Boston's Pedroia is AL MVP

NEW YORK, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia, last year's AL rookie of the year, was voted the American League's most valuable player, baseball officials said Tuesday.

Pedroia was listed first on 16 of the 28 ballots from members of the Baseball Writers Association of America and had a total 317 points. Minnesota's Justin Morneau, who was first on seven ballots, finished second with 257 points. Boston's Kevin Youkilis, with 201 points, was third.

Pedroia, 25, hit .326 with 17 home runs, 83 runs batted in and 118 runs scored for the Red Sox. His 213 hits tied for the major-league lead but his 54 doubles were the best in baseball in 2008. He led the American League in runs and multi-hit games (61). He also won a Gold Glove this season.

He is the third player with be voted MVP a year after winning the rookie of the year award, joining Cal Ripken, who turned the trick in 1982 and 1983, and Ryan Howard, who did it in 2005 and 2006.

It is the 11th time a Boston Red Sox player was voted league MVP. Mo Vaughn, who won in 1995, was the latest.