News / Sports
Ryan Howard Captures His First NL MVP
Ryan Howard was voted the National League’s Most Valuable Player by the Baseball Writers’ of America on Monday. The Philadelphia Phillies slugger picked up 20 first-place votes and 12 second-place votes to total 388 points, 41 points more than runner-up Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Howard adds the MVP Award to his 2005 NL Rookie of the Year Award. Inhis 2006 campaign Howard finished with 58 homeruns and 149 RBI’s, both totals led the National League. Howard also hit for an impressive .313 average. His home run and RBI totals were both Philadelphia team records.
As for Pujols he found himself in familiar territory. This is his third second place finishing in the MVP balloting. In 2002 and 2003 he finished behind Barry Bonds. He did finally capture the award last year, beating out Atlanta Braves centerfielder Andruw Jones.
Pujols’ numbers were as impressive as Howard’s, 49 home runs, 137 RBI’s, and a .331 average, but in the end the writers’ went with the left handed bomber in Philly.
Lance Berkman of the Houston Astros finished third in the voting.
