1990s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 5 through 1

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the final countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1990s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1990s (1990-1999), a total of 278 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. The 90s were a challenge, with two short seasons due to contract issues. The 1994 season fell well short of the 162-game schedule, with most clubs playing just 115 games. In 1995, most teams played about 140 games. I’ve elected to include both seasons, given that WAR162 adjusts for the number of games played. We’ll summarize each team, including those from 1994-95, and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #5 through #1.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1990s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#5: 1993 Atlanta Braves, 57.8 WAR162

The 1993 Braves nipped the Giants by a single game to claim the NL West, before being defeated in a six-game ALCS by the Phillies. Nevertheless, 1993 provided a glimpse of further dominance to come from the Atlanta club.

The Braves had a solid if unspectacular offense in 1993, leading the NL in home runs, but placing further down the list in other major categories. They ranked third in runs, ninth in BA, fourth in OBP, fifth in OPS, and sixth in steals. Pitching was the Braves real strength, as the team ranked first in ERA and WHIP by large margins over their rivals. They also placed third in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk rate in the 14-team National League.

Ron Gant had a big year at the plate, swatting 36 homers with 117 RBI and 113 runs scored. Gant also swiped 26 bases on the season. Jeff Blauser batted .305 with a .401 OBP and 110 runs scored, followed by David Justice with 40 homers and 120 RBI. Other contributors included Fred McGriff (19 homers in 68 games) and Otis Nixon (47 steals). Greg Maddux topped a formidable rotation with a 20-10 mark. Maddux led the NL in ERA, WHIP, and complete games on his way to the Cy Young Award. Steve Avery went 18-6 with a 2.94 ERA, and Tom Glavine recorded a 22-6 mark. John Smoltz added another 15 wins.

#4: 1997 Atlanta Braves, 58.1 WAR162

The 1997 Braves were another in a long line of great Atlanta teams in the 1990s. The Braves swept the Astros in the NLDS before being stunned by the 92-win Marlins in a six-game NLCS series.

The Braves’ 791 runs ranked third in the NL, as did their .270 team BA. The team ranked fourth in OBP and second in OPS with a .769 mark. Starting pitching was again the real strength of the team, with their staff leading the NL by a wide margin in both ERA and WHIP. They also recorded the top strikeout-to-walk rate, courtesy of the fewest walks issued on the season.

Kenny Lofton starred in his one season in a Braves uniform, batting .333 with 90 runs scored. Jeff Blauser batted .308 with a .405 OBP, and Chipper Jones batted .295 with 21 homers and 111 RBI. Catcher Javy Lopez swatted 23 homers with a .295 BA, and 20-year-old Andruw Jones added 18 more long balls. Greg Maddux had a sensational season with a 19-4 record, 2.20 ERA, and a ridiculous 8.85 strikeout-to-walk rate. John Smoltz posted 15 wins across an NL-best 256 innings, and Tom Glavine went 14-7. Denny Neagle recorded a 20-5 mark with a 2.97 ERA.

#3: 1995 Cleveland Indians, 59.1 WAR162

The 1995 Indians rolled to the AL Central crown, finishing a preposterous 30 games ahead of the Royals. They went on to sweep the Red Sox in a 3-game ALDS, before defeating the Mariners in six games to claim the AL pennant. The party ended with a six-game World Series defeat to the Braves.

The Indians had a dominant offense, scoring 840 runs and bashing 207 homers in the abbreviated 1995 season. They also swept the BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS metrics, capped by an .831 OPS mark. For good measure, the Indians also topped the AL in stolen bases. Their pitching was also very effective, with the Cleveland staff topping the AL in ERA, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Albert Belle crushed AL pitching in 1995, with league-best totals in doubles (52), homers (50), RBI (126), and runs (121). Belle also batted .317 and sported a 1.091 OPS for the season. Jim Thome homered 25 times with 97 walks and a .438 OBP, and Kenny Lofton batted .310 with an AL-best 54 steals and a Gold Glove Award. Manny Ramirez (.308 BA, 31 homers, 107 RBI) was also a primary contributor. The pitching staff was led by 41-year-old Dennis Martinez, who posted a 12-5 record with a 3.08 ERA. Orel Hershiser and Charles Nagy each won 16 games, and Jose Mesa led the AL with 46 saves.

#2: 1998 New York Yankees, 62.2 WAR162

The Yankees had a season for the ages in 1998, topping the AL East by 22 games over the Red Sox. While they were projected for 108 wins (vs. 114), the Yankees were clearly the class of the American League. The New Yorkers went on to sweep the Rangers in the ALDS, defeat the Indians in a 6-game ALCS, and sweep the Padres in the World Series.

New York led the league with 965 runs, as well as in OBP and OPS, and ranked second in BA behind the Rangers. The Yankees’ staff was impressive, easily leading the AL in ERA and WHIP, plus strikeout-to-walk rate. They also issued the second-fewest walks in the AL in an impressive season.

Derek Jeter led a deep offensive team, batting .324 with 30 steals and an AL-best 127 runs. Paul O’Neill batted .317 with 24 home runs and 116 RBI, and Scott Brosius batted .300 with 19 homers and 98 RBI. Bernie Williams won a Gold Glove in center field while topping the AL with a .339 BA and 26 homers in just 128 games. David Wells (18-4, AL-best WHIP) and David Cone (20-7, 209 strikeouts) led a deep staff, aided by Orlando Hernandez (12-4) and Andy Pettitte (16-11).

#1: 1998 Atlanta Braves, 62.8 WAR162

The 1998 Braves were likely the best Atlanta team of the decade, beating the Mets by 18 games to claim the NL East. After sweeping the Cubs in the NLDS, the Braves were stunned by the Padres in a 6-game NLCS.

