By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jim Tracy of the Colorado Rockies won the National League Manager of the Year award and Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels was selected for the American League honor on Wednesday.
Tracy became the second manager to win the award after taking over during the season, joining Jack McKeon for Florida in 2003.
Tracy received 29 first-place votes and two seconds for 151 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Scioscia got 15 first-place votes, 10 seconds and one third for 106 points.
The Rockies promoted Tracy from bench coach after Clint Hurdle was fired in late May and won the wild-card race. The 53-year-old Tracy, who was out of Major League Baseball before he became the Rockies' bench coach in November 2008, is still without a contract for next season.
Scioscia kept the Angels going after the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart, and they won their fifth AL West division title in six years.
Scioscia, who turns 51 on Nov. 27, was credited for giving his players time to grieve while gently insisting on accountability as an early slump lingered. Los Angeles responded by surging to another division title and making it to the AL Championship Series, eliminating playoffs nemesis Boston along the way.
"This award is a true honor and a testament to the perseverance of our players and staff," Scioscia said in a release. "As a team, we overcame several obstacles to put together a successful season in 2009."
Ron Gardenhire finished second in the AL voting for the second straight year and fifth time during his eight seasons as Minnesota Twins manager. He also placed third in 2002, when Scioscia was honored for the first time, but has never won the award. Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals, a four-time winner, was a distant second in the NL with 55 points.
Lou Piniella of the Chicago Cubs and Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays were honored last year.
