The Value Production Standings:  2002-2004

Our previous installments have examined 1946-1950, 1951-1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1965, 1966-1970, 1971-1975, 1976-1980, 1981-1985, 1986-1989, 1990-1993, 1994-1997, and 1998-2001. Now it’s time to move into the era of The Osbournes, Norah Jones and My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

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 2002 Value Production Standings

AL Organization     WSP Lg. WSP  MLB WSP     W  Lg. W   W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg.

Blue Jays           400   11.2%     5.8%    78   6.9%       -4.3%
Yankees             314    8.8%     4.5%   103   9.1%        0.3%
Red Sox             278    7.8%     4.0%    93   8.2%        0.4%
Orioles             144    4.0%     2.1%    67   5.9%        1.9%
Devil Rays           61    1.7%     0.9%    55   4.9%        3.2%
East Division      1197   33.7%    17.4%   396  35.1%        1.5%      239  104.1%

Indians             325    9.1%     4.7%    74   6.6%       -2.6%
Twins               284    8.0%     4.1%    94   8.3%        0.4%
White Sox           251    7.0%     3.6%    81   7.2%        0.1%
Royals              211    5.9%     3.1%    62   5.5%       -0.4%
Tigers              188    5.3%     2.7%    55   4.9%       -0.4%
Central Division   1259   35.4%    18.2%   366  32.4%       -2.9%      252  109.5%

Athletics           302    8.5%     4.4%   103   9.1%        0.6%
Mariners            299    8.4%     4.3%    93   8.2%       -0.2%
Angels              258    7.2%     3.7%    99   8.8%        1.5%
Rangers             238    6.7%     3.4%    72   6.4%       -0.3%
West Division      1097   30.9%    15.9%   367  32.5%        1.6%      274  119.3%

AL Total           3553  100.0%    51.5%  1129   100%        0.0%      254  110.4%

NL Organization     WSP Lg. WSP  MLB WSP     W  Lg. W   W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg.

Expos               360   10.8%     5.2%    83   6.4%       -4.4%
Braves              298    8.9%     4.3%   101   7.8%       -1.1%
Mets                220    6.6%     3.2%    75   5.8%       -0.8%
Phillies            201    6.0%     2.9%    80   6.2%        0.2%
Marlins             169    5.1%     2.4%    79   6.1%        1.0%
East Division      1248   37.3%    18.1%   418  32.3%       -5.0%      250  108.5%

Astros              299    8.9%     4.3%    84   6.5%       -2.5%
Cardinals           236    7.1%     3.4%    97   7.5%        0.4%
Pirates             204    6.1%     3.0%    72   5.6%       -0.5%
Reds                203    6.1%     2.9%    78   6.0%        0.0%
Cubs                193    5.8%     2.8%    67   5.2%       -0.6%
Brewers             107    3.2%     1.5%    56   4.3%        1.1%
Central Division   1242   37.1%    18.0%   454  35.0%       -2.1%      207   90.0%

Dodgers             311    9.3%     4.5%    92   7.1%       -2.2%
Padres              163    4.9%     2.4%    66   5.1%        0.2%
Giants              148    4.4%     2.1%    95   7.3%        2.9%
Rockies             128    3.8%     1.9%    73   5.6%        1.8%
Diamondbacks        106    3.2%     1.5%    98   7.6%        4.4%
West Division       856   25.6%    12.4%   424  32.7%        7.1%      171   74.4%

NL Total           3346  100.0%    48.5%  1296 100.0%        0.0%      209   90.9%

MLB Total          6899    n/a      100%  2425   n/a         n/a       230  100.0%

By the end of 2002, it was obvious that the Arizona Diamondbacks were the most instantly successful expansion team in history. In just five seasons of existence, they’d captured three division flags and a World Series title. As we noted last time, the D-backs’ primary strategy was to eschew the traditional expansion-franchise wisdom of patiently building with young players. Instead (taking full advantage of the free agency system), they’d spent freely in stocking the roster with high-priced, big-name veteran stars. Their 2002 division-winner was anchored by 38-year-old superstar Randy Johnson (capturing his fourth consecutive Cy Young Award in the Valley of the Sun), 35-year-old fellow ace Curt Schilling, 37-year-old center fielder Steve Finley and 34-year-old left fielder Luis Gonzalez.

