The Value Production Standings: 1981-1985
Our earlier journeys have explored farm system production in the periods of 1946-1950, 1951-1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1965, 1966-1970, 1971-1975, and 1976-1980. Now we’ll jump fully into the realm of Pac-Man, leg warmers, and break dancing.
For a review of our methodology, please see the References and Resources section below.
Here’s the key to the figures we’re examining:
WSP = Win Shares Produced: the total of major league Win Shares produced that season by all players credited to the organization
Lg. WSP = League Win Shares Produced: the percentage of the league total of WSP credited to the organization
MLB WSP = Major League Baseball Win Shares Produced: the percentage of the MLB-wide total of WSP credited to the organization
W = Wins: the actual win total of the team that season
Lg. W = League Wins: the percentage of the league win total won by the team
W% – WSP% = League Wins minus League Win Shares Produced: a measure of how much better or worse a team actually performed than the league-wide value produced by its organization
Avg WSP = Average Win Shares Produced: the average WSP of the teams in a given division or league
%MLB Avg = Percentage of the Major League Baseball Average: how the Average WSP for a given division or league compares with the overall major league average
The 1981 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Red Sox 240 12.2% 6.0% 59 7.9% -4.3% Tigers 169 8.6% 4.2% 60 8.0% -0.6% Orioles 160 8.1% 4.0% 59 7.9% -0.2% Indians 133 6.8% 3.3% 52 6.9% 0.2% Brewers 122 6.2% 3.0% 62 8.3% 2.1% Yankees 108 5.5% 2.7% 59 7.9% 2.4% Blue Jays 34 1.7% 0.8% 37 4.9% 3.2% East Division 966 49.1% 24.0% 388 51.8% 2.7% 138 89.2% Athletics 262 13.3% 6.5% 64 8.5% -4.8% Rangers 185 9.4% 4.6% 57 7.6% -1.8% Angels 184 9.3% 4.6% 51 6.8% -2.5% Royals 138 7.0% 3.4% 50 6.7% -0.3% Twins 135 6.9% 3.4% 41 5.5% -1.4% White Sox 95 4.8% 2.4% 54 7.2% 2.4% Mariners 4 0.2% 0.1% 44 5.9% 5.7% West Division 1003 50.9% 24.9% 361 48.2% -2.7% 143 92.6% AL Total 1969 100.0% 49.0% 749 100.0% 0.0% 141 90.9% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Pirates 238 11.6% 5.9% 46 7.2% -4.4% Cardinals 229 11.2% 5.7% 59 9.2% -1.9% Mets 186 9.1% 4.6% 41 6.4% -2.7% Phillies 180 8.8% 4.5% 59 9.2% 0.4% Expos 168 8.2% 4.2% 60 9.4% 1.2% Cubs 108 5.3% 2.7% 38 5.9% 0.7% East Division 1109 54.0% 27.6% 303 47.3% -6.7% 185 119.5% Dodgers 214 10.4% 5.3% 63 9.8% -0.6% Reds 202 9.8% 5.0% 66 10.3% 0.5% Braves 147 7.2% 3.7% 50 7.8% 0.6% Giants 145 7.1% 3.6% 56 8.8% 1.7% Astros 141 6.9% 3.5% 61 9.5% 2.7% Padres 94 4.6% 2.3% 41 6.4% 1.8% West Division 943 46.0% 23.5% 337 52.7% 6.7% 157 101.6% NL Total 2052 100.0% 51.0% 640 100.0% 0.0% 171 110.6% MLB Total 4021 n/a 100% 1389 n/a n/a 155 100.0%
In this strike-interrupted season, the Athletics led all of major league baseball in Win Share production for the second straight year. New owner Walter Haas inherited Charlie Finley’s remarkable bounty of young talent, and the only thing that changed was that Haas promoted Billy Martin to the dual role of field manager/GM.
The 1981 “Billyball” A’s had more than a few holes, but under Martin’s dynamic-to-the-point-of-reckless leadership, the team rode four starting pitchers (farm products Steve McCatty, Mike Norris, and Matt Keough, and Finley trade acquisition Rick Langford), a fine outfield (farm products Rickey Henderson and Dwayne Murphy, and Finley trade acquisition Tony Armas), and a good DH (Martin trade acquisition Cliff Johnson) to the most victories in the league, and a division title.
