Pujols has averaged 40 home runs a season to date
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St Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols has been named the National League's Most Valuable Player after a close vote on Tuesday.
Pujols received 378 points - for 18 first-place votes and 14 seconds - just clear of Atlanta Braves long-ball hitter Andruw Jones, who scored 351.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee was third with 263 points.
Pujols, a 25-year-old Dominican, was second behind Lee in the NL with a .330 average and hit 41 home runs.
Only Jones (51) and Lee (46) bettered him for homers.
In his first five seasons, the 25-year-old Pujols has averaged 40 home runs and 124 RBIs.
He was third in last year's MVP voting behind Barry Bonds and Adrian Beltre.
Bonds, who missed most of the season with a knee injury, had previously won the award four straight times.
Pujols' award, which earned him £115,000, was the Cardinals' 15th MVP award but their first since Willie McGee in 1985.
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