Less obvious, but equally true, was that under GM Joe Garagiola Jr., Arizona simultaneously was building a very strong farm system. In 2002, the Diamondbacks passed the 100 mark in WSP, becoming the first expansion franchise to reach that talent production level in just five years. Key contributors to their ’02 success were second baseman Junior Spivey and relief ace Byung-Hyun Kim, as well as setup reliever Mike Koplove, all home-grown.

Moreover, Arizona’s abundance of outstanding system-produced prospects had allowed the team to trade pitcher Vicente Padilla and first baseman Travis Lee as part of the package to acquire Schilling, as well as surrendering pitchers Brad Penny and Vladimir Nunez in a far less fruitful trade for reliever Matt Mantei.

In stark contrast stood the Brewers, who’d been around for more than 30 years but whose system contributed just 107 Win Shares to the major leagues in 2002, as the team floundered to its worst-ever 56-106 record. Milwaukee hadn’t been a contender for a long time, but while the Brewers had been mediocre through the 1990s under GM Sal Bando, they hadn’t been downright bad, either in on-field performance or in aggregate farm system production. But with GM Dean Taylor in charge since late 1999, the Brewers’ farm had suddenly turned into a dust bowl: only a single Milwaukee product delivered more than 10 Win Shares in 2002, and that one—Gary Sheffield, now with the Braves—had long ago been sent away.

The 2003 Value Production Standings

AL Organization     WSP Lg. WSP  MLB WSP     W  Lg. W   W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg.

Blue Jays           413   11.9%     5.9%    86   7.7%       -4.2%
Yankees             319    9.2%     4.6%   101   9.0%       -0.2%
Red Sox             240    6.9%     3.5%    95   8.5%        1.5%
Orioles             143    4.1%     2.1%    71   6.3%        2.2%
Devil Rays           86    2.5%     1.2%    63   5.6%        3.1%
East Division      1201   34.8%    17.4%   416  37.0%        2.4%      240  104.1%

Twins               265    7.6%     3.8%    90   8.0%        0.4%
Indians             263    7.6%     3.8%    68   6.1%       -1.5%
Royals              237    6.8%     3.4%    83   7.4%        0.6%
White Sox           210    6.1%     3.0%    86   7.7%        1.6%
Tigers              147    4.2%     2.1%    43   3.8%       -0.4%
Central Division   1122   32.5%    16.2%   370  32.9%        0.6%      224   97.3%

Mariners            335    9.7%     4.8%    93   8.3%       -1.4%
Rangers             299    8.7%     4.3%    71   6.3%       -2.3%
Athletics           290    8.4%     4.2%    96   8.5%        0.2%
Angels              201    5.8%     2.9%    77   6.9%        1.1%
West Division      1125   32.6%    16.3%   337  30.0%       -2.6%      281  121.9%

AL Total           3448  100.0%    49.8%  1123   100%        0.0%      248  106.7%

NL Organization     WSP Lg. WSP  MLB WSP     W  Lg. W   W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg.

Expos               369   10.6%     5.3%    83   6.4%       -4.3%
Braves              275    7.9%     4.0%   101   7.7%       -0.2%
Mets                225    6.5%     3.2%    66   5.1%       -1.4%
Marlins             207    6.0%     3.0%    91   7.0%        1.0%
Phillies            180    5.2%     2.6%    86   6.6%        1.4%
East Division      1256   36.2%    18.1%   427  32.7%       -3.5%      251  108.9%

Astros              324    9.3%     4.7%    87   6.7%       -2.7%
Pirates             222    6.4%     3.2%    75   5.7%       -0.6%
Cubs                219    6.3%     3.2%    88   6.7%        0.4%
Cardinals           213    6.1%     3.1%    85   6.5%        0.4%
Reds                187    5.4%     2.7%    69   5.3%       -0.1%
Brewers             167    4.8%     2.4%    68   5.2%        0.4%
Central Division   1332   38.3%    19.2%   472  36.1%       -2.2%      222   96.2%

