Pujols Wins Third NL MVP

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols has unaminously been chosen as the NL MVP.

It is the second year in a row he has been so honored. In all, Pujols has won the NL MVP thrice. He first won it in 2005.

In 2009, Pujols hit .327 with 47 home runs and 135 RBI. Those 47 dingers were good enough to lead the NL. Pujols also led the NL in runs scored (124), on base percentage (.443) and slugging percentage (.658).

Albert Pujols has played nine big league seasons. His career lows in batting average, home runs and RBI are .314, 32, 103. For most players that is a career year. He enters the 2010 season with a .334 lifetime batting average (which leads all active players), 366 home runs, and 1,112 RBI, 1,717 career base hits and 1,071 runs scored. Pujols has an outside chance to eclipse Barry Bonds in home runs, Hank Aaron in RBI, Pete Rose in base hits and Rickey Henderson in runs scored. If he eclipses anyone of those records it might be argued that Pujols is the best player to have ever donned a major league uniform. Not bad for a guy who wasn't selected by the Cardinals until the 13th round of the 1999 MLB draft.

The only caveat is his elbow. Pujols had surgery last month to remove bone chips in his right elbow. He should be ready for spring training. But the right elbow could be to Pujols what the right hamstring was to Ken Griffey, Jr.