By Fitzgerald Cecilio

After signing a two-year, $29-million contract extension earlier in the day, Chicago White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy capped an amazing Tuesday by receiving his first Gold Glove Award, leading eight other first-time winners.

Peavy shared the American League pitching Gold Glove with Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson, also a first-time recipient.

They represented two of four players who notched their first Gold Glove in the American League, including Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy and Athletics right fielder Josh Reddick.

"It means a lot to me, for one," Hardy said. "It's definitely an award I've always hoped to get, never really expected to do it, never really expected to get it. I'm surprised and honored at the same time."

The other AL winners were third baseman Adrian Beltre of Texas, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones and catcher Matt Wieters, five-time Gold Glove first baseman Mark Teixeira and second baseman Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees and left fielder Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Chief.

Teixeira won his fifth Gold Glove, Beltre has four while Wieters. Gordon and Jones have two each.

"It's another dream come true for me," said Cano, who also won the award in 2010. "The Gold Glove is a special award because my defense is something I take a lot of pride in. There are a lot of ways you can contribute to a team win. It's not always about offense. Sometimes saving runs is as important as scoring runs."

"I just love playing my position," Beltre said. "I love to play with the determination to make every play. I take my position as a challenge to make every play I can make."

The National League has five first-time winners, including Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche, Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney, Padres third baseman Chase Headley, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen and Braves right fielder Jason Heyward.

Barney finished the season with a .997 fielding percentage, highest among NL second basemen and the highest in Cubs franchise history at the position.

"I'm extremely thrilled," said Barney, who beat three-time winner Brandon Phillips of the Reds and Aaron Hill of the Diamondbacks. "It's something you came into the season working toward but it's not something where I thought the results would be there as quickly as they were. I'm extremely happy about it. There's a lot of good competition. I'm really surprised it ended up happening for me. It's an exciting night for me."

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins and Marlins pitcher Mark Buehrle each captured their fourth Gold Glove . Rockies left fielder Carlos Gonzalez and catcher Yadier Molina round out the NL winners.

"It's always such a great honor to win the Gold Glove award," said Molina, the first NL catcher to win five straight Gold Gloves since the Reds' Johnny Bench won 10 straight from 1968-77. "It's something that you work hard for, and it's nice to be voted as a top player at your position."

 

 

Peavy and Hellickson Lead Seven Other First-Time Gold Glove Winners