Tejada Overcomes Controversy, Wins MVP

Voters Ignore Doping Allegations

San Francisco Giants shortstop Miguel Tejada easily won the 2005 Honus Wagner League Most Valuable Player Award, outdistancing teammate Mark Loretta by a two-to-one margin in leaguewide voting. Tejada, who was recently fingered by teammate Brian Fuentes for having provided a performance-enhancing substance, finished third in the league in batting average (.346), second in hits (239), first in RBI (149), third in runs scored (128), tenth in home runs (32), fourth in doubles (51), and ninth in slugging percentage (.564).

"I am glad the voters ignored those baseless accusations," Tejada said while leaving a Bay Area gymnasium with personal trainer Victor Conte. "This award means more to me than the World Series."