The Cardinals' Albert Pujols topped the National League with 47 home runs in 2009 and flirted with a Triple Crown, finishing with a .327 batting average and 135 runs batted in. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Albert Pujols cruised to a second straight National League most valuable player award on Tuesday in much the same fashion he plays baseball: He obliterated the competition.

The St. Louis Cardinals first baseman received all 32 first-place votes and 448 points in balloting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Pujols is the 15th unanimous winner and the first since Barry Bonds in 2002.

Pujols said he concentrates on World Series titles, not MVPs. He won his only championship 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 [New York Yankees shortstop] Derek Jeter has so far [five]. Obviously that's hard to do."

Pujols led the majors in home runs (47), runs (124), slugging percentage (.658) and intentional walks (44), and topped the NL in on-base percentage (.443). He was second in the league in doubles (45) and third in batting average (.327) and RBIs (135).

"I think it was the most consistent year," he said. "I was pretty much hot April until almost September."

Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was second with 233 points, followed by Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (217) and Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder (203).

Sure-fire Hall of Famer

On Monday, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer was a near-unanimous winner in AL MVP voting, garnering 27 of 28 first-place votes.

Pujols, called "the Machine," is considered a sure-fire Hall of Famer by many after becoming the ninth player in the 80 years of the award to win three times.

"Obviously, there is still a long way to go," he said of the ultimate honour.

Pujols became just the fourth player to win the NL MVP three times. Bonds won seven in the 1990s and 2000s. Stan Musial (1940s), Roy Campanella (1950s) and Mike Schmidt (1980s) each won three.

Five players have won three AL MVPs: Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle and Alex Rodriguez.

All seven of the three-time MVP winners who are eligible for the Hall of Fame have been inducted.

"I don't know how anybody could ever be better than he is, ever," Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright said of Pujols during the 2009 campaign. "No offence to Henry Aaron. … Albert Pujols is really, really good."

Power and speed

The 29-year-old slugger led Major League Baseball in on-base-plus-slugging percentage at 1.101 and matched his career high with 16 stolen bases. Pujols's loaded resumé also includes a batting title, five Silver Slugger awards, eight all-star games and the 2001 NL rookie of the year honour.

He can also get the job done in the field, just missing out on a second Gold Glove Award.

"He's head and shoulders above everybody," New York Mets third baseman David Wright told reporters during the all-star break in St. Louis in July. "He's really broadened that gap between him and the rest of the league."

Ramirez hit .342 to win the NL batting title and reached the 100-RBI mark for the first time in his four-year career with 106. He added 24 home runs and stole 27 bases.

Howard, considered a dark horse by some to be named NL MVP, belted 45 home runs and drove in 141 runs but no doubt was hurt by his .279 batting average and 186 strikeouts.

A whopping 46 home runs and co-leading 141 RBIs wasn't enough for Fielder to win MVP honours. He set career highs in batting average (.299), on-base percentage (.412) and OPS (1.014).

With files from The Associated Press