NEW YORK — When Ozzie Guillen was voted American League Manager of the Year, few people were more proud than NL winner Bobby Cox.

"He's a very honest guy and he knows the game inside-out," Cox said. "He did a super, splendid job."

Guillen was rewarded Wednesday for guiding the Chicago White Sox to a stellar season that culminated with a World Series championship. Cox became the first back-to-back winner in either league after leading the rookie-laden Atlanta Braves to yet another division title.

The way Guillen works a dugout, impatiently bouncing around and chattering away from the first pitch to the final out, it's hard to believe he calls the steady Cox a mentor.

Guillen played shortstop for Cox late in his career and said he learned a lot during those days in Atlanta. Yet on the surface, the two appear to have little in common other than these awards.

Cox has seen just about everything during 24 years as a major league manager and knows by now to keep an even keel throughout the long season.

Guillen was so torn up by tough losses this year that he occasionally vomited in his office.

"I'm not a patient guy," he said. "I'm going crazy a lot."

Different styles, both successful.

"It's not easy to manage right now because there are a lot of players making big money, a lot of players with attitudes," Guillen said. "The type of players I have in my clubhouse, those are the type of players that anyone can win with."

And he'll never forget the lessons he learned from Cox about how to communicate with those players.

"There's nothing better than to be around that man because he will teach you how to handle things on the field and off the field," Guillen said.

He received 17 first-place votes, five seconds and five thirds for 105 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Eric Wedge of the Cleveland Indians was the runner-up with six first-place votes and 71 points, while Joe Torre of the New York Yankees came in third with 43 points.

Oakland's Ken Macha also got a first-place vote and finished fourth.

Cox was listed first on 28 ballots and second on the other four to win by a whopping 100 points. He beat out St. Louis' Tony La Russa, who also finished second to Cox last year.

"It's an honor, again," Cox said. "I'm delighted. It's something we don't set out to win, that's for sure."

The BBWAA has elected the top manager in each league since 1983. Voting was conducted at the end of the regular season, before the Braves were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round for the fourth straight year.

In his second year as manager, the outspoken, energetic Guillen guided the White Sox to the best record in the AL (99-63). After nearly squandering a 15-game lead in the AL Central before holding off Cleveland, Chicago cruised through the playoffs and swept Houston in the World Series for its first title since 1917.

"I want to be like Michael Jordan, have rings all over the place," Guillen said.

His small-ball approach was a big hit in the Windy City — he loved to bunt and hit-and-run with a scrappy team that relied on pitching, defense and fundamentals.

"We don't need superstars. We need guys who worry about the name on the chest more than the name on the back of the uniform," the 41-year-old Guillen said. "The only bad thing about this was, we won a lot of games by one run or two runs, and that drives me crazy."

His selection marked the eighth time a team that won the World Series produced the Manager of the Year winner. The previous time was Florida's Jack McKeon in 2003.

Cox, whose Braves have won a record 14 straight division titles, took home his fourth Manager of the Year award — tying La Russa for the most ever.

Riddled with injuries, Atlanta was forced to use 18 rookies this year but still won 90 games to extend its streak of division titles.

"Fact is, they can play," Cox said. "Didn't have anything to do with what I did, that's for darn sure. I wrote their name in the lineup, stuck with 'em and encouraged 'em as much as I possibly could. But they performed, they really did, and I thought they all did exceptionally well.

"The people that need the recognition are the nuts-and-bolts guys down below that send us these players ready to go," he said. "But I'll take this award anytime. I hold it in very high esteem."

The Braves were eliminated by Houston for the second consecutive season, again leaving Atlanta with only one World Series title to show for all that regular-season dominance.

"We're disappointed in that, we certainly are. We thought we could go further this year, that's for sure, even with the young kids," the 64-year-old Cox said, adding that he still has a passion for the game and no immediate plans to retire. "That last day comes too suddenly."

Astros manager Phil Garner came in third with 38 points, 14 behind La Russa. Frank Robinson of the Washington Nationals received a pair of first-place votes and finished fourth.

Cox also won this award with the Braves in 1991, when they began their incredible run, and the AL prize in 1985 with the Toronto Blue Jays.