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!

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 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 the team’s dashboard, and 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: 1980s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#15: 1985 Los Angeles Dodgers, 48.7 WAR162

The 1985 Dodgers topped the NL West by 5.5 games over the Reds before falling to the Cardinals in a six-game NLCS.

The Dodgers finished 5th in runs, playing half their games in pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium. The offense had modest power and speed by league standards, but they did manage to rank 2nd in BA and OBP, and 3rd in OPS. The pitching staff was excellent, even given the friendly home ballpark, ranking first in ERA, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Pedro Guerrero had one of his best seasons, leading the NL with a .422 OBP and .999 OPS while batting .320 with 33 homers. Catcher Mike Scioscia had a fine season, batting .296 with a .407 OBP and stellar defense. Mike Marshall added 238 home runs and 95 RBI while batting .293. Orel Hershiser (19-3, 2.03ERA) and Fernando Valenzuela (17-10, 2.45 ERA) topped the pitching staff, with solid support from 14-game winners Bob Welch and Jerry Reuss.

#14: 1985 New York Mets, 49.4 WAR162

The 1985 Mets won 98 games but fell three games short of the Cardinals for the NL East title. Nonetheless, this team was one of several strong Mets teams in the mid- to late-1980s.

The Mets had a solid offense, finishing 3rd in runs and home runs, and 4th in both BA and OPS. Pitching was a strong suit, as the Mets staff placed 3rd in ERA and 2nd in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Gary Carter led the Mets offensively while playing strong defense behind the plate. Carter batted .281 with 32 home runs and 100 RBI. Keith Hernandez won a Gold Glove at first base while batting .309 with 91 RBI, and Darryl Strawberry homered 29 times with 79 RBI in just 111 games. On the mound, Dwight Gooden assembled one of the best seasons ever by a pitcher, winning the Cy Young with a 24-4 record and 1.53 ERA. Gooden received strong support from Ron Darling (16-6, 2.90 ERA) and Sid Fernandez, who topped the NL in strikeout rate while yielding the fewest hits per 9 innings.

#13: 1980 Baltimore Orioles, 49.5 WAR162

The 1980 Orioles claimed 100 wins but fell three games behind the Yankees in the AL East, a season after playing in the World Series.

The Orioles ranked 5th in runs with 805, just 25 behind the league-leading Tigers, and placed 4th with 156 home runs. In most other offensive categories, they ranked between 4th and 6th in the 14-team American League. Their pitching was a bit stronger, placing 3rd in ERA and WHIP, 4th in strikeout-to-walk rate, and 5th in saves.

Al Bumbry compiled the O’s highest positional WAR162, batting .318 with 118 runs scored, and 44 stolen bases. Eddie Murray slugged 32 homers with 116 RBI and a .300 BA, while Ken Singleton added 24 homers and 104 RBI. Third Baseman Doug DeCinces added 16 homers to go with excellent defense, and catcher Rick Dempsey had a solid overall season. Lefty Scott McGregor won 20 games, while veteran righty Steve Stone went 25-7 to claim the AL Cy Young Award.

#12: 1980 New York Yankees, 49.6 WAR162

The 1980 Yankees finished three games ahead of the Orioles to claim the AL East, but were swept by the Royals in three games in the ALCS.

The Yankees boasted a potent offense, scoring 820 runs (10 behind the Tigers), and slugging 189 home runs to rank second in both categories. The New Yorkers ranked 3rd in OPS and 4th in OBP for the season. Pitching was again a strength for the Yankees, with the 2nd-best performance in both ERA and WHIP. The staff also boasted the top strikeout-to-walk rate and tossed the most shutouts in the AL.

Willie Randolph posted one of his best seasons, drawing an AL-best 119 walks on his way to a .427 OBP. He also stole 30 bases and scored 99 runs. Reggie Jackson led the AL with 41 homers while batting .300 with 111 RBI, and catcher Rick Cerone had a fine season with 14 home runs and 85 RBI. Bucky Dent had a strong all-around performance at shortstop for the season. 35-year-old Rudy May had a fine season, splitting duties between starting and relieving, racking up 15 wins with an AL-best 2.46 ERA across 175 innings. Tommy John led the AL with 6 shutouts at age 37, winning 22 games, and Ron Guidry added 17 wins with another 3 shutouts. Closer Goose Gossage topped the AL with 33 saves and a 2.27 ERA.

