The Value Production Standings: 1994-1997
Our earlier journeys have taken us to 1946-1950, 1951-1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1965, 1966-1970, 1971-1975, 1976-1980, 1981-1985, 1986-1989 and 1990-1993. Now it’s time to get right into the heart of the era of Beavis & Butthead, Kosmo Kramer and Monica Lewinsky.
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 1994 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Blue Jays 251 10.1% 5.4% 55 6.9% -3.2% Yankees 221 8.9% 4.7% 70 8.8% -0.1% Red Sox 195 7.9% 4.2% 54 6.8% -1.1% Orioles 145 5.9% 3.1% 63 7.9% 2.1% Tigers 139 5.6% 3.0% 53 6.6% 1.0% East Division 951 38.4% 20.4% 295 37.0% -1.4% 190 114.0% Royals 252 10.2% 5.4% 64 8.0% -2.1% Twins 168 6.8% 3.6% 53 6.6% -0.1% White Sox 152 6.1% 3.3% 67 8.4% 2.3% Brewers 128 5.2% 2.7% 53 6.6% 1.5% Indians 116 4.7% 2.5% 66 8.3% 3.6% Central Div. 816 32.9% 17.5% 303 38.0% 5.1% 163 97.8% Athletics 203 8.2% 4.3% 51 6.4% -1.8% Rangers 198 8.0% 4.2% 52 6.5% -1.5% Angels 168 6.8% 3.6% 47 5.9% -0.9% Mariners 141 5.7% 3.0% 49 6.1% 0.5% West Division 710 28.7% 15.2% 199 25.0% -3.7% 178 106.4% AL Total 2477 100.0% 53.0% 797 100.0% -5.1% 177 106.1% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Expos 233 10.6% 5.0% 74 9.1% -1.5% Braves 181 8.2% 3.9% 68 8.4% 0.1% Mets 161 7.3% 3.4% 55 6.8% -0.6% Phillies 155 7.1% 3.3% 54 6.7% -0.4% Marlins 1 0.0% 0.0% 51 6.3% 6.2% East Division 731 33.3% 15.6% 302 37.2% 3.9% 146 87.6% Cardinals 188 8.6% 4.0% 53 6.5% -2.0% Pirates 186 8.5% 4.0% 53 6.5% -2.0% Cubs 185 8.4% 4.0% 49 6.0% -2.4% Reds 177 8.1% 3.8% 66 8.1% 0.1% Astros 140 6.4% 3.0% 66 8.1% 1.7% Central Div. 876 39.9% 18.8% 287 35.3% -4.6% 175 105.0% Dodgers 228 10.4% 4.9% 68 8.4% -2.0% Padres 206 9.4% 4.4% 47 5.8% -3.6% Giants 153 7.0% 3.3% 55 6.8% -0.2% Rockies 0 0.0% 0.0% 53 6.5% 6.5% West Division 587 26.8% 12.6% 223 27.5% 0.7% 147 88.0% NL Total 2194 100.0% 47.0% 812 100.0% 0.0% 157 93.9% MLB Total 4671 n/a 100.0% 1609 n/a n/a 167 100.0%
Since their inception in 1969, the Kansas City Royals had been widely admired as a model major league franchise. Great trades by their first GM, Cedric Tallis, built the team into a nearly instant contender, and then the organization constructed a strong farm system that sustained it as a consistently competitive team through the 1980s. Tallis passed the GM baton to Joe Burke, who handed it off to John Schuerholz, who in turn was succeeded by Herk Robinson, but through it all the tone of solid, practical competence remained.
In 1994, for the first time in their history, the Royals led the major leagues in WSP. Their system had produced quite a bit of first-rate talent playing elsewhere in 1994: pitchers Bret Saberhagen (Mets) and Tom Candiotti (Dodgers), outfielder Jeff Conine (Marlins), first baseman Cecil Fielder (Tigers) and third basemen Kevin Seitzer (Brewers) and Sean Berry (Expos). Still, Kansas City finished a strong third in the AL Central’s strike-abbreviated season, and much of its talent was home-grown, including pitchers Kevin Appier and Tom Gordon, designated hitter Bob Hamelin, center fielder Brian McRae and catcher Mike Macfarlane. The Royals’ biggest star, Cy Young Award-winning ace David Cone, was an organizational product whom they’d let get away, but he was now back on board as a free agent signee.
However, one key element about the 1994 Royals was different from the past: During the previous off-season they’d been sold by the estate of recently deceased founding owner Ewing Kauffman. Under the new ownership of David Glass, the franchise would soon decline, and has achieved a winning record just once since 1994.