Atlanta featured a strong offense and its usual excellent pitching. The Braves scored 826 runs to rank fourth in the NL and finished second with 215 homers. The Braves ranked fourth in BA and OBP, and second in OPS for the season. The Atlanta staff led the league in ERA and WHIP by wide margins, and tossed a league-best 23shutouts. They were also tops in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Andruw and Chipper Jones were the offensive stars for the Braves. Andruw launched 31 homers with 90 RBI and 27 steals in addition to his Gold Glove defense. Chipper batted .313 with 34 homers, 107 RBI, and 123 runs scored. Andres Galarraga belted 44 homers with 121 RBI and a .305 BA, while Javy Lopez ripped 34 home runs with 106 RBI from his catcher position. Greg Maddux had another stellar season on the mound, recording a 18-9 mark and leading the league in shutouts (5), ERA (2.22), and WHIP (0.980). Tom Glavine (20-6, 2.47 ERA, Cy Young Award) and John Smoltz (17-3) rounded out a scary top of the rotation.

Summary

That’s it for the final entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1990s decade! Here’s a summary of the most dominant franchises of the 1990s:

Cardinals Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Cardinals, one of the National League teams dating back to 2001. In total, we’re talking about 125 seasons from 1901 through 2025. We’re going to walk through some highlights from the network, and then provide the link so you can explore it in detail. For some background on how the network graphs work, select this link – Anatomy of MLB radial axis graphs.

The Cardinals Network

The Cardinals’ radial axis network reflects the connections among all players who spent time with the franchise from 1901 to 2025. The 1901 season is found at the bottom center of the graph. Subsequent seasons are arranged clockwise, eventually returning to the bottom center with the 2025 season. Player nodes are sized by the number of seasons spent with the team, and the gray lines between nodes reflect connections to other players. The interactive version of the network is here – Cardinals Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

Stan Musial stands alone on top of the Cardinals’ tenure ranking after playing 22 seasons (1941-1944, 1946-63) with the team. A handful of other Cardinals stars follow Musial. This group is led by Adam Wainwright (2005-2023), Yadier Molina (2004-2022), Jesse Haines (1920-1937), and Bob Gibson (1959-1975). Other long-time standouts include Lou Brock (1964-1979), Red Schoendienst (195-1956, 1961-1963), and Ozzie Smith (1982-1996).

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright were teammates for nearly their entire careers, so their number of connections (and who they are connected to) is very similar. Stan Musial played more seasons, but in an era without free agency. Bob Gibson and Lou Brock also overlapped careers and teammates to a substantial degree.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

With Harmonic Closeness Centrality, we measure how closely an individual player is related to all other players in the network. This number (scaled from 0 to 1) may indicate a player’s importance to the network and may also indicate that they played with influential teammates. Bob Gibson and Stan Musial have nearly identical scores at the top, followed by a number of well-known Cardinals, including Bob Forsch (1974-1988), Ted Simmons (1968-1980), Willie McGee (1982-1990, 1996-1999), and Keith Hernandez (1974-1983).

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players rank highest in their ability to connect all other players. In simple terms, which player provides the most efficient path through the network (scaled from 0 to 1)? Bob Forsch tops the list, followed closely by Stan Musial. Willie McGee also scored highly on this metric, well ahead of the remaining members of the top 10. We don’t see any real surprises in this list; unlike some franchises with more volatile histories, the Cardinals’ top players offer few.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Cardinals network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Cardinals players over the last 125 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

1990s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 10 through 6

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the third countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1990s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1990s (1990-1999), a total of 278 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. The 90s were a challenge, with two short seasons due to contract issues. The 1994 season fell well short of the 162-game schedule, with most clubs playing just 115 games. In 1995, most teams played about 140 games. I’ve elected to include both seasons, given that WAR162 adjusts for the number of games played. We’ll summarize each team, including those from 1994-95, and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #10 through #6.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1990s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#10: 1996 Cleveland Indians, 54.8 WAR162

The Indians rolled to the AL Central title, finishing 14.5 games ahead of the White Sox, before being upset by the Orioles in the ALDS round of the playoffs.

Cleveland featured a very potent offense, scoring 952 runs to trail only the Mariners in the AL rankings. The Tribe ranked second in doubles, stolen bases, OPS, and SLG, while topping the AL in BA and OBP. Their pitching staff led the AL with a 4.34 ERA in the very offense-friendly 1996 season. The Indians also topped the AL in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk rate for the season.

Slugging first baseman Jim Thome had one of his best seasons, launching 38 homers with 116 RBI and 122 runs scored. Thome also drew 123 walks in compiling a .450 OBP. Albert Belle led the league with 148 RBI, whacking 48 home runs and scoring 124 runs, while leadoff batter Kenny Lofton claimed a Gold Glove while batting .317 with an AL-best 75 steals, scoring 132 runs to lead the Indians in that category. Manny Ramirez batted .309 with 33 homers and 112 RBI to round out the Cleveland offense. Charles Nagy led the pitchers with a 17-5 record and 3.41 ERA, backed up by 37-year-old Orel Hershiser‘s 15 wins.

#9: 1994 New York Yankees, 55.0 WAR162

The 1994 Yankees were cruising toward the postseason when the 1994 season ended early due to the MLB labor dispute. There would be no playoffs or World Series at the end of the season.

The Yankees were 6.5 games ahead of the Orioles in the AL East when the season ended, due in part to a strong offense that led the AL in OBP and OPS, and ranking second in runs. The pitching staff was a step behind, placing fourth or fifth in most major categories, including ERA and WHIP.

Wade Boggs and Paul O’Neill were the offensive leaders for a deep Yankees lineup. Boggs batted .342 with a .433 OBP and a Gold Glove Award, and O’Neill topped the AL with a .359 BA and whacked 21 homers with 83 RBI in just 103 games. Mike Stanley batted .300 with 17 home runs out of the catcher spot, and Bernie Williams scored 80 runs with a .384 OBP and solid defense in center field. Left-hander Jimmy Key was the Yankees’ top pitcher on the season, going 17-4 with a 3.27 ERA. Melido Perez (9-4) and Scott Kamieniecki (8-6, 3.76 ERA) provided additional mound support.

#8: 1994 Chicago White Sox, 55.1 WAR162

The 1994 White Sox were another team whose playoff hopes were terminated by the short-season labor dispute. The White Sox were a game ahead of the Indians in the AL Central when the season ended prematurely.