Dodgers             249    7.2%     3.6%    85   6.5%       -0.7%
Giants              176    5.1%     2.5%   100   7.7%        2.6%
Padres              164    4.7%     2.4%    64   4.9%        0.2%
Diamondbacks        162    4.7%     2.3%    84   6.4%        1.8%
Rockies             135    3.9%     1.9%    74   5.7%        1.8%
West Division       886   25.5%    12.8%   407  31.2%        5.7%      177   76.8%

NL Total           3474  100.0%    50.2%  1306 100.0%        0.0%      217   94.1%

MLB Total          6922    n/a      100%  2429   n/a         n/a       231  100.0%

While not nearly as consistently successful as the Diamondbacks, the Florida Marlins were proving to be a singularly remarkable expansion franchise story. In 2003 they achieved just their second over-.500 season in 11 years of operation, yet with it they also captured their second wild card, their second pennant and their second World Series victory.

The Marlins’ ’03 triumph was especially noteworthy in the way it capped a rebuilding process, designed by GM Dave Dombrowski and completed under Larry Beinfest. (To be candid, however, it wasn’t always clear exactly what the team’s roster strategy was beyond payroll control.) The process came together in the aftermath of previous owner Wayne Huizenga’s talent evisceration of 1997-98.

Like the Diamondbacks, whatever else the Marlins had done over the years, they had built a strong farm system. In 2003 they surpassed 200 WSP for the first time; they weren’t the best expansion franchise at the 11-season mark in that regard (the Astros and Mets had produced significantly more talent at that point in their journeys), but the Marlins were doing well in talent production, certainly better than their expansion cohort, the Rockies.

The 2003 Florida club was quite young and nicely balanced, and featured several key home-grown talents in second baseman Luis Castillo, shortstop Alex Gonzalez, rookie outfielder-third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Josh Beckett. The only key player on the roster who was more than 30 was one of the team’s few free agent acquisitions, 31-year-old star catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

Marlins products who were excelling in other uniforms in 2003 included shortstop Edgar Renteria (Cardinals), pitcher Livan Hernandez (Expos), outfielders Randy Winn (Mariners) and Mark Kotsay (Padres) and first baseman-outfielder Kevin Millar (Red Sox).

The Rangers had entered the American League as an expansion franchise in 1961, and in the ensuing 40-plus years had experienced more than their share of frustration. Yet things had seemed to be looking up: Under GM Doug Melvin in the 1990s, the Rangers had demonstrated a consistently strong farm system and a highly competitive ball club. As recently as 1999, they’d led the AL West in WSP, while winning their third division championship in four years. With fresh-off-his-Cleveland-success John Hart taking over as GM in late 2001, and with young superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez having been secured in a megabucks free agent contract, Texas in the early 2000s had appeared to be poised for a run of strong contention.

But it just didn’t pan out. Despite spectacular performance from A-Rod, the team was a dud, utterly unable to sustain a competent supporting cast, and particularly bereft of pitching. Thus in all their agonizing franchise history, few seasons would surpass 2003 on the frustration meter. The ’03 Rangers finished last in the AL West for the fourth straight year, despite organizational production of 299 Win Shares, fourth-most in the American League.

Texas did feature two home-grown young stars joining Rodriguez—third baseman Hank Blalock and first baseman Mark Teixeira—but too many of the best Ranger products were elsewhere, including Pudge Rodriguez with the Marlins and outfielders Sammy Sosa (Cubs) and Scott Podsednik (Brewers), pitchers Kevin Brown (Dodgers) and Kenny Rogers (Twins), shortstop Rich Aurilia (Giants) and designated hitter Travis Hafner (Indians).

Texas owner Tom Hicks would react by ordering Hart to unload A-Rod via trade, even sweetening the deal by agreeing to continue to pay a portion of his salary. While this certainly wasn’t passive acceptance of the situation, it was, to say the least, highly questionable whether it did anything to address the Rangers’ problems.

