Pujols already hauls in some big hardware

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Albert Pujols, who led the major leagues in hitting and finished among the leaders in most offensive categories, was named baseball's player of the year Monday by The Sporting News.

The St. Louis-based magazine also named Atlanta's Bobby Cox manager of the year in the National League and Kansas's Tony Pena in the American League.

Pujols, 23, was selected by a panel of front office executives and advance scouts. San Francisco's Barry Bonds was second.

"To win an award like this is especially meaningful because you're talking about so many great players," Pujols said. "When you think about Preston Wilson, Todd Helton, Barry Bonds, Gary Sheffield, it's a great honor to be recognized in this way."

Pujols hit .359 with 43 home runs and 124 RBIs. He became the first player ever to hit 30 home runs, bat .300 and both score and drive in 100 runs in each of his first three seasons. Until Pujols, no player had done it in his first two seasons. His 114 career homers also tied Ralph Kiner for the most in the first three seasons of a career.

The award was the sixth for Cox, 62, whose Braves won their 12th straight divisional title. He received 9 1/2 votes out of 16 cast by NL managers. San Francisco's Felipe Alou was second with four votes.

Pena, 46, in his first full season as manager took the Royals from a 62-100 record in 2002 to 83-79 this season. He received eight votes from AL managers. Minnesota's Ron Gardenhire and Boston's Grady Little tied for second with two votes each.

Three Cardinals and three Braves were selected to The Sporting News all-star team -- Pujols, shortstop Edgar Renteria and third baseman Scott Rolen from St. Louis and second baseman Marcus Giles, outfielder Sheffield and catcher Lopez from Atlanta.

Other NL all-stars included first baseman Todd Helton of Colorado, Bonds, Gagne as right-handed pitcher, and left-hander Randy Wolf of Philadelphia.