Price presented with AL Cy Young Award

ST. PETERSBURG -- Prior to Saturday night's Rays-Indians game, David Price was presented with his 2012 American League Cy Young Award.

In addition, the first 20,000 fans to enter Tropicana Field received a David Price Cy Young Figurine.

Price initially received the trophy at the New York BBWAA dinner in January.

"I don't look at [Saturday night] as being for me," Price said. "This is for the fans. This is a chance for them to come out and be a part of this ceremony and get a figurine, and stuff like that. The Rays obviously did this for me, and what we accomplished last year as a team. And being able to win that Cy Young Award, but more or less it's for the fans."

To win the award, Price edged out Detroit's Justin Verlander 153-149 in the voting -- the closest election since the BBWAA permitted voting for more than one pitcher in 1970. Rays manager Joe Maddon touted his guy to win the award last year on many occasions, so he was asked to make one final commentary about Price winning the award.

"Talk about consistency -- seven innings, seven innings, seven innings, the whole time," Maddon said. "And with a really good pitch number, giving us a chance to win all of those games. He was really disgustingly consistent last year. Part of that was the fact he really had command of his fastball. He has other weapons now, but I really think he could throw 80 to 90 percent fastball in a game and win. I really do. That's what he learned last year."

Maddon pointed out that beyond Price's physical gifts, "there's that competitive thing about him also."

"He does not want to be good, he wants to be great," Maddon said. "And I love him for that. I think he handles it in the right way.

"When he's not playing, when he's not pitching, he's like the best cheerleader in this dugout. Postgame [celebration after] a win, he's probably the funniest guy up there. Then when it's time to focus, he does. I like the balance of how he does things."