The diminutive Pedroia, who batted .326 and led the league in runs (118), hits (213) and doubles (54), received 16 first-place votes in collecting a total of 317 points from voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (.300, 23 homers and 129 RBI), the 2006 winner, received seven first-place votes and was runner-up with 257 points.

Pedroia became only the third player to win MVP honors the year after being Rookie of the Year. The last second baseman to win AL MVP was Nellie Fox of the Chicago White Sox in 1959.

"It's unbelievable," the 25-year-old Pedroia told reporters on a conference call.

Hard-swinging Pedroia, who also hit 17 homers, said he uses his modest, 5-foot-9 (1.75 m) stature as motivation.

"I'm not the biggest guy in the world," Pedroia said. "If I'm walking down the street you obviously wouldn't think that I'm a baseball player."

Besides the MVP and 2007 rookie honors, Pedroia also won a Gold Glove as the league's top fielding second baseman.

The feisty Pedroia, who drove in 83 runs, stole 20 bases and struck out only 52 times in 710 plate appearances, said he would never lose the chip on his shoulder.

"That's just who I am," he said. "I have to try and find a way to have that edge. It makes me a better player and I'll always have it."

"Just like last year. I came to spring training and everyone was talking about a sophomore slump."

"When I first got called up to the major leagues I didn't know what to expect. My biggest thing was to play as hard as I can if I'm in the lineup that day. That's how I'm going to be successful. That's my mindset."