The Omnibus

Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: Sports

Albert Pujols, first basemen for the St.Louis Cardinals, was named a winner of the Silver Slugger Award Thursday, Nov. 5.
The award is signified by a trophy presented to the top offensive player at each position in each league.
Pujols was the only Redbird to win one, but pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina raked in Gold Glove awards earlier in the week, an award presented to the top defensive player at each position in each league.
Pujols already won the Hank Aaron Award as the National League's top hitter, and he is also the most likely player to be named the NL's Most Valuable Player by the Baseball Writers' Association of America later this month.
Pujols led all NL first basemen in batting average (.327), on-base percentage (.443), slugging percentage (.658), home runs (47), doubles (45), stolen bases (16) and runs scored (124). He finished third in RBIs (135).
Pujols has won the Silver Slugger award a total of five times and he has won the award at three different positions -- three times at first base, once in the outfield and once at third base.
Only one player has won more than three Silver Sluggers at first base: Colorado's Todd Helton. Barry Bonds holds the overall record with 12 awards, all in the outfield.
Since 1980, the first year the award was given, winners of the Silver Slugger Award have been chosen by votes of Major League managers and coaches.

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