The Baseball Writers Association of America selected Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard as the National League’s Most Valuable Player.
“I tried to treat this like any other day,” said Howard, who turned 27 on Sunday. “I wasn’t consumed by it, because it was out of my hands. But to finally get to this point … to get the call … it’s definitely a relief. It is a good birthday present and an honor to be named NL MVP.”
Howard joked that he almost didn’t take the call from the BBWAA, as his cell phone registered a “blocked call.” Ignoring the urge, Howard picked up and learned the three letters for which he had been waiting.
With 20 first-place votes and 12 seconds, Howard defeated last year’s NL MVP, the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols, by a total of 388 to 347 — and may have indirectly divided St. Louis, as Howard lives there, but Pujols plays there.
Houston’s Lance Berkman (230) and New York’s Carlos Beltran (211) finished third and fourth, respectively. Second baseman Chase Utley (98) finished eighth, and shortstop Jimmy Rollins received a ninth-place vote.
“It definitely means something special,” Howard said. “[Pujols is] a great player, and to be able to get in that company, that’s a feat in itself. It’s an honor because of what he’s done for his team and the game of baseball itself.”
Howard becomes the second player in Major League Baseball history to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP Awards in consecutive seasons, following Cal Ripken in 1982 and 1983. Fred Lynn (1975) and Ichiro Suzuki (2001) have the sweeter distinction of winning both awards in their first seasons.
Still, Howard had a calendar year that he’ll never forget. It started in January, when Howard was officially presented with his Rookie of the Year Award at the Baseball Writers dinner in New York City. His first full season included his first All-Star appearance, where he slammed his way to a victory in the CENTURY 21 Home Run Derby.
He added 30 more homers in the second half of the season, shattering Mike Schmidt’s franchise record of 48 along the way. In September, Schmidt marveled, “I’ve never seen anyone in the Major Leagues who is treating the game almost like an oversized kid in the Little League World Series. All he’s got to do is get a ball out over the plate and it’s a home run.”