The Sox had a very good offense, ranking third in BA and OPS, second in OBP, and fourth in runs for the season. Pitching was the real strength of the team, as Chicago easily topped the AL in the ERA and WHIP categories. The White Sox staff also led the AL in strikeout-to-walk rate, and ranked third in both the strikeout and walks metrics.

Frank Thomas was on his way to a monster season for Chicago, batting .353 with an AL-best .487 OBP, .729 SLG, and 1.217 OPS. He also topped the league in walks (109), runs (106), and belted 38 homers with 101 RBI. Unsurprisingly, these efforts won Thomas the AL MVP Award. His primary support came from Julio Franco (.319 BA, 20 homers, 98 RBI), and Robin Ventura (18 home runs, 78 RBI). Darrin Jackson chipped in with a .312 BA. Jack McDowell led the ChiSox pitching corps, topping the league with a 3.02 strikeout-to-walk rate and 10 wins. Wilson Alvarez (12-8, 3.45 ERA) and Alex Hernandez (11-7) combined to give the White Sox a deep starting rotation.

#7: 1998 Houston Astros, 56.1 WAR162

The Astros romped to the NL Central title, 12.5 games ahead of the Cubs. Their season then ended in the NLDS with a four-game defeat at the hands of the Padres.

Houston scored a league-high 874 runs and ranked second in doubles and stolen bases. Their .280 BA also ranked second in the league, and they topped the NL in OBP. The Astros also featured a strong pitching staff, finishing second in both ERA and WHIP behind the Braves. Their staff also issued the fewest walks in the NL, leading to the second-best strikeout-to-walk rate for the season.

The Astros had four position players top the 5.0 WAR162 threshold, with three of the four exceeding 6.0. Jeff Bagwell batted .304 with a .424 OBP and launched 34 homers with 111 RBI and 124 runs scored in 147 games. Craig Biggio batted .325 with 50 steals, 123 runs scored, and an NL-best 51 doubles, and Moises Alou slugged 38 homers with 124 RBI and a .312 BA. Derek Bell was the fourth big producer, batting .314 with 111 runs and 108 RBI. The pitching staff also featured balance at the top, led by Shane Reynolds (19-8, 3.51 ERA). Mike Hampton posted 11 wins, and Randy Johnson recorded an impressive 1.28 ERA in 84 innings. Jose Lima posted the top strikeout-to-walk rate in the league (5.28) while recording 16 wins.

#6: 1990 Oakland Athletics, 56.2 WAR

The A’s captured the AL pennant for the third consecutive season, finishing a comfortable 9 games ahead of the White Sox in the AL West. After sweeping the Red Sox in the ALCS, the Athletics were stunned by Cincinnati in a four-game World Series sweep.

Oakland featured a strong offense that ranked third in both runs and home runs for the year. They ranked second in stolen bases, third in OBP, and fourth in OPS, playing in the pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum. The A’s pitching staff was dominant in 1990, easily leading the league in ERA and WHIP.

Rickey Henderson was the offensive igniter for Oakland, leading the league in runs (119), stolen bases (65), OBP (.439), and OPS (1.016) in just 136 games. Not surprisingly, these numbers earned him the AL MVP Award. Sluggers Mark McGwire (39 homers, 108 RBI, 110 walks) and Jose Canseco (37 homers, 101 RBI) provided the power for the A’s. Dave Henderson added 20 home runs and strong defense in center field. Dave Stewart (22-11, 2.56 ERA, 11 complete games, 4 shutouts) ranks as the top hurler by WAR162, although his teammate Bob Welch (27-6, 2.95 ERA) claimed Cy Young honors. Closer Dennis Eckersley had a dominant campaign, saving 48 games with a 0.61 ERA and an unheard-of 18.25 strikeout-to-walk rate (73 strikeouts, 4 walks).

Summary

That’s it for the third entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1990s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #5 to #1, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

1990s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 15 through 11

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the second countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1990s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1990s (1990-1999), a total of 278 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. The 90s were a challenge, with two short seasons due to contract issues. The 1994 season fell well short of the 162-game schedule, with most clubs playing just 115 games. In 1995, most teams played about 140 games. I’ve elected to include both seasons, given that WAR162 adjusts for the number of games played. We’ll summarize each team, including those from 1994-95, and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #15 through #11.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1990s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#15: 1993 San Francisco Giants, 50.8 WAR162

The Giants won 103 games, yet fell a game short of winning the NL West title. Atlanta won 104 games to nose out the San Franciscans, who would have to wait until 1997 to claim the NL West crown.

The Giants were paced by a strong offense that compiled 808 runs, second to the Phillies for the season. The club’s 168 home runs were one long-ball behind the Braves, and they led the NL in BA and SLG. The team’s .767 OPS ranked second behind the Phillies, and their OBP ranked third in the league. The Giants’ pitching was not as robust as their hitting, although it was still upper-tier. A league-best strikeout-to-walk rate highlighted their success, as did a second-place WHIP ranking. Team ERA placed fifth in the 14-team NL.

Barry Bonds produced an NL MVP season featuring 46 homers, a 1.136 OPS, and a .458 OBP to go with 123 RBI and 129 runs scored. Bonds also earned a Gold Glove in left field. Robby Thompson (.312 BA, 85 runs scored, Gold Glove Award) and Matt Williams (38 home runs, 110 RBI, Gold Glove) provided ample offensive and defensive support behind Bonds. The pitching staff was led by Bill Swift, who produced a 21-8 record with a 2.82 ERA. John Burkett added 22 more wins, and closer Rod Beck saved 48 games with a 2.16 ERA.

#14: 1999 Atlanta Braves, 51.7 WAR162

The 1999 Braves claimed the NL East crown by 6.5 games over the Mets before defeating the Astros in the NLDS and the Mets in the NLCS. The season came to a sudden end with a World Series sweep at the hands of the Yankees.

