Ryan Howard
© AFP/Getty Images/File

NEW YORK (AFP) - Howard, voted the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year, averaged .313 and drove in a major league-leading 149 runs. He broke Mike Schmidt's Phillies' one-season record of 48 homers and is the club's first MVP since Schmidt in 1986.

Howard received 20 first-place votes and 388 total points in voting by a media panel to defeat St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols by 41 points with Houston's Lance Berkman third and Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets fourth.

While Pujols powered the Cardinals to a World Series victory over Detroit, Howard came up just short in trying to lift the Phillies into the playoffs. They were eliminated in the final weekend of the season.

Howard hit .355 after the All-Star break and belted 30 homers in 75 games, including 14 in August when Philadelphia won 18 games to climb into playoff contention.

Howard earlier captured the Hank Aaron Award given to the league's top offensive standout.

Pujols hit .331 with 49 home runs and 137 runs batted in to make himself a candidate for his second consecutive MVP award. He edged Atlanta Braves slugger Andruw Jones last season.

©AFP