Chesapeake's David Wright wins first gold glove

By Staff and wire

Chesapeake's David Wright won his first Gold Glove on Tuesday.

The New York Mets third baseman became the ninth player to win a Gold Glove in the same season he hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases.

Wright, who turns 25 next month, hit .325 in his third full big league season with 30 homers, 107 RBIs and 34 stolen bases.

The others to win following a 30-30 year are Willie Mays (1957, centerfield), Bobby Bonds (1973, centerfield), Dale Murphy (1983, centerfield), Eric Davis (1987, centerfield), Barry Bonds (1990, '92, '96 and '97, leftfield), Barry Larkin (1996, shortstop), Larry Walker (1997, rightfield) and Raul Mondesi (1999, rightfield).

"I have worked hard at trying to become a complete player," Wright was quoted by the Mets' Web site.

Wright played the second-most innings among NL third basemen (1,418 1/3) and committed 21 errors. He ranked seventh in the league in fielding percentage - .954 - among players with at least 1,000 innings at third base last season.

Padres pitcher Greg Maddux won his record 17th Gold Glove and Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez won his 13th.

Maddux broke a tie with Baltimore third baseman Brooks Robinson and pitcher Jim Kaat for the most Gold Gloves.

Known for his quick reflexes on the mound even at 41, Maddux won his first Gold Glove in 1990 with the Chicago Cubs. The 347-game winner has taken home the honor every year since except for 2003, when Mike Hampton broke his streak.

The Gold Gloves were first awarded in 1957. Managers and coaches vote on players in their own leagues.