The New York Yankees started a run of four straight pennants with an offensive juggernaut that also kept opposition runs off the board better than any other team in the AL. The Babe Ruth era was over, but Lou Gehrig was still around, new star Joe DiMaggio arrived, Bill Dickey came into his prime, and Red Ruffing and Lefty Gomez anchored the pitching staff. The Yankees won 102 games, defeating Detroit by 19.5 games, Washington and Chicago by 20, and Cleveland by 22.5. Boston was close to .500, while St. Louis and Philadelphia were the doormats. The Yankees also won the World Series in six games.
Chicago's Luke Appling led the league with a .388 average, with Earl Averill second at .378. Gehrig led in on-base, slugging, and OPS. He also led in runs with 167 and homers with 49. Averill led with 232 hits, and tied for the triples lead with DiMaggio, each having 15. Charlie Gehringer had 60 doubles. Hal Trosky had 162 RBI and also led in total bases. Lyn Lary had 38 steals.
For pitchers, Tommy Bridges had 23 wins; Vern Kennedy was second with 21, Wes Ferrell, Johnny Allen, and Red Ruffing won 20 each. Lefty Grove led with a 2.81 ERA, trailed by Allen at 3.44 and Pete Appleton at 3.53. Bridges led with 175 strikeouts with Allen next at 165 and Bobo Newsom at 156.
Win Shares leaders, players; Lou Gehrig (New York) 38, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) 34, Luke Appling (Chicago) 29, Earl Averill (Cleveland) 27, Jimmie Foxx (Boston) 26, Bill Dickey and Joe DiMaggio (New York) 25, Zeke Bonura (Chicago), Frankie Crosetti and Red Rolfe (New York) 24, Goose Goslin (Detroit) and Harlond Clift (St. Louis) 23.
Win Shares leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Boston) 29, Wes Ferrell (Boston) 27, Tommy Bridges (Detroit) 26, Johnny Allen (Cleveland) 25, Red Ruffing (New York) 23, Schoolboy Rowe (Detroit) 21, Vern Kennedy (Chicago), Monte Pearson (New York) and Harry Kelley (Philadelphia) 20.
WARP3 scores: Gehrig 8.1, Gehringer 7.9, Rolfe 6.0, Dickey 5.7, Appling 5.5, John Stone (Washington) 5.1, Averill and Odell Hale (Cleveland) 4.7, DiMaggio 4.4 (rookie), Crosetti 4.3, Foxx 4.0 (first year in Boston), Bob Johnson (Philadelphia) 3.9, Clift 3.6. RBI leader Hal Trosky had 21 Win Shares and a WARP3 of 2.4.
Pitchers: Grove 7.3, Allen 6.2 (first year in Cleveland), Ferrell (last good year), and Kelley (his only good year) 5.4, Bridges 5.2 in his best season, Ruffing 4.4, Pearson (best season) and Ivy Andrews (St. Louis) 4.1, Rowe 3.9.
WAR leaders, position players: Gehrig 10.8, Gehringer 8.6, Appling 8.1, Averill 7.9, Foxx 7.8, Clift 6.4, DiMaggio 6.2, Rolfe 6.1, Dickey and Hale 6.0, Bonura 5.8, Trosky 5.7. Pitchers: Grove 8.9, Allen 6.4, Bridges 6.3, Ferrell 6.2, Kelley 5.5, Pearson 4.7, Ruffing 4.5, Appleton 4.1, Andrews 3.9, Rowe 3.8.
Actual award voting: MVP Top 10 | Season Results
Rk Name Team 1st Place Points Max Points Share| AB H HR BA OPS SB| W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+--+----------------+----+-----+------+------+------+---+-----+-----+---+--+
1 Lou Gehrig NYY 0 73 80 0.91 | 579 205 49 .354 1.174 3
2 Luke Appling CHW 0 65 80 0.81 | 526 204 6 .388 .981 10
3 Earl Averill CLE 0 48 80 0.60 | 614 232 28 .378 1.065 3
4 Charlie Gehringer DET 0 39 80 0.49 | 641 227 15 .354 .987 4
5 Bill Dickey NYY 0 29 80 0.36 | 423 153 22 .362 1.045 0
6 Vern Kennedy CHW 0 27 80 0.34 | 113 32 0 .283 .643 0| 21-9 274 4.63 1.564 99
6 Joe Kuhel WSH 0 27 80 0.34 | 588 189 16 .321 .893 15
8 Joe DiMaggio NYY 0 26 80 0.32 | 637 206 29 .323 .928 4
9 Tommy Bridges DET 0 25 80 0.31 | 118 25 0 .212 .494 0| 23-11 295 3.60 1.371 175
10 Hal Trosky CLE 0 19 80 0.24 | 629 216 42 .343 1.026 6
Top player: Lou Gehrig was the easy leader in OPS+ and posted a .354-49-152 line that included the leading home run total. He is a solid #1 for the pennant-winners. 2nd to Charlie Gehringer for a season where he hit .354 and scored 144 runs. #3 to Luke Appling, winning the batting title at .388. Earl Averill #4 with a .378 average, leading the league in hits. Bill Dickey, Yankee catcher in his breakthrough year, gets #5.
Top pitcher: Lefty Grove led in ERA by a wide margin, posting a 17-12 record with that 2.81 mark. Johnny Allen ranks #2 with a 20-10 record and 3.44 ERA. Tommy Bridges ranks #3 with a 23-11 record and 3.60 ERA. Wes Ferrell #4 at 20-15, 4.19. Red Ruffing #5 at 20-12, 3.85.
Top rookie: Joe DiMaggio in one of the easiest decisions in history. The 21-year-old Californian had a .323-29-125 line and stellar defense that gave the Yankees a spark and started a new version of the Yankee dynasty.
Top manager: Joe McCarthy began his string as the "Push-Button Manager" by pushing all the right buttons.
25 April 2008
26 March 2008
1935 National League
The Cubs won 100 games and the pennant, beating out defending champs St. Louis by four games. Came up short in the Series, though. New York was third, and Pittsburgh a solid 4th, followed by Brooklyn, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia, with Boston having one of the all-time worst seasons and losing 115 games in spite of stellar play from Wally Berger again. Most important, the first official major league night game was played, in Cincinnati. It would do a lot to boost attendance during the Depression, and after.
Arky Vaughan had a huge year, winning the batting title with a .385 average, leading the league in walks so that he was getting on base in nearly half his plate appearances, and also leading the league in slugging and OPS. He played a good shortstop, too. Joe Medwick was second in average with a .355 mark, and Gabby Hartnett third with a .344. Augie Galan led in runs with 133 and steals with 22. Billy Herman led in hits with 227 and doubles with 57. Ival Goodman had 18 triples. Wally Berger had 34 homers and 130 RBI for the sad-sack Braves. Mel Ott was second with 31 homers and Medwick second with 126 RBI.
Cy Blanton of Pittsburgh, no apparent relation to current pitcher Joe Blanton, led the league with a 2.58 ERA. Dizzy Dean had another great year, with 28 wins and 190 strikeouts to lead the league. Carl Hubbell was second with 23 wins, Paul Derringer third with 22. Bill Swift was second with a 2.70 ERA, Hal Schumacher third at 2.89.
Win Shares leaders, players; Arky Vaughan (Pittsburgh) 39, Mel Ott (New York) 35, Joe Medwick (St. Louis) 33, Augie Galan and Billy Herman (Chicago) 32, Hank Leiber (New York) and Rip Collins (St. Louis) 28, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 26, Jo-Jo Moore (New York) 24, Bill Terry (New York) 23, Stan Hack (Chicago) and Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 22, Wally Berger (Boston) 21.
Win Shares leaders, pitchers; Dizzy Dean (St. Louis) 31, Carl Hubbell (New York) 26, Cy Blanton (Pittsburgh) 24, Hal Schumacher (New York) 23, Lon Warneke (Chicago) and Paul Dean (St. Louis) 22, Bill Lee (Chicago) and Curt Davis (Philadelphia) 21, Paul Derringer (Cincinnati) and Bill Swift (Pittsburgh) 20.
WARP3 scores: Vaughan 12.2 (best year), Ott 10.4, Herman 8.0 in his first big year, Galan 7.6 in his first full season, Hartnett 7.3, Medwick 6.8, Berger 5.8, Moore 5.5, Leiber 5.4 in his first full season, Collins (last good year) and Waner 5.2, Hack 5.1, Terry 4.9 in his last full season, Dick Bartell (New York) 4.6.
Pitchers, D. Dean 8.0, Davis 7.3, Blanton 6.4 as a rookie in his best year, Warneke 5.3, Hubbell and Swift in his best year 5.0, Schumacher, P. Dean in his last good year, and Syl Johnson (Philadelphia) 4.9, Derringer 4.8, Bob Smith (Boston) 4.5, Van Lingle Mungo (Brooklyn) 4.4.
WAR leaders, position players: Vaughan 9.7, Ott 7.8, Herman 7.3, Medwick 6.5, Galan 6.1, Berger 5.7, Leiber 5.2, Hartnett 5.1, Terry 5.0, Collins and Hack 4.8, Waner 4.4, Moore 3.7. Pitchers: Dean 7.1, Blanton 6.5, Davis 5.6, P. Dean 5.5, Schumacher and Swift 5.0, Hubbell 4.9, Warneke 4.7, French 4.6, Johnson 4.1.
Actual award voting: MVP Top 10
Rk Name Team 1st Place Points Max Points Share| AB H HR BA OPS SB| W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+--+----------------+----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+---+--+-----+-----+---
1 Gabby Hartnett CHC 0 75 80 0.94 | 413 142 13 .344 .949 1
2 Dizzy Dean STL 0 66 80 0.82 | 128 30 2 .234 .559 2| 28-12 325 3.04 1.233 190 5
3 Arky Vaughan PIT 0 45 80 0.56 | 499 192 19 .385 1.098 4
4 Billy Herman CHC 0 38 80 0.48 | 666 227 7 .341 .859 6
5 Joe Medwick STL 0 37 80 0.46 | 634 224 23 .353 .962 4
6 Wally Berger BSN 0 20 80 0.25 | 589 174 34 .295 .903 3
6 Carl Hubbell NYG 0 20 80 0.25 | 109 26 1 .239 .556 0| 23-12 303 3.27 1.199 150
6 Bill Terry NYG 0 20 80 0.25 | 596 203 6 .341 .834 7
9 Augie Galan CHC 0 18 80 0.22 | 646 203 12 .314 .866 22
10 Pepper Martin STL 0 16 80 0.20 | 539 161 9 .299 .789 20
Top player: Arky Vaughan had one of the all-time great seasons for Pittsburgh. His .385 average led the league by 32 points, and he also led in walks, OPS and OPS+ while playing a strong shortstop. 19 HR and 99 RBI with 105 runs are also strong credentials. Mel Ott gets my #2 spot with the second-best OPS+ and 31 HR with 114 RBI. Billy Herman's .341 average for the pennant winners plus defense at second base gets him #3. Medwick is #4 with a .353-23-126 line, then Augie Galan's league-leading 133 runs for the Cubs gets him #5. Gabby Hartnett won the MVP mostly for sentimental reasons, although he did play well. I'd put him sixth.
Top pitcher: Dizzy Dean again, leading in wins and strikeouts with a 28-12 record and 3.04 ERA. Carl Hubbell ranks #2 with a 23-12 record and 3.15 ERA. Cy Blanton ranked #3 at 18-13 while leading the league with his 2.58 ERA. Hal Schumacher #4 at 19-9, 2.89. Lon Warneke's 20 wins for #5.
Top rookie: Blanton, but his career would decline from here. He was a 26-year old rookie.
Top manager: Charlie Grimm gets this award for managing the pennant winners.
Arky Vaughan had a huge year, winning the batting title with a .385 average, leading the league in walks so that he was getting on base in nearly half his plate appearances, and also leading the league in slugging and OPS. He played a good shortstop, too. Joe Medwick was second in average with a .355 mark, and Gabby Hartnett third with a .344. Augie Galan led in runs with 133 and steals with 22. Billy Herman led in hits with 227 and doubles with 57. Ival Goodman had 18 triples. Wally Berger had 34 homers and 130 RBI for the sad-sack Braves. Mel Ott was second with 31 homers and Medwick second with 126 RBI.
Cy Blanton of Pittsburgh, no apparent relation to current pitcher Joe Blanton, led the league with a 2.58 ERA. Dizzy Dean had another great year, with 28 wins and 190 strikeouts to lead the league. Carl Hubbell was second with 23 wins, Paul Derringer third with 22. Bill Swift was second with a 2.70 ERA, Hal Schumacher third at 2.89.
Win Shares leaders, players; Arky Vaughan (Pittsburgh) 39, Mel Ott (New York) 35, Joe Medwick (St. Louis) 33, Augie Galan and Billy Herman (Chicago) 32, Hank Leiber (New York) and Rip Collins (St. Louis) 28, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 26, Jo-Jo Moore (New York) 24, Bill Terry (New York) 23, Stan Hack (Chicago) and Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 22, Wally Berger (Boston) 21.
Win Shares leaders, pitchers; Dizzy Dean (St. Louis) 31, Carl Hubbell (New York) 26, Cy Blanton (Pittsburgh) 24, Hal Schumacher (New York) 23, Lon Warneke (Chicago) and Paul Dean (St. Louis) 22, Bill Lee (Chicago) and Curt Davis (Philadelphia) 21, Paul Derringer (Cincinnati) and Bill Swift (Pittsburgh) 20.
WARP3 scores: Vaughan 12.2 (best year), Ott 10.4, Herman 8.0 in his first big year, Galan 7.6 in his first full season, Hartnett 7.3, Medwick 6.8, Berger 5.8, Moore 5.5, Leiber 5.4 in his first full season, Collins (last good year) and Waner 5.2, Hack 5.1, Terry 4.9 in his last full season, Dick Bartell (New York) 4.6.
Pitchers, D. Dean 8.0, Davis 7.3, Blanton 6.4 as a rookie in his best year, Warneke 5.3, Hubbell and Swift in his best year 5.0, Schumacher, P. Dean in his last good year, and Syl Johnson (Philadelphia) 4.9, Derringer 4.8, Bob Smith (Boston) 4.5, Van Lingle Mungo (Brooklyn) 4.4.
WAR leaders, position players: Vaughan 9.7, Ott 7.8, Herman 7.3, Medwick 6.5, Galan 6.1, Berger 5.7, Leiber 5.2, Hartnett 5.1, Terry 5.0, Collins and Hack 4.8, Waner 4.4, Moore 3.7. Pitchers: Dean 7.1, Blanton 6.5, Davis 5.6, P. Dean 5.5, Schumacher and Swift 5.0, Hubbell 4.9, Warneke 4.7, French 4.6, Johnson 4.1.
