Who’s the best player in baseball? That’s easy, right? Albert Pujols. Albert Pujols could conceivably not win the MVP this season. It’s possible.
He could have a slightly down year, and Chase Utley could have his best. Chase Utley could have a better 2010. But would that change the answer to the first question? No it wouldn’t.
At most points in baseball history, there has been a clear-cut best player. No, they don’t put up the best numbers every season.
No, they don’t win every MVP. But at any point, you could ask “who’s the best player in the game” and the correct answer would be that player.
At any point in baseball history, if you ask who the best player in the game is what would be a the correct answer? I decided to go back to 1900 and look.