Barry Bonds was a unanimous selection Monday as the National League’s Most Valuable Player, winning the award for an unprecedented fifth time.
Bonds, 38, had one of the best seasons of his career in 2002, leading the San Francisco Giants to the World Series, where they lost in seven games to the Anaheim Angels. He was the oldest player ever to win a batting title, hitting .370.
The Giants’ slugger, who won his fourth MVP title last season, was the first selection on all 32 ballots submitted by two writers from each league city. Seven other players have won three MVP awards.
Outfielder Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals was second in the balloting. He hit .314 with 34 home runs and 134 RBI.
Back-to-back
NL MVP awards
1958-59:
Ernie Banks,
Cubs
1975-76:
Joe Morgan, Cincinnati
1980-81:
Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia
1982-83:
Dale Murphy,
Atlanta
1992-93:
Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh-
San Francisco
2001-02:
Barry Bonds, San Francisco
