St. Louis won a wild and woolly pennant race where five teams finished within 12 games of the lead. Chicago was 2nd, 2 games out, while New York and Brooklyn were 5 and 6 games out respectively, with Pittsburgh 12 back. Boston, Cincinnati, and a 102-loss Philadelphia team brought up the rear. The Giants and Pittsburgh broke on top, Brooklyn held the lead for much of mid-summer, and the Cardinals played .500 ball much of the season, then put on a big finish to rise from fourth place to the pennant.
Bill Terry set a mark as the last of the .400 hitters, though no one knew it at the time, of course. Terry won the batting title with a .401 average for the Giants. It was a big year for NL offense, as Babe Herman hit .393, Chuck Klein .386, and Lefty O'Doul .383. It tells you something about the Phillies that both Klein and O'Doul played for them, hit like that, and they went 52-102. Mostly, it tells you they played in an extreme hitters' park and had a team 7.69 RA and 6.71 ERA.
Mel Ott led in on-base average, and Hack Wilson in slugging and OPS. Klein led the league with 158 runs, Kiki Cuyler had 155. Terry had 254 hits, Klein 250. Klein had 59 doubles. Adam Comorosky had 23 triples. Wilson had 56 homers and 191 RBI. The RBI is still a single-season record. Cuyler led with 37 steals, more than double the second-place guy.
That kind of hitting means there wasn't much pitching. Dazzy Vance led the league with a 2.61 ERA, while second place was Carl Hubbell at 3.87. Ray Kremer and Pat Malone had 20 wins, Fred Fitzsimmons 19. Wild Bill Hallahan led with 177 strikeouts, Vance was second with 173.
Win Shares leaders, players; Hack Wilson (Chicago) 35, Babe Herman (Brooklyn) and Bill Terry (New York) 32, Kiki Cuyler and Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 29, Woody English (Chicago), Freddy Lindstrom and Mel Ott (New York) and Chuck Klein (Philadelphia) 28.
WS leaders, pitchers; Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) 26, Pat Malone (Chicago) 24, Socks Seibold (Boston) 20, Larry French (Pittsburgh) 19, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Carl Hubbell and Bill Walker (New York) and Erv Brame (Pittsburgh) 18 each.
WARP3: Wilson 6.5, Glenn Wright (Brooklyn) 6.4, Terry, Lindstrom, and Johnny Frederick (Brooklyn) 6.3, Hartnett, English (best year), and Frankie Frisch (St. Louis) 6.2, Ott 6.1, Travis Jackson (New York) 5.6, Cuyler 5.2, Herman 5.0, Klein 4.3.
Pitchers, Phil Collins (Philadelphia) 6.2, Vance 4.6, Benny Frey (Cincinnati) 4.3, Malone and Burleigh Grimes (St. Louis) 4.1, French 4.0, Seibold 3.7 (best year), Bob Smith (Boston) 3.6, Ray Kolp (Cincinnati) 3.4, Charlie Root (Chicago), Red Lucas (Cincinnati), and Ray Benge (Philadelphia) 3.2, Brame 3.1.
WAR, position players: Terry 8.9, Wilson 8.8, Herman 8.5, Cuyler 7.8, Lindstrom 7.6, Ott 7.5, Klein 7.3, English 6.7, Wright 6.4, Hartnett 6.3, Frisch 6.1, Jackson 5.8. Pitchers: Vance 7.3, Collins 4.5, Malone 4.4, Seibold 4.1, Hubbell and Smith 3.9, French 3.6, Hallahan 3.5, Elliott 3.4, Root 3.2.
The Cardinals won the pennant without having any of the real standout players. They were a more balanced team. Frankie Frisch led the players with 25 Win Shares, Burleigh Grimes led the pitchers with 16 Win Shares.
Best player: Hack Wilson. Wilson set the single-season RBI mark (191) that still stands. Chuck Klein and Bill Terry (.401) were also impressive, but Wilson was the OPS+ leader. Klein was also hitting in a tremendous hitters' park. I would rank Terry #2, Gabby Hartnett #3, Freddy Lindstrom #4, and Woody English #5.
Best pitcher: Dazzy Vance. Led in ERA by over a run, 2.61 to Carl Hubbell's 3.87. Also 2nd in strikeouts and tied for 4th in wins. Cub ace Pat Malone tied for the league lead in wins and ranks #2. An up-and-coming Hubbell ranks #3. Larry French #4, Socks Seibold #5.
Best rookie: Wally Berger, .310 with 38 HR and 110 RBI for Boston at age 24.
Best manager: Gabby Street, guiding that balanced Cardinals team.
29 February 2008
24 February 2008
1930 American League
Philadelphia beat out Washington by 8 games, with New York in 3rd. New York led in runs and Washington in ERA, but the A's were 2nd in both and won with their balance. Cleveland was 4th, Detroit 5th, with Chicago, St. Louis, and Boston bringing up the rear.
Al Simmons at .381 edged Lou Gehrig at .379 for the batting title. Babe Ruth led the percentage categories of on-base, slugging, and OPS, per usual. Simmons edged Ruth in runs scored, 152 to 150. Johnny Hodapp of Cleveland led with 225 hits and with 51 doubles. Earle Combs led with 22 triples, Marty McManus with 23 steals. Ruth led with 49 homers, Gehrig with 174 RBI.
Lefty Grove won the pitching Triple Crown, with 28 wins, 203 strikeouts, and a 2.54 ERA. Wes Ferrell was second with 25 wins and a 3.31 ERA, while George Earnshaw was second in strikeouts with 193. Grove also led with 9 saves. Pitching was different then.
Win Shares leaders, players; Lou Gehrig (New York) 39, Babe Ruth (New York) 38, Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 36, Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 34, Joe Cronin (Washington) 33, Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 31, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) 29, Ed Morgan (Cleveland) 28, Carl Reynolds (Chicago) and Johnny Hodapp (Cleveland) 25.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 37, Wes Ferrell (Cleveland) 32, Lefty Stewart (St. Louis) 28, Ted Lyons (Chicago) 26, George Uhle (Detroit) 23, George Earnshaw (Philadelphia) and Bump Hadley (Washington) 21, Milt Gaston (Boston) 20.
WARP3: Cronin 9.6, Ruth 8.7, Gehrig 8.6, Cochrane 6.4, Gehringer 5.5, Simmons 5.4, Foxx 5.2, Max Bishop (Philadelphia) 4.3, Goose Goslin (St. Louis) 4.0, Reynolds and Marty McManus (Detroit) 3.9, Sam West (Washington) 3.7, Hodapp (career year) and Earle Combs (New York) 3.6.
Pitchers, Ferrell 7.7, Grove 7.6, Stewart 7.1 (best year), Lyons 6.9, Uhle 5.2, Pat Caraway (Chicago) 4.3, Vic Sorrell (Detroit) 3.8, Gaston 3.4, Red Ruffing (Boston/New York) 3.2, Earnshaw 3.0.
WAR leaders, position players: Ruth 10.3, Gehrig 9.4, Cronin 8.0, Simmons 7.5, Foxx 6.9, Reynolds and Gehringer 5.8, Cochrane and Morgan 5.1, Combs and Goslin 4.8. Pitchers: Grove 9.1, Ferrell 6.9, Stewart 6.8, Uhle 5.4, Crowder 5.1, Lyons 4.7, Sorrell 4.5, Hadley 4.4, Gaston 4.3, Earnshaw 4.0.
