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White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski is the winner of an American League Silver Slugger Award for the first time in his career after a career-year offensively.
The award, given to the best offensive player at every position, puts Pierzynski in the company of Carlton Fisk as the only two White Sox catchers to ever win the award. Pierzynski, 35, finished with a .278 batting average, 27 home runs and 77 runs batted in his eighth season with the White Sox.
Pierzynski earned career-best marks in each home runs, runs, walks, slugging percentage and total bases. He wasn't without competition, though, as Twins catcher Joe Mauer finished the season with a .319 batting average and more RBIs, runs and hits than Pierzynski. The White Sox catcher had nearly triple the home runs that Mauer did, though.
Prior to joining the White Sox in January 2005, Pierzynski played one season with the Giants and six with the Twins.