Actual award voting: MVP Top 10
Rk Name Team 1st Place Points Max Points Share| AB H HR BA OPS SB| W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+--+----------------+----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+---+--+-----+-----+---
1 Gabby Hartnett CHC 0 75 80 0.94 | 413 142 13 .344 .949 1
2 Dizzy Dean STL 0 66 80 0.82 | 128 30 2 .234 .559 2| 28-12 325 3.04 1.233 190 5
3 Arky Vaughan PIT 0 45 80 0.56 | 499 192 19 .385 1.098 4
4 Billy Herman CHC 0 38 80 0.48 | 666 227 7 .341 .859 6
5 Joe Medwick STL 0 37 80 0.46 | 634 224 23 .353 .962 4
6 Wally Berger BSN 0 20 80 0.25 | 589 174 34 .295 .903 3
6 Carl Hubbell NYG 0 20 80 0.25 | 109 26 1 .239 .556 0| 23-12 303 3.27 1.199 150
6 Bill Terry NYG 0 20 80 0.25 | 596 203 6 .341 .834 7
9 Augie Galan CHC 0 18 80 0.22 | 646 203 12 .314 .866 22
10 Pepper Martin STL 0 16 80 0.20 | 539 161 9 .299 .789 20
Top player: Arky Vaughan had one of the all-time great seasons for Pittsburgh. His .385 average led the league by 32 points, and he also led in walks, OPS and OPS+ while playing a strong shortstop. 19 HR and 99 RBI with 105 runs are also strong credentials. Mel Ott gets my #2 spot with the second-best OPS+ and 31 HR with 114 RBI. Billy Herman's .341 average for the pennant winners plus defense at second base gets him #3. Medwick is #4 with a .353-23-126 line, then Augie Galan's league-leading 133 runs for the Cubs gets him #5. Gabby Hartnett won the MVP mostly for sentimental reasons, although he did play well. I'd put him sixth.
Top pitcher: Dizzy Dean again, leading in wins and strikeouts with a 28-12 record and 3.04 ERA. Carl Hubbell ranks #2 with a 23-12 record and 3.15 ERA. Cy Blanton ranked #3 at 18-13 while leading the league with his 2.58 ERA. Hal Schumacher #4 at 19-9, 2.89. Lon Warneke's 20 wins for #5.
Top rookie: Blanton, but his career would decline from here. He was a 26-year old rookie.
Top manager: Charlie Grimm gets this award for managing the pennant winners.
1935 American League
The Tigers won their second straight pennant by again bludgeoning the league into submission with a superior offense. The Yankees were just three games back with the best pitching in the league. Babe Ruth was gone, off playing his final season with the Boston Braves. Cleveland ran third, and Boston played their best ball in nearly two decades to finish fourth. Then came Chicago, followed by Boston, St. Louis, and Philadelphia. Detroit topped one million in attendance, but the Browns slipped below 100K.
Buddy Myer of Washington won the batting title at .349, edging Joe Vosmik at .348 and Jimmie Foxx at .346. Lou Gehrig led in on-base, while Foxx led in slugging and OPS. Gehrig led in runs with 125, Vosmik in hits with 216 (beating Myer by one this time), and also led in doubles with 47 and triples with 20. Foxx and Hank Greenberg tied with 36 home runs, but Greenberg was all by himself with 170 RBI. Billy Werber led in steals again with 29.
Wes Ferrell topped the league with 25 wins (and also with 38 starts), Tommy Bridges led with 163 strikeouts, and Lefty Grove with a 2.70 ERA. With Grove and Ferrell, Boston had two top pitchers.
Win Shares leaders, players: Hank Greenberg (Detroit) and Lou Gehrig (New York) 34, Buddy Myer (Washington) 33, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) 31, Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 30, Joe Vosmik (Cleveland) 28, Luke Appling (Chicago) and Mickey Cochrane (Detroit) 24, Billy Rogell (Detroit) 23, Earl Averill (Cleveland) and Red Rolfe (New York) 22.
Win Shares leaders, pitchers; Wes Ferrell (Boston) 35, Lefty Grove (Boston) 29, Mel Harder (Cleveland) 27, Schoolboy Rowe (Detroit) 23, Red Ruffing (New York) 22, Willis Hudlin (Cleveland) and Ivy Andrews (St. Louis) 21, Ted Lyons (Chicago) 20.
WARP3 scores: Gehrig 8.4, Foxx 8.0 in his last season in Philly, Greenberg 7.6, Gehringer 7.0, Appling 6.7, Vosmik 6.4 in his best season, Rolfe 5.3 in his first full season. Myer 5.1 (his best season, at age 31), Cochrane 4.6 in his last full season, Bob Johnson (Philadelphia) 4.5, George Selkirk (New York) 4.3, Rogell 3.7.
For the pitchers, Ferrell 9.2, Grove 7.6, Harder 6.5, Rowe 5.5, Andrews 5.1 (best year), Johnny Marcum (Philadelphia) 4.8, Hudlin 4.7 in his last good year, Ruffing 4.2, Tommy Bridges (Detroit) and Bobo Newsom (St. Louis/Washington) 3.6, Lyons and Elden Auker (Detroit) 3.4.
WAR leaders, position players: Gehrig 9.6, Foxx 9.4, Greenberg 8.4, Gehringer 8.1, Appling 7.3, Myer 6.9, Vosmik 6.6, Rogell 5.2, Cochrane 5.1, Johnson 4.7, Hale 4.6. Pitchers: Grove 7.7, Ferrell 6.9, Harder 6.3, Andrews 5.3, Rowe 4.3, Lyons 4.2, Hudlin, Ruffing, and Whitehead 4.1, Gomez 3.8.
Actual award voting, for MVP: (Top 10)
Season Results
Rk Name Team 1st Place Points Max Points Share| AB H HR BA OPS SB| W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+--+----------------+----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+---+--+-----+-----
1 Hank Greenberg DET 8 80 80 1.00 | 619 203 36 .328 1.039 4
2 Wes Ferrell BOS 0 62 80 0.78 | 150 52 7 .347 .960 0| 25-14 322 3.52 1.378 110
3 Joe Vosmik CLE 0 39 80 0.49 | 620 216 10 .348 .946 2
4 Buddy Myer WSH 0 36 80 0.45 | 616 215 5 .349 .907 7
5 Lou Gehrig NYY 0 29 80 0.36 | 535 176 30 .329 1.049 8
6 Charlie Gehringer DET 0 26 80 0.32 | 610 201 19 .330 .911 11
7 Mickey Cochrane DET 0 24 80 0.30 | 411 131 5 .319 .902 5
8 Doc Cramer PHA 0 18 80 0.22 | 644 214 3 .332 .789 6
9 Rollie Helmsley SLB 0 16 80 0.20 | 504 146 0 .290 .730 3
9 Moose Solters TOT 0 16 80 0.20 | +631 201 18 .319 .854 11
Top player: Hank Greenberg. Greenberg, Foxx and Gehrig are in almost a dead heat statistically, but Greenberg's team won. Also, those 170 RBI look mighty impressive. Make Foxx #2 with his tie with Greenberg for the home run lead, and I'll put Gehrig #3. Gehringer makes a fine #4 with his .330 average, and Buddy Myer gets #5 with his batting title. Vosmik would be sixth.
Top pitcher: Wes Ferrell had an impressive 25 wins for the rebuilding Red Sox, and teammate Lefty Grove edges Mel Harder for the #2 spot. Schoolboy Rowe is 4th with Red Ruffing 5th.
Top rookie: Wally Moses batted .325 in 85 games for Philadelphia. He had a good if unspectacular career and was a long-time hitting coach.
Top manager: Mickey Cochrane for bringing the Tigers home again.
Buddy Myer of Washington won the batting title at .349, edging Joe Vosmik at .348 and Jimmie Foxx at .346. Lou Gehrig led in on-base, while Foxx led in slugging and OPS. Gehrig led in runs with 125, Vosmik in hits with 216 (beating Myer by one this time), and also led in doubles with 47 and triples with 20. Foxx and Hank Greenberg tied with 36 home runs, but Greenberg was all by himself with 170 RBI. Billy Werber led in steals again with 29.
Wes Ferrell topped the league with 25 wins (and also with 38 starts), Tommy Bridges led with 163 strikeouts, and Lefty Grove with a 2.70 ERA. With Grove and Ferrell, Boston had two top pitchers.
Win Shares leaders, players: Hank Greenberg (Detroit) and Lou Gehrig (New York) 34, Buddy Myer (Washington) 33, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) 31, Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 30, Joe Vosmik (Cleveland) 28, Luke Appling (Chicago) and Mickey Cochrane (Detroit) 24, Billy Rogell (Detroit) 23, Earl Averill (Cleveland) and Red Rolfe (New York) 22.
Win Shares leaders, pitchers; Wes Ferrell (Boston) 35, Lefty Grove (Boston) 29, Mel Harder (Cleveland) 27, Schoolboy Rowe (Detroit) 23, Red Ruffing (New York) 22, Willis Hudlin (Cleveland) and Ivy Andrews (St. Louis) 21, Ted Lyons (Chicago) 20.
WARP3 scores: Gehrig 8.4, Foxx 8.0 in his last season in Philly, Greenberg 7.6, Gehringer 7.0, Appling 6.7, Vosmik 6.4 in his best season, Rolfe 5.3 in his first full season. Myer 5.1 (his best season, at age 31), Cochrane 4.6 in his last full season, Bob Johnson (Philadelphia) 4.5, George Selkirk (New York) 4.3, Rogell 3.7.
For the pitchers, Ferrell 9.2, Grove 7.6, Harder 6.5, Rowe 5.5, Andrews 5.1 (best year), Johnny Marcum (Philadelphia) 4.8, Hudlin 4.7 in his last good year, Ruffing 4.2, Tommy Bridges (Detroit) and Bobo Newsom (St. Louis/Washington) 3.6, Lyons and Elden Auker (Detroit) 3.4.
WAR leaders, position players: Gehrig 9.6, Foxx 9.4, Greenberg 8.4, Gehringer 8.1, Appling 7.3, Myer 6.9, Vosmik 6.6, Rogell 5.2, Cochrane 5.1, Johnson 4.7, Hale 4.6. Pitchers: Grove 7.7, Ferrell 6.9, Harder 6.3, Andrews 5.3, Rowe 4.3, Lyons 4.2, Hudlin, Ruffing, and Whitehead 4.1, Gomez 3.8.
Actual award voting, for MVP: (Top 10)
Season Results
Rk Name Team 1st Place Points Max Points Share| AB H HR BA OPS SB| W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+--+----------------+----+-----+------+------+-----+-----+---+--+-----+-----
1 Hank Greenberg DET 8 80 80 1.00 | 619 203 36 .328 1.039 4
2 Wes Ferrell BOS 0 62 80 0.78 | 150 52 7 .347 .960 0| 25-14 322 3.52 1.378 110
3 Joe Vosmik CLE 0 39 80 0.49 | 620 216 10 .348 .946 2
4 Buddy Myer WSH 0 36 80 0.45 | 616 215 5 .349 .907 7
5 Lou Gehrig NYY 0 29 80 0.36 | 535 176 30 .329 1.049 8
6 Charlie Gehringer DET 0 26 80 0.32 | 610 201 19 .330 .911 11
7 Mickey Cochrane DET 0 24 80 0.30 | 411 131 5 .319 .902 5
8 Doc Cramer PHA 0 18 80 0.22 | 644 214 3 .332 .789 6
9 Rollie Helmsley SLB 0 16 80 0.20 | 504 146 0 .290 .730 3
9 Moose Solters TOT 0 16 80 0.20 | +631 201 18 .319 .854 11
Top player: Hank Greenberg. Greenberg, Foxx and Gehrig are in almost a dead heat statistically, but Greenberg's team won. Also, those 170 RBI look mighty impressive. Make Foxx #2 with his tie with Greenberg for the home run lead, and I'll put Gehrig #3. Gehringer makes a fine #4 with his .330 average, and Buddy Myer gets #5 with his batting title. Vosmik would be sixth.
Top pitcher: Wes Ferrell had an impressive 25 wins for the rebuilding Red Sox, and teammate Lefty Grove edges Mel Harder for the #2 spot. Schoolboy Rowe is 4th with Red Ruffing 5th.
Top rookie: Wally Moses batted .325 in 85 games for Philadelphia. He had a good if unspectacular career and was a long-time hitting coach.
Top manager: Mickey Cochrane for bringing the Tigers home again.
25 March 2008
1934 National League
The "Gas House Gang" Cardinals won a close pennant race by two games over the Giants, powered by a free-wheeling lineup and the Dean brothers on the mound. Chicago was third, eight games back. Boston was 4th, Pittsburgh 5th, followed by Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Cincinnati was again last.
Paul Waner won the batting title with a .362 average, just ahead of Bill Terry's .354. Waner also led in runs with 122 and hits with 217. Arky Vaughan led in on-base, while Rip Collins led in slugging and OPS. Ethan Allen and Kiki Cuyler had 42 doubles each, while Joe Medwick had 18 triples. Collins tied Mel Ott with 35 homers, while Ott led with 135 RBI. Pepper Martin led with 23 steals.
Dizzy Dean put up a big 30-win year, and also led with 195 strikeouts. Carl Hubbell led in ERA at 2.30. Hubbell also led the league in saves with 8, as well as complete games with 25. It was a different time then. Most games were loaded onto the weekend during the Depression, so that somebody would come out, so doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday were common. Aces might start on Friday and relieve on Sunday, or vice-versa.
Win Shares leaders, players; Mel Ott (New York) 38, Arky Vaughan (Pittsburgh) 36, Wally Berger (Boston) 33, Ripper Collins (St. Louis) 32, Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 30, Bill Terry (New York) 29, Jo-Jo Moore (New York) 26, Billy Urbanski (Boston) 25, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) and Ducky Medwick (St. Louis) 24.
WS leaders, pitchers; Dizzy Dean (St. Louis) 37, Carl Hubbell (New York) 32, Lon Warneke (Chicago) 26, Hal Schumacher (New York) and Curt Davis (Philadelphia) 24, Van Lingle Mungo (Brooklyn) and Paul Dean (St. Louis) 22.
WARP3: Ott 10.3, Vaughan 10.1, Waner 8.6, Hartnett 7.0, Len Koenecke (Brooklyn) and Dick Bartell (Philadelphia) 6.0, Collins 5.5 (career year), Kiki Cuyler (Chicago) 4.6, Urbanski (career year), Frankie Frisch (St. Louis) and Chuck Klein (Chicago) 4.5, Moore 4.4, Terry 4.2.
Pitchers; D. Dean 9.7, Davis 8.1 (as a 30-year-old rookie), Hubbell 7.6, Mungo 7.2, Benny Frey (Cincinnati) 6.8, Paul Derringer (Cincinnati) 6.5, Warneke 5.8, P. Dean 5.4 (as a 20-year-old rookie), Ed Brandt (Boston) 5.0, Schumacher and Waite Hoyt (Pittsburgh) 4.8.
WAR leaders, position players: Ott 7.5, Vaughan 7.2, Collins 6.8, Waner 6.5, Terry 6.1, Koenecke and Berger 5.1, Leslie 4.3, Cuyler and Jackson 4.0, Hartnett 3.9. Pitchers: D. Dean 8.1, Hubbell 7.4, Davis 6.8, Mungo and Warneke 5.0, P. Dean 4.8, Hoyt 4.4, Frey 3.8, Derringer 3.7, Collins and Walker 3.5.
Actual MVP voting (top 15):
Place Name Team Points
1 Dizzy Dean STL 78
2 Paul Waner PIT 50
3 Jo-Jo Moore NYG 42
4 Travis Jackson NYG 39
5 Mel Ott NYG 37
6 Ripper Collins STL 32
7 Bill Terry NYG 30
8 Curt Davis PHI 18
9 Paul Dean STL 16
9 Carl Hubbell NYG 16
9 Hal Schumacher NYG 16
12 Wally Berger BSN 13
13 Lon Warneke CHC 10
14 Gabby Hartnett CHC 9
15 Gordon Slade CIN 5
Best player: Mel Ott, although Arky Vaughan would make a good choice too. Ott was clearly the best hitter in the league, with a .326-35-135 line. Vaughan gets the #2 spot with his .333-12-94 season, although he got just one MVP vote. Paul Waner is #3 after leading the league in average and going .362-14-90. Ripper Collins of the pennant winner was #4 with a tie for Ott for the home run lead and a .333-35-128 line. Gabby Hartnett's .299-22-90 coupled with his excellent defense puts him 5th.