Best player: Lou Gehrig, with a .379-41-174 line leading the league in RBI. I'd rank it Gehrig, Ruth, Simmons this year, but Babe and Lou didn't have the supporting cast that Bucketfoot Al did. Ruth is #2 with a .359-47-153, while Simmons led in average and was .381-36-165. I'll put Joe Cronin, with a .346 average and 126 RBI plus strong defense at shortstop, 4th. Mickey Cochrane in 5th.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove. Won pitching triple crown, pretty much silencing all debate here. Also led in saves. Grove was 28-5, 2.54. The #2 pitcher was Wes Ferrell, second in wins and ERA with a 25-13, 3.31 result. Lefty Stewart is third with a 20-12 record and 3.45 ERA. Ted Lyons ranks fourth with a 22-15, 3.78 season. George Uhle 5th.
Best rookie: Ben Chapman, a .316 average and 116 OPS+ as Yankees 3B, moved in 1931 to the outfield.
Best manager: Connie Mack, outpacing the league again. The A's also won the World Series.
Al Simmons at .381 edged Lou Gehrig at .379 for the batting title. Babe Ruth led the percentage categories of on-base, slugging, and OPS, per usual. Simmons edged Ruth in runs scored, 152 to 150. Johnny Hodapp of Cleveland led with 225 hits and with 51 doubles. Earle Combs led with 22 triples, Marty McManus with 23 steals. Ruth led with 49 homers, Gehrig with 174 RBI.
Lefty Grove won the pitching Triple Crown, with 28 wins, 203 strikeouts, and a 2.54 ERA. Wes Ferrell was second with 25 wins and a 3.31 ERA, while George Earnshaw was second in strikeouts with 193. Grove also led with 9 saves. Pitching was different then.
Win Shares leaders, players; Lou Gehrig (New York) 39, Babe Ruth (New York) 38, Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 36, Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 34, Joe Cronin (Washington) 33, Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 31, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) 29, Ed Morgan (Cleveland) 28, Carl Reynolds (Chicago) and Johnny Hodapp (Cleveland) 25.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 37, Wes Ferrell (Cleveland) 32, Lefty Stewart (St. Louis) 28, Ted Lyons (Chicago) 26, George Uhle (Detroit) 23, George Earnshaw (Philadelphia) and Bump Hadley (Washington) 21, Milt Gaston (Boston) 20.
WARP3: Cronin 9.6, Ruth 8.7, Gehrig 8.6, Cochrane 6.4, Gehringer 5.5, Simmons 5.4, Foxx 5.2, Max Bishop (Philadelphia) 4.3, Goose Goslin (St. Louis) 4.0, Reynolds and Marty McManus (Detroit) 3.9, Sam West (Washington) 3.7, Hodapp (career year) and Earle Combs (New York) 3.6.
Pitchers, Ferrell 7.7, Grove 7.6, Stewart 7.1 (best year), Lyons 6.9, Uhle 5.2, Pat Caraway (Chicago) 4.3, Vic Sorrell (Detroit) 3.8, Gaston 3.4, Red Ruffing (Boston/New York) 3.2, Earnshaw 3.0.
WAR leaders, position players: Ruth 10.3, Gehrig 9.4, Cronin 8.0, Simmons 7.5, Foxx 6.9, Reynolds and Gehringer 5.8, Cochrane and Morgan 5.1, Combs and Goslin 4.8. Pitchers: Grove 9.1, Ferrell 6.9, Stewart 6.8, Uhle 5.4, Crowder 5.1, Lyons 4.7, Sorrell 4.5, Hadley 4.4, Gaston 4.3, Earnshaw 4.0.
Best player: Lou Gehrig, with a .379-41-174 line leading the league in RBI. I'd rank it Gehrig, Ruth, Simmons this year, but Babe and Lou didn't have the supporting cast that Bucketfoot Al did. Ruth is #2 with a .359-47-153, while Simmons led in average and was .381-36-165. I'll put Joe Cronin, with a .346 average and 126 RBI plus strong defense at shortstop, 4th. Mickey Cochrane in 5th.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove. Won pitching triple crown, pretty much silencing all debate here. Also led in saves. Grove was 28-5, 2.54. The #2 pitcher was Wes Ferrell, second in wins and ERA with a 25-13, 3.31 result. Lefty Stewart is third with a 20-12 record and 3.45 ERA. Ted Lyons ranks fourth with a 22-15, 3.78 season. George Uhle 5th.
Best rookie: Ben Chapman, a .316 average and 116 OPS+ as Yankees 3B, moved in 1931 to the outfield.
Best manager: Connie Mack, outpacing the league again. The A's also won the World Series.
18 February 2008
1929 National League
The Cubs won the pennant by a comfortable margin over the Pirates and Giants. Chicago would now embark on a string of winning the pennant every three years: 1929, 32, 35, 38. The Cubs won 98 games and put up a 10.5 game advantage over the Pirates, with New York third and St. Louis, winners of two of the previous three pennants, fourth. Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Cincinnati, and Boston rounded out the league.
It was a big offensive year, and Lefty O'Doul led the way with a .398 batting average, followed by Babe Herman at .381 and Rogers Hornsby at .380. O'Doul led in on-base, while Hornsby led in slugging and OPS. Hornsby's 156 runs edged O'Doul's 152, while O'Doul's 254 hits set the pace. Johnny Frederick led with 52 doubles, Paul Waner with 20 triples, Kiki Cuyler with 43 steals. Chuck Klein had 43 homers to 42 by Mel Ott, and Ott was also second in RBI with 151 while Hack Wilson led the way with 159.
Pat Malone led with 22 wins, Bill Walker had a 3.09 ERA to 3.13 by Burleigh Grimes, and Malone had 166 strikeouts. Charlie Root and Red Lucas were second in wins with 19. Root was third with a 3.47 ERA. Guy Bush and Johnny Morrison each had 8 saves. A variety of circumstances favored the hitters, but NL pitching was also at a low ebb.
Win Shares leaders, players; Rogers Hornsby (Chicago) 42, Hack Wilson (Chicago) 32, Mel Ott (New York) and Lefty O'Doul (Philadelphia) 31, Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 30, Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 27, Babe Herman (Brookyn), Riggs Stephenson (Chicago) and Chuck Klein (Philadelphia) 26 each, Kiki Cuyler (Chicago) 25, Bill Terry (New York) 24.
WS leaders, pitchers; Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 26, Watty Clark (Brooklyn), Pat Malone and Charlie Root (Chicago), and Burleigh Grimes (Pittsburgh) 23 each, Guy Bush (Chicago) 21, Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) and Carl Hubbell (New York) 19, Erv Brame (Pittsburgh) 18.
WARP3: Hornsby 9.7 (last 400-AB season), Ott 8.2, Travis Jackson (New York) 7.4, O'Doul 6.9 (best season), Wilson 5.6, Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 5.2, Pinky Whitney (Philadelphia) 5.1, Freddy Lindstrom (New York) 4.5, George Grantham (Pittsburgh) and Rabbit Maranville (Boston) 4.2, P. Waner and Cuyler 4.0, Stephenson and Johnny Frederick (Brooklyn) 3.9, Jimmie Wilson (St. Louis) 3.7, Terry 3.6, Herman 3.4.
Pitchers, Lucas 6.1 (best year), Clark 5.6, Vance 4.9, Malone 4.6 (best year), Root 4.2, Grimes 4.0, Les Sweetland and Claude Willoughby (both Philadelphia) 3.9, Clarence Mitchell (St. Louis) 3.4, Bush and Socks Seibold (Boston) 3.2, Hubbell and Syl Johnson (St. Louis) 3.1.