But the A’s were swept in the ALCS by the Yankees, an entirely different sort of ball club. The Yanks were in the post-season for the fifth time in six years, while tending one of the least productive farms in baseball. Ace pitcher Ron Guidry was the only home-grown key player on the roster. But owner George Steinbrenner’s organization had, of course, jumped aggressively into the free agent market as soon as it opened up, and the ’81 team included high-priced signees in outfielders Dave Winfield and Reggie Jackson, and pitchers Tommy John, Goose Gossage, and Rudy May.
But mostly the Yankees had been trade-built, with important cogs being picked up in clever deals by Steinbrenner’s long list of GMs. Lee MacPhail acquired third baseman Graig Nettles in 1972 and outfielder Lou Piniella in ‘73; Gabe Paul added second baseman Willie Randolph in 1975 and shortstop Bucky Dent in ‘77; Cedric Tallis contributed pitchers Dave Righetti and Ron Davis in 1978, and outfielders Bobby Murcer and Oscar Gamble and catcher Rick Cerone in ‘79; and Gene Michael brought in supersub infielder Larry Milbourne in 1980, and center fielder Jerry Mumphrey and pitcher Rick Reuschel in ’81.
The 1982 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Red Sox 339 11.6% 5.5% 89 7.8% -3.7% Orioles 247 8.4% 4.0% 94 8.3% -0.1% Tigers 241 8.2% 3.9% 83 7.3% -0.9% Brewers 218 7.4% 3.5% 95 8.4% 0.9% Indians 210 7.2% 3.4% 78 6.9% -0.3% Yankees 182 6.2% 3.0% 79 7.0% 0.8% Blue Jays 68 2.3% 1.1% 78 6.9% 4.6% East Division 1505 51.3% 24.5% 596 52.6% 1.2% 215 91.0% Athletics 297 10.1% 4.8% 68 6.0% -4.1% Rangers 267 9.1% 4.3% 64 5.6% -3.5% Royals 261 8.9% 4.2% 90 7.9% -1.0% Angels 246 8.4% 4.0% 93 8.2% -0.2% Twins 176 6.0% 2.9% 60 5.3% -0.7% White Sox 133 4.5% 2.2% 87 7.7% 3.1% Mariners 46 1.6% 0.7% 76 6.7% 5.1% West Division 1426 48.7% 23.2% 538 47.4% -1.2% 204 86.2% AL Total 2931 100.0% 47.7% 1134 100.0% 0.0% 209 88.6% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Pirates 377 11.7% 6.1% 84 8.6% -3.1% Phillies 368 11.4% 6.0% 89 9.2% -2.3% Cardinals 341 10.6% 5.5% 92 9.5% -1.1% Expos 271 8.4% 4.4% 86 8.8% 0.4% Mets 241 7.5% 3.9% 65 6.7% -0.8% Cubs 136 4.2% 2.2% 73 7.5% 3.3% East Division 1734 54.0% 28.2% 489 50.3% -3.6% 289 122.3% Dodgers 375 11.7% 6.1% 88 9.1% -2.6% Reds 309 9.6% 5.0% 61 6.3% -3.3% Braves 239 7.4% 3.9% 89 9.2% 1.7% Astros 193 6.0% 3.1% 77 7.9% 1.9% Giants 192 6.0% 3.1% 87 9.0% 3.0% Padres 172 5.4% 2.8% 81 8.3% 3.0% West Division 1480 46.0% 24.1% 483 49.7% 3.6% 247 104.4% NL Total 3214 100.0% 52.3% 972 100.0% 0.0% 268 113.3% MLB Total 6145 n/a 100% 2106 n/a n/a 236 100.0%
In 1981, the Reds had won the most regular season games of any team in the majors (though they were denied a post-season berth by a quirk of the strike-caused split-season format). But in ’82 they flopped disastrously, plunging from 66-42 to 61-101, dead last.
