| Albert's career has gotten
off to a remarkable start. After winning the Players Choice
Award for outstanding National League Rookie as well as the
unanimous choice for National League Rookie of the Year Award in
2001, he didn't slow down one bit in 2002.
Albert picked up right where he left off and
became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit
.300, hit 30 home runs, score 100 runs and drive in 100 runs in
each of his first two seasons. He was second in MVP voting to
Barry Bonds in only his second season, and did so while trying
his hand at no less than six different positions -- first base,
third base, left field, right field, designated hitter, and even
shortstop.
Last season, Albert ranked 10th in the NL in
home runs with 34, second in runs with 118, seventh in batting
average (.314), ninth in slugging percentage (.561) and second
in RBI with 127.
An all-star in his rookie season, Albert had
been slated to start the 2001 season at AA, but never gave the
Cardinals the chance to send him out. In April 2001, he hit .370
with eight home runs and 27 RBI, and the rest is history. |
