Inside The Cubs

On This Day in History: A Chicago Cub Comes Just Short of Winning MVP

On November 22, 1972, Chicago Cubs outfielder Billy Williams comes in second place in the National League MVP vote to catcher Johnny Bench.

Kade Kistner

On This Day in History: A Chicago Cub Comes Just Short of Winning MVP
On This Day in History: A Chicago Cub Comes Just Short of Winning MVP /
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The Chicago Cubs have their fair shares of MVP award winners from Frank Shulte in 1911 to the most recent, Kris Bryant in 2016. They came close to adding another to their 10-man list on November 22, 1972.

Outfielder Billy Williams finished second in the National League MVP vote to Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench. Williams received five first place votes, while Bench garnered 11. That 1972 MVP award was Bench's second in three years, tough to beat that type of record.

For Williams, it was another disappointing finish, however disappointing finishing second in the MVP vote can be. It was the second time in three years Williams finished just one spot short from taking home the award.

Despite failing to ever win the award, Williams finished with six All-Star nods, one Rookie of the Year award (1961) and took home the NL batting title in 1972. 

The totality of his career resulted in a Hall of Fame induction with the class of 1987. He entered wearing a Chicago Cubs hat.

I guess not winning the 1972 NL MVP award worked out just fine in the end.

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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