Pujols and Pedroia win MVP awards

Neither Pujols nor Pedroia were able to help their teams to the World Series

Albert Pujols and Dustin Pedroia have been named as Major League Baseball's Most Valuable Players for 2008.

St Louis Cardinals slugger Pujols, 28, picked up the National League award for the second time, beating Philadelphia's World Series winner Ryan Howard.

Meanwhile, Boston Red Sox star Pedroia, 25, becomes the first second baseman to win the American League award since 1959 - having beaten Justin Morneau.

The MVPs are voted for by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

However, the ballots are based on performances in the regular season.

MLB AWARDS 2008 AL MVP: Dustin Pedroia NL MVP: Albert Pujols AL Cy Young: Cliff Lee NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum AL Rookie: Evan Longoria NL Rookie: Geovany Soto AL Manager: Joe Maddon NL Manager: Lou Piniella Roberto Clemente Award: Pujols

Pujols, who had a batting average of .357 this year, hit 37 home runs and had 116 runs batted in (RBI), previously won the NL award in 2005 - but was pipped by fellow first baseman Howard in 2006.

Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun was third in this year's NL voting.

Pedroia, in only his second full season in the majors, batted .326 in the regular season, hitting 17 home runs with 83 RBIs, and only made six fielding errors all season.

Minnesota Twins slugger Morneau - the 2006 winner - was in second place, while Pedroia's Boston team-mate, first baseman Kevin Youkilis, was third.

Among the other MLB awards, Cleveland Indians' Cliff Lee, who was the joint Major League leader with 22 wins, picked up the AL's Cy Young award for the best pitcher - while the NL Cy Young went to San Francisco Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum.

606: DEBATE I would still go with Pujols but how about Ryan Braun, Hanley Ramirez or Lance Berkman? j_yarwood

Tampa Bay Rays, who went from being the worst team in baseball in 2007 to the beaten World Series finalists in 2008, saw skipper Joe Maddon win AL Manager of the Year, while third baseman Evan Longoria picked up AL Rookie of the Year.

Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto was the NL Rookie of the Year, with his manager Lou Piniella collecting the NL managerial award.

Another honour for Pujols was the Roberto Clemente Award, which is given to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and contribution to his team.

The award is named after former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente, who died in a plane crash while attempting to transport relief supplies to earthquake-torn Nicaragua in 1972.