On Nov. 12, 1971, Cardinals third baseman Joe Torre was named MVP by a wide margin. Here is our original coverage. 

And what did Joe Torre, named the National League's Most Valuable Player yesterday, plan as an encore? The Cardinals' third baseman was as quick with an answer as he had been with a bat all last season when he topped major league batters with a .363 average and 137 runs batted in. "I'd like a season about equal to the last one, but with a pennant winner included this time," Joe said at a press conference at Busch Stadium.

"I've had a vacant spot on my finger for a long time, and that's the place for a World Series ring." Looking back on the 1971 season, he said the Redbirds were the league's best club in the late stages of the season and had the best four starting pitchers. The MVP wasn't overlooking the New York Mets pitching staff.