By a margin of 52 points, Cliff Lee, a native of central Arkansas, won the American League Comeback Player of The Year Award on Monday after having a a complete turn around season.

Lee, who was born and still resides in Benton, AR, had a rough 2007 season while battling injuries, going 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA. But after making the Cleveland Indians rotation in spring of 2008, Lee was able to have one of he best pitching seasons in the 21st century, going 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA.

The award, which was created in 1965 by The Sporting News has now been awarded to 3 Arkansas-born players. Aside from Lee, Helena native Alex Johnson won the award in 1968, while Lou Brock, who was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, won the award in 1979.

With the 2008 MLB playoff schedule nearly set, it is official that 3 Arkansas natives are heading to the playoffs. They are Torii Hunter, Dustin Moseley, and Pat Burrell.

Hunter, born in Pine Bluff, AR, and his teammate Mosely, a native of Texarkana, AR, are both members of the Las Angeles Angels, who are among the favorites to win the World Series.

Burrell, who was born in Eureka Springs but grew up in California, will be heading to the playoffs with the Philadelphia Phillies, who are schedule to play the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series.

Terry Tiffee, who was born in North Little Rock, AR and grew up in Sherwood, AR, finished with the best Batting Average mark in the Pacific Coast League. His average of .378 beat out second place Jamie D’Antona by 13 points.

Tiffee, a farm hand of the Las Angeles Dodgers, played in only 6 major leagues game this season, going 1 for 4 at the plate. He also played with the U.S Olympic team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He also finished with 9 homeruns and 69 RBIs with AAA Las Vegas.

Wins, Strikeouts and ERA, the three pitching Triple Crown categories, were each lead by an Arkansan in the American League in 2008. Cleveland Indians’ pitcher Cliff Lee, a native of Benton, AR, led both Wins (22) and ERA (2.54), while Toronto Blue Jay A.J. Burnett, born in North Little Rock, AR, led the league in strikeouts with 231, a new single season record for an Arkansan.

The last Arkansan to lead the league in Wins was Johnny Sain in 1948 when he collected 24 victories. Lee’s 22 wins were the most for an Arkansan since 1951, when Preacher Roe also went 22-3.

Lee, who also played for the Arkansas Razorbacks, also led the league in Winning Percentage with a .880 mark, which is tied with fellow Arkansan Preacher Roe for third best in history. He also had the best Walks Per 9 Innings Percentage (1.37) and was tied for the most shutout in the league with 2.

Burnett, who went 18-10 on the season, also led the league with an average of 9.39 strikeouts per 9 innings.

Cliff Lee, pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, won his 20th game on Labor Day, September 1st. With the win, he becomes the first pitcher born in Arkansas to win 20 games since Preacher Roe won 22 in 1951.

Lee, born in Benton, AR, also pitched for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2001. Should he win the  Cy Young Award, he will be the first from Arkansas to do so.

The 2008 MLB All-Star Game has selected Cliff Lee, a native of Benton, AR, to the AL All-star game. Lee will also be the starting pitcher for the American League All-stars.

Along with Lee on the American League All-Star team will be 4 former Arkansas Travelers. They are Fransisco Rodriguez, who played the the Travs in 2002 and went 3-3 with a 1.98 ERA and 9 saves in 23 games; Ervin Santana, who pitcher for Arkansas in three different seasons, going an overall 9-2; Joe Saunders, who played for the Travelers in 2004 and 2005; and J.D. Drew, who had a very brief stint with the Travs in 1998, hitting 5 homeruns with a batting average of .328 in 19 games.