Mauer voted AL Most Valuable Player

Mauer missed the first month of the season with back problems but once he joined the lineup quickly made up for lost time. He ended with a .365 batting average in winning his third AL batting title and added 94 runs and 96 runs batted in over 138 games. He was the first player since Kansas City's George Brett in 1980 to lead the league in batting average, on-base percentage (.444) and slugging percentage (.587).

He is just the second catcher in 33 years, joining 1999 winner Ivan Rodriguez, to be voted AL MVP. Mauer also collected his second Gold Glove for defensive excellence this fall.

Mauer was listed first on 27 of the 28 AL MVP ballots and second on the other to total 387 points. New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira was second overall with 225 points. Yankees shortstop Derk Jeter (193 points) was third and Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who had the other first-place vote, was fourth.

The most valuable player awards are determined by a vote of member of the Baseball Writers Associations of America representing each American League or National League city. The NL MVP is to be announced Tuesday.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.