It was the Reds’ worst showing since 1937, and they fashioned it despite producing 41 more Win Shares than the league average. Cincinnati had several home-grown talents on hand and performing well, in pitchers Mario Soto and Bruce Berenyi, shortstop Dave Concepcion, second baseman Ron Oester, and first baseman Dan Driessen. But unfortunate trades had surrendered AL RBI leader Hal McRae (Royals), third baseman Ray Knight (Astros), pitcher Joaquin Andujar (Cardinals), and outfielder Ken Griffey (Yankees) for meager return, and the Reds’ conversion of veteran superstar catcher Johnny Bench into a third baseman turned out miserably.
The 1983 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Red Sox 366 12.5% 6.0% 78 6.9% -5.6% Orioles 249 8.5% 4.1% 98 8.6% 0.1% Brewers 230 7.9% 3.8% 87 7.7% -0.2% Yankees 225 7.7% 3.7% 91 8.0% 0.3% Tigers 224 7.7% 3.7% 92 8.1% 0.5% Indians 181 6.2% 3.0% 70 6.2% 0.0% Blue Jays 80 2.7% 1.3% 89 7.8% 5.1% East Division 1555 53.1% 25.5% 605 53.4% 0.2% 222 94.7% Angels 260 8.9% 4.3% 70 6.2% -2.7% Athletics 250 8.5% 4.1% 74 6.5% -2.0% Rangers 246 8.4% 4.0% 77 6.8% -1.6% Royals 220 7.5% 3.6% 79 7.0% -0.6% Twins 192 6.6% 3.1% 70 6.2% -0.4% White Sox 121 4.1% 2.0% 99 8.7% 4.6% Mariners 82 2.8% 1.3% 60 5.3% 2.5% West Division 1371 46.9% 22.5% 529 46.6% -0.2% 196 83.5% AL Total 2926 100.0% 48.0% 1134 100.0% 0.0% 209 89.1% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Cardinals 340 10.7% 5.6% 79 8.1% -2.6% Phillies 331 10.4% 5.4% 90 9.3% -1.2% Pirates 323 10.2% 5.3% 84 8.6% -1.5% Expos 261 8.2% 4.3% 82 8.4% 0.2% Mets 239 7.5% 3.9% 68 7.0% -0.5% Cubs 136 4.3% 2.2% 71 7.3% 3.0% East Division 1630 51.3% 26.7% 474 48.8% -2.6% 272 115.8% Dodgers 463 14.6% 7.6% 91 9.4% -5.2% Reds 331 10.4% 5.4% 74 7.6% -2.8% Braves 241 7.6% 4.0% 88 9.1% 1.5% Astros 200 6.3% 3.3% 85 8.7% 2.4% Giants 184 5.8% 3.0% 79 8.1% 2.3% Padres 126 4.0% 2.1% 81 8.3% 4.4% West Division 1545 48.7% 25.3% 498 51.2% 2.6% 258 109.7% NL Total 3175 100.0% 52.0% 972 100.0% 0.0% 265 112.8% MLB Total 6101 n/a 100% 2106 n/a n/a 235 100.0%
The White Sox won a surprise division title, completely running away with the AL West. It was their first championship of any kind since 1959, and as had been the case back in ’59, this White Sox team won despite being supported by an extremely weak minor league system. The only key members of the ’83 Sox who were organizational products were power-hitting outfielders Harold Baines and Ron Kittle, and pitcher Britt Burns.
Longtime GM Roland Hemond didn’t have a lavish payroll budget, but he’d managed to snag a couple of high-profile free agents: catcher Carlton Fisk and pitcher Floyd Bannister. The rest of the team’s core had been acquired through shrewd trades, purchases, and drafts: pitchers LaMarr Hoyt, Richard Dotson, and Salome Barojas, center fielder Rudy Law, DH Greg Luzinski, second baseman Julio Cruz, and first basemen Tom Paciorek and Greg Walker.