In 2003 the Tigers descended to the nadir of their century-long history, lurching to a catastrophic 43-119 campaign. Unsurprisingly, the organization that year yielded a meager 147 WSP, a mark that was Detroit’s lowest in a non-strike-shortened season since we began calculating these figures from 1946. Yet while this was the low point, the franchise hadn’t been among the leaders in farm system production in decades. The Tigers hadn’t been as close as second place in their division in WSP since 1981, and in the 58 seasons since 1946, the Tigers had been first in WSP just one time, their world championship season of 1968.

The 2004 Value Production Standings

AL Organization     WSP Lg. WSP  MLB WSP     W  Lg. W   W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg.

Blue Jays           363   10.4%     5.2%    67   5.9%       -4.5%
Yankees             309    8.9%     4.4%   101   8.9%        0.1%
Red Sox             273    7.8%     3.9%    98   8.6%        0.8%
Orioles             177    5.1%     2.5%    78   6.9%        1.8%
Devil Rays          119    3.4%     1.7%    70   6.2%        2.8%
East Division      1241   35.8%    17.9%   414  36.5%        0.9%      248  107.2%

Indians             298    8.5%     4.3%    80   7.1%       -1.5%
Twins               248    7.1%     3.6%    92   8.1%        1.0%
Royals              226    6.5%     3.2%    58   5.1%       -1.4%
Tigers              189    5.4%     2.7%    72   6.3%        0.9%
White Sox           166    4.8%     2.4%    83   7.3%        2.6%
Central Division   1127   32.5%    16.2%   385  34.0%        1.7%      225   97.3%

Mariners            303    8.7%     4.4%    63   5.6%       -3.2%
Rangers             299    8.6%     4.3%    89   7.8%       -0.8%
Athletics           289    8.3%     4.1%    91   8.0%       -0.3%
Angels              206    5.9%     3.0%    92   8.1%        2.2%
West Division      1097   31.7%    15.8%   335  29.5%       -2.1%      274  118.4%

AL Total           3465  100.0%    49.9%  1134   100%        0.0%      248  106.8%

NL Organization     WSP Lg. WSP  MLB WSP     W  Lg. W   W% - WSP% Avg. WSP % MLB Avg.

Expos               316    9.1%     4.5%    67   5.2%       -3.9%
Braves              257    7.4%     3.7%    96   7.4%        0.0%
Phillies            219    6.3%     3.1%    86   6.6%        0.4%
Marlins             209    6.0%     3.0%    83   6.4%        0.4%
Mets                179    5.1%     2.6%    71   5.5%        0.3%
East Division      1180   33.9%    17.0%   403  31.1%       -2.7%      236  101.9%

Astros              387   11.1%     5.5%    92   7.1%       -4.0%
Pirates             271    7.8%     3.9%    72   5.6%       -2.2%
Cardinals           211    6.1%     3.0%   105   8.1%        2.1%
Reds                192    5.5%     2.8%    76   5.9%        0.4%
Cubs                182    5.2%     2.6%    89   6.9%        1.7%
Brewers             159    4.6%     2.3%    67   5.2%        0.6%
Central Division   1402   40.2%    20.2%   501  38.7%       -1.5%      234  100.9%

Dodgers             247    7.1%     3.5%    93   7.2%        0.1%
Padres              182    5.2%     2.6%    87   6.7%        1.5%
Rockies             181    5.2%     2.6%    68   5.3%        0.1%
Giants              165    4.7%     2.4%    91   7.0%        2.3%
Diamondbacks        127    3.6%     1.8%    51   3.9%        0.3%
West Division       902   25.9%    13.0%   390  30.1%        4.2%      180   77.9%

NL Total           3484  100.0%    50.1%  1294 100.0%        0.0%      218   94.0%

MLB Total          6949    n/a      100%  2428   n/a         n/a       232  100.0%

Several stories continued to pursue familiar trajectories in 2004.

The major-league-WSP-leader Astros continued to display the terrific farm system production that had distinguished the organization for the past few years, as 2004 marked the sixth consecutive season they led the NL Central in WSP. Along with that, Houston continued to be a strongly contending ball club: In 2004, the Astros were the NL wild card winner, achieving their fifth post-season qualification in eight years.

