Detroit pitcher Verlander named AL MVP

Justin Verlander has long regarded Roger Clemens as an idol. Now the Tigers righthander can call Clemens a brother in an exclusive club.

Verlander is the 2011 American League Most Valuable Player, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced Monday. He is the first starting pitcher to win the honor since Clemens, then with Boston, did so in 1986. Verlander won the AL Cy Young Award last week, just as Clemens picked up two trophies 25 years ago.

"Not even in my wildest dreams had I thought of this," said Verlander, who received 13 of the 28 first-place votes and 280 points. "My dream already had come true with the Cy Young. This wasn't even on my radar until the talk started [late in the season]."

Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury (242 points), Toronto's Jose Bautista (231), the Yankees' Curtis Granderson (215), Tigers' Miguel Cabrera (193) and Yankees' Robinson Cano (112) rounded out the top six. The top five, as well as eighth-place Michael Young of Texas, received at least one first-place vote. The Yankees' CC Sabathia (10 points, 14th place), Mark Teixeira (five, 19th) and David Robertson (one, tied for 22nd) also made the ballot.

Sixteen starting pitchers have won an MVP trophy, but Verlander is only the third in the last 43 years in either league, including Oakland's Vida Blue in 1971.

Verlander led the league with 24 wins, 250 strikeouts, a 2.40 ERA and 251 innings. The Tigers, thanks in large part to his contributions, won the AL Central with a 95-67 record and beat the Yankees in the Division Series. Two BBWAA members from each AL city submitted ballots before the postseason began.

"A starting pitcher has to do something special to be as valuable as, or more so than, a position player," Verlander said.

"A position player can play in 160-something games and can have a huge impact every day. On my day, the impact we have is tremendous on that game. You have to have a great impact almost every time out to supersede that. I guess this year is one of those years."