The Braves’ offense was solid in 1999, but not quite up to the level of some rivals. Their 840 runs ranked 7th (out of 16 teams), and their 197 home runs placed 4th in the league. In most offensive categories, the Braves were close to league-average levels. Pitching was a different story – Atlanta led the NL in ERA and WHIP, and ranked 2nd in walks, strikeouts, and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones (no relation) were the star positional players for the Braves. Chipper claimed MVP honors with a .319 BA, 45 homers, 110 RBI, 116 runs, 25 stolen bases, and a 1.074 OPS. Andruw won a Gold Glove as the best center fielder in the league at age 22, adding 26 homers, 24 steals, and 84 RBI for good measure. Brian Jordan contributed 23 homers, 115 RBI, and 100 runs scored on the season. Kevin Millwood stood out on a star-studded pitching staff with an 18-7 record and 2.68 ERA, leading the league in WHIP. John Smoltz added 11 wins, and Greg Maddux recorded a 19-9 record. Tom Glavine posted 14 wins, and closer John Rocker added 38 saves and a 2.49 ERA.

#13: 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks, 52.1 WAR162

The Diamondbacks completed an amazing 100-win season, finishing 14 games ahead of the Giants in their second year as a franchise. Their season came to an abrupt end with a four-game loss to the Mets in the NLDS round.

Arizona had a high-powered offense that accounted for an NL-best 908 runs, belting 216 home runs (2nd-best) on the season. The Diamondbacks ranked third in BA, and 2nd in SLG and OPS, trailing only the Rockies. Pitching was also a strength, as the DBacks staff posted a 3.77 ERA, 2nd to the Braves, and also ranked 2nd in WHIP, 3rd in strikeouts, and 3rd in strikeout-to-walk rate.

Luis Gonzalez paced the offense, batting .336 with 26 homers and 111 RBI, aided by Jay Bell (38 homers, 112 RBI, 132 runs scored), and Steve Finley (34 home runs, 103 RBI). Veteran third baseman Matt Williams batted .303 and added another 35 homers and 142 RBI. On the mound, Cy Young winner Randy Johnson was a dominant force. Johnson posted a 17-9 record with NL-best numbers for complete games (12), ERA (2.48), and strikeouts (364). Omar Daal was a solid second option in the rotation, recording a 16-9 mark.

#12: 1995 Boston Red Sox, 53.4 WAR162

The Red Sox claimed the AL East title by seven games over the rival Yankees, before falling to the Indians in an ALDS sweep.

Boston had a strong offensive core, ranking 4th in runs scored with 791, and also ranked 4th with 175 home runs. In several other categories – BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS- the Red Sox ranked 2nd behind the Indians’ powerful offense. The Sox pitching was solid, if not quite at the level of their hitting. Their staff ranked 3rd IN ERA, 4th in WHIP, 2nd in walks, and 2nd in strikeout-to-walk-rate.

Shortstop John Valentin had a career year to lead the Sox offense, although his teammate Mo Vaughn claimed AL MVP honors. Valentin posted a .399 OBP, hit 27 homers with 102 RBI, scored 108 runs, and stole 20 bases, all in 135 games played. Vaughn belted 39 home runs with an AL-best 126 RBI and .300 BA. Tim Naehring provided a third productive bat with a .307 BA and .415 OBP, and veteran Mike Greenwell batted .297 with 76 RBI. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield posted a 16-8 mark with a 2.95 ERA to lead the Red Sox mound corps. Erik Hanson added a 15-5 record as the Sox number two option in the rotation.

#11: 1994 Montreal Expos, 53.9 WAR

The Expos were in the midst of their finest season when the 1994 campaign ended early due to labor contract issues. This denied the team a realistic shot at postseason success, given their 6-game lead in the NL East.

The Expos offense was near the top of the NL for the short season, scoring 585 runs to rank third behind the Reds and Astros. Speed was a major asset for the team, as they ranked first in the NL in stolen bases. Their team BA of .278 was third in the NL, as were their OBP and OPS numbers. The Expos’ pitching was very effective, leading the league in ERA, WHIP, walks, and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Three Expos batters led the charge in 1994, topped by Moises Alou. Alou batted .339 with 22 homers, 78 RBI, and 81 runs in just 107 games. Marquis Grissom stole 36 bases while batting .288 and earning a Gold Glove Award. Larry Walker topped the league with 44 doubles and batted .322 with 19 home runs and 86 RBI. Shortstop Wil Cordero batted .294 with 15 homers and 16 steals to round out a potent offense. Butch Henry posted an 8-3 record with a 2.43 ERA, and Ken Hill topped the NL with 16 wins. A promising 22-year-old Pedro Martinez recorded an 11-5 ledger, and Jeff Fassero added 8 wins with a 2.99 ERA.

Summary

That’s it for the second entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1990s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #10 to #6, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

Brewers Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Brewers, including their 1969 introduction as the Seattle Pilots. In total, we’re talking about 57 seasons from 1969 through 2025. We’re going to walk through some highlights from the network, and then provide the link so you can explore it in detail. For some background on how the network graphs work, select this link – Anatomy of MLB radial axis graphs.

The Brewers Network

The Brewers radial axis network reflects the connections among all players who spent time with the franchise from 1969 to 2025. The 1969 season is found at the bottom center of the graph. Subsequent seasons are arranged clockwise, eventually returning to the bottom center with the 2025 season. Player nodes are sized by the number of seasons spent with the team, and the gray lines between nodes reflect connections to other players. The interactive version of the network is here – Brewers Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

Robin Yount stands alone on top of the Brewers tenure ranking after playing 20 seasons (1974-1993) with the team. A handful of other Brewers legends follow, led by Jim Gantner (1976-1992), Paul Molitor (1978-1992), Ryan Braun (2007-2020), and Charlie Moore (1973-1986). Yount, Gantner, Molitor, and Moore played many seasons as teammates in a period where the Brewers were often in contention in the AL East.

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Ryan Braun tops the Brewers’ list for having the most connections to other players, with 309. The Brewers were not regular contenders during his time with the team, leading to more roster turnover than in Yount’s years with the club. Brandon Woodruff had many teammates across eight seasons (2017-2023, 2025), as has Rickie Weeks (2003, 2005-2014). Freddy Peralta (2018-2025), Christian Yelich (2018-2025), and Geoff Jenkins (1998-2007) are next in line. Yelich’s number will continue to grow through at least the 2026 season, although it seems unlikely he will approach Braun’s number of connections.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

With Harmonic Closeness Centrality, we measure how closely an individual player is related to all other players in the network. This number (scaled from 0 to 1) may indicate a player’s importance to the network, and can also be an indication that they played with influential teammates. Ryan Braun, Geoff Jenkins, and Rickie Weeks top this list, although there are many others with similar scores.

