By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

Torii Hunter helped preserve a win over the White Sox with this over-the-wall catch. (Paul Battaglia/AP)

The Twins center fielder has also prevented a fair share of doubles and triples with big diving catches and distant runs. His many strong throws have halted baserunners from taking an extra base.

A reputation of making the plays, both the superhuman and routine variety, earned Hunter a 2003 Rawlings American League Gold Glove Award Tuesday. This year’s honor marks the third consecutive year the center fielder has been named one of the league’s best defenders.

"I have to be excited to get three Gold Gloves in a row," Hunter said from his suburban Dallas home. "I never thought I'd get one. Defense is what got me to the big leagues. You have to keep that going."

2003 Gold Glove winners AMERICAN LEAGUE
C	Bengie Molina, ANA
1B	John Olerud, SEA
2B	Bret Boone, SEA
3B	Eric Chavez, OAK
SS	Alex Rodriguez, TEX
OF	Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
OF	Mike Cameron, SEA
OF	Torii Hunter, MIN
P	Mike Mussina, NYY
NATIONAL LEAGUE
C	Mike Matheny, STL
1B	Derrek Lee, FLA
2B	Luis Castillo, FLA
3B	Scott Rolen, STL
SS	Edgar Renteria, STL
OF	Andruw Jones, ATL
OF	Jose Cruz Jr., SF
OF	Jim Edmonds, STL
P	Mike Hampton, ATL

Hunter's fantastic catches and a legendary willingness to sacrifice his body have become an all-too-familiar, but never boring sight. A slugger might boom a deep fly toward center field and instinctively starts his home run trot. Never willing to give up, Hunter hustles with a long run back to the warning track. As the ball appears to carry out of the ballpark, he leaps high above -- and sometimes beyond -- the fence with glove hand stretched.

"You always feel you have a chance," Hunter said. "When the ball is hit, I'm on it. I'm going to pose a threat and try to get that ball. I feel I can get anything."

And he often returns to earth with the ball in his glove and another out made.

The reactions that follow are often similar. The home crowd generally shrieks with a standing ovation. On the road, fans seem to just stare stunned in amazement. A common question at any ballpark is, "How did he do that?"

Meanwhile, the hitter's home run trot is quickly reduced to a disheartened walk back to the dugout, just shaking his head.

"If I would have looked at the replay, I'd be crying right now," the White Sox Carlos Lee said May 17 after being robbed of a homer by Hunter at the Metrodome.

Torii Hunter   /   CF
	Height: 6'2" Weight: 205 Bats/Throws: R/R More info: Player page Stats Hit chart Twins site

"That's the best feeling ever," Hunter said. "You take it away, they have a look of disgust."

Offensively, Hunter led the Twins in 2003 with 26 home runs and 102 RBIs, but he also went through a fair number of slumps. However, his offensive struggles never seemed to affect him in the field. Posting a .991 fielding percentage, 10th-best in the AL, the 28-year-old was third in the league in total chances with 434 and putouts with 425. He committed four errors.

"If I had a bad at-bat, I never took it with me," Hunter said. "I just kept playing defense. I knew my pitchers needed it."

Hunter is the fourth Twins player to become at least a three-time Gold Glove winner, joining pitcher Jim Kaat (11), outfielder Kirby Puckett (six) and third baseman Gary Gaetti (four). Puckett and Gaetti were the last Minnesota players to win it three straight years.

"Hopefully, I'll get as many as I can get," Hunter said. "Maybe one day, I'll get a room for them and fill it up. But I can't get ahead of myself.

"It's a blessing to get awards. After playing so long in the minor leagues, I just wanted to get to the big leagues. Now I have three Gold Gloves."

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This report was not subject to the approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.