The 1984 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Red Sox 305 10.6% 5.0% 86 7.6% -3.0% Orioles 261 9.0% 4.3% 85 7.5% -1.5% Yankees 233 8.1% 3.8% 87 7.7% -0.4% Tigers 226 7.8% 3.7% 104 9.2% 1.4% Indians 173 6.0% 2.8% 75 6.6% 0.6% Brewers 154 5.3% 2.5% 67 5.9% 0.6% Blue Jays 87 3.0% 1.4% 89 7.9% 4.8% East Division 1439 49.8% 23.4% 593 52.3% 2.5% 206 87.0% Angels 250 8.7% 4.1% 81 7.1% -1.5% Royals 249 8.6% 4.1% 84 7.4% -1.2% Athletics 239 8.3% 3.9% 77 6.8% -1.5% Twins 230 8.0% 3.7% 81 7.1% -0.8% Rangers 218 7.5% 3.5% 69 6.1% -1.5% White Sox 133 4.6% 2.2% 74 6.5% 1.9% Mariners 132 4.6% 2.1% 74 6.5% 2.0% West Division 1451 50.2% 23.6% 540 47.7% -2.5% 207 87.8% AL Total 2890 100.0% 47.1% 1133 100.0% 0.0% 206 87.4% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Phillies 398 12.2% 6.5% 81 8.3% -3.9% Pirates 292 9.0% 4.8% 75 7.7% -1.3% Cardinals 284 8.7% 4.6% 84 8.7% -0.1% Mets 283 8.7% 4.6% 90 9.3% 0.5% Expos 236 7.3% 3.8% 78 8.0% 0.8% Cubs 187 5.8% 3.0% 96 9.9% 4.1% East Division 1680 51.7% 27.4% 504 51.9% 0.2% 280 118.5% Dodgers 509 15.7% 8.3% 79 8.1% -7.5% Reds 262 8.1% 4.3% 70 7.2% -0.8% Braves 248 7.6% 4.0% 80 8.2% 0.6% Giants 204 6.3% 3.3% 66 6.8% 0.5% Astros 195 6.0% 3.2% 80 8.2% 2.2% Padres 153 4.7% 2.5% 92 9.5% 4.8% West Division 1571 48.3% 25.6% 467 48.1% -0.2% 262 110.9% NL Total 3251 100.0% 52.9% 971 100.0% 0.0% 271 114.7% MLB Total 6141 n/a 100% 2104 n/a n/a 236 100.0%
From the mid-1950s into the 1960s, the Dodgers’ organization had rivaled that of the Yankees’ as the most productive in baseball. But Dodger production then declined, never leading their league or division from 1964 through 1980. In 1981, under veteran GM Al Campanis, they re-emerged as the NL West leader in WSP, and continued to get stronger. By 1983 the Dodgers led the majors in WSP, and in 1984 their production of 509 Win Shares was one of the highest in history, falling just a hair short of the franchise record of 510 set in 1962.
For all this talent production, the Dodgers in this period weren’t a dominant team. They certainly won their share of titles, including the World Series championship in 1981, but were also prone to intermittent off-years, as in ’84. This Dodger edition enjoyed strong production from system-produced pitchers Fernando Valenzuela, Alejandro Pena, and Orel Hershiser, catcher Mike Scioscia, and outfielder Mike Marshall. Heavy-hitting third baseman-outfielder Pedro Guerrero had been acquired in trade from the Cleveland organization as a young minor leaguer, and subsequently developed by the Dodgers.
But the list of Dodger products excelling elsewhere in 1984 was remarkable, including pitchers Rick Sutcliffe (Indians–Cubs, the NL Cy Young Award winner), Doyle Alexander (Blue Jays), Rick Rhoden (Pirates), Charlie Hough (Rangers), Geoff Zahn (Angels), Don Sutton (Brewers), and Ted Power (Reds), outfielders Jeffrey Leonard (Giants), Lee Lacy (Pirates), and Mickey Hatcher (Twins), second basemen Alan Wiggins (Padres) and Jack Perconte (Mariners), third baseman Ron Cey (Cubs), and first baseman Steve Garvey (Padres).
With Wiggins and Garvey playing key roles, the Dodgers’ NL West rival Padres won the division and the pennant, their first-ever titles. In their decade-and-a-half of existence, the Padres hadn’t yet managed to develop a competitive farm system, finishing last in the division in WSP every season. Batting champ right fielder Tony Gwynn, center fielder Kevin McReynolds, and pitchers Eric Show and Mark Thurmond were the only impactful farm products on the ’84 champs.