WAR leaders, position players: Hornsby 11.9, Ott 8.9, O'Doul 8.4, Wilson 7.3, Jackson 7.2, Waner 6.4, Cuyler 6.3, Terry 6.2, Klein 6.1, Herman 6.0, Stephenson 5.8. Pitchers, Root 5.5, Clark and Lucas 5.4, Malone 5.2, Grives 4.8, Vance 4.7, Hubbell 4.3, Walker 4.1, Bush 4.0, Kremer 3.6.
Actual MVP voting (top 16):
Place Name Team Points
1 Rogers Hornsby CHC 60
2 Lefty O'Doul PHI 54
3 Bill Terry NYG 48
4 Burleigh Grimes PIT 35
5 Lloyd Waner PIT 30
6 Red Lucas CIN 29
7 Pie Traynor PIT 27
8 Babe Herman BRO 24
8 Hack Wilson CHC 24
10 Guy Bush CHC 16
11 Chuck Klein PHI 15
11 Mel Ott NYG 15
13 Taylor Douthit STL 14
14 Charlie Grimm CHC 13
15 Travis Jackson NYG 8
15 Rabbit Maranville BSN 8
Best player: Rogers Hornsby. I'll agree with the voters and pick the best hitter in the league (.380-49-159) on the best team in the league. Add in defense and Ott has a claim, but I will put him 2nd in this year. Ott (.328-42-151) was also the 2nd-youngest player in the league, according to baseball-reference.com....and the only guy younger than him batted only 29 times. Lefty O'Doul was impressive as well with a .398 average and 254 hits. Hack Wilson drove in 159 in a prelude to his record the next year. Paul Waner at #5.
Best pitcher: Red Lucas. Tough call with no clear standout, but I'll go for the guy the MVP voters also ranked as top pitcher, or at least top vote-getter among pitchers. Lucas led the league in complete games and WHIP, tied for 2nd in wins and 5th in ERA. He was 19-12 with a 3.60 ERA. Watty Clark ranks #2, he led in innings and was 2nd in strikeouts with a mediocre Brooklyn team and went 16-19 with a 3.74 ERA. Pat Malone led in wins and strikeouts for the pennant winners, going 22-10, 3.57 to earn third place. Charlie Root #4, Dazzy Vance #5.
Best rookie: Johnny Frederick hit .328 for Brooklyn in 148 games, playing CF as a 27-year-old rookie.
Best manager: Joe McCarthy, Chicago skipper and one of the best ever.
It was a big offensive year, and Lefty O'Doul led the way with a .398 batting average, followed by Babe Herman at .381 and Rogers Hornsby at .380. O'Doul led in on-base, while Hornsby led in slugging and OPS. Hornsby's 156 runs edged O'Doul's 152, while O'Doul's 254 hits set the pace. Johnny Frederick led with 52 doubles, Paul Waner with 20 triples, Kiki Cuyler with 43 steals. Chuck Klein had 43 homers to 42 by Mel Ott, and Ott was also second in RBI with 151 while Hack Wilson led the way with 159.
Pat Malone led with 22 wins, Bill Walker had a 3.09 ERA to 3.13 by Burleigh Grimes, and Malone had 166 strikeouts. Charlie Root and Red Lucas were second in wins with 19. Root was third with a 3.47 ERA. Guy Bush and Johnny Morrison each had 8 saves. A variety of circumstances favored the hitters, but NL pitching was also at a low ebb.
Win Shares leaders, players; Rogers Hornsby (Chicago) 42, Hack Wilson (Chicago) 32, Mel Ott (New York) and Lefty O'Doul (Philadelphia) 31, Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 30, Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 27, Babe Herman (Brookyn), Riggs Stephenson (Chicago) and Chuck Klein (Philadelphia) 26 each, Kiki Cuyler (Chicago) 25, Bill Terry (New York) 24.
WS leaders, pitchers; Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 26, Watty Clark (Brooklyn), Pat Malone and Charlie Root (Chicago), and Burleigh Grimes (Pittsburgh) 23 each, Guy Bush (Chicago) 21, Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) and Carl Hubbell (New York) 19, Erv Brame (Pittsburgh) 18.
WARP3: Hornsby 9.7 (last 400-AB season), Ott 8.2, Travis Jackson (New York) 7.4, O'Doul 6.9 (best season), Wilson 5.6, Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 5.2, Pinky Whitney (Philadelphia) 5.1, Freddy Lindstrom (New York) 4.5, George Grantham (Pittsburgh) and Rabbit Maranville (Boston) 4.2, P. Waner and Cuyler 4.0, Stephenson and Johnny Frederick (Brooklyn) 3.9, Jimmie Wilson (St. Louis) 3.7, Terry 3.6, Herman 3.4.
Pitchers, Lucas 6.1 (best year), Clark 5.6, Vance 4.9, Malone 4.6 (best year), Root 4.2, Grimes 4.0, Les Sweetland and Claude Willoughby (both Philadelphia) 3.9, Clarence Mitchell (St. Louis) 3.4, Bush and Socks Seibold (Boston) 3.2, Hubbell and Syl Johnson (St. Louis) 3.1.
WAR leaders, position players: Hornsby 11.9, Ott 8.9, O'Doul 8.4, Wilson 7.3, Jackson 7.2, Waner 6.4, Cuyler 6.3, Terry 6.2, Klein 6.1, Herman 6.0, Stephenson 5.8. Pitchers, Root 5.5, Clark and Lucas 5.4, Malone 5.2, Grives 4.8, Vance 4.7, Hubbell 4.3, Walker 4.1, Bush 4.0, Kremer 3.6.
Actual MVP voting (top 16):
Place Name Team Points
1 Rogers Hornsby CHC 60
2 Lefty O'Doul PHI 54
3 Bill Terry NYG 48
4 Burleigh Grimes PIT 35
5 Lloyd Waner PIT 30
6 Red Lucas CIN 29
7 Pie Traynor PIT 27
8 Babe Herman BRO 24
8 Hack Wilson CHC 24
10 Guy Bush CHC 16
11 Chuck Klein PHI 15
11 Mel Ott NYG 15
13 Taylor Douthit STL 14
14 Charlie Grimm CHC 13
15 Travis Jackson NYG 8
15 Rabbit Maranville BSN 8
Best player: Rogers Hornsby. I'll agree with the voters and pick the best hitter in the league (.380-49-159) on the best team in the league. Add in defense and Ott has a claim, but I will put him 2nd in this year. Ott (.328-42-151) was also the 2nd-youngest player in the league, according to baseball-reference.com....and the only guy younger than him batted only 29 times. Lefty O'Doul was impressive as well with a .398 average and 254 hits. Hack Wilson drove in 159 in a prelude to his record the next year. Paul Waner at #5.
Best pitcher: Red Lucas. Tough call with no clear standout, but I'll go for the guy the MVP voters also ranked as top pitcher, or at least top vote-getter among pitchers. Lucas led the league in complete games and WHIP, tied for 2nd in wins and 5th in ERA. He was 19-12 with a 3.60 ERA. Watty Clark ranks #2, he led in innings and was 2nd in strikeouts with a mediocre Brooklyn team and went 16-19 with a 3.74 ERA. Pat Malone led in wins and strikeouts for the pennant winners, going 22-10, 3.57 to earn third place. Charlie Root #4, Dazzy Vance #5.
