Sox pitcher Buehrle wins 2009 Fielding Bible honor

Along with his perfect game performance, White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle has more to celebrate from the 2009 season.

The 2009 Fielding Bible Awards have been announced, and Buehrle is among the winners.

According to John Dewan of ACTA Sports, Buerhle over the last four years has allowed a total of 15 stolen bases, picked off 14 baserunners, and thrown over to first only to have the runner break for second and be thrown out-16 times. It is the first Fielding Bible Award ever for Buehrle.

In one of the closest races in the history of the FB awards, second basemen Aaron Hill, Dustin Pedroia and Chase Utley finished with 76, 76 and 73 points respectively, forcing a tie-breaking procedure that awarded Hill his second Fielding Bible Award.

The Fielding Bible Awards, unlike the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, selects only one winner at each position, instead of separate winners for each league.

A panel of 10 analysts, including Peter Gammons, Bill James, Joe Posnanski, and Dewan, examined the 2009 seasons of every defensive player in Major League Baseball and then used the same voting technique as the Major League Baseball MVP voting. First place votes received 10 points, second place 9 points, third place 8 points, etc. A perfect score was 100.

Buehrle received 86 votes for his position. Here are the results of the 2009 Fielding Bible Award winners:

First base: Albert Puhols, St. Louis

Second base: Aaron Hill, Toronto

Third base: Ryan Zimmerman, Washington

Shortstop: Jack Wilson, Pittsburgh/Seattle

Left field: Carl Crawford, Tampa

Center field: Franklin Gutirrez, Seattle

Right field: Ichio Suzuki, Seattle

Catcher: Yadier Molina, St. Louis

A complete record of the voting can be found in the Bill James Handbook 2010, and more information is available at fieldingbible.com.