plate for the sixth time in his career. I came home from that road trip, and they took blood for three days after that,” he said. “That was the best week I ever had in pro ball. I don’t know if I was uncon scious or what. That whole week I was sick and putting up numbers that I couldn’t believe. I remember after that week and after that whole month, I was like, ‘Some body get me dehydrated again so I can put up better numbers.’” He refused to be sidelined by in juries, including a tom left rotator cuff that required postseason surgery, a right hamstring strain, a severe groin strain and back trou ble. “In August and September we just jumped on his back, and he carried us the whole way,” said teammate Steve Finley, who fin ished 10th in the voting. And his defense was even more spectacular than in 1995, when he won his first Gold Glove award. His most outstanding play came April 22 at Florida, when he threw out Greg Colbrunn from the seat of his pants. NOW HIRING TOUR GUIDES! The Office of Admissions is looking for volunteers who are dedicated, outgoing and have pride in their University. Tours are an essential part of helping students in the college selection process. Apply today to be a ConDUCKtour Guide!! Pick up applications at the Information booth in Oregon Hall or the Office of Admissions. 9 Due date is 5:00 Friday, Nov 22 Front Desk of the Office of Admissions © Disney f Pitch in! Recycle your copy of the ODE. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY No New Taxes! i f No New Taxes! iiJ J \ ? yy ^ Burp! Throughout history, we've lived under a two-party system. So Mickey's-the crisp, smooth beer in the big-mouth bottle would like to introduce a new party. Where a government of great minds isn't the cornerstone of society...beer is. ©1996 G.Heileman Brewing Co.. LaCrosse. Wisconsin., JOIN THE PARTY.