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players rank highest in their ability to connect all other players. In simple terms, which player provides the most efficient path through the network (scaled from 0 to 1)? Ryan Braun at the top is unsurprising, but the next two may raise a few eyebrows. David Weathers played just five seasons with Milwaukee (1998-2001, 2009), but these separate years with the team connect him to two distinct groups of teammates. Doug Jones (1996-1998) played just three seasons for the Brewers but is apparently well-positioned as a network connector.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Brewers network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Brewers players over the last 57 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

1990s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 20 through 16

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the first countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1990s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1990s (1990-1999), a total of 278 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. The 90s were a challenge, with two short seasons due to contract issues. The 1994 season fell well short of the 162-game schedule, with most clubs playing just 115 games. In 1995, most teams played about 140 games. I’ve elected to include both seasons, given that WAR162 adjusts for the number of games played. We’ll summarize each team, including those from 1994-95, and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #20 through #16.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1990s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#20: 1994 Cincinnati Reds, 49.8 WAR162

The Reds wound up a half-game ahead of the Astros in the NL Central when the season came to an early ending. With no playoffs or World Series in 1994, the Reds could only wonder what might have happened in a full season.

The Reds featured a strong offense, scoring 609 runs in their 114-game season. Their 124 home runs placed third, as did their 119 steals. The team also swept the BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS metrics. The Reds’ pitching was solid if unspectacular. The staff finished third in ERA and WHIP, and second in strikeout-to-walk rate.

Three players set the tone for the Reds’ offense and defense in 1994. Kevin Mitchell clouted 30 homers in just 95 games played, with a .326 BA, .429 OBP, and 1.110 OPS. Barry Larkin batted .279 with 26 steals and a Gold Glove at shortstop, and Reggie Sanders stole 21 bases, rapped 17 home runs, and drove in 62 runs. Jose Rijo (9-6, 3.08 ERA, 171 strikeouts) and John Smiley (11-10) were the Reds top starters. Chuck McElroy and Jeff Brantley (15 saves, 2.48 ERA) provided strong bullpen support.

#19: 1994 Cleveland Indians, 50.4 WAR162

The 1994 Indians provided a glimpse of the future, as they would become one of the dominant AL teams for the remainder of the decade. They wound up one game behind the White Sox in the AL Central when the season ended early.

The Indians had a powerful offense, leading the AL in runs, home runs, doubles, and BA, and ranking second in stolen bases and OPS, a hair behind the Yankees. The pitching staff was less dominant, ranking fifth in ERA and sixth in WHIP. However, they surrendered the fewest home runs in the AL, helping to keep games within reach for their powerful offense.

Center fielder Kenny Lofton was dynamic, batting .349, scoring 105 runs, and stealing 60 bases in just 112 games. Lofton also claimed a Gold Glove Award. Albert Belle provided the power, slugging 36 homers with 101 RBI and a .357 BA across 106 games. Second baseman Carlos Baerga batted .314 with 32 doubles, 19 home runs, and 80 RBI to round out the Indians’ top three. Dennis Martinez had a splendid age-40 season, posting an 11-6 record with 3 shutouts. Charles Nagy recorded a 10-8 record with a solid 3.45 ERA in the high-scoring 1994 environment. Mark Clark added an 11-3 record for the Indians.

#18: 1996 Atlanta Braves, 50.4 WAR162

The 1996 Braves captured the NL East title by 8 games over the Expos. They went on to sweep the Dodgers in the NLDS round and defeated the Cardinals in a seven-game NLCS. Their run came to an end with a six-game World Series defeat at the hands of the Yankees.

The Braves scored 773 runs on the season, good for 4th place, and just 5 runs behind the second-ranked Reds. Their 197 homers ranked second, as did their .270 BA and .765 OPS. Pitching is where Atlanta distanced itself from most rivals, with a staff that ranked first in WHIP, strikeouts, walks, and strikeout-to-walk rate. They also ranked a close second to the Dodgers in ERA.

Third baseman Chipper Jones paced the offense, batting .309 with 30 homers, 110 RBI, and 114 runs scored. Marquis Grissom (.308 BA, 28 steals, 23 homers, 106 runs) won a Gold Glove in addition to his offensive numbers. Slugger Ryan Klesko launched 34 homers with 93 RBI as the third member of the Braves offensive nucleus. On the mound, John Smoltz earned the NL Cy Young Award with a 24-8 record and 276 strikeouts, both tops in the league. Greg Maddux went 15-11 with a 2.72 ERA and issued the fewest walks per inning in the NL, and Tom Glavine posted a 15-10 mark and 2.98 ERA.

#17: 1997 New York Yankees, 50.7 WAR162

The Yankees finished two games behind the Orioles in the AL East, earning a wild-card berth in the playoffs, where they were defeated in five games by the Indians. Their Pythagorean win projection was 100 victories, so they were actually slightly unlucky during the regular season.

The Yankees rode a high-scoring offense to 96 wins; their 891 runs trailed only Seattle. The Yankees ranked second in BA on the season, first in OBP, and fourth in OPS in the 14-team American League. On the pitching side of the ledger, the New Yorkers ranked first in ERA, second in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk rate, and third in WHIP for the 1997 season.

Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, and Derek Jeter spearheaded the Yankees offensive efforts. Williams batted .328 with 21 home runs, 100 RBI, and 107 runs scored while winning a Gold Glove in center field. Martinez batted .296 with 44 homers and 141 RBI, and Jeter batted .291 with 116 runs scored and 23 steals. The Yankees had a strong starting rotation, led by lefty Andy Pettitte, who assembled an 18-7 record with a 2.88 ERA. Veteran David Cone posted a 12-5 mark with 10.2 strikeouts per 9 innings, and David Wells added 16 wins. Closer Mariano Rivera saved 43 games with a 1.88 ERA to support the rotation.