The Blue Jays continued to display the equally terrific farm system production that led the AL East in WSP for the fifth straight year (and eighth time in 11 years). They also had led all MLB in WSP in 2002 and 2003—after having been eclipsed in that competition by the Astros in 2001. Yet the on-field success that Houston had found continued to be elusive in Toronto. In 2004, the Blue Jays finished last (trailing even the ever-hapless Devil Rays), and they hadn’t been a serious contender since 1993.

The Expos led the NL East in WSP for the 13th straight year, yet their talent diaspora had them in last place on the field. This was particularly disappointing after the Expos had managed slightly-above-.500 performances in both 2002 and 2003. It was their final season in Montreal; the franchise, now jointly owned by the rest of Major League Baseball, was moved to Washington, D.C., as the next stage in a long, sad and largely unscrupulous episode.

While not quite as dramatic a case as the Expos, the Pirates were another organization that was consistently uncompetitive on the field despite having produced significant talent. In 2004 they were second in the National League in WSP, but at 72-89 were trudging through their 12th consecutive losing season. Free agent defections and incomprehensible deals executed by GMs Cam Bonifay and Dave Littlefield had combined to create a situation in which the bulk of Pittsburgh’s system-developed talent was gone.

Catcher Jason Kendall, infielder-outfielder Rob Mackowiak and pitcher Mike Gonzalez were still on board, but the list of Pirate exports included outfielders Barry Bonds (winning his fourth straight MVP award with the Giants), Moises Alou (Cubs) and Jose Guillen (Angels), third baseman Aramis Ramirez (Cubs), infielder Tony Womack (Cardinals) and pitchers Tim Wakefield and Bronson Arroyo (Red Sox) and Esteban Loaiza (White Sox–Yankees).

The story in San Francisco, while just as familiar, couldn’t have been more different. The Giants in 2004 finished a close second at 91-71, their eighth straight winning season in a run that had seen them capture three division titles, a wild card berth and a pennant. Through it all, the Giants’ organizational talent production had been consistently below average; only three MLB teams in 2004 posted lower WSP totals than the Giants’ feeble 165, and San Francisco’s 91-game-winner that year included not a single home-grown player with more than 10 Win Shares.

Obviously Bonds, probably the biggest-impact free agent signing in history, was the key to the Giants’ success. But GM Brian Sabean had made many other effective acquisitions over the years, via trade, free agency and scrap-heap scavenge. The 2004 Giants received 91 Win Shares from five Sabean pickups: ace pitcher Jason Schmidt (the Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year, acquired in trade for Armando Rios), first baseman J.T. Snow (acquired in trade for Allen Watson) and second baseman Ray Durham, third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and center fielder Marquis Grissom (all signed as free agents).

The Value Production Standings Summary, 1946-2004

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. ALW 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        Avg. WSP % ML Avg. ALW WSP  AL WSP
  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  Avg. WSP % ML Avg. ALW WSP  AL WSP
  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. ALW 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    115.0%    20.5%    53.7%

         BAL   TBD   BOS   NYY   TOR              Avg. WSP % ML Avg. ALW WSP  AL WSP
  1998    4     5     3     2     1                  227     97.3%    16.2%    51.8%
  1999    4     5     3     1     2                  224     96.0%    16.0%    52.6%
  2000    4     5     3     2     1                  221     94.6%    15.8%    51.4%
  2001    4     5     3     2     1                  221     95.3%    15.9%    51.8%
  2002    4     5     3     2     1                  239    104.1%    17.4%    51.5%
  2003    4     5     3     2     1                  240    104.1%    17.4%    49.8%
  2004    4     5     3     2     1                  248    107.2%    17.9%    49.9%

American League Central Division

  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                  231     97.9%    17.5%    53.7%

