Named after the great Maine and Waikiki outfielder, the Mitchell Award rewards the player who is the top hitter in the league.

This year's award goes to....

Albert Pujols, Philadelphia

Philly's Albert Pujols was a no-brainer for the Mitchell Award in 2010 -- he led the league in OPS (1.052), SLG (.677), HR (64), runs (128), RBI (160), runs created (165.1), total bases (448), extra base hits (111), isolated power (.363), total average (1.114), and AB/HR (10.3). His other numbers are also respectable -- .314 BA, .375 OBP, 46 2B, and even 10-for-11 stealing bases. On the other hand he did it in the most hitter-friendly park in the league (Comerica), and he's "only" a first baseman -- and not a very good one this year, leading the league in errors as a 1B (19) and errors per game as 1B (0.12), and ranking 10th in total chances per game at 1B (7.65). Pujols becomes the first back-to-back winner since Barry Bonds in 2004-2005 and only the second player to accomplish the feat.

Philadelphia knew right from the start that Pujols would be something special. He was the first overall selection in the 2002 draft. He did not disappoint. In his rookie season, Pujols batted .318 with a .920 OPS, 50 doubles, 29 homers and 108 RBIs. He narrowly missed (by one point) winning the Listach that year. Pujols continued to be a force, hitting at least .303 in every year except 2003 and 2008 and hitting at least 31 homers every year. He drove in at least 100 runs and scored at least 100 runs in every year, except 2003 again. For his career, Pujols is hitting .307/.366/.574 with a .940 OPS, 366 homers, and 1157 RBIs in 9 seasons.

Joe Mauer had a strong year for Las Vegas and ended up taking a sole first place vote and second in the overall voting. Third place went to Marietta's Adrian Gonzalez.

Points are scored as follows: 10 points for a first place vote, 7 for second, 5 for third, 3 for fourth, 2 for fifth and 1 for sixth.

The all-time winners of the Mitchell Award: