Most Valuable: Pedroia

Dustin Pedroia completed a dream season today as he was named the American League MVP, gaining 16 of the possible 28 first-place votes. Dusty had previously won the AL Gold Glove at 2B and the Silver Slugger Award for AL second baseman as well.

Pedroia became the first AL second baseman to win the award since Nellie Fox did it for the AL champion Chicago White Sox in 1959. He is the first Red Sox player to win the award since Mo Vaughn did it in 1995, and the 10th in team history.

Dusty was the only player in the AL to get 175 hits, 75 runs, 75 RBI, 15 homers and 20 steals. Pedroia was also the third player in history to win the MVP the year after winning the Rookie of the Year Award, joining Cal Ripken and Ryan Howard in turning the trick.

He was named in 27 of the 28 votes cast. Some writer named Evan Grant (who voted for Kevin Youkilis for the top spot) actually left Pedroia off.

Justin Morneau finished second and Kevin Youkilis finished third in the balloting. Here's the complete vote.

Congratulations, Dustin. It was well-deserved.