St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert
Pujols was honored as the Player of the Year in voting among his major league
peers.
Pujols, also the NL's Outstanding Player, had one of his best statistical
seasons in 2009, leading the league in homers (47), runs scored (124), on-base
percentage (.443), slugging (.658) and total bases (374). In 160 games, the
29-year-old finished with a .327 batting average and 135 runs batted in, and
the Cardinals won their fourth NL Central title in six seasons.
This marks the third time Pujols has been recognized with the Player of the
Year award. His stellar nine-year career has seen him hit .314 or higher with
at least 32 homers and 103 RBI in each season -- all with the Cardinals.
Pujols is an eight-time Players Choice Award winner and has been named the NL
Outstanding Player three times in addition to winning the NL Outstanding
Rookie award in 2001.
The Major League Baseball Players Trust will donate $50,000 to the charity of
Pujols' choice in his honor. The Players Choice Awards, which have been
awarded annually since 1992, are unique because the electorate consists of
the players themselves.
©2009 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