Best pitcher: Dizzy Dean, of course. His 30-7 year, plus a 2.66 ERA. Carl Hubbell led the league in ERA at 2.30 and went 21-12. Curt Davis was 19-17 with a 2.95 ERA in the hitter's haven of Philadelphia. Lon Warneke was 21-10, 3.21 for 4th, Van Lingle Mungo 18-16, 3.37 for 5th.
Best rookie: Paul Dean (or Daffy, if you prefer) since he was 20 to the more productive Curt Davis' 30. Didn't help him have a better career, though. Paul was 19-11 and had a 3.43 ERA. He had the most promise, but ended with 50 career wins to Davis' 158.
Best manager: Frankie Frisch had to coordinate the St. Louis wild bunch. That was a full-time job in itself.
Paul Waner won the batting title with a .362 average, just ahead of Bill Terry's .354. Waner also led in runs with 122 and hits with 217. Arky Vaughan led in on-base, while Rip Collins led in slugging and OPS. Ethan Allen and Kiki Cuyler had 42 doubles each, while Joe Medwick had 18 triples. Collins tied Mel Ott with 35 homers, while Ott led with 135 RBI. Pepper Martin led with 23 steals.
Dizzy Dean put up a big 30-win year, and also led with 195 strikeouts. Carl Hubbell led in ERA at 2.30. Hubbell also led the league in saves with 8, as well as complete games with 25. It was a different time then. Most games were loaded onto the weekend during the Depression, so that somebody would come out, so doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday were common. Aces might start on Friday and relieve on Sunday, or vice-versa.
Win Shares leaders, players; Mel Ott (New York) 38, Arky Vaughan (Pittsburgh) 36, Wally Berger (Boston) 33, Ripper Collins (St. Louis) 32, Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 30, Bill Terry (New York) 29, Jo-Jo Moore (New York) 26, Billy Urbanski (Boston) 25, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) and Ducky Medwick (St. Louis) 24.
WS leaders, pitchers; Dizzy Dean (St. Louis) 37, Carl Hubbell (New York) 32, Lon Warneke (Chicago) 26, Hal Schumacher (New York) and Curt Davis (Philadelphia) 24, Van Lingle Mungo (Brooklyn) and Paul Dean (St. Louis) 22.
WARP3: Ott 10.3, Vaughan 10.1, Waner 8.6, Hartnett 7.0, Len Koenecke (Brooklyn) and Dick Bartell (Philadelphia) 6.0, Collins 5.5 (career year), Kiki Cuyler (Chicago) 4.6, Urbanski (career year), Frankie Frisch (St. Louis) and Chuck Klein (Chicago) 4.5, Moore 4.4, Terry 4.2.
Pitchers; D. Dean 9.7, Davis 8.1 (as a 30-year-old rookie), Hubbell 7.6, Mungo 7.2, Benny Frey (Cincinnati) 6.8, Paul Derringer (Cincinnati) 6.5, Warneke 5.8, P. Dean 5.4 (as a 20-year-old rookie), Ed Brandt (Boston) 5.0, Schumacher and Waite Hoyt (Pittsburgh) 4.8.
WAR leaders, position players: Ott 7.5, Vaughan 7.2, Collins 6.8, Waner 6.5, Terry 6.1, Koenecke and Berger 5.1, Leslie 4.3, Cuyler and Jackson 4.0, Hartnett 3.9. Pitchers: D. Dean 8.1, Hubbell 7.4, Davis 6.8, Mungo and Warneke 5.0, P. Dean 4.8, Hoyt 4.4, Frey 3.8, Derringer 3.7, Collins and Walker 3.5.
Actual MVP voting (top 15):
Place Name Team Points
1 Dizzy Dean STL 78
2 Paul Waner PIT 50
3 Jo-Jo Moore NYG 42
4 Travis Jackson NYG 39
5 Mel Ott NYG 37
6 Ripper Collins STL 32
7 Bill Terry NYG 30
8 Curt Davis PHI 18
9 Paul Dean STL 16
9 Carl Hubbell NYG 16
9 Hal Schumacher NYG 16
12 Wally Berger BSN 13
13 Lon Warneke CHC 10
14 Gabby Hartnett CHC 9
15 Gordon Slade CIN 5
Best player: Mel Ott, although Arky Vaughan would make a good choice too. Ott was clearly the best hitter in the league, with a .326-35-135 line. Vaughan gets the #2 spot with his .333-12-94 season, although he got just one MVP vote. Paul Waner is #3 after leading the league in average and going .362-14-90. Ripper Collins of the pennant winner was #4 with a tie for Ott for the home run lead and a .333-35-128 line. Gabby Hartnett's .299-22-90 coupled with his excellent defense puts him 5th.
Best pitcher: Dizzy Dean, of course. His 30-7 year, plus a 2.66 ERA. Carl Hubbell led the league in ERA at 2.30 and went 21-12. Curt Davis was 19-17 with a 2.95 ERA in the hitter's haven of Philadelphia. Lon Warneke was 21-10, 3.21 for 4th, Van Lingle Mungo 18-16, 3.37 for 5th.
Best rookie: Paul Dean (or Daffy, if you prefer) since he was 20 to the more productive Curt Davis' 30. Didn't help him have a better career, though. Paul was 19-11 and had a 3.43 ERA. He had the most promise, but ended with 50 career wins to Davis' 158.
Best manager: Frankie Frisch had to coordinate the St. Louis wild bunch. That was a full-time job in itself.
1934 American League
The Tigers won the pennant by a seven-game margin over the Yankees, with an exceptional offense and good pitching. They lost the World Series in seven games, though. The emergence of a young Hank Greenberg gave the Tigers the push they needed. Cleveland was a distant third, while Boston was just at .500 and in fourth place. Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington (in a big falloff from the previous year's pennant) and Chicago made up the second division.
In a display of how different things were in 1934, consider these things: it was the middle of the depression, and before night baseball started, no team drew one million fans. The Tigers led in attendance with a little over 900,000. Only the Yankees and Tigers averaged over 11,000 fans per game. The Browns drew just over 100,000, or about 1500 per game. It was a tough time at the box office.
Mickey Cochrane won the MVP for the pennant winners, but Lou Gehrig won the Triple Crown for the second-place team. Gehrig had a .363 average, just ahead of the Tigers' Charlie Gehringer at .356, hit 49 homers to best Jimmie Foxx's 44, and drove in 165 runs to finish ahead of Hal Trosky's 142. Gehrig also led in on-base, slugging, OPS, and total bases. Gehringer led with 134 runs and 214 hits, Hank Greenberg had 63 doubles, Ben Chapman had 13 triples, and Billy Werber stole 40 bases.
The Yankees had another Triple Crown winner in pitcher Lefty Gomez, who had 26 wins, 158 strikeouts, and a 2.33 ERA to lead the league. Second-place finishers were Schoolboy Rowe with 24 wins, Tommy Bridges with 151 strikeouts, and Mel Harder with a 2.61 ERA.
Win Shares leaders, players; Lou Gehrig (New York) 41, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) 37, Earl Averill (Cleveland) 33, Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 32, Hank Greenberg (Detroit) 31, Hal Trosky (Cleveland) 28, Bill Werber (Boston) 26, Billy Rogell (Detroit) 24, Al Simmons (Chicago), Mickey Cochrane and Marv Owen (Detroit) 23.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Gomez (New York) 31, Schoolboy Rowe (Detroit) 28, Mel Harder (Cleveland) 27, Tommy Bridges (Detroit) 22, Bobo Newsom (St. Louis) 21, Wes Ferrell (Boston) and Johnny Murphy (New York) 18, Fritz Ostermueller (Boston), Monte Pearson (Cleveland) and Red Ruffing (New York) 17.
WARP3: Gehrig 10.1, Gehringer 8.6, Averill 7.4 (best year), Foxx 6.4, Bob Johnson (Philadelphia) 5.2, Werber 5.0, Greenberg 4.7, Cochrane and Babe Ruth (New York) 4.6, Tony Lazzeri (New York) 4.5, Bill Dickey (New York) 4.4, Simmons 3.8 (last big year), Rogell and Rollie Helmsley (St. Louis) 3.7.
Pitchers; Gomez 6.6, Harder 6.5, Rowe 5.7 (first full year), Ostermueller 4.4 (rookie), Ferrell 4.3, Bobby Burke (Washington) 4.2, Newsom 4.1 (rookie), Bridges 3.8, George Earnshaw (Chicago) 3.4, Murphy (rookie, best year, by far his most use), and Johnny Welch (Boston) 3.3.
WAR leaders, position players: Gehrig 11.5, Foxx 9.6, Gehringer 9.2, Averill 7.4, Greenberg 7.1, Werber 6.3, Trosky 6.1, Rogell 5.4, Simmons and Johnson 5.3, Manush 5.2. Pitchers: Gomez 8.1, Harder 6.8, Rowe 5.8, Bridges 5.7, Newsom 4.9, Ostermueller 4.6, Murphy 4.4, Burke and Ferrell 3.9, Blaeholder 3.8.
Actual MVP voting(top 15):
Place Name Team Points
1 Mickey Cochrane DET 67
2 Charlie Gehringer DET 65
3 Lefty Gomez NYY 60
4 Schoolboy Rowe DET 59
5 Lou Gehrig NYY 54
6 Hank Greenberg DET 29
7 Hal Trosky CLE 18
8 Wes Ferrell BOS 16
9 Marv Owen DET 13
10 Jimmie Foxx PHA 11
11 Al Simmons CHW 9
12 Roy Johnson BOS 8
12 Billy Werber BOS 8
14 Goose Goslin DET 6
15 Sam West SLB 5
The voters zeroed in on a top five of three Tigers and two Yankees. Three more Tigers came in down-ballot. The Detroit team really impressed the BBWAA voters.
Best player: Lou Gehrig. Larrupin' Lou won the Triple Crown, but couldn't win the MVP. He gets this award, though, but I was tempted to vote for Gehringer. Gehrig's .363-49-165 line is too hard to ignore. Gehringer didn't have the same power, but his defense supplements his .356-11-127 line as he was second in batting average. Earl Averill had a terrific year at .313-31-113 and nets third place, with Jimmie Foxx #4 at .334-44-130. Hank Greenberg's first big year, with a .339-26-138 line and all those doubles, gets him #5.
Best pitcher: Lefty Gomez. Again, Lefty is the best pitcher in the league, but this time it is Gomez putting up Grove-like stats, with a 26-5 record and a league-leading ERA of 2.33. Mel Harder places second with a 20-12, 2.61 season. Schoolboy Rowe places 3rd in his first full year with a 24-8 record and 3.45 ERA. Tommy Bridges' 22-11, 3.67 earns him 4th, with Bobo Newsom's 16-20, 4.01 for the lowly Browns good enough for 5th.
Best rookie: Hal Trosky made a strong showing in his first full year, going .330-35-142. Bobo Newsom second with a 16-20 record and 4.01 ERA, which still meant a 124 ERA+. Johnny Murphy and Fritz Ostermueller also earn notice.
Best manager: Mickey Cochrane will take this trophy, for guiding the Tigers to their first pennant since 1909.
In a display of how different things were in 1934, consider these things: it was the middle of the depression, and before night baseball started, no team drew one million fans. The Tigers led in attendance with a little over 900,000. Only the Yankees and Tigers averaged over 11,000 fans per game. The Browns drew just over 100,000, or about 1500 per game. It was a tough time at the box office.
Mickey Cochrane won the MVP for the pennant winners, but Lou Gehrig won the Triple Crown for the second-place team. Gehrig had a .363 average, just ahead of the Tigers' Charlie Gehringer at .356, hit 49 homers to best Jimmie Foxx's 44, and drove in 165 runs to finish ahead of Hal Trosky's 142. Gehrig also led in on-base, slugging, OPS, and total bases. Gehringer led with 134 runs and 214 hits, Hank Greenberg had 63 doubles, Ben Chapman had 13 triples, and Billy Werber stole 40 bases.
The Yankees had another Triple Crown winner in pitcher Lefty Gomez, who had 26 wins, 158 strikeouts, and a 2.33 ERA to lead the league. Second-place finishers were Schoolboy Rowe with 24 wins, Tommy Bridges with 151 strikeouts, and Mel Harder with a 2.61 ERA.
Win Shares leaders, players; Lou Gehrig (New York) 41, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) 37, Earl Averill (Cleveland) 33, Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 32, Hank Greenberg (Detroit) 31, Hal Trosky (Cleveland) 28, Bill Werber (Boston) 26, Billy Rogell (Detroit) 24, Al Simmons (Chicago), Mickey Cochrane and Marv Owen (Detroit) 23.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Gomez (New York) 31, Schoolboy Rowe (Detroit) 28, Mel Harder (Cleveland) 27, Tommy Bridges (Detroit) 22, Bobo Newsom (St. Louis) 21, Wes Ferrell (Boston) and Johnny Murphy (New York) 18, Fritz Ostermueller (Boston), Monte Pearson (Cleveland) and Red Ruffing (New York) 17.
WARP3: Gehrig 10.1, Gehringer 8.6, Averill 7.4 (best year), Foxx 6.4, Bob Johnson (Philadelphia) 5.2, Werber 5.0, Greenberg 4.7, Cochrane and Babe Ruth (New York) 4.6, Tony Lazzeri (New York) 4.5, Bill Dickey (New York) 4.4, Simmons 3.8 (last big year), Rogell and Rollie Helmsley (St. Louis) 3.7.
Pitchers; Gomez 6.6, Harder 6.5, Rowe 5.7 (first full year), Ostermueller 4.4 (rookie), Ferrell 4.3, Bobby Burke (Washington) 4.2, Newsom 4.1 (rookie), Bridges 3.8, George Earnshaw (Chicago) 3.4, Murphy (rookie, best year, by far his most use), and Johnny Welch (Boston) 3.3.
WAR leaders, position players: Gehrig 11.5, Foxx 9.6, Gehringer 9.2, Averill 7.4, Greenberg 7.1, Werber 6.3, Trosky 6.1, Rogell 5.4, Simmons and Johnson 5.3, Manush 5.2. Pitchers: Gomez 8.1, Harder 6.8, Rowe 5.8, Bridges 5.7, Newsom 4.9, Ostermueller 4.6, Murphy 4.4, Burke and Ferrell 3.9, Blaeholder 3.8.
Actual MVP voting(top 15):
Place Name Team Points
1 Mickey Cochrane DET 67
2 Charlie Gehringer DET 65
3 Lefty Gomez NYY 60
4 Schoolboy Rowe DET 59
5 Lou Gehrig NYY 54
6 Hank Greenberg DET 29
7 Hal Trosky CLE 18
8 Wes Ferrell BOS 16
9 Marv Owen DET 13
10 Jimmie Foxx PHA 11
11 Al Simmons CHW 9
12 Roy Johnson BOS 8
12 Billy Werber BOS 8
14 Goose Goslin DET 6
15 Sam West SLB 5
The voters zeroed in on a top five of three Tigers and two Yankees. Three more Tigers came in down-ballot. The Detroit team really impressed the BBWAA voters.
