News
Ishikawa earns Topps rookie honor
Giants first baseman committed only three errors in 2009
By Chris Haft / MLB.com
11/25/09 3:43 PM EST
SAN FRANCISCO -- Following a tradition established by Giants legend Willie McCovey, Travis Ishikawa was named first baseman Wednesday on the 51st annual Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team.
McCovey, who made Topps' first All-Rookie squad in 1959, was the first of 16 honorees to gain election to the Hall of Fame.
Ishikawa, 26, hit .261 with nine home runs and 39 RBIs in 120 games. He excelled at home, batting .349 with seven homers at AT&T Park, compared to .162 with two homers on the road. Ishikawa also excelled defensively, committing only three errors in 803 total chances for a .996 fielding percentage. That ranked third among National League first basemen behind Atlanta's Adam LaRoche (.999) and Colorado's Todd Helton (.998). Joining Ishikawa on the Topps squad were White Sox second baseman Chris Getz, Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, White Sox third baseman Gordon Beckham, Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, Rangers outfielder Nolan Reimold, Mets catcher Omir Santos, Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson and Phillies left-hander J.A. Happ.Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