#16: 1994 Baltimore Orioles, 50.7 WAR

The Orioles were another of the 1994 clubs left to wonder what could have happened in a full season. At the time of the early stoppage, they were 6.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East.

The Orioles’ offense was somewhat ordinary in 1994, ranking 7th in runs scored and tied for 4th in home runs at the end of the season. They had similar ranks in BA (6th), OBP (6th), and OPS (6th). Pitching was a strong suit, with the Orioles staff ranking third in ERA, second in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk rate, and first in issuing the fewest walks.

Cal Ripken, Jr. enjoyed a fine age-33 season, batting .315 with 13 homers and 75 RBI in 112 games. Rafael Palmeiro slugged 23 homers and batted .319, while catcher Chris Hoiles added 19 homers in 99 games. Brady Anderson stole 31 bases (in 32 attempts) and scored 78 runs for Baltimore. Mike Mussina posted a 16-5 record in 24 starts, and Ben McDonald added 14 more wins. Reliever Mark Eichorn recorded a 2.15 ERA across 43 appearances in the shortened season.

Summary

That’s it for the first entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1990s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #15 to #11, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

Braves Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Braves, including their Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta years. In total, we’re talking about 125 seasons from 1901 through 2025. We’re going to walk through some highlights from the network, and then provide the link so you can explore it in detail. For some background on how the network graphs work, select this link – Anatomy of MLB radial axis graphs.

The Braves Network

The Braves radial axis network reflects the connections among all players who spent time with the franchise from 1901 to 2025. The 1901 season is found at the bottom center of the graph. Subsequent seasons are arranged clockwise, eventually returning to the bottom center with the 2025 season. Player nodes are sized by the number of seasons spent with the team, and the gray lines between nodes reflect connections to other players. The interactive version of the network is here – Braves Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

The Braves have a rather impressive tenure list, with four players spending at least 20 seasons with the franchise, and one more with 19 years. Phil Niekro (1964-83, 1987) and Hank Aaron (1954-74) led the way with 21 seasons apiece wearing a Braves uniform. Warren Spahn (1942, 1946-64) checks in with 20 seasons for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, despite missing three years for military service. John Smoltz (1988-99, 2001-08) also played 20 seasons, all in Atlanta. Finally, Chipper Jones spent his entire career (1993, 1995-2012) with the Braves.

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

John Smoltz and Chipper Jones are the runaway degree leaders, each having played with more than 370 teammates. Tom Glavine, Phil Niekro, and Freddie Freeman also top the 300 mark, while Warren Spahn and Hank Aaron played in eras with less roster turnover, resulting in fewer teammates.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

With Harmonic Closeness Centrality, we measure how closely an individual player is related to all other players in the network. The top five stand out in this ranking, with no surprises until we go further down the list. Eight of the top 10 are synonymous with the Braves uniform, with Peter Moylan and Johnny Cooney being the lesser-known pair in this group. Cooney had two stints with the Boston Braves (1921-30, 1938-42), giving him two separate groups of teammates. Moylan (2006-12, 2015, 2018) also had multiple Braves stints, placing him closer to multiple groups of teammates.

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players rank highest in terms of their ability to connect to all other players. In simple terms, which player provides the most efficient path through the network? The top three here are no surprise – Niekro, Spahn, and Glavine are each well-positioned within the network. Connecting through any of them provides connectivity to large portions of the Braves’ history. Johnny Cooney appears again; his two distinct stints with the team place him in a unique position within the network.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Braves network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Braves players over the last 125 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

1980s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 5 through 1

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the final countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1980s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1980s (1980-1989), a total of 280 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. We’ll summarize each team, including portions of their dashboards, and explain how they attained their rankings. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #5 through #1.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1980s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#5: 1987 Toronto Blue Jays, 53.1 WAR162

The 1987 Blue Jays were caught by the Tigers in the final week of the 1987 season. The Jays ultimately fell two games short of the AL East title after dropping their final 7 games.

The Jays had a potent offense, finishing second in the league with 215 homers and third with 845 runs. Their team OPS of .782 was also good for second, trailing only the Tigers. Toronto’s pitching staff led the AL in ERA and WHIP in the high-scoring 1987 season, and ranked second in strikeouts.

George Bell claimed AL MVP honors with an AL-best 134 RBI and added 47 home runs and a .308 BA. Shortstop Tony Fernandez (.322 BA, 32 steals, Gold Glove Award), and right fielder Jesse Barfield (28 home runs, 84 RBI, Gold Glove Award) were Bell’s primary support. Lloyd Moseby also had a fine season, batting .282 with 26 homers, 96 RBI, and 39 steals. Lefty Jimmy Key led the mound staff, topping the AL in ERA and WHIP while winning 17 games. Jim Clancy added 15 wins, and closer Tom Henke had an AL-best 34 saves with a 2.49 ERA.

#4: 1985 St. Louis Cardinals, 54.0 WAR162

The 1985 Cardinals topped the NL East by three games over the Mets. They then defeated the Dodgers in a six-game NLCS. The Cards’ run ended with a seven-game World Series defeat at the hands of the cross-state Royals.

The Cardinals’ offense was built on speed, as they compiled an astonishing 314 stolen bases, 132 more than their nearest rival. This speed propelled them to an NL-best 747 runs despite hitting just 87 homers, the second fewest in the league. The Cards led the NL in BA, OBP, and OPS (lots of doubles & triples) on their way to 101 wins. The pitching staff ranked second in ERA and third in WHIP, providing strong support for their potent offense.

NL MVP Willie McGee was the Cardinals’ offensive spark via his NL-best .353 BA coupled with 56 steals and 114 runs scored. Shortstop Ozzie Smith batted .276 with 31 steals while providing exceptional Gold Glove defense, and Tom Herr batted .302 with 31 steals, 38 doubles, and 110 RBI. Andy Van Slyke (13) and Jack Clark (22) combined for 35 of the team’s 87 dingers, and rookie Vince Coleman swiped 110 bases on the season. John Tudor was the ace on the mound, tossing 10 shutouts with a 1.93 ERA and a 21-8 record. Tudor also led the NL in WHIP in a career-best season. Danny Cox (18-9, 2.88 ERA) and Joaquin Andujar (21-12) gave the Cardinals a strong rotation behind Tudor.