Best player: Lou Gehrig. Larrupin' Lou won the Triple Crown, but couldn't win the MVP. He gets this award, though, but I was tempted to vote for Gehringer. Gehrig's .363-49-165 line is too hard to ignore. Gehringer didn't have the same power, but his defense supplements his .356-11-127 line as he was second in batting average. Earl Averill had a terrific year at .313-31-113 and nets third place, with Jimmie Foxx #4 at .334-44-130. Hank Greenberg's first big year, with a .339-26-138 line and all those doubles, gets him #5.
Best pitcher: Lefty Gomez. Again, Lefty is the best pitcher in the league, but this time it is Gomez putting up Grove-like stats, with a 26-5 record and a league-leading ERA of 2.33. Mel Harder places second with a 20-12, 2.61 season. Schoolboy Rowe places 3rd in his first full year with a 24-8 record and 3.45 ERA. Tommy Bridges' 22-11, 3.67 earns him 4th, with Bobo Newsom's 16-20, 4.01 for the lowly Browns good enough for 5th.
Best rookie: Hal Trosky made a strong showing in his first full year, going .330-35-142. Bobo Newsom second with a 16-20 record and 4.01 ERA, which still meant a 124 ERA+. Johnny Murphy and Fritz Ostermueller also earn notice.
Best manager: Mickey Cochrane will take this trophy, for guiding the Tigers to their first pennant since 1909.
24 March 2008
1933 National League
New York took the pennant in the first year of the post-McGraw era, with Bill Terry in charge. This despite an off year by Giants star Mel Ott. The Giants led most of the way but the competition kept close, with Pittsburgh finishing five games back, Chicago six back, Boston nine of the pace and St. Louis 9.5 away. Brooklyn was a poor sixth. Chuck Klein won the triple crown although the Phillies slipped back to 7th, ahead of only Cincinnati.
Chuck Klein's Triple Crown was significantly park-aided, but he still edged Wally Berger for the OPS+ lead. Klein's .368 average was ahead of teammate Spud Davis at .349, his 28 HR edged Berger's 27, and his 120 RBI was ahead of Berger's 106. Klein also led in on-base, slugging, OPS, hits (223) and doubles (44). Pepper Martin had 26 steals and 122 runs, while Arky Vaughan led with 19 triples.
Carl Hubbell was nearly taking a pitching triple at the same time, leading in wins with 23 and ERA at 1.66, and finishing second in strikeouts. Dizzy Dean led that with 199. Ben Cantwell, Guy Bush, and Dean each won 20, with Lon Warneke second in ERA at 2.00 and Hal Schumacher third at 2.16.
Win Shares leaders, players; Wally Berger (Boston) 36, Arky Vaughan (Pittsburgh) 34, Mel Ott (New York) 31, Chuck Klein (Philadelphia) 30, Pepper Martin (St. Louis) 29, Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 28, Joe Medwick (St. Louis) 24, Babe Herman (Chicago), Chick Hafey (Cincinnati) and Freddie Lindstrom (Pittsburgh) 23.
WS leaders, pitchers; Carl Hubbell (New York) 33, Ed Brandt (Boston) and Lon Warneke (Chicago) 29, Hal Schumacher (New York) 23, Dizzy Dean (St. Louis) 22, Ben Cantwell (Boston) and Larry French (Pittsburgh) 21.
WARP3: Vaughan 9.4, Klein 8.6, Berger 7.7, Ott 6.5, Martin 5.6, Lindstrom (last good year) and Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 5.3, Waner 5.2, Frankie Frisch (St. Louis) and Al Lopez (Brooklyn) 5.1, Riggs Stephenson (Chicago) 4.7, Herman and Billy Jurges (also Chicago) 4.6.
Pitchers: Hubbell 10.8 (best year), Warneke 8.6, Brandt 8.4 (best year), Schumacher 7.0 (best year), Van Lingle Mungo (Brooklyn) 6.7, Dean 6.2, Huck Betts (Boston) 5.3, French, Tex Carleton (St. Louis) and Ed Holley (Philadelphia) 4.7, Cantwell 4.5 (best year).
WAR, position players: Klein 7.8, Vaughan and Berger 6.6, Martin 5.8, Ott 5.6, Davis 4.5, Waner 4.4, Herman 4.2, Jurges and Lindstrom 4.0, Terry and Medwick 3.9. Pitchers: Hubbell 8.2, Warneke 6.1, Brandt 5.4, Schumacher 5.3, Dean 4.6, French and Mungo 4.4, Betts 3.6, Root 3.4, Carleton 3.2.
Actual MVP vote (top 15):
Place Name Team Points
1 Carl Hubbell NYG 77
2 Chuck Klein PHI 48
3 Wally Berger BSN 44
4 Bill Terry NYG 35
5 Pepper Martin STL 31
6 Gus Mancuso NYG 24
7 Dizzy Dean STL 23
8 Pie Traynor PIT 20
9 Blondy Ryan NYG 19
10 Ben Cantwell BSN 18
10 Al Lopez BRO 18
12 Guy Bush CHC 11
12 Rabbit Maranville BSN 11
12 Hal Schumacher NYG 11
15 Larry French PIT 10
Best player: Chuck Klein. Even with the hitter's park, he led the league in OPS+. Berger and Vaughan (in his second year) were great too. Klein had a .368-28-120 line to finish ahead of Wally Berger's .312-27-106. Arky Vaughan led in triples and ranks third. Ott is #4 at .283-23-103. Pepper Martin (.316, 122 runs) 5th.
Best pitcher: Carl Hubbell over a strong field. The NL is definitely getting more competitive about now, and Hubbell shone with a 23-12 record and 1.66 ERA. Lon Warneke ranked #2 with an 18-13 record and 2.00 ERA. #3 was Ed Brandt at 18-14, 2.60 ERA. Hal Schumacher was #4 at 19-12, 2.16. Dizzy Dean's first 20-win season earns him 5th.
Best rookie: None I could find. The best rookies were in the AL.
Best manager: Bill Terry won the pennant in his first full season on the job.
Chuck Klein's Triple Crown was significantly park-aided, but he still edged Wally Berger for the OPS+ lead. Klein's .368 average was ahead of teammate Spud Davis at .349, his 28 HR edged Berger's 27, and his 120 RBI was ahead of Berger's 106. Klein also led in on-base, slugging, OPS, hits (223) and doubles (44). Pepper Martin had 26 steals and 122 runs, while Arky Vaughan led with 19 triples.
Carl Hubbell was nearly taking a pitching triple at the same time, leading in wins with 23 and ERA at 1.66, and finishing second in strikeouts. Dizzy Dean led that with 199. Ben Cantwell, Guy Bush, and Dean each won 20, with Lon Warneke second in ERA at 2.00 and Hal Schumacher third at 2.16.
Win Shares leaders, players; Wally Berger (Boston) 36, Arky Vaughan (Pittsburgh) 34, Mel Ott (New York) 31, Chuck Klein (Philadelphia) 30, Pepper Martin (St. Louis) 29, Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 28, Joe Medwick (St. Louis) 24, Babe Herman (Chicago), Chick Hafey (Cincinnati) and Freddie Lindstrom (Pittsburgh) 23.
WS leaders, pitchers; Carl Hubbell (New York) 33, Ed Brandt (Boston) and Lon Warneke (Chicago) 29, Hal Schumacher (New York) 23, Dizzy Dean (St. Louis) 22, Ben Cantwell (Boston) and Larry French (Pittsburgh) 21.
WARP3: Vaughan 9.4, Klein 8.6, Berger 7.7, Ott 6.5, Martin 5.6, Lindstrom (last good year) and Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 5.3, Waner 5.2, Frankie Frisch (St. Louis) and Al Lopez (Brooklyn) 5.1, Riggs Stephenson (Chicago) 4.7, Herman and Billy Jurges (also Chicago) 4.6.
Pitchers: Hubbell 10.8 (best year), Warneke 8.6, Brandt 8.4 (best year), Schumacher 7.0 (best year), Van Lingle Mungo (Brooklyn) 6.7, Dean 6.2, Huck Betts (Boston) 5.3, French, Tex Carleton (St. Louis) and Ed Holley (Philadelphia) 4.7, Cantwell 4.5 (best year).
WAR, position players: Klein 7.8, Vaughan and Berger 6.6, Martin 5.8, Ott 5.6, Davis 4.5, Waner 4.4, Herman 4.2, Jurges and Lindstrom 4.0, Terry and Medwick 3.9. Pitchers: Hubbell 8.2, Warneke 6.1, Brandt 5.4, Schumacher 5.3, Dean 4.6, French and Mungo 4.4, Betts 3.6, Root 3.4, Carleton 3.2.
Actual MVP vote (top 15):
Place Name Team Points
1 Carl Hubbell NYG 77
2 Chuck Klein PHI 48
3 Wally Berger BSN 44
4 Bill Terry NYG 35
5 Pepper Martin STL 31
6 Gus Mancuso NYG 24
7 Dizzy Dean STL 23
8 Pie Traynor PIT 20
9 Blondy Ryan NYG 19
10 Ben Cantwell BSN 18
10 Al Lopez BRO 18
12 Guy Bush CHC 11
12 Rabbit Maranville BSN 11
12 Hal Schumacher NYG 11
15 Larry French PIT 10
Best player: Chuck Klein. Even with the hitter's park, he led the league in OPS+. Berger and Vaughan (in his second year) were great too. Klein had a .368-28-120 line to finish ahead of Wally Berger's .312-27-106. Arky Vaughan led in triples and ranks third. Ott is #4 at .283-23-103. Pepper Martin (.316, 122 runs) 5th.
Best pitcher: Carl Hubbell over a strong field. The NL is definitely getting more competitive about now, and Hubbell shone with a 23-12 record and 1.66 ERA. Lon Warneke ranked #2 with an 18-13 record and 2.00 ERA. #3 was Ed Brandt at 18-14, 2.60 ERA. Hal Schumacher was #4 at 19-12, 2.16. Dizzy Dean's first 20-win season earns him 5th.
Best rookie: None I could find. The best rookies were in the AL.
Best manager: Bill Terry won the pennant in his first full season on the job.
15 March 2008
1933 American League
The Washington Senators took the pennant by seven games over the Yankees, using a good offense and the best pitching in the league. This was the last pennant by a Washington team to date. Jimmie Foxx won the Triple Crown (again, sort of), and the first All-Star Game was played. Philadelphia was a distant third, the only other team over .500. Cleveland and Detroit were close to .500, with Chicago, Boston and St. Louis trailing.
Foxx really won the Triple Crown this year, with the batting title at .356, 48 homers, and 163 RBI. Heinie Manush was second in batting at .336 followed by Lou Gehrig at .334. Gehrig was second in homers and RBI at 34 and 139. Foxx led in slugging and OPS, while Mickey Cochrane led in on-base. Gehrig led with 138 runs, Manush with 221 hits and 17 triples, Joe Cronin with 45 doubles. Ben Chapman had 27 steals.
Lefty Grove and Alvin Crowder each had 24 wins, Lefty Gomez had 163 strikeouts, Mel Harder a 2.95 ERA, and Jack Russell 13 saves. He was a real terrier on the mound, heh, heh, heh. Earl Whitehill won 22, Tommy Bridges was second with a 3.09 ERA, Gomez third at 3.18. Bump Hadley was second with 149 strikeouts.
Win Shares leaders, players; Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 41, Lou Gehrig (New York) 36, Joe Cronin (Washington) 34, Babe Ruth (New York) 29, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) 28, Heinie Manush (Washington) 27, Earl Averill (Cleveland), Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) and Joe Kuhel (Washington) 26.
WS leaders, pitchers; Mel Harder (Cleveland) 24, Lefty Grove (Philadelphia), Bump Hadley (St. Louis) and Earl Whitehill (Washington) 23, General Crowder (Washington) 21, Tommy Bridges and Firpo Marberry (Detroit) 20, Wes Ferrell (Cleveland) 18.
WARP3: Foxx 8.6, Cronin 7.9, Gehrig 7.3, Gehringer 6.6, Ruth 6.0 (and fading), Bill Dickey (New York) 5.4, Billy Rogell (Detroit) 5.2, Al Simmons (Chicago) 5.1, Luke Appling (Chicago) 4.9, Cochrane 4.8.
Pitchers: Grove 6.0, Hadley 5.8 (best year), Harder 4.6, George Blaeholder (St. Louis) 3.8, Bridges 3.7, Monte Pearson (Cleveland) 3.4, Marberry 3.3 (last good year), Jack Russell (Washington) and Red Ruffing (New York) 3.2, Whitehill and Ferrell 3.1.
WAR leaders, position players: Foxx 11.0, Cronin 8.5, Gehrig 8.3, Gehringer 8.2, Ruth 7.7, Cochrane 7.1, Rogell 6.2, Simmons and Chapman 5.8, Appling 5.6, Dickey and Myer 5.4. Pitchers: Grove 6.9, Hadley 6.3, Whitehill 5.1, Marberry 5.0, Harder 4.9, Bridges 4.3, Crowder and Pearson 4.1, Brown 3.6, Gomez and Weaver 3.5.
Actual award voting: MVP top 10.
Place Name Team 1st place votes Total votes
1 Jimmie Foxx PHA 4 74
2 Joe Cronin WSH 2 62
3 Heinie Manush WSH 2 54
4 Lou Gehrig NYY 0 39
5 Lefty Grove PHA 0 35
6 Charlie Gehringer DET 0 32
7 Alvin Crowder WSH 0 28
8 Al Simmons CHW 0 19
9 Earl Whitehill WSH 0 18
10 Ski Melillo SLB 0 12
Best player: Jimmie Foxx. The A's finished only 3rd, as Connie Mack's second fire sale was under way, but Foxx was dominating the league, a fearsome hitter at .356-48-163. Joe Cronin of the pennant winners rates 2nd at .309 with 118 RBI. Lou Gehrig 3rd at .334-32-139. Charlie Gehringer rates #4 with .325-12-105. Aging Babe Ruth is still #5, at .301-34-103.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove. He wasn't as dominating as before, and the signs of 1934's troubles are there, but he was still the best in the league. Grove would have only been #3 or #4 in the NL this year. Grove was 24-8, 3.30. Mel Harder ranks #2 by leading the league in ERA despite a 15-17 record. Earl Whitehill's 22-8 3.33 is 3rd. Bump Hadley's 15-20 3.92 for the Browns ranks 4th. Alvin Crowder #5 with a 24-15 record and 3.97 ERA.
Best rookie: Indian Bob Johnson debuted at age 27 and batted .290 with 21 HR and 93 RBI for the A's, giving them a sweep of the player awards. Wasn't enough.
Best manager: Joe Cronin guided his aging team to a last-hurrah pennant.
Foxx really won the Triple Crown this year, with the batting title at .356, 48 homers, and 163 RBI. Heinie Manush was second in batting at .336 followed by Lou Gehrig at .334. Gehrig was second in homers and RBI at 34 and 139. Foxx led in slugging and OPS, while Mickey Cochrane led in on-base. Gehrig led with 138 runs, Manush with 221 hits and 17 triples, Joe Cronin with 45 doubles. Ben Chapman had 27 steals.
Lefty Grove and Alvin Crowder each had 24 wins, Lefty Gomez had 163 strikeouts, Mel Harder a 2.95 ERA, and Jack Russell 13 saves. He was a real terrier on the mound, heh, heh, heh. Earl Whitehill won 22, Tommy Bridges was second with a 3.09 ERA, Gomez third at 3.18. Bump Hadley was second with 149 strikeouts.
