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NEW YORK -- St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols won his first National League MVP award, beating Atlanta Braves center fielder Andruw Jones in a close vote on Tuesday.
Pujols received 18 first-place votes and 14 seconds for 378 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Jones got 13 first-place votes, 17 seconds, and two thirds for 351 points.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee got the other first-place vote and was third with 263 points.
Pujols was second in the NL with a .330 average, five points behind Lee, and hit 41 homers, trailing only Jones (51) and Lee (46). Pujols tied for second in RBI with 117, 11 behind Jones.
Just 25 years old, Pujols has put up remarkable statistics in his first five major league seasons, averaging 40 homers and 124 RBI to go along with a .332 average.
He was third behind Barry Bonds and Adrian Beltre in last year's MVP voting after finishing fourth as a rookie in 2001 and second to Bonds the following two seasons. Bonds missed most of this year with a knee injury after winning the award four straight times to increase his total MVPs to a record seven.
Jones led the major leagues in home runs for the Braves, and batted .263.
AP NEWS
Pujols received 18 first-place votes and 14 seconds for 378 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Jones got 13 first-place votes, 17 seconds, and two thirds for 351 points.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee got the other first-place vote and was third with 263 points.
Pujols was second in the NL with a .330 average, five points behind Lee, and hit 41 homers, trailing only Jones (51) and Lee (46). Pujols tied for second in RBI with 117, 11 behind Jones.
Just 25 years old, Pujols has put up remarkable statistics in his first five major league seasons, averaging 40 homers and 124 RBI to go along with a .332 average.
He was third behind Barry Bonds and Adrian Beltre in last year's MVP voting after finishing fourth as a rookie in 2001 and second to Bonds the following two seasons. Bonds missed most of this year with a knee injury after winning the award four straight times to increase his total MVPs to a record seven.
Jones led the major leagues in home runs for the Braves, and batted .263.
AP NEWS