DAYTON, OH -Today's announcement of St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols as the National League Most Valuable Player marked the second former Midwest League star to be awarded baseball's highest honor in the last two days.Pujols, who spent the 2000 season in the Midwest League with the Peoria Chiefs, was named N.L. MVP one day after Minnesota's Joe Mauer earned the American League MVP award. Mauer spent the 2002 season in the Midwest League with the Quad City River Bandits.
Additionally, Oakland A's pitcher Andrew Bailey was honored last week as the American League Rookie of the Year. Bailey pitched in the Midwest League with the Kane County Cougars in 2007.
Pujols began his professional baseball career with the Chiefs in 2000 and earned the MWL's Most Valuable Player award that season, batting.324 with 17 home runs and 84 runs batted in. Pujols and Dayton Dragons outfielder Austin Kearns were named the league's co-Prospects of the Year in 2000. He opened the 2001 season with St. Louis after spending just one year in the Minor Leagues and went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year award that season.
Mauer's first full season in professional baseball came in 2002 with the River Bandits, then a Minnesota Twins affiliate. He hit.302 with four homers and 62 RBI and was named the league's Prospect of the Year. Mauer first reached the Major Leagues in 2004 with the Twins.
Both Pujols and Mauer played at Fifth Third Field in Dayton. Pujols belted home runs on consecutive days against the Dragons on June 2nd and 3rd of 2000. In a series at Fifth Third Field June 2-5, 2000, he went 6 for 11 against the Dragons with the two homers. Mauer played all four games of a series in Dayton July 5-8, 2002, going 4 for 17 with a double.
Former Dragons broadcaster Mike Vander Woude recalls his initial impressions of Pujols and Mauer.
"There was not a lot of hoopla surrounding Pujols at first," says Vander Woude. "He was only a 13th round draft pick. But when you watched him take batting practice, you knew he would be a star in the major leagues. He may have been the best minor league player I have ever seen. When he came to bat, if he got only a single or a double, you felt like you won the battle. Mauer was a great catch and throw guy. You could see why he was the first overall pick in the 2001 draft. He hit to all fields. Our coaches absolutely loved him."
Former Dragons first baseman Joey Votto finished 22nd in the N.L. MVP voting announced today despite missing nearly a month of the season while on the disabled list.
Another former Midwest League star was also one of the top finishers in today's N.L. MVP voting. Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, the 2003 Midwest League Most Valuable Player with Beloit, finished fourth in the voting.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
