The Value Production Standings: 1990-1993
Our earlier journeys have taken us to 1946-1950, 1951-1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1965, 1966-1970, 1971-1975, 1976-1980, 1981-1985, and 1986-1989. Now we’re ready to delve into the decade of Gulf War I, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the arrival in the White House of Mr. & Mrs. Clinton.
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 1990 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Red Sox 280 9.1% 4.5% 88 7.8% -1.3% Yankees 249 8.1% 4.0% 67 5.9% -2.2% Blue Jays 238 7.7% 3.9% 86 7.6% -0.1% Brewers 210 6.8% 3.4% 74 6.5% -0.3% Tigers 202 6.5% 3.3% 79 7.0% 0.4% Orioles 183 5.9% 3.0% 76 6.7% 0.8% Indians 142 4.6% 2.3% 77 6.8% 2.2% East Division 1504 48.8% 24.4% 547 48.3% -0.5% 215 90.8% Mariners 281 9.1% 4.6% 77 6.8% -2.3% Royals 266 8.6% 4.3% 75 6.6% -2.0% Athletics 257 8.3% 4.2% 103 9.1% 0.8% Angels 213 6.9% 3.5% 80 7.1% 0.2% Rangers 193 6.3% 3.1% 83 7.3% 1.1% Twins 186 6.0% 3.0% 74 6.5% 0.5% White Sox 184 6.0% 3.0% 94 8.3% 2.3% West Division 1580 51.2% 25.7% 586 51.7% 0.5% 226 95.4% AL Total 3084 100.0% 50.1% 1133 100.0% 0.0% 220 93.1% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Mets 402 13.1% 6.5% 91 9.4% -3.7% Pirates 327 10.7% 5.3% 95 9.8% -0.9% Expos 277 9.0% 4.5% 85 8.7% -0.3% Cubs 254 8.3% 4.1% 77 7.9% -0.4% Phillies 226 7.4% 3.7% 77 7.9% 0.6% Cardinals 195 6.4% 3.2% 70 7.2% 0.8% East Division 1681 54.8% 27.3% 495 50.9% -3.8% 280 118.4% Reds 299 9.7% 4.9% 91 9.4% -0.4% Dodgers 281 9.2% 4.6% 86 8.8% -0.3% Giants 251 8.2% 4.1% 85 8.7% 0.6% Braves 228 7.4% 3.7% 65 6.7% -0.7% Padres 222 7.2% 3.6% 75 7.7% 0.5% Astros 108 3.5% 1.8% 75 7.7% 4.2% West Division 1389 45.2% 22.6% 477 49.1% 3.8% 232 97.8% NL Total 3070 100.0% 49.9% 972 100.0% 0.0% 256 108.1% MLB Total 6154 n/a 100.0% 2105 n/a n/a 237 100.0%
In 1990, the White Sox finished last in the American League West in WSP. This was nothing unusual: It was the sixth straight last-place performance by the White Sox farm system. Indeed, since the inception of farm systems, few had been as consistently noncompetitive as that of the White Sox. Since 1946, their best performances had been fourth in the 10-team AL of 1968, and a handful of third-place finishes in the six-team AL West in the 1969-73 period. (Interestingly, the White Sox shared this unflattering characteristic with the Cubs; despite the resources of one of baseball’s hugest markets, both Chicago teams persistently failed to build competitive farm systems.)
Yet over the decades the White Sox managed to be reasonably competitive on the field. The 1990 edition was particularly so: Despite being last in the division in organizational talent production, they won 94 games. Their only significant home-grown contributors were closer Bobby Thigpen (who set the still-standing record with 57 saves), starter Jack McDowell, third baseman Robin Ventura and a mid-season call-up, rookie first baseman Frank Thomas. GM Larry Himes had acquired the rest of their key talent in trade, along with one key free agent in veteran star catcher Carlton Fisk.
By contrast, the Mets led the major leagues in WSP in 1990. But like the White Sox, they were a second-place team on the field. The Mets retained a core of outstanding system-developed talent, in right fielder Darryl Strawberry, infielders Dave Magadan and Gregg Jefferies and pitcher Dwight Gooden.
