Albert Pujols previously won in 2005 and 2008. Pujols received 32 first-place votes and 448 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Trailing him were Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez (233), Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (217) and Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder with 203 points.
Pujols also became the only St. Louis Cardinal besides all-time great Stan Musial to win the award 3 times. Musial won the ward in 1943, 46, and 58.
Pujols led the NL in home runs (47), runs (124) on-base percentage (.443) and slugging percentage (.658). He also had 135 RBIs. He is the 12th player in either league to be named MVP in consecutive seasons.
Pujols is also just the fourth player to win the NL MVP three times. Barry Bonds won seven MVPs in the 1990s and 2000s, but those are considered steroids-tainted. Stan Musial (1940s), Roy Campanella (1950s) and Mike Schmidt (1980s) each won three.
In addition to Pujols and Bonds, the only unanimous NL winners were Orlando Cepeda (1967), Schmidt (1980), Jeff Bagwell (FSY) (1994) and Ken Caminiti (1996).
In the AL, unanimous winners have been Hank Greenberg (1935), Al Rosen (1953), Mantle (1956), Frank Robinson (1966), Denny McLain (1968), Reggie Jackson (1973), Jose Canseco (1988), Frank Thomas (FSY) (1993) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1997).
Written by Michael Santo
HULIQ.com
Posted November 24th, 2009 by Michael Santo
