Albert Pujols wins his second Most Valuable Player award of his eight-year major league career

On November 17, 2008 — Despite nursing a sore elbow during the season, Albert Pujols (.357, 37, 116) wins his second Most Valuable Player award of his eight-year major league career. The 28 year-old All-Star first baseman of the fourth-place Cardinals, led in slugging and OPS. He was the only player listed on every ballot, receives 18 of the 32 first-place votes cast by the BBWAA to outpoint runner-up Ryan Howard of the World Champions Phillies, 369-308. The win is a bit ironic as Pujols had criticized the selection of Ryan Howard in 2006 when Howard’s team failed to make the playoffs; this time, Howard (the runner-up) and the Phillies did make the playoffs while Pujols’ Cardinals did not.