But in a string of trades enacted by GM Frank Cashen over the past several seasons, most of the “win now” orientation, the Mets had expended a bounty: outfielders Lenny Dykstra (Phillies), Kevin Mitchell (Giants) and Hubie Brooks (Dodgers), first baseman Randy Milligan (Orioles), infielder Jose Oquendo (Cardinals) and pitchers Randy Myers (Reds), Rick Aguilera (Twins) and Greg Harris (Red Sox). And, of course, one long-ago unfortunate trade still haunted them, in the ageless figure of Nolan Ryan (Rangers).
The surprise team of 1990 was the Reds, who won their first division title since 1979, then went all the way, shocking the heavily favored Athletics in a World Series sweep.
Cincinnati had presented a strong farm system for years, and the championship team was largely home-grown, including shortstop Barry Larkin, third baseman Chris Sabo, outfielders Eric Davis and Paul O’Neill, catcher Joe Oliver and pitchers Rob Dibble, Tom Browning and Jack Armstrong.
The WSP gap between the leagues
The American League led the National in overall major league Win Share production in 1990, by a margin of 50.1% to 49.9%. This was the first time the AL had prevailed by this measure since 1950, a 40-year span. Of course, given that the AL had 14 franchises to the NL’s 12 in 1990, the American still trailed in average franchise WSP, with the typical American League team producing just 93.1% of the major league average. Still, the leagues hadn’t been closer in production rate since way back in 1956. The gap between the leagues remained, but it appeared to be closing meaningfully.
The 1991 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Red Sox 264 8.4% 4.3% 84 7.4% -1.0% Yankees 233 7.4% 3.8% 71 6.3% -1.2% Brewers 230 7.3% 3.7% 83 7.3% 0.0% Tigers 214 6.8% 3.5% 84 7.4% 0.6% Blue Jays 207 6.6% 3.4% 91 8.0% 1.4% Orioles 198 6.3% 3.2% 67 5.9% -0.4% Indians 136 4.3% 2.2% 57 5.0% 0.7% East Division 1482 47.2% 24.0% 537 47.4% 0.1% 212 89.2% Athletics 292 9.3% 4.7% 84 7.4% -1.9% Mariners 263 8.4% 4.3% 83 7.3% -1.1% Royals 248 7.9% 4.0% 82 7.2% -0.7% Rangers 225 7.2% 3.6% 85 7.5% 0.3% Angels 218 6.9% 3.5% 81 7.1% 0.2% White Sox 208 6.6% 3.4% 87 7.7% 1.0% Twins 203 6.5% 3.3% 95 8.4% 1.9% West Division 1657 52.8% 26.8% 597 52.6% -0.1% 237 99.7% AL Total 3139 100.0% 50.9% 1134 100.0% 0.0% 224 94.4% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Pirates 335 11.0% 5.4% 98 10.1% -0.9% Mets 309 10.2% 5.0% 77 7.9% -2.2% Expos 274 9.0% 4.4% 71 7.3% -1.7% Phillies 252 8.3% 4.1% 78 8.0% -0.3% Cubs 237 7.8% 3.8% 77 7.9% 0.1% Cardinals 205 6.8% 3.3% 84 8.7% 1.9% East Division 1612 53.1% 26.1% 485 50.0% -3.1% 269 113.2% Reds 284 9.4% 4.6% 74 7.6% -1.7% Padres 283 9.3% 4.6% 84 8.7% -0.7% Braves 266 8.8% 4.3% 94 9.7% 0.9% Giants 249 8.2% 4.0% 75 7.7% -0.5% Dodgers 240 7.9% 3.9% 93 9.6% 1.7% Astros 100 3.3% 1.6% 65 6.7% 3.4% West Division 1422 46.9% 23.0% 485 50.0% 3.1% 237 99.8% NL Total 3034 100.0% 49.1% 970 100.0% 0.0% 253 106.5% MLB Total 6173 n/a 100.0% 2104 n/a n/a 237 100.0%
The Twins were world champs in 1991, yet like the White Sox of 1990, they were last in the AL West in WSP. Minnesota featured four organizationally produced stars: center fielder Kirby Puckett, second baseman Chuck Knoblauch, first baseman Kent Hrbek and pitcher Scott Erickson. But all other keys to the ball club’s success were imported: designated hitter Chili Davis, right fielder Shane Mack, catcher Brian Harper and pitchers Kevin Tapani, Jack Morris and Rick Aguilera.