Win Shares leaders, players; Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 41, Lou Gehrig (New York) 36, Joe Cronin (Washington) 34, Babe Ruth (New York) 29, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) 28, Heinie Manush (Washington) 27, Earl Averill (Cleveland), Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) and Joe Kuhel (Washington) 26.
WS leaders, pitchers; Mel Harder (Cleveland) 24, Lefty Grove (Philadelphia), Bump Hadley (St. Louis) and Earl Whitehill (Washington) 23, General Crowder (Washington) 21, Tommy Bridges and Firpo Marberry (Detroit) 20, Wes Ferrell (Cleveland) 18.
WARP3: Foxx 8.6, Cronin 7.9, Gehrig 7.3, Gehringer 6.6, Ruth 6.0 (and fading), Bill Dickey (New York) 5.4, Billy Rogell (Detroit) 5.2, Al Simmons (Chicago) 5.1, Luke Appling (Chicago) 4.9, Cochrane 4.8.
Pitchers: Grove 6.0, Hadley 5.8 (best year), Harder 4.6, George Blaeholder (St. Louis) 3.8, Bridges 3.7, Monte Pearson (Cleveland) 3.4, Marberry 3.3 (last good year), Jack Russell (Washington) and Red Ruffing (New York) 3.2, Whitehill and Ferrell 3.1.
WAR leaders, position players: Foxx 11.0, Cronin 8.5, Gehrig 8.3, Gehringer 8.2, Ruth 7.7, Cochrane 7.1, Rogell 6.2, Simmons and Chapman 5.8, Appling 5.6, Dickey and Myer 5.4. Pitchers: Grove 6.9, Hadley 6.3, Whitehill 5.1, Marberry 5.0, Harder 4.9, Bridges 4.3, Crowder and Pearson 4.1, Brown 3.6, Gomez and Weaver 3.5.
Actual award voting: MVP top 10.
Place Name Team 1st place votes Total votes
1 Jimmie Foxx PHA 4 74
2 Joe Cronin WSH 2 62
3 Heinie Manush WSH 2 54
4 Lou Gehrig NYY 0 39
5 Lefty Grove PHA 0 35
6 Charlie Gehringer DET 0 32
7 Alvin Crowder WSH 0 28
8 Al Simmons CHW 0 19
9 Earl Whitehill WSH 0 18
10 Ski Melillo SLB 0 12
Best player: Jimmie Foxx. The A's finished only 3rd, as Connie Mack's second fire sale was under way, but Foxx was dominating the league, a fearsome hitter at .356-48-163. Joe Cronin of the pennant winners rates 2nd at .309 with 118 RBI. Lou Gehrig 3rd at .334-32-139. Charlie Gehringer rates #4 with .325-12-105. Aging Babe Ruth is still #5, at .301-34-103.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove. He wasn't as dominating as before, and the signs of 1934's troubles are there, but he was still the best in the league. Grove would have only been #3 or #4 in the NL this year. Grove was 24-8, 3.30. Mel Harder ranks #2 by leading the league in ERA despite a 15-17 record. Earl Whitehill's 22-8 3.33 is 3rd. Bump Hadley's 15-20 3.92 for the Browns ranks 4th. Alvin Crowder #5 with a 24-15 record and 3.97 ERA.
Best rookie: Indian Bob Johnson debuted at age 27 and batted .290 with 21 HR and 93 RBI for the A's, giving them a sweep of the player awards. Wasn't enough.
Best manager: Joe Cronin guided his aging team to a last-hurrah pennant.
09 March 2008
1932 National League
Chicago won the pennant in a close race with Pittsburgh, as Brooklyn ran third. Philadelphia was a surprise 4th. The second division was Boston (at .500), New York and St. Louis (tied with 82 losses) with Cincinnati dead last. The Cubs switched managers, replacing Rogers Hornsby with Charlie Grimm for the stretch run, which culminated in a furious Cubs charge to the finish.
Lefty O'Doul won the batting title at .368, followed by Bill Terry at .350. Mel Ott edged O'Doul by one point in on-base, and Chuck Klein led in slugging and OPS. Klein led with 152 runs and 226 hits in Philadelphia's bandbox of a ballpark, and tied Ott with 38 homers. Teammate Don Hurst led with 143 RBI, beating out Klein by six. Klein also led with 20 steals. Paul Waner led with 62 doubles and Babe Herman with 19 triples.
Lon Warneke led pitchers with 22 wins and a 2.37 ERA, while Dizzy Dean led with 191 strikeouts. Watty Clark won 20 and Guy Bush 19. Carl Hubbell was second with a 2.50 ERA and Huck Betts third at 2.80. Hubbell was second in strikeouts at 137.
Win Shares leaders, players; Lefty O'Doul (Brooklyn) and Mel Ott (New York) 33, Bill Terry (New York) and Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 32, Chuck Klein (Philadelphia) 31, Wally Berger (Boston) 26, Babe Herman (Cincinnati) 24, Billy Herman and Riggs Stephenson (Chicago), Don Hurst (Philadelphia) and Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 23 each.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lon Warneke (Chicago) 31, Carl Hubbell (New York) 25, Dizzy Dean (St. Louis) 24, Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 23, Larry French (Pittsburgh) 22, Watty Clark (Brooklyn) 20, Huck Betts (Boston) 18, Tom Zachary (Boston) 17.
WARP3: Ott 9.7, O'Doul 7.3 (last big year), Terry and Babe Herman 6.9, Dick Bartell (Philadelphia) 6.1, Klein and Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 5.4, P. Waner and Arky Vaughan (also Pittsburgh) 4.9, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 4.8, L. Waner 4.6 (best year), Tony Piet (Pittsburgh) 4.4, Danny Taylor (Brooklyn) 4.3, Berger, Hurst (career year), and Pinky Whitney (Philadelphia) 4.2, Billy Herman (rookie, I believe) and Tony Cuccinello (Brooklyn) 4.1, Stephenson 4.0.
Pitchers, Hubbell 9.0, Dean 8.1 (rookie year), Warneke 7.5 (breakthrough year), Lucas 6.5, Clark 5.0 (last big year), Bill Hallahan (St. Louis) 4.4, Betts and Zachary (last good year) 4.3, Ben Cantwell (Boston) and Tex Carleton (St. Louis) 4.1.
WAR, position players: Ott 8.3, Terry 7.4, Klein 7.3, O'Doul and Herman 6.8, Waner 5.8, Hurst 5.2, Bartell 4.5, Berger 4.2, Vaughan 3.9, Wilson and L. Waner 3.7. Pitchers: Warneke 7.2, Hubbell 6.8, Dean 5.1, Lucas 4.9, Rhem 4.3, Betts 4.2, Holley, Swetonic, and Zachary 3.7, Clark 3.4.
Actual MVP vote (top 10):
Place Name Team Points
1 Chuck Klein PHI 78
2 Lon Warneke CHC 68
3 Lefty O'Doul BRO 58
4 Paul Waner PIT 37
5 Riggs Stephenson CHC 32
6 Bill Terry NYG 25
7 Don Hurst PHI 24
8 Pie Traynor PIT 17
9 Billy Herman CHC 16
10 Mel Ott NYG 15
Best player: Mel Ott. This was the first MVP award Ott was jobbed out of, though it wouldn't be the last. Chuck Klein won by leading in HR and hits, even though he played in the best hitters' park in the league. But, his team played a surprising .500 (78-76) and finished 4th, while Ott's Giants were a disappointing 6th (tied), but only 6 games worse than the Phils. Ott was the leader in OBP, and in OPS+. Ott finished with a stat line of .318-38-123. Put Klein #2 with his .348-38-137. Batting champ Lefty O'Doul is #3 at .368-21-90, and Bill Terry ranks #4 with a .350-28-117 line. Paul Waner and his .341 average #5.
Best pitcher: Lon Warneke pitched the Cubs to the pennant and led the league in wins and ERA. He was 22-6, 2.37 in his first full season. Carl Hubbell ranks #2 with his 18-11 record and 2.50 ERA. Red Lucas #3 despite his 13-17 record for a last-place team, but with a 2.94 ERA. Dizzy Dean 4th with an 18-15 record, Watty Clark 5th with 20 wins.
Best rookie: Dizzy Dean. The Cardinals slid from the pennant to the second division, but came up with a prize pitcher in Ol' Diz.
Best manager: Could be Grimm, but I'll give it to Burt Shotton for a full-season surprise in Philly.
Lefty O'Doul won the batting title at .368, followed by Bill Terry at .350. Mel Ott edged O'Doul by one point in on-base, and Chuck Klein led in slugging and OPS. Klein led with 152 runs and 226 hits in Philadelphia's bandbox of a ballpark, and tied Ott with 38 homers. Teammate Don Hurst led with 143 RBI, beating out Klein by six. Klein also led with 20 steals. Paul Waner led with 62 doubles and Babe Herman with 19 triples.
Lon Warneke led pitchers with 22 wins and a 2.37 ERA, while Dizzy Dean led with 191 strikeouts. Watty Clark won 20 and Guy Bush 19. Carl Hubbell was second with a 2.50 ERA and Huck Betts third at 2.80. Hubbell was second in strikeouts at 137.
Win Shares leaders, players; Lefty O'Doul (Brooklyn) and Mel Ott (New York) 33, Bill Terry (New York) and Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 32, Chuck Klein (Philadelphia) 31, Wally Berger (Boston) 26, Babe Herman (Cincinnati) 24, Billy Herman and Riggs Stephenson (Chicago), Don Hurst (Philadelphia) and Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 23 each.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lon Warneke (Chicago) 31, Carl Hubbell (New York) 25, Dizzy Dean (St. Louis) 24, Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 23, Larry French (Pittsburgh) 22, Watty Clark (Brooklyn) 20, Huck Betts (Boston) 18, Tom Zachary (Boston) 17.
WARP3: Ott 9.7, O'Doul 7.3 (last big year), Terry and Babe Herman 6.9, Dick Bartell (Philadelphia) 6.1, Klein and Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 5.4, P. Waner and Arky Vaughan (also Pittsburgh) 4.9, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 4.8, L. Waner 4.6 (best year), Tony Piet (Pittsburgh) 4.4, Danny Taylor (Brooklyn) 4.3, Berger, Hurst (career year), and Pinky Whitney (Philadelphia) 4.2, Billy Herman (rookie, I believe) and Tony Cuccinello (Brooklyn) 4.1, Stephenson 4.0.
Pitchers, Hubbell 9.0, Dean 8.1 (rookie year), Warneke 7.5 (breakthrough year), Lucas 6.5, Clark 5.0 (last big year), Bill Hallahan (St. Louis) 4.4, Betts and Zachary (last good year) 4.3, Ben Cantwell (Boston) and Tex Carleton (St. Louis) 4.1.
WAR, position players: Ott 8.3, Terry 7.4, Klein 7.3, O'Doul and Herman 6.8, Waner 5.8, Hurst 5.2, Bartell 4.5, Berger 4.2, Vaughan 3.9, Wilson and L. Waner 3.7. Pitchers: Warneke 7.2, Hubbell 6.8, Dean 5.1, Lucas 4.9, Rhem 4.3, Betts 4.2, Holley, Swetonic, and Zachary 3.7, Clark 3.4.
Actual MVP vote (top 10):
Place Name Team Points
1 Chuck Klein PHI 78
2 Lon Warneke CHC 68
3 Lefty O'Doul BRO 58
4 Paul Waner PIT 37
5 Riggs Stephenson CHC 32
6 Bill Terry NYG 25
7 Don Hurst PHI 24
8 Pie Traynor PIT 17
9 Billy Herman CHC 16
10 Mel Ott NYG 15
Best player: Mel Ott. This was the first MVP award Ott was jobbed out of, though it wouldn't be the last. Chuck Klein won by leading in HR and hits, even though he played in the best hitters' park in the league. But, his team played a surprising .500 (78-76) and finished 4th, while Ott's Giants were a disappointing 6th (tied), but only 6 games worse than the Phils. Ott was the leader in OBP, and in OPS+. Ott finished with a stat line of .318-38-123. Put Klein #2 with his .348-38-137. Batting champ Lefty O'Doul is #3 at .368-21-90, and Bill Terry ranks #4 with a .350-28-117 line. Paul Waner and his .341 average #5.
Best pitcher: Lon Warneke pitched the Cubs to the pennant and led the league in wins and ERA. He was 22-6, 2.37 in his first full season. Carl Hubbell ranks #2 with his 18-11 record and 2.50 ERA. Red Lucas #3 despite his 13-17 record for a last-place team, but with a 2.94 ERA. Dizzy Dean 4th with an 18-15 record, Watty Clark 5th with 20 wins.
Best rookie: Dizzy Dean. The Cardinals slid from the pennant to the second division, but came up with a prize pitcher in Ol' Diz.
Best manager: Could be Grimm, but I'll give it to Burt Shotton for a full-season surprise in Philly.
08 March 2008
1932 American League
It was the Yankees' only pennant from 1929-35, due to the A's dynasty and the lack of a solid Yankee pitching staff, as well as the twilight of Babe Ruth. Still, the triple crown winner (Jimmie Foxx) will get the MVP. The Yankees had a 13-game margin over three-time previous winner Philadelphia, and 14 games over Washington, in a year of haves and have-nots. Chicago and Boston both lost over 100 games. Cleveland was 4th, Detroit 5th, and St. Louis 6th. The Depression was hitting some teams particularly hard.
Dale Alexander was the batting titlist, under the rules of the time, with a .367 average. He played 124 games, with 392 at bats. He won the championship since he played 100 games, but did not have 3.1 plate appearances per game as is now required. Foxx was second at .364. Foxx led the league with 58 home runs (challenging Ruth's single-season record) and 169 RBI. He also led in runs with 151, slugging, and OPS. Babe Ruth led in on-base, Eric McNair in doubles, Joe Cronin in triples, and Al Simmons in hits. Ben Chapman led in steals.
Alvin "General" Crowder led the league with 26 wins, and Lefty Grove was second with 25. Grove led in ERA 2.84, and was also second in strikeouts with 188 to Red Ruffing's 190. Ruffing was second with a 3.09 ERA, Ted Lyons third at 3.28. Fred "Firpo" Marberry led the league with 13 saves.
Win Shares leaders, players; Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 40, Lou Gehrig (New York) 38, Babe Ruth (New York) 36, Joe Cronin (Washington) 33, Earl Averill (Cleveland) and Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 30, Heinie Manush (Washington) 28, Tony Lazzeri (New York) 27, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) and Earle Combs (New York) 25.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 33, General Crowder (Washington) 30, Wes Ferrell (Cleveland) and Red Ruffing (New York) 26, Clint Brown and Mel Harder (Cleveland) 21, Monte Weaver (Washington) 19, Lefty Gomez (New York) and Lefty Stewart (St. Louis) 17.
WARP3: Foxx 9.3 (peak year), Ruth 8.5, Gehrig and Cronin 7.8, Cochrane 7.2, Lazzeri 5.2, Willie Kamm (Cleveland) 4.8, Joe Vosmik (Cleveland) 4.7, Ossie Bluege (Washington) 4.4, Gehringer and Max Bishop (Philadelphia) 3.7, Averill and Dale Alexander (Boston) 3.5.
Pitchers, Grove 7.5, Ruffing 6.3, Ted Lyons (Chicago) 5.9, Ferrell 5.4, Crowder 5.2, Stewart 4.3, Harder 4.2, Brown 3.9 (best year), and Tommy Bridges (Detroit) 3.2.