The 1995 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Yankees 273 8.8% 4.7% 79 7.8% -0.9% Blue Jays 253 8.1% 4.3% 56 5.6% -2.6% Red Sox 227 7.3% 3.9% 86 8.5% 1.2% Tigers 188 6.0% 3.2% 60 5.9% -0.1% Orioles 169 5.4% 2.9% 71 7.0% 1.6% East Division 1110 35.6% 18.9% 352 34.9% -0.7% 222 105.9% Royals 238 7.6% 4.1% 70 6.9% -0.7% Twins 230 7.4% 3.9% 56 5.6% -1.8% Indians 218 7.0% 3.7% 100 9.9% 2.9% Brewers 192 6.2% 3.3% 65 6.4% 0.3% White Sox 170 5.4% 2.9% 68 6.7% 1.3% Central Div. 1048 33.6% 17.9% 359 35.6% 2.0% 210 100.0% Rangers 272 8.7% 4.6% 74 7.3% -1.4% Athletics 254 8.1% 4.3% 67 6.6% -1.5% Angels 242 7.8% 4.1% 78 7.7% 0.0% Mariners 194 6.2% 3.3% 79 7.8% 1.6% West Division 962 30.8% 16.4% 298 29.5% -1.3% 241 114.7% AL Total 3120 100.0% 53.2% 1009 100.0% -2.0% 223 106.3% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Expos 288 10.5% 4.9% 66 6.6% -3.9% Braves 240 8.7% 4.1% 90 8.9% 0.2% Mets 215 7.8% 3.7% 69 6.9% -1.0% Phillies 145 5.3% 2.5% 69 6.9% 1.6% Marlins 12 0.4% 0.2% 67 6.7% 6.2% East Division 900 32.7% 15.3% 361 35.8% 3.1% 180 85.9% Pirates 260 9.5% 4.4% 58 5.8% -3.7% Cardinals 244 8.9% 4.2% 62 6.2% -2.7% Cubs 221 8.0% 3.8% 73 7.2% -0.8% Reds 214 7.8% 3.6% 85 8.4% 0.7% Astros 176 6.4% 3.0% 76 7.5% 1.1% Central Div. 1115 40.6% 19.0% 354 35.2% -5.4% 223 106.4% Dodgers 323 11.7% 5.5% 78 7.7% -4.0% Padres 199 7.2% 3.4% 70 7.0% -0.3% Giants 191 6.9% 3.3% 67 6.7% -0.3% Rockies 21 0.8% 0.4% 77 7.6% 6.9% West Division 734 26.7% 12.5% 292 29.0% 2.3% 184 87.5% NL Total 2749 100.0% 46.8% 1007 100.0% 0.0% 196 93.7% MLB Total 5869 n/a 100.0% 2016 n/a n/a 210 100.0%
The Cleveland Indians had been moribund in the early 1990s, but by 1995 their resurrection was dazzling. Owner Richard Jacobs had put up 52% of the funding for a brand-new showplace ballpark which was filled with nearly 40,000 fans per game, and the GM Jacobs had hired in late 1991, John Hart, had quickly assembled a tremendous ball club.
Packed with exceptional young system-developed talent, including heavy-hitting outfielders Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez, powerful third baseman Jim Thome, and pitchers Charles Nagy, Chad Ogea and Julian Tavarez, the 1995 Indians produced a stunning 100-44 record in the strike-shortened regular season, and won two rounds of the playoffs before finally being defeated in the World Series.
The team that vanquished Cleveland was the Braves, who under GM John Schuerholz were an elegant blend of home-grown and imported talent. Farm products included infielders Chipper Jones, Mark Lemke and Jeff Blauser, outfielders David Justice and Ryan Klesko, catcher Javy Lopez, and pitchers Tom Glavine, Mark Wohlers and Steve Avery.
Key trade acquisitions were pitcher John Smoltz and first baseman Fred McGriff, and the team’s greatest star had been signed as a free agent: the astounding Greg Maddux, winning his fourth consecutive Cy Young Award.
For the Expos, 1995 was a year of extraordinary frustration. They’d posted the best record in the major leagues in 1994, only to have that season cut short by the work stoppage. In ’95, they lost star right fielder Larry Walker to free agency, payroll-shedding trades cost them center fielder Marquis Grissom and pitchers Ken Hill and John Wetteland, and the Expos finished last in their division despite being second-best in the majors in WSP.