Best rookie: Johnny Frederick hit .328 for Brooklyn in 148 games, playing CF as a 27-year-old rookie.
Best manager: Joe McCarthy, Chicago skipper and one of the best ever.
13 February 2008
1929 American League
Philadelphia took the first of three consecutive pennants, and they did it in a runaway. The Yankees' failure to build a pitching staff to match the Ruth-led offense cost them. The A's had offense and pitching both, and lapped the league with 104 wins, followed by New York (88 wins), Cleveland and St. Louis. Below .500 and in the second division were Washington, Detroit, Chicago, and Boston.
Lew Fonseca of the Indians won the batting title at .369, one of the few seasons he played regularly. Al Simmons was a close second at .365. Jimmie Foxx led in on-base percentage, Babe Ruth in slugging and OPS. Charlie Gehringer led in runs (131), triples (19) and stolen bases (27) and tied for the lead in hits and doubles. Teammate Dale Alexander tied Gehringer with 215 hits, and another teammate Roy Johnson as well as Heinie Manush tied with Gehringer at 45 doubles. The Babe led with 46 homers, Simmons with 157 RBI to edge Ruth's 154. Foxx, Ruth, and Simmons were all in a flat-footed tie with 148 runs created, a very unusual situation.
George Earnshaw led pitchers with 24 wins, and was 4th in ERA and second in strikeouts. Teammate Lefty Grove won 20 for third place and led in ERA (2.81) and strikeouts (170). Fred "Firpo" Marberry led in saves with 11 and was second to Grove with a 3.06 ERA. Marberry was also fourth in wins at 19. Wes Ferrell's 21 wins were second in the league.
Win Shares leaders, players; Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 34, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth (New York) 32, Tony Lazzeri (New York) 30, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) and Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 27, Earl Averill (Cleveland) 26, Lew Fonseca (Cleveland) and Earle Combs (New York) 25.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 28, Firpo Marberry (Washington) 26, Wes Ferrell and Willis Hudlin (Cleveland) 25, Dolly Gray (St. Louis) 24, George Earnshaw (Philadelphia) 23, Rube Walberg (Philadelphia) 22, Tommy Thomas (Chicago) and Alvin "General" Crowder (St. Louis) 20.
WARP3: Ruth 7.9, Simmons 7.5 (best season), Lazzeri 7.3, Foxx and Cochrane 6.3, Gehrig 6.2, Gehringer 4.9, Red Kress (St. Louis) 4.7, Bill Dickey (New York) 4.6, Jimmy Dykes (Philadelphia) 4.2, Joe Cronin (Washington) 3.6.
Pitchers, Hudlin 7.4 (best year), Ferrell 6.4 (Rookie? Not sure; three games in previous two years), Marberry 6.2 (best year), Grove 4.9, George Uhle (Detroit) 4.4, Jake Miller (Cleveland) and Milt Gaston (Boston) 4.3, Walberg (best year) and Danny MacFayden (Boston) 3.9, Gray 3.7, Thomas (last good year) and Earl Whitehill (Detroit) 3.5, Earnshaw 3.4 (best year).
WAR leaders, position players: Foxx 8.1, Simmons 8.0, Ruth 7.8, Gehrig 7.3, Lazzeri 7.2, Gehringer and Fonseca 5.0, Cochrane 4.6, Alexander and Combs 4.5, Blue 4.2. Pitchers: Grove 6.8, Hudlin 6.3, Marberry 5.5, Walberg 5.3, Gray 5.2, Earnshaw and Ferrell 4.9, Miller 3.9, Crowder 3.7, Thomas 3.6.
No MVP voting this year, at least not officially. 1931 marks the beginning of the "modern" award.
Best player: Al Simmons. Only 3rd on the OPS list, but he was the best defensively of the league's top hitters. Overall, he was the best in the league, although the margin is thin over Ruth, Foxx and Gehrig. I'd rank Simmons (.365-34-157), the RBI leader, as #1, with Ruth (.345-46-154) #2. #3 Foxx (.354-33-118), #4 Gehrig (.300-35-126) #5 Tony Lazzeri (.354-18-106),
Best pitcher: Firpo Marberry, the Senators' swingman. 2nd in ERA to Grove, Marberry had less of a team behind him but put up equally impressive stats. Marberry was 19-12 with 11 saves and a 3.06 ERA, Grove was 20-6 with 4 saves and a league-leading 2.81 ERA, and I'll put him #2. Wes Ferrell was 21-10, 3.60 for third place, and Willis Hudlin 17-15, 3.34 for 4th place. George Earnshaw 24-8, 3.29 for the winners in 5th.
Best rookie: Wes Ferrell, I believe, was a rookie and will take first place. Second is Earl Averill, a .332 average with 18 homers and 43 doubles in his first MLB season. Roy Johnson of Detroit had a strong season too, batting .314 with 128 runs.
Best manager: Connie Mack, as the A's ran away with the pennant and then won the World Series.
Lew Fonseca of the Indians won the batting title at .369, one of the few seasons he played regularly. Al Simmons was a close second at .365. Jimmie Foxx led in on-base percentage, Babe Ruth in slugging and OPS. Charlie Gehringer led in runs (131), triples (19) and stolen bases (27) and tied for the lead in hits and doubles. Teammate Dale Alexander tied Gehringer with 215 hits, and another teammate Roy Johnson as well as Heinie Manush tied with Gehringer at 45 doubles. The Babe led with 46 homers, Simmons with 157 RBI to edge Ruth's 154. Foxx, Ruth, and Simmons were all in a flat-footed tie with 148 runs created, a very unusual situation.
George Earnshaw led pitchers with 24 wins, and was 4th in ERA and second in strikeouts. Teammate Lefty Grove won 20 for third place and led in ERA (2.81) and strikeouts (170). Fred "Firpo" Marberry led in saves with 11 and was second to Grove with a 3.06 ERA. Marberry was also fourth in wins at 19. Wes Ferrell's 21 wins were second in the league.
Win Shares leaders, players; Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 34, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth (New York) 32, Tony Lazzeri (New York) 30, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) and Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 27, Earl Averill (Cleveland) 26, Lew Fonseca (Cleveland) and Earle Combs (New York) 25.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 28, Firpo Marberry (Washington) 26, Wes Ferrell and Willis Hudlin (Cleveland) 25, Dolly Gray (St. Louis) 24, George Earnshaw (Philadelphia) 23, Rube Walberg (Philadelphia) 22, Tommy Thomas (Chicago) and Alvin "General" Crowder (St. Louis) 20.
WARP3: Ruth 7.9, Simmons 7.5 (best season), Lazzeri 7.3, Foxx and Cochrane 6.3, Gehrig 6.2, Gehringer 4.9, Red Kress (St. Louis) 4.7, Bill Dickey (New York) 4.6, Jimmy Dykes (Philadelphia) 4.2, Joe Cronin (Washington) 3.6.
Pitchers, Hudlin 7.4 (best year), Ferrell 6.4 (Rookie? Not sure; three games in previous two years), Marberry 6.2 (best year), Grove 4.9, George Uhle (Detroit) 4.4, Jake Miller (Cleveland) and Milt Gaston (Boston) 4.3, Walberg (best year) and Danny MacFayden (Boston) 3.9, Gray 3.7, Thomas (last good year) and Earl Whitehill (Detroit) 3.5, Earnshaw 3.4 (best year).
