MLB: Pujols 'humbled' by MVP award

Albert Pujols' third National League MVP award put him in select company. Only Barry Bonds has more.

"I'm just humbled," Pujols said.

Pujols won unanimously Tuesday, becoming the first player to repeat since Bonds won four in a row from 2001-04. Pujols, who also won in 2005, received all 32 first-place votes and 448 points in balloting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He became the first unanimous MVP since Bonds in 2002.

A big part of the Cardinals' success this year was the acquisition of Matt Holliday in July. Holliday, who hit cleanup behind Pujols, helped St. Louis win the NL Central and then became a free agent.

"The whole city of St. Louis wants Matt back and myself, obviously," Pujols said. "He came at the right time, right when we needed it, right when we were struggling a little bit."

While the Cardinals have five division titles and six playoff appearances in nine seasons since Pujols joined the team, they have won the World Series only once, in 2006.

"I always make a joke. I got 10 fingers. I want to get nine more rings," he said. "I want to get as many as Derek Jeter has so far (five). Obviously that's hard to do."

MITCHELL TO MANAGE BEES AGAIN: Abe Flores, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim director of player development, announced today that Bobby Mitchell will return for his third consecutive season as Bees manager in 2010. Also returning in 2010 are hitting coach Jim Eppard, pitching coach Erik Bennett and trainer Brian Reinker.

Mitchell is set to begin his third season as manager of Salt Lake after leading the Bees to the club's fifth consecutive winning season (72-71) in 2009.

METS GOING RETRO: The Mets are switching their home pinstriped uniforms to a retro design with a natural color similar to what they wore when they won the 1969 World Series.

The team said Tuesday it will continue to also wear white uniforms at home and use black jerseys as an alternate.

Fans criticized the team last year, saying Citi Field honored the Mets' history too little. The team said last weekend it will rename the first base VIP entrance after former manager Gil Hodges.

It also will rename the third base VIP entrance after Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver and will call an area behind right field the Shea Bridge after William Shea, the lawyer who helped bring National League ball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants left.