Two organizations presented extraordinarily weak farm production in 1991. The 90-year-old Cleveland Indians franchise was at its nadir. Through the 1950s the Indians had one of the most productive systems in the majors, but since the mid-1960s they’d been perpetually mediocre in organizational talent production.
By 1991 they were last in the American League in WSP with a paltry 136, the team on the field was a 57-105 disaster and their attendance was 25th among the 26 major league franchises. Their only bright spots were three system-produced young talents in left fielder Albert Belle and pitchers Greg Swindell and Charles Nagy, and an infielder they’d acquired in trade, 22-year-old Carlos Baerga.
The Astros had been a highly productive organization through the 1970s, though they had little to show for it in on-field results. But over the 1980s, Houston’s talent production had steeply declined, and in 1991 the system produced just 100 Win Shares, the most meager total by a non-recent-expansion franchise in a non-strike-shortened season since the 1963 Kansas City Athletics. The ’91 Astros did feature three strong home-grown regulars, in catcher Craig Biggio, third baseman Ken Caminiti and left fielder Luis Gonzalez, but the organization’s dearth of production had the Astros struggling to fill holes, and the team’s 65-97, last-place performance was its worst since 1975.
The 1992 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Brewers 297 9.3% 4.8% 92 8.1% -1.2% Yankees 257 8.0% 4.1% 76 6.7% -1.3% Red Sox 226 7.1% 3.6% 73 6.4% -0.6% Orioles 215 6.7% 3.5% 89 7.8% 1.1% Blue Jays 199 6.2% 3.2% 96 8.5% 2.2% Tigers 198 6.2% 3.2% 75 6.6% 0.4% Indians 136 4.3% 2.2% 76 6.7% 2.5% East Division 1528 47.8% 24.6% 577 50.9% 3.1% 218 91.4% Athletics 282 8.8% 4.5% 96 8.5% -0.3% Angels 274 8.6% 4.4% 72 6.3% -2.2% Rangers 246 7.7% 4.0% 77 6.8% -0.9% Royals 245 7.7% 3.9% 72 6.3% -1.3% White Sox 227 7.1% 3.7% 86 7.6% 0.5% Twins 201 6.3% 3.2% 90 7.9% 1.7% Mariners 197 6.2% 3.2% 64 5.6% -0.5% West Division 1672 52.3% 26.9% 557 49.1% -3.1% 239 100.0% AL Total 3200 100.0% 51.5% 1134 100.0% 0.0% 229 95.7% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Expos 324 10.8% 5.2% 87 9.0% -1.8% Pirates 304 10.1% 4.9% 96 9.9% -0.2% Cardinals 292 9.7% 4.7% 83 8.5% -1.2% Cubs 258 8.6% 4.2% 78 8.0% -0.5% Mets 239 7.9% 3.8% 72 7.4% -0.5% Phillies 210 7.0% 3.4% 70 7.2% 0.2% East Division 1627 54.1% 26.2% 486 50.0% -4.1% 271 113.5% Dodgers 292 9.7% 4.7% 63 6.5% -3.2% Padres 290 9.6% 4.7% 82 8.4% -1.2% Reds 245 8.1% 3.9% 90 9.3% 1.1% Braves 212 7.0% 3.4% 98 10.1% 3.0% Giants 201 6.7% 3.2% 72 7.4% 0.7% Astros 143 4.8% 2.3% 81 8.3% 3.6% West Division 1383 45.9% 22.3% 486 50.0% 4.1% 231 96.5% NL Total 3010 100.0% 48.5% 972 100.0% 0.0% 251 105.0% MLB Total 6210 n/a 100.0% 2106 n/a n/a 239 100.0%
Since the early 1970s, the talent development of the Pirates had generally been among the best in baseball. Their 1992 ball club, led by system-produced MVP left fielder Barry Bonds, cruised to a third consecutive division flag.
The depth of Pittsburgh production was such that the Pirates remained elite achievers despite having surrendered quite a bit of home-grown talent: pitchers John Smiley (Twins) and Steve Farr (Yankees), infielder Bip Roberts (Reds) and outfielders Jay Buhner (Mariners), Moises Alou (Expos), Joe Orsulak (Orioles) and Bobby Bonilla (Mets).
