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.
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