8 August 2009

THIS WEEK IN THE CAPE LEAGUE
2009
THURMAN MUNSON
BATTING CHAMPION AWARD

 

FALMOUTH, Mass.—“I know I’m not supposed to root for anybody,” said Deputy Commissioner Sol Yas before Tuesday’s contest between Falmouth and Wareham, “but I hope he gets a few more hits and reaches .400 (batting average).”

Batting Champion Todd Cunningham accepts the Batting title award from Umpire in Chief Sol Yas and Commissioner Paul Galop. SportsPix 2009

     He was speaking of course of Todd Cunningham (Jacksonville State) of the Falmouth Commodores. Unfortunately, Cunningham’s last few games were just not good enough. He still won the Cape League’s batting title running away, finishing the year at .378.

     “I think his work ethic is the most important quality Todd possesses,” said Commodores manager Jeff Trundy. “A lot of baseball people say that and it’s become kind of cliché. But he really is the first one here everyday, taking extra cuts, working with coaches, just trying to get better.”

     “He has just been so hot all year,” said Commodores G.M. Dan Dunn. “Nobody has been able to get him out consistently, and he’s been a really important part of what we’ve done offensively. We’re hoping that Todd will be able to speak to some of our players next year and try to convey a little bit of what he’s been able to do here.”

     Cunningham is now the third consecutive Commodore to win the Thurman Munson Batting Title. In 2007, the honor went to Conor Gillaspie (Wichita State) who collected his first major league hit only 13 months later with the San Francisco Giants. The repeat was achieved by Jimmy Cesario (Houston) who is now with the Colorado Rockies organization.

     On Tuesday, Cunningham was also presented with the Robert A. McNeece Pro Prospect of the Year award. Many view this award to be the most prestigious award given to any player in the league; the recipient is decided entirely by major league scouts. Cunningham seemed ecstatic at receiving the awards. When Cunningham, an Atlanta Braves fan, was asked how he felt about winning an award named after Yankee great Thurman Munson, he simply replied, “I’m honored, and it’s all good.” 

Jim Chandley can be reached at chandley@capecodbaseball.org
  

Interns: Chris Blake, James Chandley, Ashley Crosby, Phil Garceau, Michael Campbell, Katy Ann Fitzpatrick