But General Manager Jack McKeon had acquired Wiggins as a Rule V draft pick and Garvey as a free agent. Relief ace Goose Gossage was also a free agent pickup. “Trader Jack’s” trade acquisitions included pitchers Dave Dravecky, Ed Whitson, Tim Lollar, and Craig Lefferts, left fielder Carmelo Martinez, third baseman Graig Nettles, shortstop Garry Templeton, and catcher Terry Kennedy.
The Padres defeated the Cubs in the NLCS in stirring come-back-from-the-brink fashion. The Cubs were a charter National League franchise, but had endured decades of competitive ineffectuality, largely due to a chronically nonproductive farm system. They’d won their last pennant in 1945, and since 1946, not only had the Cubs never led their league or division in WSP, they’d never done as well as second, and had finished third just four times (1946, ’48, ’49, and ’69). They’d been last in the NL East in WSP every season since 1979.
The ’84 Cubs were almost entirely trade-built, mostly the handiwork of sharp deals by GM Dallas Green. Trades had landed MVP second baseman Ryne Sandberg (in one of the greatest trades of all time), ace starter Rick Sutcliffe (the only mid-season acquisition to win the Cy Young Award), first baseman Leon Durham, the starting outfield of Gary Matthews, Bob Dernier, and Keith Moreland, third baseman Ron Cey, and pitchers Steve Trout, Dennis Eckersley, and Scott Sanderson. Catcher Jody Davis had been a Rule V draftee. The only farm product in a major role was ace reliever Lee Smith.
The 1985 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Red Sox 344 11.8% 5.6% 81 7.2% -4.7% Yankees 258 8.9% 4.2% 97 8.6% -0.3% Orioles 215 7.4% 3.5% 83 7.3% 0.0% Tigers 208 7.1% 3.4% 84 7.4% 0.3% Brewers 173 5.9% 2.8% 71 6.3% 0.3% Blue Jays 123 4.2% 2.0% 99 8.8% 4.5% Indians 118 4.1% 1.9% 60 5.3% 1.3% East Division 1439 49.4% 23.6% 575 50.8% 1.4% 206 87.6% Royals 253 8.7% 4.1% 91 8.0% -0.6% Angels 249 8.6% 4.1% 90 8.0% -0.6% Athletics 243 8.3% 4.0% 77 6.8% -1.5% Rangers 222 7.6% 3.6% 62 5.5% -2.1% Twins 202 6.9% 3.3% 77 6.8% -0.1% Mariners 168 5.8% 2.8% 74 6.5% 0.8% White Sox 135 4.6% 2.2% 85 7.5% 2.9% West Division 1472 50.6% 24.1% 556 49.2% -1.4% 210 89.6% AL Total 2911 100.0% 47.7% 1131 100.0% 0.0% 208 88.6% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Phillies 376 11.8% 6.2% 75 7.7% -4.1% Cardinals 360 11.3% 5.9% 101 10.4% -0.9% Mets 272 8.5% 4.5% 98 10.1% 1.6% Pirates 265 8.3% 4.3% 57 5.9% -2.4% Expos 237 7.4% 3.9% 84 8.7% 1.2% Cubs 147 4.6% 2.4% 77 7.9% 3.3% East Division 1657 51.9% 27.2% 492 50.7% -1.2% 276 117.7% Dodgers 482 15.1% 7.9% 95 9.8% -5.3% Reds 297 9.3% 4.9% 89 9.2% -0.1% Braves 264 8.3% 4.3% 66 6.8% -1.5% Astros 173 5.4% 2.8% 83 8.6% 3.1% Giants 163 5.1% 2.7% 62 6.4% 1.3% Padres 154 4.8% 2.5% 83 8.6% 3.7% West Division 1533 48.1% 25.1% 478 49.3% 1.2% 256 108.9% NL Total 3190 100.0% 52.3% 970 100.0% 0.0% 266 113.3% MLB Total 6101 n/a 100% 2101 n/a n/a 235 100.0%
Until the 1970s, the Phillies had never presented a top-flight farm system. But in that decade, their organization stepped forward as a strong talent producer, and under GM Paul Owens the team had a concurrent run as one of the most successful in baseball. They made the post-season six times in the eight seasons from 1976-83, capturing two pennants and one World Series title.