WAR leaders, position players: Foxx 12.1, Ruth 9.4, Gehrig 8.9, Cronin 6.7, Cochrane 6.3, Lazzeri 5.9, Manush 5.8, Averill 5.7, Combs 5.5, Simmons and Gehringer 5.4, Chapman 5.2, Vosmik 4.9. Pitchers: Grove 8.5, Crowder 6.6, Ruffing 6.0, Ferrell 5.7, Harder 5.0, Lyons 4.7, Bridges and Brown 3.9, Stewart 3.6, Allen and Sorrell 3.4.
Actual MVP voting (top 12):
Place Name Team Points
1 Jimmie Foxx PHA 75
2 Lou Gehrig NYY 55
3 Heinie Manush WSH 41
4 Earl Averill CLE 37
5 Lefty Gomez NYY 27
6 Joe Cronin WSH 26
6 Babe Ruth NYY 26
8 Tony Lazzeri NYY 21
9 Charlie Gehringer DET 13
9 Al Simmons PHA 13
11 Dale Alexander TOT 10
11 Bill Cissell TOT 10
Best player: Jimmie Foxx. He was technically behind Dale Alexander in average, but Alexander would not qualify under today's rules: too few PA. Foxx's line was .364-58-169, and there was a lot of excitement in his challenge to Ruth's record of 60 homers. I'll put Gehrig #2 with his .349-34-151 stats, and Ruth #3 at .341-41-137. Mickey Cochrane #4 at .293-23-112, and Joe Cronin #5 as the triples leader.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove, leader in ERA and CG, 2nd in wins and strikeouts. Grove was 25-10, 2.84. General Crowder ranks #2 at 26-13, 3.33, while Red Ruffing was #3 and 18-7, 3.03. Wes Ferrell #4, Mel Harder #5. Lefty Gomez won a lot of games (24) but didn't pitch all that well.
Best rookie: Johnny Allen, 17-4, 3.70 ERA for the Yankees.
Best manager: Joe McCarthy led that Yankee team, finally putting together a pitching staff.
Dale Alexander was the batting titlist, under the rules of the time, with a .367 average. He played 124 games, with 392 at bats. He won the championship since he played 100 games, but did not have 3.1 plate appearances per game as is now required. Foxx was second at .364. Foxx led the league with 58 home runs (challenging Ruth's single-season record) and 169 RBI. He also led in runs with 151, slugging, and OPS. Babe Ruth led in on-base, Eric McNair in doubles, Joe Cronin in triples, and Al Simmons in hits. Ben Chapman led in steals.
Alvin "General" Crowder led the league with 26 wins, and Lefty Grove was second with 25. Grove led in ERA 2.84, and was also second in strikeouts with 188 to Red Ruffing's 190. Ruffing was second with a 3.09 ERA, Ted Lyons third at 3.28. Fred "Firpo" Marberry led the league with 13 saves.
Win Shares leaders, players; Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia) 40, Lou Gehrig (New York) 38, Babe Ruth (New York) 36, Joe Cronin (Washington) 33, Earl Averill (Cleveland) and Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 30, Heinie Manush (Washington) 28, Tony Lazzeri (New York) 27, Charlie Gehringer (Detroit) and Earle Combs (New York) 25.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 33, General Crowder (Washington) 30, Wes Ferrell (Cleveland) and Red Ruffing (New York) 26, Clint Brown and Mel Harder (Cleveland) 21, Monte Weaver (Washington) 19, Lefty Gomez (New York) and Lefty Stewart (St. Louis) 17.
WARP3: Foxx 9.3 (peak year), Ruth 8.5, Gehrig and Cronin 7.8, Cochrane 7.2, Lazzeri 5.2, Willie Kamm (Cleveland) 4.8, Joe Vosmik (Cleveland) 4.7, Ossie Bluege (Washington) 4.4, Gehringer and Max Bishop (Philadelphia) 3.7, Averill and Dale Alexander (Boston) 3.5.
Pitchers, Grove 7.5, Ruffing 6.3, Ted Lyons (Chicago) 5.9, Ferrell 5.4, Crowder 5.2, Stewart 4.3, Harder 4.2, Brown 3.9 (best year), and Tommy Bridges (Detroit) 3.2.
WAR leaders, position players: Foxx 12.1, Ruth 9.4, Gehrig 8.9, Cronin 6.7, Cochrane 6.3, Lazzeri 5.9, Manush 5.8, Averill 5.7, Combs 5.5, Simmons and Gehringer 5.4, Chapman 5.2, Vosmik 4.9. Pitchers: Grove 8.5, Crowder 6.6, Ruffing 6.0, Ferrell 5.7, Harder 5.0, Lyons 4.7, Bridges and Brown 3.9, Stewart 3.6, Allen and Sorrell 3.4.
Actual MVP voting (top 12):
Place Name Team Points
1 Jimmie Foxx PHA 75
2 Lou Gehrig NYY 55
3 Heinie Manush WSH 41
4 Earl Averill CLE 37
5 Lefty Gomez NYY 27
6 Joe Cronin WSH 26
6 Babe Ruth NYY 26
8 Tony Lazzeri NYY 21
9 Charlie Gehringer DET 13
9 Al Simmons PHA 13
11 Dale Alexander TOT 10
11 Bill Cissell TOT 10
Best player: Jimmie Foxx. He was technically behind Dale Alexander in average, but Alexander would not qualify under today's rules: too few PA. Foxx's line was .364-58-169, and there was a lot of excitement in his challenge to Ruth's record of 60 homers. I'll put Gehrig #2 with his .349-34-151 stats, and Ruth #3 at .341-41-137. Mickey Cochrane #4 at .293-23-112, and Joe Cronin #5 as the triples leader.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove, leader in ERA and CG, 2nd in wins and strikeouts. Grove was 25-10, 2.84. General Crowder ranks #2 at 26-13, 3.33, while Red Ruffing was #3 and 18-7, 3.03. Wes Ferrell #4, Mel Harder #5. Lefty Gomez won a lot of games (24) but didn't pitch all that well.
Best rookie: Johnny Allen, 17-4, 3.70 ERA for the Yankees.
Best manager: Joe McCarthy led that Yankee team, finally putting together a pitching staff.
04 March 2008
1931 National League
The Cardinals won the pennant for a second straight year, this time by a comfortable margin, then won the World Series in 7 games. New York was 2nd, Chicago 3rd, and Brooklyn 4th. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Boston followed, while Cincinnati brought up the rear. Offense was down significantly after a robust 1930, a trend that would generally continue through 1968 with brief interruptions.
Chick Hafey edged Bill Terry for the batting title by a fraction of a point: both hit .349. Jim Bottomley was just behind at .348. Rogers Hornsby led in on-base and OPS, Chuck Klein in slugging. Klein and Bill Terry tied with 121 runs. Paul Waner's 214 hits edged Terry by one. Sparky Adams had 46 doubles and Terry had 20 triples. Klein led with 31 homers and 121 RBI, playing in a bandbox of a ballpark. Mel Ott was second in both categories, with 29 HR and 115 RBI. Frankie Frisch led with 28 steals.
No 20-game winners, but three guys tied at 19: Jumbo Elliott, Bill Hallahan, and Heinie Meine. Hallahan led in strikeouts, his 159 edging Carl Hubbell's 155. Bill Walker of New York had the best ERA at 2.26, with Hubbell at 2.65 and Ed Brandt at 2.92, and veteran Jack Quinn had 15 saves.
Win Shares leaders, players; Wally Berger (Boston) 31, Bill Terry (New York) 29, Babe Herman (Brooklyn), Kiki Cuyler (Chicago), Mel Ott (New York) and Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 26 each, Chuck Klein (Philadelphia) and Chick Hafey (St. Louis) 25, Woody English (Chicago) and Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 24. Frankie Frisch, voted MVP by the BBWAA, had 21.
WS leaders, pitchers; Ed Brandt (Boston) 27, Watty Clark (Brooklyn) and Heinie Meine (Pittsburgh) 22, Bill Walker (New York), Ray Benge (Philadelphia), and Wild Bill Hallahan (St. Louis) 21, Tom Zachary (Boston) and Carl Hubbell (New York) 20.
Odd that Boston had the top player and pitcher in Win Shares, but finished with 90 losses. Aside from one other pitcher among the top performers, they really didn't have anything else.
WARP3: Travis Jackson (New York) 7.0, Ott 6.7, Berger 6.5, English 5.9, Terry 5.8, Rogers Hornsby (Chicago) 5.2, P. Waner 5.0, Tony Cuccinello (Cincinnati) 4.9, Cuyler 4.8, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 4.5, Hafey 4.0, Joe Stripp (Cincinnati) 3.8, Klein 3.6, Frisch had 3.1.
Pitchers: Benge 7.2 (career year), Clark 6.7, Brandt 6.0 (breakthrough year), Phil Collins (Philadelphia) 4.7, Zachary 4.5, Hubbell 4.3, Hallahan 4.0 (best year), Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 3.8, Syl Johnson (St. Louis), Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn), and Clise Dudley (Philadelphia) 3.7, Meine (career year) and Bob Smith (Chicago) 3.6.
WAR leaders, players: Terry 6.7, Berger 6.6, Ott 6.2, English 6.0, Jackson 5.8, Cuyler 5.5, Waner 5.4, Klein 5.1, Cuccinello and Hafey 5.0, Frisch 4.4, Herman 4.2. Pitchers: Walker 5.3, Benge 5.2, Clark 5.1, Brandt and Hubbell 4.7, Zachary 4.2, Hallahan 4.1, Meine and Smith 3.8, Root 3.6.
Actual award voting: the BBWAA MVP vote that continues to this day started in 1931.
Place Name Team Points (top 16 listed)
1 Frankie Frisch STL 65
2 Chuck Klein PHI 55
3 Bill Terry NYG 53
4 Woody English CHC 30
5 Chick Hafey STL 29
6 Jimmie Wilson STL 28
7 Travis Jackson NYG 24
8 Charlie Grimm CHC 21
9 Sparky Adams STL 18
10 Ed Brandt BSN 15
10 Rabbit Maranville BSN 15
12 Kiki Cuyler CHC 14
13 Pie Traynor PIT 12
14 Red Lucas CIN 10
15 Jim Bottomley STL 8
15 Lloyd Waner PIT 8
Top player: Wally Berger. He had a terrific year offensively and defensively, in a pitchers' park, for a terrible team. Didn't draw a single MVP vote, although teammate and .260 hitter Rabbit Maranville did. Hornsby led the league in OPS plus, but batted only 357 times. (He would never reach 100 AB again.) Chuck Klein was a zero defensively, as was Chick Hafey. Frisch won the vote as the veteran on the pennant-winner, and the "inspirational leader." The best alternative to Berger is Bill Terry, on the 2nd place Giants. Berger's numbers, .323-19-84, were superficially less impressive than his rookie year numbers from 1930, but his OPS+ was actually higher due to the overall offensive depression. Terry's line was .349-9-112, and also looked a lot less impressive than the previous year. It was all a matter of context, though. #3 would be Mel Ott, .292-29-115, and #4 would be Paul Waner, .322-6-70. Kiki Cuyler, .330 with 110 runs, 5th.
Top pitcher: Ed Brandt, like Berger with the Braves. Brandt did get the attention of the MVP voters, finishing tied for 10th with teammate Maranville, and the highest-finishing pitcher. Brandt was 3rd in ERA, 4th in wins (1 behind the leaders, with 18), 3rd in WHIP. Brandt went 18-11, 2.92 ERA. Watty Clark was second best, he was 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA. Ray Benge was 14-18 for a lousy Phillies team with a 3.17 ERA for 3rd. Carl Hubbell would soon start to dominate the league, but was #4 this year, 14-12, 2.65. #5 is Bill Walker, ERA leader at 16-9, 2.26.
Top rookie: Paul Derringer was 18-8 for the Cardinals.
Top manager: Gabby Street again led the Cardinals to the pennant.
Chick Hafey edged Bill Terry for the batting title by a fraction of a point: both hit .349. Jim Bottomley was just behind at .348. Rogers Hornsby led in on-base and OPS, Chuck Klein in slugging. Klein and Bill Terry tied with 121 runs. Paul Waner's 214 hits edged Terry by one. Sparky Adams had 46 doubles and Terry had 20 triples. Klein led with 31 homers and 121 RBI, playing in a bandbox of a ballpark. Mel Ott was second in both categories, with 29 HR and 115 RBI. Frankie Frisch led with 28 steals.
No 20-game winners, but three guys tied at 19: Jumbo Elliott, Bill Hallahan, and Heinie Meine. Hallahan led in strikeouts, his 159 edging Carl Hubbell's 155. Bill Walker of New York had the best ERA at 2.26, with Hubbell at 2.65 and Ed Brandt at 2.92, and veteran Jack Quinn had 15 saves.
Win Shares leaders, players; Wally Berger (Boston) 31, Bill Terry (New York) 29, Babe Herman (Brooklyn), Kiki Cuyler (Chicago), Mel Ott (New York) and Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 26 each, Chuck Klein (Philadelphia) and Chick Hafey (St. Louis) 25, Woody English (Chicago) and Lloyd Waner (Pittsburgh) 24. Frankie Frisch, voted MVP by the BBWAA, had 21.
WS leaders, pitchers; Ed Brandt (Boston) 27, Watty Clark (Brooklyn) and Heinie Meine (Pittsburgh) 22, Bill Walker (New York), Ray Benge (Philadelphia), and Wild Bill Hallahan (St. Louis) 21, Tom Zachary (Boston) and Carl Hubbell (New York) 20.
Odd that Boston had the top player and pitcher in Win Shares, but finished with 90 losses. Aside from one other pitcher among the top performers, they really didn't have anything else.
WARP3: Travis Jackson (New York) 7.0, Ott 6.7, Berger 6.5, English 5.9, Terry 5.8, Rogers Hornsby (Chicago) 5.2, P. Waner 5.0, Tony Cuccinello (Cincinnati) 4.9, Cuyler 4.8, Gabby Hartnett (Chicago) 4.5, Hafey 4.0, Joe Stripp (Cincinnati) 3.8, Klein 3.6, Frisch had 3.1.
Pitchers: Benge 7.2 (career year), Clark 6.7, Brandt 6.0 (breakthrough year), Phil Collins (Philadelphia) 4.7, Zachary 4.5, Hubbell 4.3, Hallahan 4.0 (best year), Red Lucas (Cincinnati) 3.8, Syl Johnson (St. Louis), Dazzy Vance (Brooklyn), and Clise Dudley (Philadelphia) 3.7, Meine (career year) and Bob Smith (Chicago) 3.6.
WAR leaders, players: Terry 6.7, Berger 6.6, Ott 6.2, English 6.0, Jackson 5.8, Cuyler 5.5, Waner 5.4, Klein 5.1, Cuccinello and Hafey 5.0, Frisch 4.4, Herman 4.2. Pitchers: Walker 5.3, Benge 5.2, Clark 5.1, Brandt and Hubbell 4.7, Zachary 4.2, Hallahan 4.1, Meine and Smith 3.8, Root 3.6.
Actual award voting: the BBWAA MVP vote that continues to this day started in 1931.
