NEW YORK, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Leftfielder Albert Pujols of St. Louis has been named Player of the Year in major league baseball by a vote of his peers.
Pujols won the Players Choice Award over fellow leftfielder Barry Bonds of San Francisco and closer Eric Gagne of Los Angeles.
"It's just an honor to get this award," Pujols said. "I want thank all the players. It shows a lot of respect that the players have for me. There were so many players that had a great year."
Last season, Pujols made a bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 when batted hit an NL-best .359 with 43 homers and 124 RBI.
League honors went to Gagne, centerfielder Scott Podsednik of Milwaukee, closers Rod Beck of San Diego and John Smoltz of Atlanta.
Their America League counterparts were shortstop Alex Rodriguez of Texas, pitcher Roy Halladay of Toronto, shortstop Angel Berroa of Kansas City, and pitcher Estaban Loiaza of the Chicago White Sox.