#3: 1984 Detroit Tigers, 54.5 WAR162

The 1984 Tigers raced out to a 35-5 record and then coasted to the AL East title with a 15-game margin over the Blue Jays. The Tigers then swept the Royals in the ALCS before defeating the Padres in five games in the World Series.

The Tigers had a dynamic offense that led the AL in runs and OBP, and ranked second in OPS behind the Red Sox, getting strong contributions from the top of the batting order. The starting pitching was solid, and was supported by a strong bullpen. The Tigers staff led the AL in ERA, WHIP, and saves, while posting the second-best strikeout-to-walk rate.

Alan Trammell keyed the Tigers’ lineup in 1984, batting .314 with 85 runs scored and a Gold Glove Award at shortstop. Chet Lemon played an outstanding center field and launched 20 homers with 76 RBI and a .287 BA. Kirk Gibson swiped 29 bases and homered 27 times with 91 RBI, and Lou Whitaker batted .289, scored 90 runs, and earned a Gold Glove at second base. Lance Parrish belted 33 homers with 98 RBI while claiming a Gold Glove behind the plate. Willie Hernandez had a Cy Young season out of the bullpen, earning 32 saves with a 1.92 ERA, appearing in an AL-best 80 games. Dan Petry (18-8) and Jack Morris (19-11) were the top starters for the Tigers.

#2: 1986 New York Mets, 55.2 WAR162

The 1986 Mets ran away with the NL East, topping the Phillies by a whopping 21.5 games. They then took down the Astros in six games for the NL pennant before defeating the Red Sox in a dramatic seven-game World Series. While the Mets’ win projection was for a slightly lower 103 wins, they would have still easily won the NL East.

The Mets scored an NL-high 783 runs, batting .263 with a .339 OBP and .740 OPS to top the league. They also ranked third in home runs and fourth in doubles. The Mets’ pitching topped the NL in ERA and ranked second in WHIP, and also ranked high in saves, strikeout-to-walk rate, complete games, and shutouts.

First baseman Keith Hernandez had an excellent season, batting .310, drawing an NL-best 94 walks, scoring 94 runs, and winning a Gold Glove. Lenny Dykstra batted .295 with 31 steals, Gary Carter swatted 24 homers with 105 RBI, and Darryl Strawberry launched 27 homers with 93 RBI. Dwight Gooden (17-6, 2.84 ERA) and Bob Ojeda (18-5, 2.57 ERA) topped the Mets staff. Close behind were Ron Darling (15-6, 2.81 ERA) and Sid Fernandez (16-6), giving the Mets a formidable starting rotation.

#1: 1988 New York Mets, 55.3 WAR

The 1988 Mets won the NL East, topping the Pirates by 15 games, before being upset by the Dodgers in a seven-game NLCS defeat.

The Mets easily led the NL in runs, home runs, OBP, and OPS, while ranking second in BA. It was a very strong offensive performance for the season. The team also had dominant pitching in 1988, ranking first in ERA, WHIP, strikeout, and strikeout-to-walk rate while placing second in saves.

Darryl Strawberry led the Mets offense with an NL-best 39 homers, 101 RBI, and a league-best .911 OPS. Kevin McReynolds added 27 home runs and 99 RBI, and Howard Johnson launched 24 homers and stole 23 bases. Lenny Dykstar stole 30 bases in 126 games, and Wally Backman batted .303 on the year. On the mound, David Cone had a splendid 20-3 record with a 2.22 ERA, followed by Dwight Gooden with 18 wins and 10 complete games. Sid Fernandez yielded the fewest hits per 9 innings in the NL and won 12 games. Bob Ojeda (10) and Ron Darling (17) contributed 27 more wins for the Mets.

Summary

That’s it for the final entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1980s decade! Here’s a summary of the most dominant franchises of the 1980s:

Blue Jays Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Toronto Blue Jays. In total, we’re talking about 49 seasons from 1977 through 2025. We’re going to walk through some highlights from the network, and then provide the link so you can explore it in detail. For some background on how the network graphs work, select this link – Anatomy of MLB radial axis graphs.

The Blue Jays Network

The Blue Jays radial axis network reflects the connections among all players who spent time with the franchise from 1977 to 2025. The 1977 season is found at the bottom center of the graph. Subsequent seasons are arranged clockwise, eventually returning to the bottom center with the 2025 season. Player nodes are sized by the number of seasons spent with the team, and the gray lines between nodes reflect connections to other players. The interactive version of the network is here – Blue Jays Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

1980s pitching star Dave Stieb holds the Blue Jays tenure record with 15 seasons with the team (1979-92, 1998), followed by a series of Jays standouts with 12 seasons apiece. Jim Clancy (1977-88), Carlos Delgado (1993-2004), Roy Halladay (1998-2009), and Vernon Wells all started with the Jays before finishing elsewhere. Ernie Whitt played most of his career in Toronto (1977-78, 1980-89), and Tony Fernandez had three stints with the club (1983-90, 1993, 1998-99).

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Jose Bautista played with the most Jays teammates, closely followed by Roy Halladay and Vernon Wells. Carlos Delgado and Dave Stieb are next (no surprise), along with a surprising name in Tim Mayza. Mayza played for the Jays from 2017-19 and 2021-24, periods where the Jays had a lot of roster shuffling.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

With Harmonic Closeness Centrality, we measure how closely an individual player is related to all other players in the network. Jose Bautista and Roy Halladay have nearly identical scores at the top of the rankings (the scale runs from 0 to 1). A handful of other recognizable Jays names appear (Shannon Stewart, Vernon Wells, Carlos Delgado), along with some lesser-known players in Chris Woodward, Jason Frasor, Aaron Loup, and Adam Lind.