Place Name Team Points (top 16 listed)
1 Frankie Frisch STL 65
2 Chuck Klein PHI 55
3 Bill Terry NYG 53
4 Woody English CHC 30
5 Chick Hafey STL 29
6 Jimmie Wilson STL 28
7 Travis Jackson NYG 24
8 Charlie Grimm CHC 21
9 Sparky Adams STL 18
10 Ed Brandt BSN 15
10 Rabbit Maranville BSN 15
12 Kiki Cuyler CHC 14
13 Pie Traynor PIT 12
14 Red Lucas CIN 10
15 Jim Bottomley STL 8
15 Lloyd Waner PIT 8
Top player: Wally Berger. He had a terrific year offensively and defensively, in a pitchers' park, for a terrible team. Didn't draw a single MVP vote, although teammate and .260 hitter Rabbit Maranville did. Hornsby led the league in OPS plus, but batted only 357 times. (He would never reach 100 AB again.) Chuck Klein was a zero defensively, as was Chick Hafey. Frisch won the vote as the veteran on the pennant-winner, and the "inspirational leader." The best alternative to Berger is Bill Terry, on the 2nd place Giants. Berger's numbers, .323-19-84, were superficially less impressive than his rookie year numbers from 1930, but his OPS+ was actually higher due to the overall offensive depression. Terry's line was .349-9-112, and also looked a lot less impressive than the previous year. It was all a matter of context, though. #3 would be Mel Ott, .292-29-115, and #4 would be Paul Waner, .322-6-70. Kiki Cuyler, .330 with 110 runs, 5th.
Top pitcher: Ed Brandt, like Berger with the Braves. Brandt did get the attention of the MVP voters, finishing tied for 10th with teammate Maranville, and the highest-finishing pitcher. Brandt was 3rd in ERA, 4th in wins (1 behind the leaders, with 18), 3rd in WHIP. Brandt went 18-11, 2.92 ERA. Watty Clark was second best, he was 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA. Ray Benge was 14-18 for a lousy Phillies team with a 3.17 ERA for 3rd. Carl Hubbell would soon start to dominate the league, but was #4 this year, 14-12, 2.65. #5 is Bill Walker, ERA leader at 16-9, 2.26.
Top rookie: Paul Derringer was 18-8 for the Cardinals.
Top manager: Gabby Street again led the Cardinals to the pennant.
03 March 2008
1931 American League
The third of three consecutive pennants by the A's, and by a comfortable margin over the Yankees and Senators. The Depression and success were making economic times hard for owners like Connie Mack, and the dynasty ended after this season. They even lost the World Series. Offense receded some after the high-water mark of 1930, but was still at a high level. Philadelphia won 107 games, New York 94, Washington 92, Cleveland 78 to finish just over .500, then St. Louis, Boston and Detroit all about even, with Chicago last.
Al Simmons won the batting title at .390, followed by Babe Ruth at .373. Ed Morgan of Cleveland was next at .351. Ruth led in on-base, slugging, and OPS. Lou Gehrig led with 163 runs, followed by Ruth at 149 and Earl Averill at 140. Gehrig edged Averill in hits, 211 to 209. Earl Webb set a single-season record for doubles that still stands with 67. Roy Johnson had 19 triples. Gehrig and Ruth tied with 46 homers, while Gehrig had 184 RBI to Ruth's 163. Ben Chapman had 61 steals.
Lefty Grove dominated the pitching stats, with 31 wins (against just 4 losses), 175 strikeouts, and a 2.06 ERA. The best anyone else could do was 22 wins for Wes Ferrell, 152 strikeouts for George Earnshaw, and a 2.67 ERA for Lefty Gomez. Wilcy Moore had 10 saves for Boston.
Win Shares leaders, players; Babe Ruth (New York) 38, Lou Gehrig (New York) 36, Joe Cronin (Washington) 35, Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 34, Earl Averill (Cleveland) 30, Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 28, Lu Blue (Chicago) 27, Earl Webb (Boston), Max Bishop (Philadelphia) and Goose Goslin (St. Louis) 25 each.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 42, George Earnshaw (Philadelphia) 29, Wes Ferrell (Cleveland) 28, Rube Walberg (Philadelphia) 24, Lefty Gomez (New York) and Firpo Marberry (Washington) 20, George Uhle (Detroit) and Lloyd Brown (St. Louis) 19.
WARP3: Ruth 10.1, Gehrig 8.1, Cronin 8.0, Simmons 7.1, Cochrane 6.4, Lyn Lary (New York) 6.3, Bishop 5.9, Bill Dickey (New York) 5.2, Ben Chapman (New York) 4.6, Sam West (Washington) 4.4, Goslin 4.1, Averill 3.7.
Pitchers, Ferrell 7.6, Grove 6.8, Gomez (his first full year, 60 IP in 1930) and Uhle (last good year) 4.6, Lefty Stewart (St. Louis) 3.7, Wilcy Moore (Boston) 3.5, Vic Sorrell (Detroit) 3.4, Dick Coffman (St. Louis) and Earl Whitehill (Detroit) 3.3.
WAR, position players: Ruth 11.3, Gehrig 9.8, Simmons 8.4, Cronin 7.5, Bishop and Chapman 6.7, Averill 6.6, Cochrane 6.0, Goslin 5.9, Foxx 5.6, Webb 5.4, Lary 5.3. Pitchers: Grove 9.4, Gomez 6.0, Ferrell 5.6, Walberg 5.1, Earnshaw 4.8, Marberry 4.4, Uhle 4.2, Brown 4.0, Sorrell 3.7, Coffman 3.5.
Actual award voting (1931 was the first BBWAA "official" MVP award voting):
MVP (Top 15)
Place Name Team Points
1 Lefty Grove PHA 78
2 Lou Gehrig NYY 59
3 Al Simmons PHA 51
4 Earl Averill CLE 43
5 Babe Ruth NYY 40
6 Earl Webb BOS 22
7 Joe Cronin WSH 18
8 Ski Melillo SLB 17
9 Mickey Cochrane PHA 16
9 Sam West WSH 16
11 George Earnshaw PHA 12
11 Wes Ferrell CLE 12
13 Firpo Marberry WSH 11
14 Hal Rhyne BOS 10
15 Ben Chapman NYY 7
Best player: Babe Ruth. The Babe couldn't really run any more, but he hit so well it didn't matter. Gehrig had more RBI, but that's because he was driving in Ruth in front of him. Ruth was .373-46-163, while #2 Gehrig was .341-46-184. Al Simmons ranks #3 with a batting title and .390-22-128 line. I'll rank Joe Cronin #4 on the strength of defense plus a .306-12-126 line, and put A's catcher Mickey Cochrane #5.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove, in his 31-4 season with a 2.06 ERA, winning the pitching Triple Crown. No one else was close. Wes Ferrell ranks #2 at 22-12 and 3.75, while Lefty Gomez is #3 at 21-9, 2.67. George Earnshaw #4, George Uhle #5.
Best rookie: None, really. Marv Owen hit .223 in 105 games, if you insist.
Best manager: Connie Mack, for the final time. He never got back to the winner's circle.
Al Simmons won the batting title at .390, followed by Babe Ruth at .373. Ed Morgan of Cleveland was next at .351. Ruth led in on-base, slugging, and OPS. Lou Gehrig led with 163 runs, followed by Ruth at 149 and Earl Averill at 140. Gehrig edged Averill in hits, 211 to 209. Earl Webb set a single-season record for doubles that still stands with 67. Roy Johnson had 19 triples. Gehrig and Ruth tied with 46 homers, while Gehrig had 184 RBI to Ruth's 163. Ben Chapman had 61 steals.
Lefty Grove dominated the pitching stats, with 31 wins (against just 4 losses), 175 strikeouts, and a 2.06 ERA. The best anyone else could do was 22 wins for Wes Ferrell, 152 strikeouts for George Earnshaw, and a 2.67 ERA for Lefty Gomez. Wilcy Moore had 10 saves for Boston.
Win Shares leaders, players; Babe Ruth (New York) 38, Lou Gehrig (New York) 36, Joe Cronin (Washington) 35, Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 34, Earl Averill (Cleveland) 30, Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 28, Lu Blue (Chicago) 27, Earl Webb (Boston), Max Bishop (Philadelphia) and Goose Goslin (St. Louis) 25 each.
WS leaders, pitchers; Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 42, George Earnshaw (Philadelphia) 29, Wes Ferrell (Cleveland) 28, Rube Walberg (Philadelphia) 24, Lefty Gomez (New York) and Firpo Marberry (Washington) 20, George Uhle (Detroit) and Lloyd Brown (St. Louis) 19.
WARP3: Ruth 10.1, Gehrig 8.1, Cronin 8.0, Simmons 7.1, Cochrane 6.4, Lyn Lary (New York) 6.3, Bishop 5.9, Bill Dickey (New York) 5.2, Ben Chapman (New York) 4.6, Sam West (Washington) 4.4, Goslin 4.1, Averill 3.7.
Pitchers, Ferrell 7.6, Grove 6.8, Gomez (his first full year, 60 IP in 1930) and Uhle (last good year) 4.6, Lefty Stewart (St. Louis) 3.7, Wilcy Moore (Boston) 3.5, Vic Sorrell (Detroit) 3.4, Dick Coffman (St. Louis) and Earl Whitehill (Detroit) 3.3.
WAR, position players: Ruth 11.3, Gehrig 9.8, Simmons 8.4, Cronin 7.5, Bishop and Chapman 6.7, Averill 6.6, Cochrane 6.0, Goslin 5.9, Foxx 5.6, Webb 5.4, Lary 5.3. Pitchers: Grove 9.4, Gomez 6.0, Ferrell 5.6, Walberg 5.1, Earnshaw 4.8, Marberry 4.4, Uhle 4.2, Brown 4.0, Sorrell 3.7, Coffman 3.5.
Actual award voting (1931 was the first BBWAA "official" MVP award voting):
MVP (Top 15)
Place Name Team Points
1 Lefty Grove PHA 78
2 Lou Gehrig NYY 59
3 Al Simmons PHA 51
4 Earl Averill CLE 43
5 Babe Ruth NYY 40
6 Earl Webb BOS 22
7 Joe Cronin WSH 18
8 Ski Melillo SLB 17
9 Mickey Cochrane PHA 16
9 Sam West WSH 16
11 George Earnshaw PHA 12
11 Wes Ferrell CLE 12
13 Firpo Marberry WSH 11
14 Hal Rhyne BOS 10
15 Ben Chapman NYY 7
Best player: Babe Ruth. The Babe couldn't really run any more, but he hit so well it didn't matter. Gehrig had more RBI, but that's because he was driving in Ruth in front of him. Ruth was .373-46-163, while #2 Gehrig was .341-46-184. Al Simmons ranks #3 with a batting title and .390-22-128 line. I'll rank Joe Cronin #4 on the strength of defense plus a .306-12-126 line, and put A's catcher Mickey Cochrane #5.
Best pitcher: Lefty Grove, in his 31-4 season with a 2.06 ERA, winning the pitching Triple Crown. No one else was close. Wes Ferrell ranks #2 at 22-12 and 3.75, while Lefty Gomez is #3 at 21-9, 2.67. George Earnshaw #4, George Uhle #5.
Best rookie: None, really. Marv Owen hit .223 in 105 games, if you insist.
Best manager: Connie Mack, for the final time. He never got back to the winner's circle.
29 February 2008
1930 National League
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.
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.
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.
25 January 2008
1927 American League
The year of *60*. The Yankees ran away with the pennant, winning 110 games. Philadelphia was second, 19 games behind. Washington was third, 25 games behind. Detroit was the other team over .500. Boston languished in the basement with 103 losses, while Chicago, Cleveland and St. Louis were in between. New York was far and away the best team in the league in offense and in pitching/defense, so it was not a suspenseful race.
Harry Heilmann batted .398 with Al Simmons at .392, but this was the year of 60, the magical 60 home runs of Babe Ruth. Ruth led in the percentage categories, on-base, slugging, and OPS, as well as homers and walks. Lou Gehrig, hitting behind him, actually led in RBI with 175 to Ruth's 164. Gehrig also led the league with 52 doubles and 447 total bases, while Ruth led with 158 runs to Gehrig's 149. Their teammate Earle Combs led with 231 hits and 23 triples. George Sisler led with 27 steals.
Waite Hoyt and Ted Lyons tied for the league lead with 22 wins, and Wilcy Moore, working mostly out of the bullpen, led the league in ERA at 2.28, with Hoyt second at 2.64. Moore also tied Garland Braxton for the saves lead with 13. Lefty Grove topped the league with 174 strikeouts.
Win Shares leaders, players; Babe Ruth (New York) 45, Lou Gehrig (New York) 44, Harry Heilmann (Detroit) 32, Earle Combs (New York) 31, Goose Goslin (Washington) 28, Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 26, Tony Lazzeri (New York) 24, Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 23, Bob Fothergill (Detroit) and Ty Cobb (Philadelphia) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers; Ted Lyons (Chicago) 30, Tommy Thomas (Chicago) 27, Wilcy Moore (New York) and Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 24, Waite Hoyt (New York) 23, Willis Hudlin (Cleveland), Earl Whitehill (Detroit) and Bump Hadley (Washington) 19.
WARP3: Ruth 12.1, Gehrig 11.1, Lazzeri 7.0, Combs 6.8 (best year), Heilmann 5.4, Simmons 5.3, Goslin 5.0, Cochrane 4.8, Sammy Hale (Philadelphia) and Bibb Falk (Chicago) 4.2, Fothergill (best year) and Joe Sewell (Cleveland) 4.1, Muddy Ruel (Washington) 4.0, Cobb (last good year) and Ossie Bluege (Washington) 3.8.
Pitchers, Thomas 6.6 (best year), Lyons 6.4, Moore 5.3 (30-year old rookie, career year), Hudlin 5.1 (rookie), Hoyt 4.6 (best year), Grove 4.4, Hadley 4.3 (rookie), Whitehill 4.2 (best year), Jack Quinn (Philadelphia) 3.8, Jake Miller (Cleveland) and Lefty Stewart (St. Louis) 3.6.
WAR, Position players: Ruth 13.8, Gehrig 13.2, Combs 7.6, Heilmann 7.5, Lazzeri 7.0, Goslin 5.7, Falk 5.1, Cobb, Meusel, and Cochrane 4.8, Metzler and Fothergill 4.7. Pitchers, Thomas 7.4, Lyons 7.0, Hoyt 5.6, Moore 5.4, Grove 5.0, Hadley 4.7, Quinn 4.5, Whitehill 3.9, Hudlin and Miller 3.8.
Actual MVP voting, remembering previous winner Ruth was ineligible under the arcane rules of the time (top 14):
Name Team 1st place Points
1 Lou Gehrig NYY 7 56
2 Harry Heilmann DET 0 35
3 Ted Lyons CHW 0 34
4 Mickey Cochrane PHA 0 18
4 Al Simmons PHA 0 18
6 Goose Goslin WSH 0 15
6 Muddy Ruel WSH 0 15
8 Jimmie Dykes PHA 0 14
9 Luke Sewell CLE 0 13
10 Joe Sewell CLE 0 9
11 Tony Lazzeri NYY 1 8
12 Bobby Reeves WSH 0 7
13 Frank O'Rourke SLB 0 6
13 Jackie Tavener DET 0 6
I don't know what the guy who put Lazzeri first was thinking.
Best player: Babe Ruth. Gehrig was close, but the Babe was the best, 60 homers and all. Babe #1, Gehrig #2, Heilmann #3, Combs #4, Lazzeri #5.
Best pitcher: Ted Lyons. Teammate Tommy Thomas was close, and Lefty Grove is making noise here, but Lyons was the AL's best pitcher in 1927. Lyons #1, Thomas #2, Moore #3, Grove #4, Hoyt #5.
Best rookie: Wilcy Moore gave the Yankees' staff a big boost, mostly coming out of the bullpen.
Best manager: Miller Huggins. Who else could you give it to in this year?
