Lee Chappel: 2081 American League Silver Slugger
11/4/2081
Al Vincent
Staff Writer
Denver catcher, Lee Chappel had a magnificent season; in fact, according to the voters, the most magnificent season of any American League hitter. Chappel was awarded the Silver Slugger today for his efforts. Chappel finished the season with a .342/.439/.723 batting line, with an OPS of a whopping 1.162. Chappel belted 60 doubles, 9 triples, and 42 homeruns, while collecting 158 runs batted in and scoring 135 runs. Most impressive was tremendous batting eye and patience at the plate, evident in his 92/33 walk to strikeout ratio.
Chappel was pleased to be honored in this way. "This means a lot to me. I know there are some really great hitters in this league, and for me to win this award is really something special," he said. Chappel also added, jokingly, "Plus, now Ellis [Bolling] will stop teasing me about not having won one!" For his part, Bolling said nonchalantly, "I've won two."
Denver manager John Wilkerson said there were no players more deserving than Chappel. "Even when the team was struggling a bit, Chappel was always there. He never stopped hitting. And when we began our second half surge, it was Chappel leading the charge. Without Lee, we may not have not have reached the postseason," he stated. Chappel batted .472 with a 1.474 OPS in the month of July, and .407 with a 1.425 OPS in the month of August. He also belted 11 HR in the final month of the season.