In addition to Walker and Grissom, Montreal products no longer in Quebec included outfielder Tim Raines (White Sox), infielder-outfielder Tony Phillips (Angels), second baseman Delino DeShields (Dodgers) and first basemen Andres Galarraga (Rockies) and Greg Colbrunn (Marlins).
The 1996 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Yankees 304 8.5% 4.6% 92 8.1% -0.4% Blue Jays 303 8.5% 4.6% 74 6.5% -1.9% Red Sox 287 8.0% 4.3% 85 7.5% -0.5% Orioles 182 5.1% 2.7% 88 7.8% 2.7% Tigers 180 5.0% 2.7% 53 4.7% -0.4% East Division 1256 35.2% 18.9% 392 34.6% -0.5% 251 106.1% Twins 264 7.4% 4.0% 78 6.9% -0.5% Royals 262 7.3% 4.0% 75 6.6% -0.7% Brewers 251 7.0% 3.8% 80 7.1% 0.0% Indians 221 6.2% 3.3% 99 8.7% 2.6% White Sox 205 5.7% 3.1% 85 7.5% 1.8% Central Div. 1203 33.7% 18.1% 417 36.8% 3.2% 241 101.6% Rangers 315 8.8% 4.8% 90 8.0% -0.9% Athletics 298 8.3% 4.5% 78 6.9% -1.5% Angels 261 7.3% 3.9% 70 6.2% -1.1% Mariners 239 6.7% 3.6% 85 7.5% 0.8% West Division 1113 31.2% 16.8% 323 28.5% -2.6% 278 117.5% AL Total 3572 100.0% 53.9% 1132 100.0% -3.2% 255 107.8% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Expos 314 10.3% 4.7% 88 7.8% -2.5% Braves 256 8.4% 3.9% 96 8.5% 0.1% Mets 230 7.5% 3.5% 71 6.3% -1.3% Phillies 160 5.2% 2.4% 67 5.9% 0.7% Marlins 31 1.0% 0.5% 80 7.1% 6.0% East Division 991 32.4% 14.9% 402 35.4% 3.0% 198 83.7% Pirates 287 9.4% 4.3% 73 6.4% -2.9% Cardinals 262 8.6% 4.0% 88 7.8% -0.8% Cubs 224 7.3% 3.4% 76 6.7% -0.6% Reds 224 7.3% 3.4% 81 7.1% -0.2% Astros 217 7.1% 3.3% 82 7.2% 0.1% Central Div. 1214 39.7% 18.3% 400 35.3% -4.4% 243 102.5% Dodgers 403 13.2% 6.1% 90 7.9% -5.2% Padres 243 7.9% 3.7% 91 8.0% 0.1% Giants 181 5.9% 2.7% 68 6.0% 0.1% Rockies 26 0.9% 0.4% 83 7.3% 6.5% West Division 853 27.9% 12.9% 332 29.3% 1.4% 213 90.1% NL Total 3058 100.0% 46.1% 1134 100.0% 0.0% 218 92.2% MLB Total 6630 n/a 100.0% 2266 n/a n/a 237 100.0%
Since the early 1980s, no other franchise had demonstrated consistently outstanding farm system production equal to that of the Dodgers. Their 1996 WSP of 403 led the majors by a wide margin, and was the team’s most since 1986. The ’96 Dodgers were a wild card winner, well-stocked with home-grown talent including catcher Mike Piazza, outfielders Raul Mondesi and Todd Hollandsworth, first baseman Eric Karros, and pitchers Ismael Valdez, Pedro Astacio, Ramon Martinez, Antonio Osuna and Chan Ho Park.
The list of Dodger products standing out elsewhere was a long one: outfielder Henry Rodriguez (Expos), infielders Jose Offerman (Royals), Eric Young (Rockies), Jose Vizcaino (Mets–Indians) and Mariano Duncan (Yankees) and pitchers Juan Guzman (Blue Jays), Pedro Martinez (Expos), Orel Hershisher (Indians), John Wetteland (Yankees) and John Franco (Mets).