The inclusion of Bonilla on that list was ominous: He hadn’t been traded by the Pirates, but instead recently had been lured away by a hefty free agent contract. Despite the Pirates’ run of on-field success, their attendance languished below league average, and Bonilla’s departure was a path that Bonds was about to follow.
For the second year in a row, the Pirates were thwarted in the NLCS by Atlanta. The Braves’ overall farm production was mediocre, but they had produced an impressive core of young stars in pitchers Tom Glavine and Steve Avery, outfielders David Justice and Ron Gant and infielder Jeff Blauser.
GMs Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz blended them with free agent signings in third baseman Terry Pendleton and outfielder Deion Sanders, and trade acquisitions in outfielder Otis Nixon and pitchers John Smoltz and Charlie Leibrandt. The Braves were a repeat pennant winner.
But for the second straight season, the Braves lost the World Series, and this time the victor was Toronto, bringing baseball’s ultimate title to Canada for the first time. Like the Braves, the Blue Jays presented nothing special in total production, but they had some key home-grown talent on hand, namely first baseman John Olerud, catcher Pat Borders and pitchers Jimmy Key and Todd Stottlemyre.
But even more than the Braves, the Blue Jays under GM Pat Gillick had artfully weaved in perfect fits: veteran free agents in ace starter Jack Morris and designated hitter Dave Winfield and trade acquisitions in second baseman Roberto Alomar, outfielders Joe Carter, Devon White and Candy Maldonado and pitchers Juan Guzman, Duane Ward and David Cone.
The 1993 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Yankees 302 8.9% 4.6% 88 7.8% -1.1% Blue Jays 274 8.1% 4.1% 95 8.4% 0.3% Red Sox 256 7.5% 3.9% 80 7.1% -0.5% Brewers 232 6.8% 3.5% 69 6.1% -0.7% Tigers 217 6.4% 3.3% 85 7.5% 1.1% Orioles 160 4.7% 2.4% 85 7.5% 2.8% Indians 141 4.1% 2.1% 76 6.7% 2.6% East Division 1582 46.5% 23.9% 578 51.0% 4.5% 226 95.8% Rangers 311 9.1% 4.7% 86 7.6% -1.6% Royals 290 8.5% 4.4% 84 7.4% -1.1% Angels 288 8.5% 4.4% 71 6.3% -2.2% Athletics 276 8.1% 4.2% 68 6.0% -2.1% Mariners 230 6.8% 3.5% 82 7.2% 0.5% Twins 213 6.3% 3.2% 71 6.3% 0.0% White Sox 211 6.2% 3.2% 94 8.3% 2.1% West Division 1819 53.5% 27.5% 556 49.0% -4.5% 260 110.1% AL Total 3401 100.0% 51.5% 1134 100.0% 0.0% 243 103.0% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Expos 343 10.7% 5.2% 94 8.3% -2.4% Pirates 285 8.9% 4.3% 75 6.6% -2.3% Cardinals 282 8.8% 4.3% 87 7.7% -1.1% Mets 269 8.4% 4.1% 59 5.2% -3.2% Cubs 267 8.3% 4.0% 84 7.4% -0.9% Phillies 184 5.7% 2.8% 97 8.6% 2.8% Marlins 0 0.0% 0.0% 64 5.6% 5.6% East Division 1630 50.8% 24.7% 560 49.4% -1.5% 233 98.7% Dodgers 339 10.6% 5.1% 81 7.1% -3.4% Padres 297 9.3% 4.5% 61 5.4% -3.9% Braves 281 8.8% 4.3% 104 9.2% 0.4% Reds 259 8.1% 3.9% 73 6.4% -1.6% Giants 239 7.5% 3.6% 103 9.1% 1.6% Astros 161 5.0% 2.4% 85 7.5% 2.5% Rockies 0 0.0% 0.0% 67 5.9% 5.9% West Division 1576 49.2% 23.9% 574 44.7% 1.5% 225 95.4% NL Total 3206 100.0% 48.5% 1134 94.1% 0.0% 229 97.0% MLB Total 6607 n/a 100.0% 2268 n/a n/a 236 100.0%
The 1993 Yankees presented their first over-.500 ball club since 1988, and the franchise led the AL East in WSP for the first time since 1971. Most of this farm bounty had been traded away, including first basemen Fred McGriff (Padres–Braves), Hal Morris (Reds) and J.T. Snow (Angels), shortstop Greg Gagne (Royals), third baseman Mike Pagliarulo (Twins–Orioles), outfielders Otis Nixon and Deion Sanders (Braves), Willie McGee (Giants) and Roberto Kelly (Reds) and pitchers Jose Rijo (Reds), Bob Tewksbury (Cardinals), Eric Plunk (Indians) and Al Leiter (Blue Jays).
