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LaVelle E. Neal of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune was officially named as the president of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) at the organization’s World Series meeting on Saturday.

Neal, who has been covering the Twins for the Star-Tribune since 1998, is the first African-American president in the 105-year history of the BBWAA. He served as vice president over the past year and will replace the San Francisco Chronicle‘s Susan Slusser, who was elected as the BBWAA’s first woman president one year ago.

BBWAA presidents typically serve one-year terms, with the vice president moving up the next year. According to the Associated Press, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle was elected vice president today, so he’ll be in position to take over as president next year.

Our congratulations go out to LaVelle and Jose.

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