The 1997 Value Production Standings
AL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Blue Jays 340 9.5% 5.2% 76 6.8% -2.8% Yankees 333 9.4% 5.0% 96 8.6% -0.8% Red Sox 282 7.9% 4.3% 78 7.0% -1.0% Orioles 216 6.1% 3.3% 98 8.7% 2.7% Tigers 189 5.3% 2.9% 79 7.0% 1.7% East Division 1360 38.2% 20.6% 427 38.1% -0.1% 272 115.4% Indians 253 7.1% 3.8% 86 7.7% 0.6% Twins 237 6.7% 3.6% 68 6.1% -0.6% Brewers 237 6.7% 3.6% 78 7.0% 0.3% Royals 232 6.5% 3.5% 67 6.0% -0.5% White Sox 203 5.7% 3.1% 80 7.1% 1.4% Central Div. 1162 32.6% 17.6% 379 33.8% 1.1% 232 98.6% Angels 291 8.2% 4.4% 84 7.5% -0.7% Rangers 286 8.0% 4.3% 77 6.9% -1.2% Athletics 238 6.7% 3.6% 65 5.8% -0.9% Mariners 224 6.3% 3.4% 90 8.0% 1.7% West Division 1039 29.2% 15.7% 316 28.2% -1.0% 260 110.2% AL Total 3561 100.0% 53.9% 1122 100.0% -1.1% 254 107.9% NL Organization WSP Lg. WSP MLB WSP W Lg. W W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg. Expos 313 10.3% 4.7% 78 6.8% -3.5% Braves 268 8.8% 4.1% 101 8.8% 0.0% Mets 216 7.1% 3.3% 88 7.7% 0.6% Phillies 174 5.7% 2.6% 68 5.9% 0.2% Marlins 68 2.2% 1.0% 92 8.0% 5.8% East Division 1039 34.2% 15.7% 427 37.3% 3.1% 208 88.1% Pirates 340 11.2% 5.2% 79 6.9% -4.3% Astros 226 7.4% 3.4% 84 7.3% -0.1% Cardinals 217 7.1% 3.3% 73 6.4% -0.8% Cubs 198 6.5% 3.0% 68 5.9% -0.6% Reds 194 6.4% 2.9% 76 6.6% 0.3% Central Div. 1175 38.7% 17.8% 380 33.2% -5.4% 235 99.7% Dodgers 373 12.3% 5.7% 88 7.7% -4.6% Padres 252 8.3% 3.8% 76 6.6% -1.6% Giants 151 5.0% 2.3% 90 7.9% 2.9% Rockies 50 1.6% 0.8% 83 7.3% 5.6% West Division 826 27.2% 12.5% 337 29.5% 2.3% 207 87.6% NL Total 3040 100.0% 46.1% 1144 100.0% 0.0% 217 92.1% MLB Total 6601 n/a 100.0% 2266 n/a n/a 236 100.0%
Over the 1990s the Blue Jays’ organization had emerged as a talent-development powerhouse, and in 1997 for the first time Toronto led the American League in WSP. Yet on the field, following its back-to-back World Series championships of 1992-93, the team had collapsed: 1997 was its fourth consecutive losing season.
The Blue Jays weren’t cash-strapped. The Skydome was still filled with more than 30,000 per game in the mid-1990s, and so they hadn’t been unduly troubled by free agent defections. Pitchers Jimmy Key (Orioles) and Todd Stottlemyre (Cardinals) were the only ones of note.
Instead Toronto, under GM Gord Ash since late 1994, and before that Pat Gillick, had just let too much of its talent get away in trades. The ’97 team featured system-produced standouts in first baseman Carlos Delgado, outfielder Shawn Green and pitchers Pat Hentgen and Woody Williams. But Blue Jays products who’d been traded away included first baseman John Olerud (Mets), infielders Jeff Kent (Giants) and Tony Fernandez (Indians), outfielders Derek Bell (Astros) and Glenallen Hill (Giants) and pitcher Jose Mesa (Indians). Pitcher David Wells (Yankees) had been simply released.
Another team grinding its teeth in 1997 was the Pirates. Their farm system had been excellent for many years, but even when they were winning three straight division flags in 1990-92, their attendance had never risen above the middle of the pack. Consequently when their young stars opted for free agency, the Pirates were unable to keep them in the fold, and Cam Bonifay, who’d taken over as GM in mid-1993, demonstrated little capacity to pull off clever trades or bargain pickups. Thus the ’97 Pirates led the NL Central in WSP by a wide margin, but managed just a 79-83 record (for which Bonifay was incomprehensibly named Executive of the Year by The Sporting News).
Pittsburgh products thriving in opposing uniforms included outfielders Barry Bonds (Giants), Moises Alou (Marlins) and Jay Buhner (Mariners), third basemen Bobby Bonilla (Marlins) and Willie Greene (Reds), first baseman Jeff King (Royals) and pitchers Rick Reed (Mets) and Tim Wakefield (Red Sox).