But still in pinstripes were home-growns in young center fielder Bernie Williams, young second baseman Pat Kelly, veteran first baseman Don Mattingly and hard-hitting utility man Jim Leyritz. Combined with a trade acquisition (outfielder Paul O’Neill) and a strong cohort of free agent signees (catcher Mike Stanley, pitcher Jimmy Key, outfielder Danny Tartabull and third baseman Wade Boggs), the Yankees were a contender again.
Montreal and Philadelphia battled it out for supremacy in the NL East, while presenting vivid contrasts in team construction. The Expos led the majors in WSP, and featured a lineup brimming with outstanding system-produced young talent, including outfielders Marquis Grissom and Larry Walker, infielders Delino DeShields, Mike Lansing and Wil Cordero and pitchers Mel Rojas, Kirk Rueter and Chris Nabholz.
But the Expos’ 94 wins weren’t enough; they were nosed out by a Phillies team that was 23rd in the majors in WSP. Catcher Darren Daulton was the lone home-grown star, but he was joined by a wealth of talent imported by GM Lee Thomas through adroit trades and free agent signings: outfielders Lenny Dykstra, Pete Incaviglia and Jim Eisenreich, first baseman John Kruk, infielder Mariano Duncan and pitchers Curt Schilling, Tommy Greene, Danny Jackson, Terry Mulholland, Mitch Williams and David West, plus a Rule 5 draftee, third baseman Dave Hollins.
The WSP gap between the leagues
In 1993, the average American League franchise produced 103% of the major league average WSP, finally snapping the National League’s 42-season streak of superiority. However, this feat was greatly facilitated by the NL’s 1993 expansion: Remove the first-year Marlins and Rockies from the equation (neither organization produced any major league Win Shares in 1993), and the average NL franchise was more productive than its AL counterpart for a 43rd consecutive year. Nevertheless, expansion factor or not, the gap between the leagues had been narrowing for several years, and genuine parity at last seemed to be close at hand.
The Value Production Standings Summary, 1946-1993
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%
1986 3 5 1 2 6 4 7 200 85.6% 23.0% 47.7%
1987 5 4 1 3 6 2 7 216 91.3% 24.6% 49.3%
1988 6 5 1 3 4 2 7 216 91.7% 24.7% 49.2%
1989 4 6 1 3 5 2 7 211 88.6% 23.9% 49.9%
1990 6 5 1 2 7 4 3 215 90.8% 24.4% 50.1%
1991 6 4 1 2 7 4 5 212 89.2% 24.0% 50.9%
1992 4 6 3 2 7 1 5 218 91.4% 24.6% 51.5%
1993 6 5 3 1 7 4 2 226 95.8% 23.9% 51.5%
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%
1986 2 5 7 1 4 3 6 213 91.4% 24.6% 47.7%
1987 2 6 7 4 1 3 5 217 91.9% 24.7% 49.3%
1988 2 4 7 3 1 6 5 214 90.9% 24.5% 49.2%