WAR leaders, position players: Foxx 8.1, Simmons 8.0, Ruth 7.8, Gehrig 7.3, Lazzeri 7.2, Gehringer and Fonseca 5.0, Cochrane 4.6, Alexander and Combs 4.5, Blue 4.2. Pitchers: Grove 6.8, Hudlin 6.3, Marberry 5.5, Walberg 5.3, Gray 5.2, Earnshaw and Ferrell 4.9, Miller 3.9, Crowder 3.7, Thomas 3.6.
No MVP voting this year, at least not officially. 1931 marks the beginning of the "modern" award.
Best player: Al Simmons. Only 3rd on the OPS list, but he was the best defensively of the league's top hitters. Overall, he was the best in the league, although the margin is thin over Ruth, Foxx and Gehrig. I'd rank Simmons (.365-34-157), the RBI leader, as #1, with Ruth (.345-46-154) #2. #3 Foxx (.354-33-118), #4 Gehrig (.300-35-126) #5 Tony Lazzeri (.354-18-106),
Best pitcher: Firpo Marberry, the Senators' swingman. 2nd in ERA to Grove, Marberry had less of a team behind him but put up equally impressive stats. Marberry was 19-12 with 11 saves and a 3.06 ERA, Grove was 20-6 with 4 saves and a league-leading 2.81 ERA, and I'll put him #2. Wes Ferrell was 21-10, 3.60 for third place, and Willis Hudlin 17-15, 3.34 for 4th place. George Earnshaw 24-8, 3.29 for the winners in 5th.
Best rookie: Wes Ferrell, I believe, was a rookie and will take first place. Second is Earl Averill, a .332 average with 18 homers and 43 doubles in his first MLB season. Roy Johnson of Detroit had a strong season too, batting .314 with 128 runs.
Best manager: Connie Mack, as the A's ran away with the pennant and then won the World Series.
12 February 2008
1928 National League
Odd year in the NL, with 6 teams over .500, and two terrible teams in the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. St. Louis won the pennant in a close race, with New York 2 games behind, Chicago four games behind, and Pittsburgh 9 games back. Cincinnati and Brooklyn were in the second division, but over .500. The Braves lost 103 and the Phillies 109.
Rogers Hornsby won the batting title with a .387 average, with Paul Waner second at .370. Hornsby led in all the percentage categories, on-base, slugging, and OPS, as well as walks. Waner led with 142 runs and 50 doubles. Fred Lindstrom collected 231 hits. Jim Bottomley led with 20 triples, 31 homers, and 136 RBI, while Hack Wilson tied in homers. Kiki Cuyler led with 37 steals.
On the pitching side, Larry Benton and Burleigh Grimes tied with 25 wins, while Dazzy Vance led with a 2.09 ERA and 200 strikeouts. Benton and Grimes also led in complete games, while Grimes led in innings.
Win Shares leaders, players; Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 34, Rogers Hornsby (Boston) 33, Freddy Lindstrom (New York) 32, Jim Bottomley (St. Louis) 30, Hack Wilson (Chicago) 28, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) and Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 26, Del Bissonette (Brooklyn) and Chick Hafey (St. Louis) 25, Bill Terry (New York) and Taylor Douthit (St. Louis) 24.
WS leaders, pitchers; Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) 32, Larry Benton (New York) and Burleigh Grimes (Pittsburgh) 30, Sheriff Blake (Chicago) and Bill Sherdel (St. Louis) 24, Pat Malone (Chicago) 23, Eppa Rixey (Cincinnati) 22, Pete Alexander and Jesse Haines (St. Louis) 19.
WARP3: Hornsby 9.4 (only year in Boston), Lindstrom 7.5 (best year), P. Waner 7.0, Hartnett 6.7, Travis Jackson (New York) 6.1, Bottomley 5.5 (best year), Douthit (best year) and Frankie Frisch (St. Louis) 5.4, Wilson 4.8, Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 4.3, Mel Ott (New York) 4.1, Bissonette (rookie, best year) and Harvey Hendrick (also Brooklyn) 4.0 , Hafey 3.8.
Pitchers, Vance 9.6, Benton (career year) and Grimes (best year) 6.3, Blake 5.8 (career year), Sherdel 5.1 (best year), Rixey 4.9 (last big year), Malone 4.6 (rookie), Art Nehf (Chicago) and Ray Kolp (Cincinnati) 4.3, Watty Clark (Brooklyn) 4.1, Doug McWeeny (Brooklyn) 3.9, Alexander 3.8 (last good year), Haines and Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 3.6.
WAR leaders, players: Hornsby 9.8, Waner 7.8, Lindstrom 7.6, Bottomley 6.5, Jackson 6.3, Wilson 6.2, Hafey 6.0, Bissonette 5.5, Terry and Frisch 5.1, Hartnett and Richbourg 4.9. Pitchers, Vance 9.0, Benton 6.9, Blake 5.4, Grimes 5.3, Sherdel 5.0, Haines 4.3, Clark 4.2, Rixey 4.1, Malone 3.9, McWeeny 3.8.
Actual MVP voting (top 13):
Place Name Team Points
1 Jim Bottomley STL 76
2 Freddie Lindstrom NYG 70
3 Burleigh Grimes PIT 53
4 Larry Benton NYG 37
4 Hughie Critz CIN 37
6 Pie Traynor PIT 28
7 Hack Wilson CHC 21
8 Shanty Hogan NYG 17
9 Travis Jackson NYG 16
10 Rabbit Maranville STL 14
11 Dazzy Vance BRO 13
12 Chick Hafey STL 11
13 Rogers Hornsby BSN 10
Best player: Rogers Hornsby. The choice: Hornsby, excellent with a horrible club; Bottomley, the league RBI leader for the pennant winners; or Waner, best all-around for a team that failed to repeat their pennant. I'll go with the guy who led in OPS by a mile. Hornsby's triple crown stats were .387-21-94. Waner is #2, he hit .370 with 142 runs scored. I'll put Fred Lindstrom #3 in his career year, he batted .358 with 231 hits. Bottomley #4, Gabby Hartnett #5.
Best pitcher: Dazzy Vance, in a year that might have been better than 1924's 28-win season. His ERA+ was 191, compared to 171 in 1924. Led league in ERA and strikeouts, 3rd in wins with 22. Rube Benton #2, he was 25-9 with a 2.73 ERA. Burleigh Grimes #3, he was 25-14 with a 2.99 ERA. Sheriff Blake #4, Bill Sherdel #5.
Best rookie: Del Bissonette, a 28-year old rookie in his only good major league year. He hit .320 with 25 HR and 106 RBI. Pat Malone gets second place, 18-13 with a 2.84 ERA.
Best manager: Bill McKechnie guided St. Louis back to the winners' circle.
Rogers Hornsby won the batting title with a .387 average, with Paul Waner second at .370. Hornsby led in all the percentage categories, on-base, slugging, and OPS, as well as walks. Waner led with 142 runs and 50 doubles. Fred Lindstrom collected 231 hits. Jim Bottomley led with 20 triples, 31 homers, and 136 RBI, while Hack Wilson tied in homers. Kiki Cuyler led with 37 steals.
On the pitching side, Larry Benton and Burleigh Grimes tied with 25 wins, while Dazzy Vance led with a 2.09 ERA and 200 strikeouts. Benton and Grimes also led in complete games, while Grimes led in innings.
