Albert Pujols and Whitey Herzog were honored at the St. Louis Baseball Writers dinner Monday night, Pujols for his third NL MVP and Herzog for his upcoming induction into the Hall of Fame.
Albert Pujols accepts his third National League Most Valuable Player award Monday at the Baseball Writers Association of America's awards dinner at the Millenium Hotel.
The two shared the honor of St. Louis baseball man of the year. Pujols has won the local award outright or shared it every year since 2002, missing only in his 2001 rookie season.
Pujols' production helped the Cardinals win the NL Central.
"It was an incredible year for the ballclub, and for myself," Pujols said. "To have a great year like that you have to have great teammates."
Herzog managed three NL pennant winners and a World Series championship in St. Louis in the 1980s. Several members of the 1985 NL championship team appeared at the dinner.
"He's the reason I can stand here and say I got to the Hall of Fame," shortstop Ozzie Smith said.
Herzog recalled that the '85 team was picked to finish last in its division.
"And I was supposed to be the first manager fired," Herzog said. "The reason I'm going to the Hall of Fame, the 1985 team had a lot to do with it."
Former umpire Don Denkinger, whose blown call helped the Kansas City Royals beat the Cardinals in the '85 I-70 Series, was given a nostalgia award at the dinner. Herzog long ago forgave Denkinger and reliever Todd Worrell, who replays showed beat Jorge Orta to first base in the Game 6 call blown by Denkinger, sat next to the umpire on the dais.
"I really did not like him until I got to have dinner with him," Worrell said. "He's a pretty good dude."
White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, a native of St. Charles, Mo., also was honored for his perfect game last July.
SOURCE: The Associated Press
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