In 1984 for the first time the Phillies led their division in WSP, but dropped back to .500. And in 1985, they again led the AL East in WSP, but on the field they finished 26 games behind, their worst showing since 1973. The ’85 Phillies received strong contributions from several of their farm products, including veteran superstar Mike Schmidt, second baseman Juan Samuel, catcher Ozzie Virgil, and pitchers Kevin Gross and Don Carman. But too many outstanding Phillies products had gotten away: infielders Ryne Sandberg (Cubs) and Julio Franco (Indians), outfielders Jorge Bell (Blue Jays), Keith Moreland (Cubs), and Lonnie Smith (Cardinals–Royals), first baseman Greg Walker (White Sox), and pitcher Willie Hernandez (Tigers).
In just their ninth season, the 1985 Blue Jays won a division title. They’d been last in the division in WSP their first eight seasons (not unusual for an expansion team), but in ’85 they nosed out the Indians for sixth. The Toronto ball club constructed by GM Pat Gillick presented an impressive core of home-grown talent, in right fielder Jesse Barfield, center fielder Lloyd Moseby, shortstop Tony Fernandez, and pitchers Dave Stieb and Jimmy Key.
The WSP Gap Between the Leagues
The 1985 season made it 35, that’s correct, 35 consecutive seasons that National League organizations outproduced their American League counterparts in Win Shares. This is a finding I didn’t expect to discover when I undertook this project. The advantage gained by the NL in the 1950s with its far more assertive adoption of racial integration, I expected. The gap increasing into the 1960s and extending into the 1970s, I expected. But I anticipated the gap would decrease and essentially disappear by the 1980s, and it has emphatically not done so.
The great distinction between the leagues in their proportional production of players of color did largely disappear by 1985, as I had anticipated: in ’85, it was 30.4% of AL WSP by players of color, compared to 32.3% in the NL, a negligible difference. But the gap in total Win Shares remained enormous, with the typical NL team producing 113.3% of the MLB average, against 88.6% by the average AL organization. This gap, which had been narrowing over the late 1970s, actually increased again through the 1981-85 period. I am keenly interested in what will happen in the late 1980s, which we’ll explore in our next installment.
The Value Production Standings Summary, 1946-1985
American League
