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Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, whose 201 hits in 2004 made him only the ninth shortstop in National League history to record 200 or more hits in a season, has become the first Pirate to win a Silver Slugger Award since Jay Bell in 1993. Wilson hit .308 with 11 homers, 299 total bases, 82 runs, 41 doubles, 12 triples and a .335 on-base percentage, all career highs. He also drove in 59 runs and was selected to the All-Star team. The Silver Slugger Award winners are determined by Major League Baseball coaches and managers who designated the players they felt were the best offensive producers at each position in each league. Hillerich & Bradsby Co., the maker of Louisville Slugger bats, instituted the awards in 1980. |