NEW YORK -- Ryan Howard had a season that defied convention,

one that made him only the second player voted Rookie of the Year

and Most Valuable Player in consecutive years.

"I heard sophomore jinx this, sophomore jinx that," he said

after beating out 2005 NL MVP Albert Pujols for the award Monday.

"I just prepared myself in spring training to go out and perform,

stick with my game plan and have fun."

After leading the major leagues in home runs and RBI, Howard

received 20 first-place votes and 12 seconds for 388 points in

balloting by a panel of the Baseball Writers' Association of

America. Pujols got 12 firsts, 19 seconds and one third for 347

points.

Cal Ripken Jr. (1982 and 1983) is the only other player to

follow a Rookie of the Year award with an MVP the following year.

Two players won both in the same year: Fred Lynn (1975) and Ichiro

Suzuki (2001).

"It's definitely a relief. It's a good birthday present," said

Howard, who turned 27 Sunday.

Howard had 58 homers -- the most in the majors since Barry Bonds

hit a record 73 in 2001 -- and 149 RBI while batting .313. He set

Phillies records for home runs and RBI, producing the highest

totals in those categories in big league history for a second-year

player. Twenty-three of Howard's homers put the Phillies ahead and

five tied games. The Phillies went 32-18 when he homered.