albert pujols

Accomplishments: * 2005 National League MVP * Five-time All-Star (2001, 2003-06) * Pujols has finished in the top four in the voting for MVP of the National League every year of his career, winning once (2005) and coming in second three times (2002, 2003 & 2006). * National League Batting Champion, 2003 * Only Ralph Kiner hit more home runs (215) in his first five seasons (2001-05) than Albert (201). * Named to Major League Baseball's Latino Legends Team in 2005 as the starting first baseman. * First Cardinal Home Run in New Busch Stadium9 * Became the 35th batter to hit four homeruns in four consecutive at-bats, and the 20th batter to hit four home runs in four consecutive plate appearances, on April 16 and 17, 2006. * Holds the record for most home runs in the month of April with 14 in 2006. * Became the fastest player in Major League history to reach 19 home runs in a season, doing so on May 13, 2006. * Became the third-fastest, after Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, to reach 25 home runs in a season, doing so on May 29, 2006. * Became first player in MLB history to hit 30 home runs in each of his first six seasons (2001-06). * Became the 16th batter to hit three home runs in a game twice in the same season in 2006 (04.16 & 09.03). * 20 of his 49 home runs accounted for the game-winning RBI in 2006, breaking Willie Mays' single-season record set in 1962. * 2006 World Series Champion. Awards: * Rookie of the Year, 2001 * Three-time Silver Slugger (2001, 2003-04) (Note: Pujols has won a Silver Slugger at three different positions: First Base, Third Base, and Left Field). * National League Player of the Month for both May and June 2003 and for April 2006 * Hank Aaron Award, 2003 * TSN Player of the Year, 2003 * NLCS MVP, 2004 * National League MVP, 2005 * Gold Glove Award at first base, 2006