Major League Baseball slugger Barry Bonds won his record seventh National League Most Valuable Player award on Monday, becoming the oldest player to win the honor.
The San Francisco Giants left fielder, 40, received 24 first-place votes and 407 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Bonds has now won the MVP award four consecutive seasons.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre was second with six first-place votes and 311 points. St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols was third in the poll with one first place vote and 247 points.
Bonds is the only player with more than three MVP awards, and the only one to win more than two in a row. He is just the third player to hit 700 career home runs. He has hit 703 and trails only Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).
Bonds' season was unparalleled statistically, hitting .362 to win his second NL batting title to go along with 45 home runs. He also set records for on-base percentage (.609), walks (232) and intentional walks (120).
But his accomplishments have been clouded by rumors of possible steroid use. Bonds was repeatedly questioned about the drugs in a federal investigation, and his personal trainer has been indicted for illegal distribution of steroids. Bonds has consistently denied using illegal steroids.