Alex Rodriguez wins the 2001 AL Hank Aaron Award

A-Rod breaks MLB record for home runs by a shortstop.

Alex Rodriguez wins the 2001 American League Hank Aaron Award.

November 2, 2001 -- Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez, who signed a whopping $252 million dollar contract this past season with the Texas Ranger, was named the A.L. Hank Aaron Award winner for 2001.

The award was established in 1999 to recognizes the season's best overall hitter in each league and also honors Hank Aaron who holds the career home run record with 715.

Rodriguez, who became the first shortstop in Major League history to hit more than 50 home runs in a season, received 137 points to win the Aaron Award in the American League.

In his first season as a Ranger, A-Rod led the league in home runs (52), runs scored (133), total bases (393), home batting average (.361), tied for the league lead in extra-base hits (87), and was among the league leaders in batting average (7th - .318), RBIs (3rd - 135), multi-hit games (6th - 55), hits (4th - 201), on-base percentage (8th - .399), and slugging percentage (3rd - .622).

A-Rod received 19 first-place votes (out of 28 ballots cast), eight second-place votes, and four third-place votes. Jason Giambi of the Oakland Athletics came in second place in AL voting, finishing with eight first-place votes and 73 points.

2001 home run leader, Barry Bonds won the award in the National League.

Since the inception of the Hank Aaron Award in 1999, Latinos have won the award in either league, every year:

1999	Sammy Sosa (NL) & Manny Ramirez (AL)
2000	Carlos Delgado (AL)
2001	Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez (AL)