A's closer Andrew Bailey was voted American League Rookie of the Year on Monday, the seventh Oakland player to receive the honor.

Bailey figured to get heavy competition from Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus for the award, voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Bailey earned 13 of 28 first-place votes for a total of 88 points. Andrus finished second with 65 points and Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello was third with 64.

Bailey was considered a long shot to even make the A's roster during spring training after spending the 2008 season in Double-A ball. But he broke camp with the team, eventually took over the closer's role and became an All-Star in 2009.

The right-hander didn't convert from starting to relieving until midway through the 2008 season, but he quickly found a home in the bullpen.

Bailey, a New Jersey native who recently moved to Connecticut with his fianceé, was driving home from the gym Monday when he got a call from BBWAA official Jack O'Connell giving him the news.

"At first I thought it was a prank call, I didn't want to take my eyes off the road. But it was pretty crazy," Bailey said. "When I got home, I called my financee' and she was going nuts. I called my Mom and she was crying. My Dad was pretty stoked. My whole family on the East Coast is thrilled."

The A's had planned to fly Bailey to Oakland immediately if he were to win the award, so he could take part in a

press conference Tuesday. But Bailey admitted he didn't even allow himself to consider packing a bag unless he heard he was indeed the winner.

He chatted with reporters on a nationwide conference call Monday just an hour before his flight for the Bay Area was departing.

"Winning this award is a complete honor," he said.

Bailey's 26 saves set an Oakland rookie record and tied for the sixth-highest save total by a rookie in AL history. He led AL relievers with a .167 opponents' batting average to go alongside a 1.84 ERA. His 91 strikeouts ranked second among AL relievers.

Bailey broke Oakland's rookie save mark previously held by Huston Street, who was the last Athletic to win Rookie of the Year in 2005.

Also Monday, Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan was named National League Rookie of the Year.

A's starter Brett Anderson finished sixth in the AL voting.