Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun was elected the National League winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award in a very close vote over Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Braun, who turns 24 next week, collected 128 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Tulowitzki had 126, making it the closest differential since the current 5-3-1 tabulation system was adopted in 1980.

The previous closest ballot was 2006, when Florida's Hanley Ramirez beat Washington's Ryan Zimmerman, 105-101.

Braun received 14 second-place votes and one third-place vote. Tulowitzki was first on 15 ballots and second on the other 17.

Boston's Dustin Pedroia won the American League award, which was announced concurrently.

Prior to 1980, writers voted for one player, not three. The 1976 election resulted in the only NL tie, between pitchers Butch Metzger of the San Diego Padres and Pat Zachry of the Cincinnati Reds.

Braun, who batted .324, led NL first-year players in home runs (34), slugging (.634) and extra-base hits (66), was second in RBI (97), runs (91), total bases (286) and triples (6) and third in hits (146). Tulowitzki, a .291 hitter, was the NL rookie leader in RBI (99), runs (104), hits (179), total bases (292), doubles (33) and walks (57) and was third in home runs (24) and triples (5).

Braun is the second Brewers player to win the award. The other was shortstop Pat Listach in the American League in 1992. Milwaukee shifted to the NL in 1998. The Braves did not have a Rookie of the Year winner during their 13 seasons in Milwaukee (1953-‘65).

Houston outfielder Hunter Pence finished third in the balloting with 15 third-place votes. Chris Young of Arizona, Kyle Kendrick of Philadelphia, Yunel Escobar of Atlanta and James Loney of Los Angeles also received votes.

Pedroia, 24, was listed first on 24 of the 28 ballots submitted by two writers in each league city and second on the other four to total 132 points, based on the 5-3-1 tabulation system. He was the only player on every ballot. Pedroia's .317 batting average was the highest among AL rookies. He also led first-year players in the league in runs (86) and doubles (39) and was second in total bases (230) and on-base percentage (.380) for a Boston club that went on to win its second World Series in four seasons. Voting is conducted prior to the start of post-season play.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Delmon Young, the AL rookie leader in RBI (93), hits (186), total bases (263) and outfield assists (16), had three first-place votes and finished second in the balloting with 56 points. The other first-place vote went to Kansas City Royals pitcher Brian Bannister (12-9, 3.87 ERA), who ranked third overall with 36 points. In all, eight players gained mention.

Pedroia became the sixth Red Sox player honored and the first since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997. Other Boston winners were Walt Dropo in 1950, Don Schwall in 1961, Carlton Fisk in 1972 and Fred Lynn in 1975. Pedroia is also only the fourth second baseman to win in the AL, joining the Minnesota Twins' Rod Carew (1967) and Chuck Knoblauch (1991) and the Detroit Tigers' Lou Whitaker (1978). Knoblauch also won the award while playing for a team that went on to win the World Series.