Reynolds and Upton both get MVP votes

Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals today was unaminously named the National League’s Most Valuable Player. Pujols received first place votes on all 32 ballots cast.

Pujols led the National League in home runs, runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (obviously), and extra base hits for the Cardinals, who won the National League Central title by 7.5 games over the Chicago Cubs.

N.L. batting champion Hanley Ramirez of Florida finished 2nd in the voting and Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard finished third.

The Arizona Diamondbacks, despite their lackluster last place finish in the National League West, had two players appear on MVP balloting.

Third baseman Mark Reynolds, who became only the 2nd Diamondback in history to hit 40 or more home runs in a single season, tied with Atlanta’s Yunel Escobar for 20th in the voting, with points. Reynolds received one 8th place vote, one 9th place vote and one 10th place vote.

Outfielder Justin Upton also received an 8th place vote (25th place). Upton finished 2009 with 26 home runs, 86 runs batted in, 20 stolen bases and a .300 batting average.

No Diamondback player has ever won the National League MVP Award since their inception in 1998.

Diamondbacks History in National League MVP Voting

(Number in parentheses indicates what place the player finished in the voting)
1998 - None
1999 - Matt Williams (3rd), Jay Bell (13th), Luis Gonzalez (18th), Matt Mantei (24th)
2000 - Randy Johnson (17th)
2001 - Luis Gonzalez (3rd), Curt Schilling (10th), Randy Johnson (11th)
2002 - Randy Johnson (7th), Curt Schilling (10th), Junior Spivey (14th)
2003 - Luis Gonzalez (25th)
2004 - Randy Johnson (19th)
2005 - None
2006 - None
2007 - Eric Byrnes (11th), Jose Valverde (14th)
2008 - Brandon Webb (14th), Stephen Drew (26th)
2009 - Mark Reynolds (20th), Justin Upton (25th)

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