Win Shares leaders, players; Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 34, Rogers Hornsby (Boston) 33, Freddy Lindstrom (New York) 32, Jim Bottomley (St. Louis) 30, Hack Wilson (Chicago) 28, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) and Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 26, Del Bissonette (Brooklyn) and Chick Hafey (St. Louis) 25, Bill Terry (New York) and Taylor Douthit (St. Louis) 24.
WS leaders, pitchers; Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) 32, Larry Benton (New York) and Burleigh Grimes (Pittsburgh) 30, Sheriff Blake (Chicago) and Bill Sherdel (St. Louis) 24, Pat Malone (Chicago) 23, Eppa Rixey (Cincinnati) 22, Pete Alexander and Jesse Haines (St. Louis) 19.
WARP3: Hornsby 9.4 (only year in Boston), Lindstrom 7.5 (best year), P. Waner 7.0, Hartnett 6.7, Travis Jackson (New York) 6.1, Bottomley 5.5 (best year), Douthit (best year) and Frankie Frisch (St. Louis) 5.4, Wilson 4.8, Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 4.3, Mel Ott (New York) 4.1, Bissonette (rookie, best year) and Harvey Hendrick (also Brooklyn) 4.0 , Hafey 3.8.
Pitchers, Vance 9.6, Benton (career year) and Grimes (best year) 6.3, Blake 5.8 (career year), Sherdel 5.1 (best year), Rixey 4.9 (last big year), Malone 4.6 (rookie), Art Nehf (Chicago) and Ray Kolp (Cincinnati) 4.3, Watty Clark (Brooklyn) 4.1, Doug McWeeny (Brooklyn) 3.9, Alexander 3.8 (last good year), Haines and Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 3.6.
WAR leaders, players: Hornsby 9.8, Waner 7.8, Lindstrom 7.6, Bottomley 6.5, Jackson 6.3, Wilson 6.2, Hafey 6.0, Bissonette 5.5, Terry and Frisch 5.1, Hartnett and Richbourg 4.9. Pitchers, Vance 9.0, Benton 6.9, Blake 5.4, Grimes 5.3, Sherdel 5.0, Haines 4.3, Clark 4.2, Rixey 4.1, Malone 3.9, McWeeny 3.8.
Actual MVP voting (top 13):
Place Name Team Points
1 Jim Bottomley STL 76
2 Freddie Lindstrom NYG 70
3 Burleigh Grimes PIT 53
4 Larry Benton NYG 37
4 Hughie Critz CIN 37
6 Pie Traynor PIT 28
7 Hack Wilson CHC 21
8 Shanty Hogan NYG 17
9 Travis Jackson NYG 16
10 Rabbit Maranville STL 14
11 Dazzy Vance BRO 13
12 Chick Hafey STL 11
13 Rogers Hornsby BSN 10
Best player: Rogers Hornsby. The choice: Hornsby, excellent with a horrible club; Bottomley, the league RBI leader for the pennant winners; or Waner, best all-around for a team that failed to repeat their pennant. I'll go with the guy who led in OPS by a mile. Hornsby's triple crown stats were .387-21-94. Waner is #2, he hit .370 with 142 runs scored. I'll put Fred Lindstrom #3 in his career year, he batted .358 with 231 hits. Bottomley #4, Gabby Hartnett #5.
Best pitcher: Dazzy Vance, in a year that might have been better than 1924's 28-win season. His ERA+ was 191, compared to 171 in 1924. Led league in ERA and strikeouts, 3rd in wins with 22. Rube Benton #2, he was 25-9 with a 2.73 ERA. Burleigh Grimes #3, he was 25-14 with a 2.99 ERA. Sheriff Blake #4, Bill Sherdel #5.
Best rookie: Del Bissonette, a 28-year old rookie in his only good major league year. He hit .320 with 25 HR and 106 RBI. Pat Malone gets second place, 18-13 with a 2.84 ERA.
Best manager: Bill McKechnie guided St. Louis back to the winners' circle.
11 February 2008
1928 American League
New York won a second straight pennant with 101 victories, but had to fight off a Philadelphia team that finished just 2.5 games behind. It was a terrific pennant race between an aging Yankees team and an up-and-coming A's squad. 3rd place St. Louis was the only other team over .500. The Yankees then swept St. Louis in the World Series. Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Boston rounded out the standings in that order.
Goose Goslin's .379 edged Heinie Manush's .378 for the batting title, with Lou Gehrig close behind at .374. Gehrig edged Babe Ruth in on-base, but the Babe still took the slugging title. Ruth scored the most runs, Manush had the most hits, Ruth led in total bases, Gehrig and Manush tied with 47 doubles. Earle Combs led with 21 triples, one more than Manush. Ruth led with 54 homers, and Ruth and Gehrig tied with 142 RBI. Buddy Myer of Boston led with 30 steals.
Among pitchers, Lefty Grove and George Pipgras tied with 24 wins. Garland Braxton of Washington led in ERA with a 2.51 mark, edging Herb Pennock of New York at 2.56 and Grove at 2.58. Grove led with 183 strikeouts. Red Ruffing of Boston had 25 losses.
Win Shares leaders, players; Babe Ruth (New York) 45, Lou Gehrig (New York) 42, Heinie Manush (St. Louis) 35, Earle Combs (New York) 28, Goose Goslin (Washington) 26, Willie Kamm (Chicago) and Max Bishop (Philadelphia) 24, Joe Sewell (Cleveland), Charlie Gehringer (Detroit), Al Simmons (Philadelphia) and Lu Blue (St. Louis) 23.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 27, Tommy Thomas (Chicago) 26, Dolly Gray (St. Louis) 23, Waite Hoyt (New York) and Sad Sam Jones (Washington) 22, Ed Morris and Red Ruffing (Boston), George Pipgras (New York) and Garland Braxton (Washington) 21.
WARP3: Ruth 8.9, Gehrig 8.6, Goslin 6.9, Sewell 6.0, Bishop (best year) and Tony Lazzeri (New York) 5.6, Combs 5.3, Manush 5.2, Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 5.1, Mickey Cochrane (Detroit) 5.0, Kamm 4.3, Ossie Bluege (Washington) 4.0, Gehringer 3.8, Simmons 3.6.
Pitchers, Thomas 6.4, Grove 5.6, Herb Pennock (New York) 5.5, Ruffing 5.0, Ownie Carroll (Detroit) 4.8, Jones 4.7, Braxton 4.6 (career year), Gray and Morris (best year), 4.4, Hoyt and Willis Hudlin (Cleveland) 4.1, George Uhle (Cleveland) 4.0. Pipgras posted a 3.3 in his career year.
WAR leaders, position players: Ruth 11.0, Gehrig 10.1, Goslin 7.6, Manush 7.3, Bishop 5.4, Sewell 5.1, Combs 4.9, Simmons 4.8, Blue 4.7, Gehringer 4.4, Bluege 4.2. Pitchers, Grove 6.3, Thomas 5.7, Pennock 5.3, Braxton 5.2, Jones 4.5, Carroll and Gray 4.4, Pipgras 4.2, Hoyt 4.0, Crowder 3.9.
Actual MVP voting (top 14): previous winners Ruth and Gehrig were not eligible. About now they started rethinking the rules.