Year NYY DET BOS CLE OAK MIN BAL CHW CAL WAS AL WSP 1946 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x x 56.5% 1947 1 2 4 3 5 6 8 7 x x 55.3% 1948 1 3 4 2 5 7 6 8 x x 55.6% 1949 1 3T 3T 2 5 7 6 8 x x 51.9% 1950 1 3 4 2 7 6 5 8 x x 50.5% 1951 2 4 3 1 5 6 8 7 x x 49.0% 1952 1 4 3 2 5 6 8 7 x x 47.9% 1953 2 4 3 1 7 6 8 5 x x 46.2% 1954 1T 4 3 1T 7 6 8 5 x x 47.5% 1955 1 4 2 3 5 6 8 7 x x 46.7% 1956 1 4 2 3 7 5 8 6 x x 47.1% 1957 1 4 2 3 6 8 7 5 x x 46.3% 1958 1 4 3 2 8 7 6 5 x x 46.4% 1959 1 4 3 2 8 7 5 6 x x 46.5% 1960 1 5 3 2 8 7 4 6 x x 46.0% 1961 1 4 3 2 8 7 5 6 9 10 48.3% 1962 1 3 4 2 8 6 5 7 10 9 43.1% 1963 1 5 4 2 8 7 3 6 10 9 43.6% 1964 1 3 4 5 8 7 2 6 9 10 45.0% 1965 1 2 7 4 8 6 3 5 9 10 44.5% 1966 1 3 6 5 7 8 2 4 9 10 44.4% 1967 7 4 1 6 8 3 2 5 9 10 45.5% 1968 7 1 4 5 2 8 3 6 9 10 45.8%
American League East Division
Year BAL DET BOS NYY CLE WAS Avg WSP % ML Avg ALE WSP AL WSP
1969 1 2 3 4 5 6 259 108.3% 27.1% 45.3%
1970 2 4 1 3 5 6 260 108.3% 27.1% 44.7%
1971 2 3 4 1 5 6 244 101.5% 25.4% 46.0%
BAL DET BOS NYY CLE MIL
1972 1 5 2 4 3 6 219 95.4% 23.9% 43.0%
1973 1 5 2 4 3 6 219 91.5% 22.9% 42.0%
1974 2 3 1 4 5 6 215 90.5% 22.6% 43.8%
1975 2 4 1 3 5 6 193 81.6% 20.4% 44.4%
1976 2 4 1 5 3 6 204 85.9% 21.5% 44.3%
BAL DET BOS NYY CLE MIL TOR
1977 1 3 2 5 4 6 7 193 82.2% 22.1% 46.1%
1978 2 3 1 5 4 6 7 210 88.9% 23.9% 46.7%
1979 2 3 1 6 5 4 7 213 90.7% 24.4% 47.7%
1980 3 2 1 6 4 5 7 199 84.9% 22.8% 49.4%
1981 3 2 1 6 4 5 7 138 89.2% 24.0% 49.0%
1982 2 3 1 6 5 4 7 215 91.0% 24.5% 47.7%
1983 2 5 1 4 6 3 7 222 94.7% 25.5% 48.0%
1984 2 4 1 3 5 6 7 206 87.0% 23.4% 47.1%
1985 3 4 1 2 7 5 6 206 87.6% 23.6% 47.7%
American League West Division
Year OAK MIN CHW CAL KCR MIL Avg. WSP % ML Avg. ALW WSP AL WSP
1969 1 2 3 4 5T 5T 175 73.0% 18.2% 45.3%
1970 1 2 3 4 5 6 169 70.4% 17.6% 44.7%
1971 1 3 4 2 6 5 198 82.3% 20.6% 46.0%
OAK MIN CHW CAL KCR TEX
1972 1 2 3 4 6 5 177 76.8% 19.2% 43.0%
1973 1 2 3 4 6 5 183 76.5% 19.1% 42.0%
1974 1 2 5 4 6 3 201 84.7% 21.2% 43.8%
1975 1 2 5 3 6 4 228 96.2% 24.0% 44.4%
1976 1 4 5 2 6 3 217 91.5% 22.9% 44.3%
OAK MIN CHW CAL KCR TEX SEA
1977 1 2 6 4 5 3 7 209 88.9% 23.9% 46.1%
1978 1 3 6 4 5 2 7 200 84.5% 22.7% 46.7%
1979 1 4T 6 2 4T 3 7 203 86.5% 23.3% 47.7%
1980 1 4 6 5 3 2 7 231 98.7% 26.6% 49.4%
1981 1 5 6 3 4 2 7 143 92.6% 24.9% 49.0%
1982 1 5 6 4 3 2 7 204 86.2% 23.2% 47.7%
1983 2 5 6 1 4 3 7 196 83.5% 22.5% 48.0%
1984 3 4 6 1 2 5 7 207 87.8% 23.6% 47.1%
1985 3 5 7 2 1 4 6 210 89.6% 24.1% 47.7%
National League
Year STL LAD CHC CIN PHI PIT ATL SFG HOU NYM NL WSP 1946 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x x 43.5% 1947 1 2 4 3 7 6 8 5 x x 44.7% 1948 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 5 x x 44.4% 1949 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 6 x x 48.1% 1950 1 2 5 6 4 7 8 3 x x 49.5% 1951 1 2 5 4 6 7 8 3 x x 51.0% 1952 1 2 5 4 6 8 7 3 x x 52.1% 1953 2 1 7 4 5 8 3 6 x x 53.8% 1954 2 1 7 5 6 8 3 4 x x 52.5% 1955 3 1 6 5 7 8 2 4 x x 53.3% 1956 2 1 8 4 6 7 3 5 x x 52.9% 1957 2 1 7 5 4 8 3 6 x x 53.7% 1958 4 1 8 6 7 5 2 3 x x 53.6% 1959 3 1 7 5 8 6 2 4 x x 53.5% 1960 3 1 8 6 7 5 4 2 x x 54.0% 1961 2 1 7 5 8 6 3 4 x x 51.7% 1962 4 1 7 5 8 6 2 3 9 10 56.9% 1963 5 1 7 4 8 6 3 2 9 10 56.4% 1964 6 3 7 4 8 5 2 1 9 10 55.0% 1965 6 2 8 3 7 5 4 1 9 10 55.5% 1966 6 4 7 2 8 5 3 1 9 10 55.6% 1967 5 3 6 2 7 8 4 1 9 10 54.5% 1968 5 4 6 2 8 7 3 1 9 10 54.2%