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players rank highest in terms of their ability to connect to all other players. In simple terms, which player provides the most efficient path through the network? Jose Bautista (2008-17) provides the most efficient path through the network, followed by Greg Myers (1987, 1989-92, 2003-05). Myers multiple stints give him a slightly higher score than Toronto stalwarts Shannon Stewart, Dave Stieb, and Roy Halladay.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Blue Jays network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Blue Jays players over the last 125 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

1980s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 10 through 6

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the third countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1980s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1980s (1980-1989), a total of 280 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. We’ll summarize each team, including portions of their dashboards, and explain how they attained their rankings. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #10 through #6.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1980s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#10: 1988 Oakland Athletics, 50.5 WAR162

The 1988 Athletics cruised to the AL West title by 13 games over the Twins and then swept the Red Sox in four games to claim the AL pennant. Then they ran into an upstart Dodgers team that upset them in a five-game World Series.

The A’s boasted a strong, but not dominant offense in 1988. Their 800 runs scored ranked second to the Red Sox, and they placed 4th or better in BA, OBP, and OPS. The team’s 156 home runs were just two shy of the Blue Jays for the top AL spot. Oakland also had a talented mound staff, with the AL’s top ERA and 3rd-best WHIP, and easily led the AL with 64 saves.

Jose Canseco posted some big offensive numbers to lead the team, bashing an AL-best 42 homers with 124 RBI while also stealing 40 bases. Canseco claimed AL MVP honors for his exploits. Dave Henderson had a career year with a .304 BA, 24 homers, and 94 RBI, and Mark McGwire added 32 home runs and 99 RBI. Dave Stewart was the A’s top pitcher, recording 21 wins with a league-best 14 completed games, and Bob Welch added 17 wins. Storm Davis won 16, and closer Dennis Eckersley topped the AL with 45 saves, finishing second in Cy Young voting.

#9: 1983 Detroit Tigers, 51.0 WAR162

The Tigers were a year away from dominating the AL, but were clearly on the way to the top in 1983. While they finished six games behind the Orioles, they were the better team based on WAR162.

The Tigers’ offense was very good, finishing a close 4th with 789 runs, and ranking third in BA and second in OPS on the season. Their 156 home runs ranked 4th, just 12 behind the AL-best Orioles. The Tigers’ pitching was solid, placing 4th in ERA and 2nd in WHIP, benefiting from strong defense across multiple positions.

Lou Whitaker helped ignite the Tigers’ offense, batting .320 with 40 doubles, and also claimed a Gold Glove Award at second base. Center fielder Chet Lemon flashed exceptional defense while stroking 24 homers, and Gold Glove shortstop Alan Trammell batted .319 with 30 stolen bases. Catcher Lance Parrish also earned a Gold Glove, and stroked 27 homers with 114 RBI. Larry Herndon batted .302 with 20 homers to round out the team’s offense. Jack Morris was the ace on the mound, winning 20 games and leading the league in innings and strikeouts. After Morris, there was some drop-off, although Dan Petry won 19 games and Aurelio Lopez was effective as a late-inning reliever.

#8: 1982 California Angels, 51.6 WAR162

The 1982 Angels won the AL West title by three games over the Royals before losing a five-game ALCS to the Brewers, denying them a shot at their first World Series.

The Angels featured a strong offense that accounted for 814 runs, second to Milwaukee. Their 186 home runs also ranked second, and they ranked 1st in OBP, 2nd in OPS, and 3rd in BA on the season. They also had solid pitching, trailing only the Tigers in ERA while leading the league in WHIP.

Third baseman Doug DeCinces had a career year, batting .301 with 30 homers, 97 RBI, 94 runs scored, and strong defense. Brian Downing batted .281 with 28 homers, and Fred Lynn batted .299 with 21 home runs. Rod Carew (.319 BA, 88 runs) and Bobby Grich (19 homers, 82 walks) helped round out the team’s offense. On the mound, Geoff Zahn won 18 games while 21-year-old Mike Witt posted an 8-5 record. Bruce Kison (10) and Ken Forsch (13) combined for 23 more wins.

#7: 1985 Toronto Blue Jays, 51.6 WAR162

The 1985 Blue Jays won the franchise’s first AL East title, topping the Yankees by two games before falling to the Royals in a seven-game ALCS.

Toronto featured a good offense, scoring 759 runs, 4th in the 14-team American League. Their 144 stolen bases ranked second, as did their .269 team BA. The Jays ranked 4th in OPS and 5th in OBP for the season. Toronto had a very effective pitching staff, with an AL-best 3.31 ERA. They also led the league in WHIP and finished second with 47 saves.

Right fielder Jesse Barfield had a big season, batting .289 with 27 home runs and 22 steals, and providing excellent glove work. Shortstop Tony Fernandez batted .289 with 31 doubles, and George Bell swatted 28 homers with 95 RBI and 21 steals. Lloyd Moseby (92 runs, 37 steals) and Rance Mulliniks (.383 OBP) also contributed offensively. On the mound, Dave Stieb had a stellar campaign, winning 14 games with a league-best 2.48 ERA. Doyle Alexander posted a 17-10 record, and lefty Jimmy Key went 14-6 on the season.

#6: 1985 New York Yankees, 52.1 WAR

The 1985 Yankees lost out by a scant two games to the Blue Jays in a competitive AL East race.

The Yankees had a very potent offense, with their 839 runs easily topping the league. The team possessed both speed and power, leading the AL in stolen bases and placing 3rd in home runs. The New Yorkers ranked 3rd in BA and 2nd in both OBP and OPS, trailing only the Red Sox. Pitching was also effective, if not to the level of the offense. The Yankees ranked 3rd in ERA and 4th in WHIP for the 1985 campaign.

Rickey Henderson had a monster season for New York, scoring an AL-best 146 runs and leading the league with 80 stolen bases. He also batted .319 with a .419 OBP to ignite the Yankees’ offense. Don Mattingly (.324 BA, AL-best 48 doubles and 145 RBI) claimed the AL MVP award, and Willie Randolph (.382 OBP) provided additional offensive support. Ron Guidry led the pitching staff with a 22-6 record, aided by a strong bullpen corps. Bob Shirley (2.64 ERA), Dave Righetti (29 saves, 2.78 ERA), and Brian Fisher (2.38 ERA, 14 saves) led an excellent Yankees bullpen.

Summary

That’s it for the third entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1980s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #5 to #1, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!