NEW YORK -- Jack McKeon was voted National League Manager of the Year on Wednesday after keeping the low-budget Cincinnati Reds in contention for the playoffs until the final day of the season.

	Jack McKeon's laid-back style produced winning results.

McKeon received 17 first-place votes, nine seconds and three thirds for 115 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

"I've been in the game 50 years now and this has probably been my most rewarding year," McKeon said.

McKeon, who turns 69 on Nov. 23, is the third-oldest manager in major league history behind Connie Mack, 88, and Casey Stengel, 75.

"I feel like I'm a 45-year-old," McKeon said. "I'd like to continue for four, five years at least. Maybe they won't want me, but that's the way I feel."

Atlanta's Bobby Cox, who led his team to the NL Championship Series for the eighth straight year, was second with 10 firsts, 14 seconds and six thirds for 98 points.

McKeon is a former manager of Kansas City, Oakland and San Diego and the former general manager of the Padres. He led the Reds to a 96-66 record, tying them for the wild-card spot with the Mets, who won a tiebreaker playoff 5-0.

	Manager of the Year balloting
	Voting results from the Baseball Writers Association of America, with first-, second- and third-place votes and total points on a 5-3-1 basis:
	Manager	1st	2nd	3rd	Total
	McKeon, Reds	17	9	3	115
	Cox, Braves	10	14	6	98
	Dierker, Astros	4	6	10	48
	Showalter, D-Backs	1	1	9	17
	Valentine, Mets	--	2	4	10

"We were fortunate last year that we had a lot of young guys who were hungry," McKeon said. "The woods are full of one-year phenoms. We have to continue to do it."

The Reds had the 20th-highest payroll at $38 million, and McKeon nearly got them into the postseason, the exclusive domain of the top-10 spenders.

"We certainly showed them not such much the money factor is important in winning, but it's if you have the right players," he said.

McKeon had hoped for a multiyear contract extension. Instead, he received a one-year deal.

Reds general manager Jim Bowden said McKeon's approach allowed Sean Casey, Pokey Reese, Aaron Boone, Dmitri Young, Scott Williamson and the other young players to have breakout years.

"Guys like Pokey Reese, Sean Casey make the manager's job enjoyable," McKeon said. "This is why I am staying in baseball, because of guys like that that make it fun for me and make me feel young."

Larry Dierker, who returned from midseason brain surgery to lead the Houston Astros to their third straight NL Central title, finished third. He received four first-place votes, six seconds and 10 thirds for 48 points.

Arizona's Buck Showalter was fourth with one first-place vote and 17 points. The New York Mets' Bobby Valentine was the only other manager receiving votes, getting 10 points.

The AL Manager of the Year award is announced Thursday, with Boston's Jimy Williams the favorite.