 He had to finish the season 6-for-9 to beat out the Pirates' Matty Alou and win the first of two close NL batting-title races with a .335 average.He finished second to St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson for the NL MVP award, earning six first place votes.Rose had his best offensive season in 1969, when he set a career-high in batting (.348) and tied his career-best 16 homers.