National League East Division
Year PIT STL CHC NYM PHI MON Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLE WSP NL WSP 1969 1 2 3 4 5 6 218 91.1% 22.8% 54.7% 1970 1 2 4 5 3 6 221 91.9% 23.0% 55.3% 1971 1 3 5 2 4 6 230 95.7% 23.9% 54.0% 1972 1 2 4 3 5 6 244 106.1% 26.5% 57.0% 1973 1 3 5 2 4 6 239 99.7% 24.9% 58.0% 1974 1 4 5 3 2 6 249 104.9% 26.2% 56.2% 1975 1 2 5 3 4 6 247 104.2% 26.1% 55.6% 1976 1 2 5 3 4 6 254 106.8% 26.7% 55.7% 1977 1 2 5 4 3 6 290 123.4% 28.5% 53.9% 1978 1 3 5 4 2 6 285 120.7% 27.9% 53.3% 1979 1 3 6 4 2 5 289 123.5% 28.5% 52.3% 1980 1 2 6 4 3 5 280 119.7% 27.6% 50.6% 1981 1 2 6 3 4 5 185 119.5% 27.6% 51.0% 1982 1 3 6 5 2 4 289 122.3% 28.2% 52.3% 1983 3 1 6 5 2 4 272 115.8% 26.7% 52.0% 1984 2 3 6 4 1 5 280 118.5% 27.4% 52.9% 1985 4 2 6 3 1 5 276 117.7% 27.2% 52.3%
National League West Division
Year SFG CIN ATL LAD HOU SDP Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLW WSP NL WSP 1969 1 2 3 4 5 6 306 127.7% 31.9% 54.7% 1970 1 2 3 4 5 6 311 129.4% 32.3% 55.3% 1971 1 2 3 4 5 6 289 120.4% 30.1% 54.0% 1972 2 1 4 5 3 6 280 121.7% 30.4% 57.0% 1973 1 2 5 3 4 6 317 132.2% 33.1% 58.0% 1974 2 1 5 3 4 6 285 120.0% 30.0% 56.2% 1975 1 2 5 4 3 6 279 118.0% 29.5% 55.6% 1976 1 3 5 2 4 6 275 115.9% 29.0% 55.7% 1977 1 3 5 2 4 6 259 110.3% 25.5% 53.9% 1978 1 3 4 2 5 6 261 110.3% 25.5% 53.3% 1979 1 3 5 2 4 6 242 103.1% 23.8% 52.3% 1980 4 1 5 2 3 6 233 99.5% 23.0% 50.6% 1981 4 2 3 1 5 6 157 101.6% 23.5% 51.0% 1982 5 2 3 1 4 6 247 104.4% 24.1% 52.3% 1983 5 2 3 1 4 6 258 109.7% 25.3% 52.0% 1984 4 2 3 1 5 6 262 110.9% 25.6% 52.9% 1985 5 2 3 1 4 6 256 108.9% 25.1% 52.3%
References & Resources
Methodology
First, we identify every player in the major leagues each season with at least five career Win Shares. Then we identify which major league organization was responsible for originally signing and developing that player (or perhaps not originally signing him, but clearly being the organization most responsible for developing him). Finally, we credit every season’s production of major league Win Shares by that player to that organization, regardless of whether he actually played that season for that organization.
Sometimes it’s impossible to assign a player to one organization. Lots of players were signed by one team, but then acquired by another organization while still young minor leaguers. For such players, we assign half-credit to each of the two organizations (and in a few cases, we assign one-third-credit to each of three organizations).
In the early 1980s, a handful of players weren’t the products of any major league team’s farm system, having been purchased from independent teams in the Mexican League. The Win Shares of such players aren’t counted in this analysis.