Freddy Sanchez and his chase for the N.L. batting title
By Shannon Boyle

On Oct. 1, over 25,000 Pittsburgh baseball fans stood on their feet at PNC Park and chanted "Freddy! Freddy!" and waved black and gold "Go Freddy Go" posters in support of their man during the Pirates last game of the season, a 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

Freddy Sanchez came to bat during the first inning and hit an 0-2 pitch off Reds pitcher Matt Belisle into left field for a single. That Sunday afternoon Sanchez went 2-for-4 and clinched the National League batting title, also picking up hit No. 200 on the season.

Although the Pirates finished the year with yet another losing record, Pittsburgh baseball fans had more excitement than usual last season; the city was the host to Major League Baseball's All Star game, the Pirates had two players in the big game, and probably most exciting, the Bucs were home to the Senior Circuit's batting champion.

Sanchez, who started the season as a bench player, won the title with a .344 average, five points ahead of Florida's Miguel Cabrera. He had 85 RBI, six home runs and three stolen bases on the year. The one-time Red Sox prospect was also named to his first All Star team, during which he got to play on his home field while receiving the most write in votes with 856,685.

No wonder fans were screaming at the top of their lungs.

Sanchez is the tenth Pirate since 1900 to capture the batting crown-all told, Pirates have won 25 crowns, more than any other team in the majors-but he's the first to claim the title since Bill Madlock in 1983. His average was the highest by a Pirates player since Roberto Clemente batted .345 in 1969.

When third baseman Joe Randa went on the disabled list with a foot injury in the beginning of May, Sanchez stepped into the starting line up and never looked back.

He actually started his hot-hitting a few weeks prior, on April 23 against Houston, when he came off the bench and went 2-for-2 with a double and solo home run.

At one point in August, Sanchez went 21-for-47 during a 12 game hitting streak. He led the National League and established a club record with the most doubles in a season by a right-handed batter with 53; and he became the second player since divisional play began in 1969 to collect 85 or more RBI while hitting no more than six homeruns.

No one knows what 2007 holds for "Steady Freddy," but Pittsburgh baseball fans who were witness to his '06 season won't soon forget it.