         KCR   MIN   CHW   DET   CLE              Avg. WSP % ML Avg. ALC WSP  AL WSP
  1998    3     2     5     4     1                  243    104.2%    17.4%    51.8%
  1999    4     2T    2T    5     1                  269    115.0%    19.2%    52.6%
  2000    4     2     3     5     1                  249    106.6%    17.8%    51.4%
  2001    3     2     4     5     1                  268    115.7%    19.3%    51.8%
  2002    4     2     3     5     1                  252    109.5%    18.2%    51.5%
  2003    3     1     4     5     2                  224     97.3%    16.2%    49.8%
  2004    3     2     5     4     1                  225     97.3%    16.2%    49.9%

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        Avg. WSP % ML Avg. ALW WSP  AL WSP
  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  Avg. WSP % ML Avg. ALW WSP  AL WSP
  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    109.9%    15.7%    53.7%
  1998    1     2     4     3                        319    136.7%    18.2%    51.8%
  1999    2     1     3     4                        306    131.1%    17.5%    52.6%
  2000    1     2     4     3                        313    133.9%    17.9%    51.4%
  2001    1     2     3     4                        289    125.0%    16.7%    51.8%
  2002    1     4     2     3                        274    119.3%    15.9%    51.5%
  2003    3     2     1     4                        281    121.9%    16.3%    49.8%
  2004    3     2     1     4                        274    118.4%    15.8%    49.9%

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     87.9%    15.7%    46.3%
  1998    1     2     5     3     4                  224     96.2%    16.0%    48.2%
  1999    1     2     5     3     4                  217     92.8%    15.5%    47.4%
  2000    1     3     5     2     4                  245    105.2%    17.5%    48.6%
  2001    1     2     5     3     4                  228     98.3%    16.4%    48.2%
  2002    1     2     5     3     4                  250    108.5%    18.1%    48.5%
  2003    1     2     4     3     5                  251    108.9%    18.1%    50.2%
  2004    1     2     4     5     3                  236    101.9%    16.9%    50.1%

National League Central Division

  Year   STL   PIT   CHC   CIN   HOU   MIL        Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLC WSP  NL WSP
  1994    1     2     3     4     5     x            175    105.0%    18.8%    47.0%
  1995    2     1     3     4     5     x            223    106.4%    19.0%    46.8%
  1996    2     1     3T    3T    5     x            243    102.5%    18.3%    46.1%
  1997    2     1     4     5     3     x            238    100.7%    18.0%    46.3%
  1998    6     1     4     5     3     2            230     98.4%    19.7%    48.2%
  1999    4     6     5     3     1     2            221     94.6%    18.9%    47.4%
  2000    4     2T    6     5     1     2T           221     94.6%    18.9%    48.6%
  2001    2     3     4     6     1     5            233    100.8%    20.1%    48.2%
  2002    2     3     5     4     1     6            207     90.0%    18.0%    48.5%
  2003    4     2     3     5     1     6            222     96.2%    19.2%    50.2%
  2004    3     2     5     4     1     6            234    100.9%    20.1%    50.1%

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   ARI              Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLW WSP  NL WSP
  1994    3     2     4     1     x                  147     88.0%    12.6%    47.0%
  1995    3     2     4     1     x                  184     87.5%    12.5%    46.8%
  1996    3     2     4     1     x                  213     90.1%    12.9%    46.1%
  1997    3     2     4     1     x                  209     88.2%    12.6%    46.3%
  1998    3     2     4     1     5                  175     74.8%    12.5%    48.2%
  1999    2     3     4     1     5                  182     77.8%    13.0%    47.4%
  2000    2     3     4     1     5                  170     73.0%    12.2%    48.6%
  2001    2     3     4     1     5                  161     69.7%    11.6%    48.2%
  2002    3     2     4     1     5                  171     74.4%    12.4%    48.5%
  2003    2     3     5     1     4                  177     76.8%    12.8%    50.2%
  2004    4     2     3     1     5                  180     77.9%    12.9%    50.1%

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).

In the early 2000s, a small but increasing number of players weren’t the products of any major league team’s farm system, having been purchased or signed as free agents from independent teams, either in the Mexican League, the Northern League, or increasingly, the Japanese Leagues. The Win Shares of such players aren’t counted in this analysis.