TOWER GROVE — Colleague Tom Timmermann, the super utility Swiss Army Knife of our sports staff, had the scoop over at his soccer blog, Free Kicks, and Bernie Miklasz is leading the discussion at his Press Box: A day after winning the National League MVP, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols is joining the ownership group bidding to bring a Major League Soccer franchise to St. Louis.

In Bernie’s Press Box, the P-D’s multi-tasking columnist had the info up first and the discussion going quickest on St. Louis’ newest owner.

As Timmermann and Miklasz both reported, Pujols is the first investor to be made public other than St. Louis Soccer United spearhead and chairman Jeff Cooper.

This quote comes from an official release sent out just moments ago:

“I am very proud and excited to join the effort to bring Major League Soccer to the St. Louis area,” Pujols said. “This means a lot to me and my family, as we all love soccer and we believe in MLS. Plus, this is something that will be great for our community, especially our youth. I strongly encourage St. Louis business leaders and sports fans to join me in this effort.”

And, in the same release, Cooper adds:

“It is frankly impossible to imagine a better partner in our effort than Albert Pujols,” Cooper said. “Albert’s commitment is a testament to the strength of the league, the interest and promise of Major League Soccer in St. Louis, and the overall quality of our team, stadium and youth complex plan. In Albert Pujols, we have someone who will be terrific not only for St. Louis, but for all of MLS and the global soccer community.”

Timmermann has this topic blanket-covered since the long before the bid was placed in mid-October for the next round of MLS expansion. Cooper, Pujols and the rest of the ownership group will know if they have been award a team by spring training. Major League Baseball rules prohibit a player from owning a portion of the team he plays on — remember the whole Chicago Cubs/Alex Rodriguez kerfuffle from a few years ago — but not from entering into another sport’s ownership group.

***

In case you missed it, here is a captured video from Pujols’ press conference Monday, as coded up, edited and provided by the crack multimedia staff at The Post-Dispatch:

-30-