The situation with the Florida Marlins could hardly have been in starker contrast. In just their fifth season of existence, the Marlins hadn’t had time to reap the full benefits of a farm system, though they had done well in talent development and had already brought catcher Charles Johnson, shortstop Edgar Renteria and pitcher Livan Hernandez to the majors.
But the Marlins, under owner Wayne Huizenga and GM Dave Dombrowski, had spent freely on free agent signings including Alou and Bonilla, center fielder Devon White and pitchers Kevin Brown, Alex Fernandez and Al Leiter. Moreover, they had acquired high-salaried stars via trade in outfielder Gary Sheffield and catcher Darren Daulton. The ’97 Marlins won a wild card berth, and then ran the postseason table and took the World Series, despite having organizationally produced just 68 major league Win Shares.
The WSP gap between the leagues
The American League average team’s WSP was higher than that of the National League every season in the mid-1990s. Largely this was a function of the NL’s 1993 expansion teams, the Marlins and Rockies, driving down the NL average. But even removing the Marlins and Rockies from the analysis, the average AL team still outproduced the average NL team in 1997 by 254 to 244. This margin wasn’t large, but the AL gained in this regard in every season from 1994 through 1997.
Clearly, the distinct superiority the National League had held beginning in the early 1950s was finally erased in the mid-1990s. The proper characterization of the WSP relationship between the leagues in the 1990s was, at last, parity.
The Value Production Standings Summary, 1946-1997
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 Divsion
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 5 219 91.4% 24.6% 51.6%
1993 6 5 3 1 7 4 2 227 96.0% 24.0% 51.5%
BAL DET BOS NYY TOR Avg WSP % ML Avg ALE WSP AL WSP
1994 4 5 3 2 1 190 114.0% 20.4% 53.0%
1995 5 4 3 1 2 222 105.9% 18.9% 53.2%
1996 4 5 3 1 2 251 106.1% 18.9% 53.9%
1997 4 5 3 2 1 272 115.4% 20.6% 53.9%
American League Central Divsion
Year KCR MIN CHW MIL CLE Avg. WSP % ML Avg. ALC WSP AL WSP 1994 1 2 3 4 5 163 97.8% 17.5% 53.0% 1995 1 2 5 4 3 210 100.0% 17.9% 53.2% 1996 2 1 5 3 4 241 101.6% 18.1% 53.9% 1997 4 2T 5 2T 1 232 98.6% 17.6% 53.9%
American League West Divsion
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 7 239 100.1% 27.0% 51.6%
1993 4 6 7 3 2 1 5 260 110.0% 27.5% 51.5%
OAK TEX SEA ANA Avg. WSP % ML Avg. ALW WSP AL WSP
1994 1 2 4 3 178 106.4% 15.2% 53.0%
1995 2 1 4 3 241 114.7% 16.4% 53.2%
1996 2 1 4 3 278 117.5% 16.8% 53.9%
1997 3 2 4 1 260 110.2% 15.7% 53.9%
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 271 113.4% 26.2% 48.4%
1993 2 3 5 4 6 1 7 233 98.6% 24.7% 48.5%
MON ATL FLA NYM PHI Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLE WSP NL WSP
1994 1 2 5 3 4 146 87.6% 15.6% 47.0%
1995 1 2 5 3 4 180 85.9% 15.3% 46.8%
1996 1 2 5 3 4 198 83.7% 14.9% 46.1%
1997 1 2 5 3 4 208 88.1% 15.7% 46.1%
National League Central Division
Year STL PIT CHC CIN HOU Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLC WSP NL WSP 1994 1 2 3 4 5 175 105.0% 18.8% 47.0% 1995 2 1 3 4 5 223 106.4% 19.0% 46.8% 1996 2 1 3T 3T 5 243 102.5% 18.3% 46.1% 1997 3 1 4 5 2 235 99.7% 17.8% 46.1%
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 96.4% 22.2% 48.4%
1993 5 4 3 1 6 2 7 225 95.3% 23.8% 48.5%
SFG SDP COL LAD Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLW WSP NL WSP
1994 3 2 4 1 147 88.0% 12.6% 47.0%
1995 3 2 4 1 184 87.5% 12.5% 46.8%
1996 3 2 4 1 213 90.1% 12.9% 46.1%
1997 3 2 4 1 207 87.6% 12.5% 46.1%
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).
Through 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, and now for the first time, the Japanese League as well. The Win Shares of such players aren’t counted in this analysis.