Cubs’ Walton Easy Winner of NL Rookie Award

Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith of the Chicago Cubs Wednesday became the first teammates to finish 1-2 in National League rookie-of-the-year voting since 1957.

Walton was the clear favorite of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America panel, getting 22 of the 24 first-place votes and a total of 116 points. Smith had the other two first-place votes and 68 points. “I’m glad I won it and I’m glad he’s the runner-up,” Walton said at a news conference in Chicago. “Me and Dwight tried to pump each other through the season. We’ve always been friendly.”

The only other National League teammates to finish 1-2 were pitcher Jack Sanford and first baseman Ed Bouchee of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1957.

Walton is the first Cub player to be chosen rookie of the year since Ken Hubbs in 1962. Walton hit .293, drove in 46 runs and stole 24 bases in 31 attempts as Chicago’s leadoff batter. “I’m in the record book,” Walton said. “I’ve been nervous since the season was over. I thought Dwight had a good chance to win it.”

Third in the voting was Gregg Jefferies of the New York Mets with 18 points, followed by Atlanta’s Derek Lilliquist with six, San Diego’s Andy Benes and Philadelphia’s Charlie Hayes with three each and San Diego’s Greg Harris with one.