Place Name Team Points
1 Mickey Cochrane PHA 53
2 Heinie Manush SLB 51
3 Joe Judge WSH 27
3 Tony Lazzeri NYY 27
5 Willie Kamm CHW 15
6 Earle Combs NYY 13
6 Goose Goslin WSH 13
8 Charlie Gehringer DET 12
9 Buddy Myer BOS 11
10 Waite Hoyt NYY 8
11 Jimmie Foxx PHA 7
12 Joe Sewell CLE 6
12 Luke Sewell CLE 6
14 Ira Flagstead BOS 5
Best player: Babe Ruth by a hair over Lou Gehrig. Ruth holds a bit of an edge in OPS, but by this time he was getting pretty slow in the field. I think Lou almost makes it up on defense. Gehrig's triple crown numbers were .374-27-142, Ruth's .323-54-142. Heinie Manush #3 at .378-13-108, Goose Goslin #4 at .379-17-102. Goslin won the batting title. Max Bishop, Camera Eye, at #5.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove, starting a tradition. Grove was 24-8, 2.58. Tommy Thomas #2 at 17-16, 3.08. Sam Jones #3 at 17-7, 2.84, and Dolly Gray and his 20 wins at #4, George Pipgras' 24 wins at #5. Pipgras was helped a lot by having that Yankee team behind him.
Best rookie: Ed Morgan hit .313 in 76 games for Cleveland.
Best manager: Miller Huggins got his team to 1st in a close pennant race.
Goose Goslin's .379 edged Heinie Manush's .378 for the batting title, with Lou Gehrig close behind at .374. Gehrig edged Babe Ruth in on-base, but the Babe still took the slugging title. Ruth scored the most runs, Manush had the most hits, Ruth led in total bases, Gehrig and Manush tied with 47 doubles. Earle Combs led with 21 triples, one more than Manush. Ruth led with 54 homers, and Ruth and Gehrig tied with 142 RBI. Buddy Myer of Boston led with 30 steals.
Among pitchers, Lefty Grove and George Pipgras tied with 24 wins. Garland Braxton of Washington led in ERA with a 2.51 mark, edging Herb Pennock of New York at 2.56 and Grove at 2.58. Grove led with 183 strikeouts. Red Ruffing of Boston had 25 losses.
Win Shares leaders, players; Babe Ruth (New York) 45, Lou Gehrig (New York) 42, Heinie Manush (St. Louis) 35, Earle Combs (New York) 28, Goose Goslin (Washington) 26, Willie Kamm (Chicago) and Max Bishop (Philadelphia) 24, Joe Sewell (Cleveland), Charlie Gehringer (Detroit), Al Simmons (Philadelphia) and Lu Blue (St. Louis) 23.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 27, Tommy Thomas (Chicago) 26, Dolly Gray (St. Louis) 23, Waite Hoyt (New York) and Sad Sam Jones (Washington) 22, Ed Morris and Red Ruffing (Boston), George Pipgras (New York) and Garland Braxton (Washington) 21.
WARP3: Ruth 8.9, Gehrig 8.6, Goslin 6.9, Sewell 6.0, Bishop (best year) and Tony Lazzeri (New York) 5.6, Combs 5.3, Manush 5.2, Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 5.1, Mickey Cochrane (Detroit) 5.0, Kamm 4.3, Ossie Bluege (Washington) 4.0, Gehringer 3.8, Simmons 3.6.
Pitchers, Thomas 6.4, Grove 5.6, Herb Pennock (New York) 5.5, Ruffing 5.0, Ownie Carroll (Detroit) 4.8, Jones 4.7, Braxton 4.6 (career year), Gray and Morris (best year), 4.4, Hoyt and Willis Hudlin (Cleveland) 4.1, George Uhle (Cleveland) 4.0. Pipgras posted a 3.3 in his career year.
WAR leaders, position players: Ruth 11.0, Gehrig 10.1, Goslin 7.6, Manush 7.3, Bishop 5.4, Sewell 5.1, Combs 4.9, Simmons 4.8, Blue 4.7, Gehringer 4.4, Bluege 4.2. Pitchers, Grove 6.3, Thomas 5.7, Pennock 5.3, Braxton 5.2, Jones 4.5, Carroll and Gray 4.4, Pipgras 4.2, Hoyt 4.0, Crowder 3.9.
Actual MVP voting (top 14): previous winners Ruth and Gehrig were not eligible. About now they started rethinking the rules.
Place Name Team Points
1 Mickey Cochrane PHA 53
2 Heinie Manush SLB 51
3 Joe Judge WSH 27
3 Tony Lazzeri NYY 27
5 Willie Kamm CHW 15
6 Earle Combs NYY 13
6 Goose Goslin WSH 13
8 Charlie Gehringer DET 12
9 Buddy Myer BOS 11
10 Waite Hoyt NYY 8
11 Jimmie Foxx PHA 7
12 Joe Sewell CLE 6
12 Luke Sewell CLE 6
14 Ira Flagstead BOS 5
Best player: Babe Ruth by a hair over Lou Gehrig. Ruth holds a bit of an edge in OPS, but by this time he was getting pretty slow in the field. I think Lou almost makes it up on defense. Gehrig's triple crown numbers were .374-27-142, Ruth's .323-54-142. Heinie Manush #3 at .378-13-108, Goose Goslin #4 at .379-17-102. Goslin won the batting title. Max Bishop, Camera Eye, at #5.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove, starting a tradition. Grove was 24-8, 2.58. Tommy Thomas #2 at 17-16, 3.08. Sam Jones #3 at 17-7, 2.84, and Dolly Gray and his 20 wins at #4, George Pipgras' 24 wins at #5. Pipgras was helped a lot by having that Yankee team behind him.
Best rookie: Ed Morgan hit .313 in 76 games for Cleveland.
Best manager: Miller Huggins got his team to 1st in a close pennant race.
02 February 2008
1927 National League
Pittsburgh won an exciting pennant race by outlasting St. Louis (by 1.5 games) and New York (by two games). Chicago finished a strong fourth. The Pirates and Cubs traded the lead for much of the summer, with New York coming on at the end, and St. Louis strong all the way through. It was the Pirates that prevailed in a great race. Cincinnati was 5th, followed by Brooklyn and Boston, while Philadelphia lost 103 games. The National League was still not dominated by power the way the American was, but batting averages were becoming quite fat. This trend would continue through 1930, then break.
Paul Waner won the league batting title with a .380 average, and also led with 237 hits, 18 triples, 131 RBI, and tied for the lead with 133 runs. He also led in total bases with 342. Rogers Hornsby led in on-base and OPS, and also tied with 133 runs and was second with a .361 average. Rookie Lloyd Waner was third with a .355 batting mark. Chick Hafey led in slugging. Hack Wilson and Cy Willimas had 30 homers each, Hornsby 26. Riggs Stephenson led with 46 doubles, and Frankie Frisch with 48 steals.
Charlie Root led with 26 wins to Jesse Haines' 24, Carmen Hill won 22 and Pete Alexander 21. Ray Kremer led with a 2.47 ERA to Alexander's 2.52, Dazzy Vance third at 2.70 and Haines fourth with 2.72. Vance led with 184 strikeouts followed by Root with 145.
Win Shares leaders, players; Rogers Hornsby (New York) 40, Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 36, Frankie Frisch (St. Louis) 34, Hack Wilson (Chicago) 31, Riggs Stephenson (Chicago) and Bill Terry (New York) 27, George Harper (New York), Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) and Jim Bottomley (St. Louis) 26, Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 25.
WS leaders, pitchers; Pete Alexander and Jesse Haines (St. Louis) 28, Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) 25, Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 23, Carmen Hill and Ray Kremer (Pittsburgh) 22, Jesse Petty (Brooklyn) and Charlie Root (Chicago) 21, Lee Meadows (Pittsburgh) 20.