1989 4 5 7 3 2 5 1 230 96.7% 26.0% 49.9%
1990 3 6 7 4 2 5 1 226 95.4% 25.7% 50.1%
1991 1 7 6 5 3 4 2 237 99.7% 26.8% 50.9%
1992 1 6 5 2 4 3 7 239 100.0% 26.9% 51.5%
1993 4 6 7 3 2 1 5 260 110.1% 27.5% 51.5%
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 FLA Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLE WSP NL WSP 1969 1 2 3 4 5 6 x 218 91.1% 22.8% 54.7% 1970 1 2 4 5 3 6 x 221 91.9% 23.0% 55.3% 1971 1 3 5 2 4 6 x 230 95.7% 23.9% 54.0% 1972 1 2 4 3 5 6 x 244 106.1% 26.5% 57.0% 1973 1 3 5 2 4 6 x 239 99.7% 24.9% 58.0% 1974 1 4 5 3 2 6 x 249 104.9% 26.2% 56.2% 1975 1 2 5 3 4 6 x 247 104.2% 26.1% 55.6% 1976 1 2 5 3 4 6 x 254 106.8% 26.7% 55.7% 1977 1 2 5 4 3 6 x 290 123.4% 28.5% 53.9% 1978 1 3 5 4 2 6 x 285 120.7% 27.9% 53.3% 1979 1 3 6 4 2 5 x 289 123.5% 28.5% 52.3% 1980 1 2 6 4 3 5 x 280 119.7% 27.6% 50.6% 1981 1 2 6 3 4 5 x 185 119.5% 27.6% 51.0% 1982 1 3 6 5 2 4 x 289 122.3% 28.2% 52.3% 1983 3 1 6 5 2 4 x 272 115.8% 26.7% 52.0% 1984 2 3 6 4 1 5 x 280 118.5% 27.4% 52.9% 1985 4 2 6 3 1 5 x 276 117.7% 27.2% 52.3% 1986 4 3 6 2 1 5 x 280 120.0% 27.7% 52.3% 1987 5 2 6 3 1 4 x 272 115.2% 26.6% 50.7% 1988 2 5 4 1 3 6 x 280 119.0% 27.5% 50.8% 1989 2 6 4 1 3 5 x 271 113.8% 26.3% 50.1% 1990 2 6 4 1 5 3 x 280 118.4% 27.3% 49.9% 1991 1 6 5 2 4 3 x 269 113.2% 26.1% 49.1% 1992 2 3 4 5 6 1 x 271 113.5% 26.2% 48.5% 1993 2 3 5 4 6 1 7 233 98.7% 24.7% 48.5%
National League West Division
Year SFG CIN ATL LAD HOU SDP COL Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLW WSP NL WSP 1969 1 2 3 4 5 6 x 306 127.7% 31.9% 54.7% 1970 1 2 3 4 5 6 x 311 129.4% 32.3% 55.3% 1971 1 2 3 4 5 6 x 289 120.4% 30.1% 54.0% 1972 2 1 4 5 3 6 x 280 121.7% 30.4% 57.0% 1973 1 2 5 3 4 6 x 317 132.2% 33.1% 58.0% 1974 2 1 5 3 4 6 x 285 120.0% 30.0% 56.2% 1975 1 2 5 4 3 6 x 279 118.0% 29.5% 55.6% 1976 1 3 5 2 4 6 x 275 115.9% 29.0% 55.7% 1977 1 3 5 2 4 6 x 259 110.3% 25.5% 53.9% 1978 1 3 4 2 5 6 x 261 110.3% 25.5% 53.3% 1979 1 3 5 2 4 6 x 242 103.1% 23.8% 52.3% 1980 4 1 5 2 3 6 x 233 99.5% 23.0% 50.6% 1981 4 2 3 1 5 6 x 157 101.6% 23.5% 51.0% 1982 5 2 3 1 4 6 x 247 104.4% 24.1% 52.3% 1983 5 2 3 1 4 6 x 258 109.7% 25.3% 52.0% 1984 4 2 3 1 5 6 x 262 110.9% 25.6% 52.9% 1985 5 2 3 1 4 6 x 256 108.9% 25.1% 52.3% 1986 3 2 4 1 6 5 x 249 106.9% 24.7% 52.3% 1987 3 2 4 1 6 5 x 247 104.4% 24.1% 50.7% 1988 3T 2 3T 1 6 5 x 238 101.3% 23.4% 50.8% 1989 3 1 5 2 6 4 x 246 103.3% 23.8% 50.1% 1990 3 1 4 2 6 5 x 232 97.8% 22.6% 49.9% 1991 4 1 3 5 6 2 x 237 99.8% 23.0% 49.1% 1992 5 3 4 1 6 2 x 231 96.5% 22.3% 48.5% 1993 5 4 3 1 6 2 7 225 95.4% 23.9% 48.5%
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).
Into the 1990s, 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.