On December 2, 1948, Stan "The Man" Musial was named the National League's Most Valuable player. It was was the greatest season of his legendary career. The 27 year old led the league with a .376 batting average, 230 hits, 135 runs scored, 46 doubles, and 18 triples. He also hit a career high 39 home runs during the campaign. Ralph Kiner of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Johnny Mize of the New York Giants both hit 40 which denied Musial the Triple Crown. When it came to the MVP voting Musial received 18 of the 24 first place votes, Boston Braves ace Johnny Sain came in second place in the voting after posting a 24-15 record. Stan's longest slump lasted four days in which he went to bat 13 times without a hit. Even over those four days he was parking the ball on the warning track they just happened to be caught by the outfielder. He opened the season on fire and the fire burned all season long. Musial hit safely in 121 out of 155 games played. The month of June was a nightmare for any pitcher that had to face him as he hit .412. In 68 games he picked up at least two hits and in 79 games he picked up at least one extra base hit. The team that had the best pitching in the league resided in Brooklyn and Musial owned them which is how and where he got his nickname. In one, three game series against those Bums he went to bat 16 times and picked up 11 hits, which included a homer, a triple, and four doubles. Unfortunately those same Bums would win the National League pennant by 6.5 games over the Redbirds, by no means does that take away from the absolutely legendary season for the one they called The Man.
MVP!!! MVP!!! MVP!!!
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