[BigRedChief]

ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina continued to polish his reputation as the best defensive player at his position in the National League, while MVP challenger Albert Pujols returned the sheen to his play at first base.

Molina and Pujols were honored for their defensive play Wednesday afternoon as winners of the 2010 National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

For Molina, it is his third Gold Glove, putting him into a tie with the two other Cardinals' catchers who won that many for the club -- his mentor Mike Matheny and former catcher Tom Pagnozzi. Molina is the first catcher in Cardinals history, however, to win the award in three consecutive years. Matheny has four Gold Gloves in his career, and he's one of seven catchers in the history of the award to win more than Molina's three.

Pujols' award is the second of his career. In 2006, he also won the Gold Glove, and this year's win snaps Adrian Gonzalez's run of two consecutive Gold Gloves at first base.

This is the ninth season since 2000 that the Cardinals have had at least two Gold Glove Award winners.

According to Rawlings Sporting Goods, the award's sponsor since 1957, the Cardinals have won 79 Gold Gloves as a franchise, the most of any major-league club. Twenty-one different Cardinals have won a Gold Glove while with the franchise; one is Scott Rolen, who this year won as the third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds.
Gold Gloves are determined by a vote of major-league managers and coaches. Voters are required to vote only for players within their league, and they cannot vote for players on their team.

Molina is widely regarded as the best defensive catcher in the NL and arguably in the majors, and its a reputation he's had and nurtured for more than the three years he's been honored with a Gold Glove. One NL manager this past season acknowledged that his team, loaded with players who like to steal bases, shut down their running game against Molina because of his arm strength and quick release.

The Cardinals' catcher threw out the runner on 33 of the 68 attempted thefts against him. His 33 caught stealings were the third-most in the NL, but the two catchers ahead of him -- Brian McCann (36) and Jason Kendall (41) -- had far more opportunities. Runners stole 101 bases against Kendall, and they stole 84 on McCann.

Despite finishing the season on the shelf because of knee soreness, Molina caught 1,138 innings, the most of any catcher in the majors.
Pujols is a season removed from setting the major-league record for first basemen with 185 assists. Emblematic of his aggressive style at the position, Pujols again led the league in assists in 2010 with 157. The next closest total in the majors was Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto's 128 assists. Pujols also led all National League first basemen by being a part of 146 double plays.

Pujols led all major-league first basemen with 1,619 total chances. His four errors were tied for the fewest of any NL first baseman with at least 825 total chances.

This is the first major award of 2010 for Pujols, who nearly completed a clean sweep of the major awards in 2009, culminating with his unanimous selection as the league's MVP. This season, Carlos Gonzalez won the players' award as the NL's Most Outstanding Player and Votto received the league's Hank Aaron Award as its top offensive player. Votto is a favorite to win the Silver Slugger at first base when the winners are announced Thursday, and Votto is viewed as Pujols' chief rival for the MVP award.
The NL MVP award will be announced Nov. 22.

Here are the National League's Gold Glove winners for 2010 (with career Gold Gloves in parentheses):
P: Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati Reds (1)
C: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals (3)
1B: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals (2)
2B: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds (2)
3B: Scott Rolen, Cincinnati Reds (8)
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies (1)
OF: Shane Victorino, Philadelphia Phillies (3)
OF: Michael Bourn, Houston Astros (2)
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies (1)