WARP3: Hornsby 9.9 (his only year with New York), Frisch 8.8 (first year in St. Louis), P. Waner 7.6, Traynor 7.0, Harper 6.2 (career year), Chuck Dressen (Cincinnati) 6.0, Travis Jackson (New York) 5.9, Wilson 5.6, Stephenson 5.1 (best year), Terry and Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 4.7, Chick Hafey (St. Louis) 4.5, Bottomley 4.4.
Pitchers, Vance 6.8, Alexander 6.0, Lucas 5.9, Haines 5.1 (best year), Dutch Ulrich (Philadelphia) 4.9, Petty 4.8, Kremer 4.7, Bob Smith (Boston) 4.3, Burleigh Grimes (New York) 3.6, Dolf Luque (Cincinati) 3.5, Kent Greenfield (Boston) 3.2.
WAR, position players: Hornsby 10.8, Frisch 10.0, P. Waner 7.7, Wilson 6.9, Harper 6.0, Terry 5.7, Stephenson 5.6, Jackson 5.5, Bottomley 5.2, Dressen 4.9, Traynor 4.5. Pitchers: Vance 6.3, Kremer 6.1, Alexander 5.6, Haines 5.4, Petty 5.2, Meadows 4.8, Ulrich 4.2, Hill 4.1, Lucas 3.7, Bush 3.4.
Actual MVP voting (top 17):
Place Name Team Points
1 Paul Waner PIT 72
2 Frankie Frisch STL 66
3 Rogers Hornsby NYG 54
4 Charley Root CHC 46
5 Travis Jackson NYG 42
6 Lloyd Waner PIT 25
7 Pie Traynor PIT 18
8 Jesse Haines STL 16
9 Ray Kremer PIT 14
10 Gabby Hartnett CHC 12
11 Red Lucas CIN 10
12 Hack Wilson CHC 9
13 Jim Bottomley STL 6
13 Bubbles Hargrave CIN 6
13 Jakie May CIN 6
13 Bill Terry NYG 6
13 Cy Williams PHI 6
Top player: Rogers Hornsby. I'd like to go with Waner, but all three meta-stats agree on the same guy and that's hard to ignore. Hornsby was a real SOB and only lasted with John McGraw the one year in New York, but he was excellent on the field as always.
#1 Rogers Hornsby, #2 Frankie Frisch, #3 Paul Waner, #4 Hack Wilson, #5 George Harper.
Top pitcher: Pete Alexander. It's a tough call, with no standout, but I'll go with the old veteran in one last hurrah. Alex was 21-10 with a 2.52 ERA (2nd in the league). Jesse Haines, 24-10 with a 2.72 ERA, is 2nd. Strikeout leader Dazzy Vance, 16-15 with a 2.70 ERA, ranks 3rd. Red Lucas 4th, Ray Kremer 5th.
Top rookie: Lloyd Waner, .355 for the pennant winners playing beside his brother.
Top manager: Donie Bush, longtime Detroit shortstop, winning the pennant in his first season with the Pirates.
Paul Waner won the league batting title with a .380 average, and also led with 237 hits, 18 triples, 131 RBI, and tied for the lead with 133 runs. He also led in total bases with 342. Rogers Hornsby led in on-base and OPS, and also tied with 133 runs and was second with a .361 average. Rookie Lloyd Waner was third with a .355 batting mark. Chick Hafey led in slugging. Hack Wilson and Cy Willimas had 30 homers each, Hornsby 26. Riggs Stephenson led with 46 doubles, and Frankie Frisch with 48 steals.
Charlie Root led with 26 wins to Jesse Haines' 24, Carmen Hill won 22 and Pete Alexander 21. Ray Kremer led with a 2.47 ERA to Alexander's 2.52, Dazzy Vance third at 2.70 and Haines fourth with 2.72. Vance led with 184 strikeouts followed by Root with 145.
Win Shares leaders, players; Rogers Hornsby (New York) 40, Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 36, Frankie Frisch (St. Louis) 34, Hack Wilson (Chicago) 31, Riggs Stephenson (Chicago) and Bill Terry (New York) 27, George Harper (New York), Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) and Jim Bottomley (St. Louis) 26, Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 25.
WS leaders, pitchers; Pete Alexander and Jesse Haines (St. Louis) 28, Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn) 25, Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 23, Carmen Hill and Ray Kremer (Pittsburgh) 22, Jesse Petty (Brooklyn) and Charlie Root (Chicago) 21, Lee Meadows (Pittsburgh) 20.
WARP3: Hornsby 9.9 (his only year with New York), Frisch 8.8 (first year in St. Louis), P. Waner 7.6, Traynor 7.0, Harper 6.2 (career year), Chuck Dressen (Cincinnati) 6.0, Travis Jackson (New York) 5.9, Wilson 5.6, Stephenson 5.1 (best year), Terry and Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 4.7, Chick Hafey (St. Louis) 4.5, Bottomley 4.4.
Pitchers, Vance 6.8, Alexander 6.0, Lucas 5.9, Haines 5.1 (best year), Dutch Ulrich (Philadelphia) 4.9, Petty 4.8, Kremer 4.7, Bob Smith (Boston) 4.3, Burleigh Grimes (New York) 3.6, Dolf Luque (Cincinati) 3.5, Kent Greenfield (Boston) 3.2.
WAR, position players: Hornsby 10.8, Frisch 10.0, P. Waner 7.7, Wilson 6.9, Harper 6.0, Terry 5.7, Stephenson 5.6, Jackson 5.5, Bottomley 5.2, Dressen 4.9, Traynor 4.5. Pitchers: Vance 6.3, Kremer 6.1, Alexander 5.6, Haines 5.4, Petty 5.2, Meadows 4.8, Ulrich 4.2, Hill 4.1, Lucas 3.7, Bush 3.4.
Actual MVP voting (top 17):
Place Name Team Points
1 Paul Waner PIT 72
2 Frankie Frisch STL 66
3 Rogers Hornsby NYG 54
4 Charley Root CHC 46
5 Travis Jackson NYG 42
6 Lloyd Waner PIT 25
7 Pie Traynor PIT 18
8 Jesse Haines STL 16
9 Ray Kremer PIT 14
10 Gabby Hartnett CHC 12
11 Red Lucas CIN 10
12 Hack Wilson CHC 9
13 Jim Bottomley STL 6
13 Bubbles Hargrave CIN 6
13 Jakie May CIN 6
13 Bill Terry NYG 6
13 Cy Williams PHI 6
Top player: Rogers Hornsby. I'd like to go with Waner, but all three meta-stats agree on the same guy and that's hard to ignore. Hornsby was a real SOB and only lasted with John McGraw the one year in New York, but he was excellent on the field as always.
#1 Rogers Hornsby, #2 Frankie Frisch, #3 Paul Waner, #4 Hack Wilson, #5 George Harper.
Top pitcher: Pete Alexander. It's a tough call, with no standout, but I'll go with the old veteran in one last hurrah. Alex was 21-10 with a 2.52 ERA (2nd in the league). Jesse Haines, 24-10 with a 2.72 ERA, is 2nd. Strikeout leader Dazzy Vance, 16-15 with a 2.70 ERA, ranks 3rd. Red Lucas 4th, Ray Kremer 5th.
Top rookie: Lloyd Waner, .355 for the pennant winners playing beside his brother.
Top manager: Donie Bush, longtime Detroit shortstop, winning the pennant in his first season with the Pirates.
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