Harry Heilmann batted .398 with Al Simmons at .392, but this was the year of 60, the magical 60 home runs of Babe Ruth. Ruth led in the percentage categories, on-base, slugging, and OPS, as well as homers and walks. Lou Gehrig, hitting behind him, actually led in RBI with 175 to Ruth's 164. Gehrig also led the league with 52 doubles and 447 total bases, while Ruth led with 158 runs to Gehrig's 149. Their teammate Earle Combs led with 231 hits and 23 triples. George Sisler led with 27 steals.
Waite Hoyt and Ted Lyons tied for the league lead with 22 wins, and Wilcy Moore, working mostly out of the bullpen, led the league in ERA at 2.28, with Hoyt second at 2.64. Moore also tied Garland Braxton for the saves lead with 13. Lefty Grove topped the league with 174 strikeouts.
Win Shares leaders, players; Babe Ruth (New York) 45, Lou Gehrig (New York) 44, Harry Heilmann (Detroit) 32, Earle Combs (New York) 31, Goose Goslin (Washington) 28, Al Simmons (Philadelphia) 26, Tony Lazzeri (New York) 24, Mickey Cochrane (Philadelphia) 23, Bob Fothergill (Detroit) and Ty Cobb (Philadelphia) 22.
WS leaders, pitchers; Ted Lyons (Chicago) 30, Tommy Thomas (Chicago) 27, Wilcy Moore (New York) and Lefty Grove (Philadelphia) 24, Waite Hoyt (New York) 23, Willis Hudlin (Cleveland), Earl Whitehill (Detroit) and Bump Hadley (Washington) 19.
WARP3: Ruth 12.1, Gehrig 11.1, Lazzeri 7.0, Combs 6.8 (best year), Heilmann 5.4, Simmons 5.3, Goslin 5.0, Cochrane 4.8, Sammy Hale (Philadelphia) and Bibb Falk (Chicago) 4.2, Fothergill (best year) and Joe Sewell (Cleveland) 4.1, Muddy Ruel (Washington) 4.0, Cobb (last good year) and Ossie Bluege (Washington) 3.8.
Pitchers, Thomas 6.6 (best year), Lyons 6.4, Moore 5.3 (30-year old rookie, career year), Hudlin 5.1 (rookie), Hoyt 4.6 (best year), Grove 4.4, Hadley 4.3 (rookie), Whitehill 4.2 (best year), Jack Quinn (Philadelphia) 3.8, Jake Miller (Cleveland) and Lefty Stewart (St. Louis) 3.6.
WAR, Position players: Ruth 13.8, Gehrig 13.2, Combs 7.6, Heilmann 7.5, Lazzeri 7.0, Goslin 5.7, Falk 5.1, Cobb, Meusel, and Cochrane 4.8, Metzler and Fothergill 4.7. Pitchers, Thomas 7.4, Lyons 7.0, Hoyt 5.6, Moore 5.4, Grove 5.0, Hadley 4.7, Quinn 4.5, Whitehill 3.9, Hudlin and Miller 3.8.
Actual MVP voting, remembering previous winner Ruth was ineligible under the arcane rules of the time (top 14):
Name Team 1st place Points
1 Lou Gehrig NYY 7 56
2 Harry Heilmann DET 0 35
3 Ted Lyons CHW 0 34
4 Mickey Cochrane PHA 0 18
4 Al Simmons PHA 0 18
6 Goose Goslin WSH 0 15
6 Muddy Ruel WSH 0 15
8 Jimmie Dykes PHA 0 14
9 Luke Sewell CLE 0 13
10 Joe Sewell CLE 0 9
11 Tony Lazzeri NYY 1 8
12 Bobby Reeves WSH 0 7
13 Frank O'Rourke SLB 0 6
13 Jackie Tavener DET 0 6
I don't know what the guy who put Lazzeri first was thinking.
Best player: Babe Ruth. Gehrig was close, but the Babe was the best, 60 homers and all. Babe #1, Gehrig #2, Heilmann #3, Combs #4, Lazzeri #5.
Best pitcher: Ted Lyons. Teammate Tommy Thomas was close, and Lefty Grove is making noise here, but Lyons was the AL's best pitcher in 1927. Lyons #1, Thomas #2, Moore #3, Grove #4, Hoyt #5.
Best rookie: Wilcy Moore gave the Yankees' staff a big boost, mostly coming out of the bullpen.
Best manager: Miller Huggins. Who else could you give it to in this year?
15 January 2008
1926 National League
The Cardinals won the pennant and then the World Series, thanks to some heroics from veteran Grover Cleveland Alexander. The NL was tightly bunched, as second-place Cincinnati was 2 games back, Pittsburgh was 4.5 back, and Chicago was 7 back. New York was 5th, followed by Brooklyn, Boston, and Philadelphia. Brooklyn led the early going, then Cincinnati, then Pittsburgh, before the Cardinals surged to the front at the end.
The top two in the batting race were Reds Bubbles Hargrave and Cuckoo Christensen, neither of whom would be eligible for the title under today's rules. Neither reached today's mark of at-bats, though both had 100 games, which was the requirement at the time. The veteran catcher and 26-year old rookie outfielder made their biggest splashes in this season. The #3 and #4 men, Earl Smith of Pittsburgh and Cy Williams of Philadelphia, wouldn't have enough at bats under today's rules either. Under current rules, the batting titlist would be rookie Paul Waner of Pittsburgh, at .336. Waner also led in triples with 22 and runs created with 116. Christensen also led in on-base, and Williams in slugging. Under modern rules, Waner would lead those categories as well.
Kiki Cuyler led the league in runs with 113, Eddie Brown in hits with 201, Jim Bottomley in total bases, doubles with 40, and with 120 RBI. Hack Wilson led with 21 homers, Cuyler with 35 steals. Waner scored 101, Wilson drove in 109, Les Bell had 100 RBI.
For the pitchers, Ray Kremer led in ERA with 2.61, and also led in winning percentage and tied for the lead in wins with 20. Other 20-game winners were Pete Donohue, Lee Meadows, and Flint Rhem. Carl Mays won 19. Dazzy Vance led in strikeouts with 140. Charlie Root was second in ERA at 2.82, Jesse Petty was third at 2.84. Root was second in strikeouts with 127.
Win Shares leaders, players: Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 28, Hack Wilson (Chicago) and Kiki Cuyler (Pittsburgh) 26, Les Bell (St. Louis) 25, Jim Bottomley and Bob O'Farrell (St. Louis) 23, Curt Walker (Cincinnati) and Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 22, Sparky Adams (Chicago), Edd Roush (Cincinnati) and Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis) 21 each. Hughie Critz, 2nd in the MVP vote, had 19 Win Shares for Cincinnati.
WS leaders, pitchers: Ray Kremer (Pittsburgh) 25, Jesse Petty (Brooklyn) 24, Hal Carlson (Philadelphia) 23, Charlie Root (Chicago) 22, Pete Donohue (Cincinnati) 21, Carl Mays (Cincinnati) 20, Flint Rhem (St. Louis) 18, Doug McWeeny (Brooklyn), Freddie Fitzsimmons (New York) and Bill Sherdel (St. Louis) 17.
WARP3: O'Farrell 5.5 (last big year), Waner 5.2 (rookie), Frankie Frisch (New York) 5.1, Traynor 4.9, Freddie Lindstrom (New York) 4.5, Bell and Hornsby 4.4, Walker 4.3 (best year), Travis Jackson (New York) 4.0, Wilson 3.9 (breakthrough year), Cuyler 3.8, Rube Bressler (Cincinnati) 3.7, Hughie Critz (Cincinnati) 3.6.
Pitchers, Carlson 8.6 (peak year), Petty 5.4 (best year), Kremer 5.3 (best year), Root 4.9 (best year), Mays 4.7 (last good year), Bob Smith (Boston) 4.4, Johnny Werts (Boston) 3.9, McWeeny 3.6, Burleigh Grimes (Brooklyn) 3.5.
WAR leaders, position players: Wilson 6.1, Waner 5.8, Cuyler 5.5, Adams and Frisch 5.3, Bell 5.2, Hornsby 4.9, Southworth and Walker 4.3, Blades 4.2, Bancroft 4.1, Critz 4.0. Pitchers: Carlson 6.0, Kremer 5.5, Root 4.9, Petty 4.7, Mays 4.0, McWeeny 3.3, Bush and Fitzsimmons 3.1, Alexander and Sherdel 3.0.
Actual MVP vote:
1 Bob O'Farrell STL 79
2 Hughie Critz CIN 60
3 Ray Kremer PIT 32
4 Tommy Thevenow STL 30
5 Hack Wilson CHC 25
6 Les Bell STL 24
6 Bubbles Hargrave CIN 24
8 Flint Rhem STL 20
9 Dave Bancroft BSN 17
9 Freddie Lindstrom NYG 17
11 Hal Carlson PHI 16
12 Paul Waner PIT 15
13 Pie Traynor PIT 14
14 Wally Pipp CIN 12
15 Eddie Brown BSN 10
Best player: Bob O'Farrell. It seems an odd choice, but there were no true standouts in this year with Hornsby hurt and below par. Hack Wilson was probably the best hitter, and Cy Williams succeeded in a reduced role at age 38, but O'Farrell was the driving force on the pennant winners. He only dented the leaderboard by tying Hornsby for 6th in walks, but he had a 112 OPS+ and excellent defense. He batted .293 and drove in 68 runs. I'll put Hack Wilson #2, he hit .321 with 21 HR and 109 RBI. Rookie Waner led the league in triples and hit .336 with 101 runs. Kiki Cuyler shifted to CF for Waner, he's #4, and Les Bell at #5.
Top pitcher: Ray Kremer, ERA leader and tied for the lead in victories. Again, no clear winner. Kremer was 20-6 with a 2.61 ERA. Hal Carlson #2, he was 17-12 with a 3.23 ERA for a last-place team. Veteran Carl Mays #3, he was 19-12 with a 3.14 ERA. Jesse Petty #4 and Charlie Root #5.
Top rookie: Paul Waner. Led league in Win Shares in his first try.
Top manager: Rogers Hornsby, an odd choice, but his team won a close pennant race even though their best player, himself, was hurt much of the time.
The top two in the batting race were Reds Bubbles Hargrave and Cuckoo Christensen, neither of whom would be eligible for the title under today's rules. Neither reached today's mark of at-bats, though both had 100 games, which was the requirement at the time. The veteran catcher and 26-year old rookie outfielder made their biggest splashes in this season. The #3 and #4 men, Earl Smith of Pittsburgh and Cy Williams of Philadelphia, wouldn't have enough at bats under today's rules either. Under current rules, the batting titlist would be rookie Paul Waner of Pittsburgh, at .336. Waner also led in triples with 22 and runs created with 116. Christensen also led in on-base, and Williams in slugging. Under modern rules, Waner would lead those categories as well.
Kiki Cuyler led the league in runs with 113, Eddie Brown in hits with 201, Jim Bottomley in total bases, doubles with 40, and with 120 RBI. Hack Wilson led with 21 homers, Cuyler with 35 steals. Waner scored 101, Wilson drove in 109, Les Bell had 100 RBI.
For the pitchers, Ray Kremer led in ERA with 2.61, and also led in winning percentage and tied for the lead in wins with 20. Other 20-game winners were Pete Donohue, Lee Meadows, and Flint Rhem. Carl Mays won 19. Dazzy Vance led in strikeouts with 140. Charlie Root was second in ERA at 2.82, Jesse Petty was third at 2.84. Root was second in strikeouts with 127.
Win Shares leaders, players: Paul Waner (Pittsburgh) 28, Hack Wilson (Chicago) and Kiki Cuyler (Pittsburgh) 26, Les Bell (St. Louis) 25, Jim Bottomley and Bob O'Farrell (St. Louis) 23, Curt Walker (Cincinnati) and Pie Traynor (Pittsburgh) 22, Sparky Adams (Chicago), Edd Roush (Cincinnati) and Rogers Hornsby (St. Louis) 21 each. Hughie Critz, 2nd in the MVP vote, had 19 Win Shares for Cincinnati.
WS leaders, pitchers: Ray Kremer (Pittsburgh) 25, Jesse Petty (Brooklyn) 24, Hal Carlson (Philadelphia) 23, Charlie Root (Chicago) 22, Pete Donohue (Cincinnati) 21, Carl Mays (Cincinnati) 20, Flint Rhem (St. Louis) 18, Doug McWeeny (Brooklyn), Freddie Fitzsimmons (New York) and Bill Sherdel (St. Louis) 17.
WARP3: O'Farrell 5.5 (last big year), Waner 5.2 (rookie), Frankie Frisch (New York) 5.1, Traynor 4.9, Freddie Lindstrom (New York) 4.5, Bell and Hornsby 4.4, Walker 4.3 (best year), Travis Jackson (New York) 4.0, Wilson 3.9 (breakthrough year), Cuyler 3.8, Rube Bressler (Cincinnati) 3.7, Hughie Critz (Cincinnati) 3.6.
Pitchers, Carlson 8.6 (peak year), Petty 5.4 (best year), Kremer 5.3 (best year), Root 4.9 (best year), Mays 4.7 (last good year), Bob Smith (Boston) 4.4, Johnny Werts (Boston) 3.9, McWeeny 3.6, Burleigh Grimes (Brooklyn) 3.5.
WAR leaders, position players: Wilson 6.1, Waner 5.8, Cuyler 5.5, Adams and Frisch 5.3, Bell 5.2, Hornsby 4.9, Southworth and Walker 4.3, Blades 4.2, Bancroft 4.1, Critz 4.0. Pitchers: Carlson 6.0, Kremer 5.5, Root 4.9, Petty 4.7, Mays 4.0, McWeeny 3.3, Bush and Fitzsimmons 3.1, Alexander and Sherdel 3.0.
Actual MVP vote:
1 Bob O'Farrell STL 79
2 Hughie Critz CIN 60
3 Ray Kremer PIT 32
4 Tommy Thevenow STL 30
5 Hack Wilson CHC 25
6 Les Bell STL 24
6 Bubbles Hargrave CIN 24
8 Flint Rhem STL 20
9 Dave Bancroft BSN 17
9 Freddie Lindstrom NYG 17
11 Hal Carlson PHI 16
12 Paul Waner PIT 15
13 Pie Traynor PIT 14
14 Wally Pipp CIN 12
15 Eddie Brown BSN 10
Best player: Bob O'Farrell. It seems an odd choice, but there were no true standouts in this year with Hornsby hurt and below par. Hack Wilson was probably the best hitter, and Cy Williams succeeded in a reduced role at age 38, but O'Farrell was the driving force on the pennant winners. He only dented the leaderboard by tying Hornsby for 6th in walks, but he had a 112 OPS+ and excellent defense. He batted .293 and drove in 68 runs. I'll put Hack Wilson #2, he hit .321 with 21 HR and 109 RBI. Rookie Waner led the league in triples and hit .336 with 101 runs. Kiki Cuyler shifted to CF for Waner, he's #4, and Les Bell at #5.
Top pitcher: Ray Kremer, ERA leader and tied for the lead in victories. Again, no clear winner. Kremer was 20-6 with a 2.61 ERA. Hal Carlson #2, he was 17-12 with a 3.23 ERA for a last-place team. Veteran Carl Mays #3, he was 19-12 with a 3.14 ERA. Jesse Petty #4 and Charlie Root #5.
Top rookie: Paul Waner. Led league in Win Shares in his first try.
Top manager: Rogers Hornsby, an odd choice, but his team won a close pennant race even though their best player, himself, was hurt much of the time.
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