05-05-2009, 03:41 PM
<!--quoteo(post=35710:date=May 5 2009, 02:36 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ May 5 2009, 02:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Bench certainly was in 1970 and 1972.
However, teammate Pete Rose won the NL '73 MVP, and Joe Morgan won it in '74 and '75, and George Foster won it it in '77.
It'd be tough to say that Bench was the best player on his team in those years, when 3 different teammates were considered the best player in the whole<i> league</i>.
The point is this: it doesn't mean jack-shit whether or not you happen to be "the best player on your team."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
johnny bench was the best player on his team every year. he wasn't just an offensive force, he was possibly the greatest defensive catcher of all time. no bench, no 4 pennants.
daryl strawberry led the league in home runs once, slugging once, ops once, and ops+ once....all in the same year. he never led the league in anything else ever, except maybe strike outs. he was overrated.
However, teammate Pete Rose won the NL '73 MVP, and Joe Morgan won it in '74 and '75, and George Foster won it it in '77.
It'd be tough to say that Bench was the best player on his team in those years, when 3 different teammates were considered the best player in the whole<i> league</i>.
The point is this: it doesn't mean jack-shit whether or not you happen to be "the best player on your team."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
johnny bench was the best player on his team every year. he wasn't just an offensive force, he was possibly the greatest defensive catcher of all time. no bench, no 4 pennants.
daryl strawberry led the league in home runs once, slugging once, ops once, and ops+ once....all in the same year. he never led the league in anything else ever, except maybe strike outs. he was overrated.
Wang.