Iguchi Topps on rookie All-Star team

11/17/2005
CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi was named to the 47th Annual Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team, announced Thursday.
Iguchi batted .278 in 135 games for the world champions, hitting 15 homers and driving in 71 runs. He joined the White Sox after posting a career .271 average in eight seasons for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks in Japan.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen often called the Japanese infielder the MVP of the team. Iguchi, 30, came through with a three-run homer in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox.
"One of the biggest reasons we're here is because of Iguchi," Guillen said during the ALDS. "That kid did everything for this team and that's why I keep saying [he's our MVP.]"
The voting was conducted by big league managers.
The Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team began in 1959 with Willie McCovey being the first of 14 future Hall of Famers named to the squad (others include Carlton Fisk). The Rookie All-Stars will each have a trophy on their 2006 trading card in Topps Baseball, with Series One due out on Feb. 7.
In December, Topps will pay homage to the historical award when it issues 2005 Topps Rookie Cup Baseball, a new baseball card product highlighting past and present players named to the Rookie All-Star Team.
The Major League Rookie All-Star Team is one of a number of awards programs managed by Topps to reward and encourage young ballplayers. Since 1959, Topps has annually bestowed honors on Minor Leaguers, baseball scouts and the Baseball Organization of the Year.

Source: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/