Giants' Posey wins NL

Buster Posey of the World Series champion San Francisco Giants won the National League's Most Valuable Player award on Thursday for the 2012 season.

The hard-hitting Posey posted the highest batting average in the major leagues at .336 and pounded 24 home runs while driving in 103 to win MLB's most cherished individual award, which is based only on performance during the regular season.

Besides his batting prowess, the 25-year-old catcher was widely credited with helping to guide the Giants' outstanding pitching staff as San Francisco went on to win its second Fall Classic crown in three years by sweeping the Detroit Tigers.