#11: 1987 Detroit Tigers, 50.0 WAR

The 1987 Tigers tracked down the Blue Jays in the final week of the season to claim the AL East crown. Unfortunately for Detroit, they were upset by the Twins in a five-game ALCS defeat.

The Tigers had a strong offense in 1987, totaling 896 runs to top the league, and belting an AL-best 225 homers. The Detroiters ranked 3rd in BA, 2nd in OBP, and 1st in OPS, with an OPS of .800. Detroit’s pitching was above average, if not at the level of the offense. The Tigers staff ranked 3rd in ERA and 5th in WHIP in the high-scoring 1987 season.

Shortstop Alan Trammell had the best season of his long career, batting .343 with 28 homers, 105 RBI, and 109 runs scored. 40-year-old Darrell Evans launched 34 home runs with 99 RBI and also drew 100 walks. Kirk Gibson stole 26 bases and hit 24 homers in just 128 games, and Chet Lemon added 20 home runs while playing a strong center field. Jack Morris led the mound crew with 18 wins, aided by Doyle Alexander, who put together a memorable stretch run with a 9-0 record and 1.53 ERA. Veteran Frank Tanana added another 15 wins, while Walt Terrell posted a 17-10 record.

Summary

That’s it for the second entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1980s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #10 to #6, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

Athletics Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Athletics in all their iterations, from Philadelphia to Kansas City to Oakland, and now Sacramento. 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 Athletics Network

The Athletics’ 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 – Athletics Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

Harry Davis played 16 seasons at the turn of the 20th century for the Philadelphia-based Athletics to claim the longevity title. Given Connie Mack’s propensity for breaking up his A’s teams when stars became too expensive (Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Eddie Collins, etc.), we don’t see many stars with an entire career spent with the A’s. The Oakland edition of the Athletics features a few names, including Rickey Henderson (1979-84, 1989-93, 1994-95, 1998), Bert Campaneris (1964-76), and Eric Chavez (1998-2010).

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Eric Chavez tops the list for the most teammates, followed closely by Rickey Henderson. Unlike most original franchises (dating to 1901), the Athletics typically failed to keep players for their entire career; thus, there are no players with 300 or more 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. Rickey Henderson tops this list, due to both his 14 years with the team and his multiple stints. Several other players are prominent due to the period when they played for the A’s. Mark McGwire, Tony Phillips, Joe Rudi, and Reggie Jackson all played during the 1970s or 1980s, placing them in close proximity to both older and more recent team members.

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players rank highest for the ability to connect to all other players. Reggie Jackson (1967-75, 1987), Al Simmons (1924-32, 1940-41), and Art Ditmar (1954-56, 1961-62) top the rankings for this measure. Interestingly, all three had Athletics stints at the start and end of their careers. This places them in the unique position of having at least two distinct sets of teammates as direct connections.

Summary

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

Astros Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Astros, who started out as the Colt .45s in 1962. 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 Astros Network

The Astros’ radial axis network reflects the connections between all players who spent time with the franchise between the 1962 and 2025 seasons. The 1962 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 based on 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 – Astros Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

Craig Biggio sits alone at the top of the Astros seasons played list with 20, trailed by Jose Altuve (now in season 16) and Jeff Bagwell. Other long-tenured Angels legends include Terry Puhl, Bob Watson, Jose Cruz, Larry Dierker, and Denny Walling.

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Craig Biggio again tops the degrees ranking, having been on an Astros roster with 338 different teammates. Jose Altuve is likely to claim the top spot eventually, while Jeff Bagwell is a distant third. Jason Castro had two stints (2010-16, 2021-22) with Houston, leading to a large number of different teammates.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

With Harmonic Closeness Centrality, we’re measuring how strongly an individual player is related to all players in the network. The Astros famed Killer B’s dominate this measure. Biggio, Bagwell, and Berkman all rank at the top of the most well-connected players in Astros history, with Biggio the clear leader. Jose Altuve and Wandy Rodriguez are also very favorably positioned within the network, along with other Astros legends like Ken Caminiti, Roy Oswalt, and Terry Puhl.

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players are most central to the network. Often, this results in players who played in the middle period of a franchise’s history, or players with multiple stints with one franchise. Craig Biggio is unsurprisingly at the top of this measure, given his 20 seasons with the team between 1988 and 2007. If we wanted to connect to every Astro in the network, our most direct path is clearly through Biggio, followed by Greg Gross and Joe Morgan. Gross played just five seasons with the Astros, four to start his career and then one for his final MLB season. This split tenure gives him a unique position within the Astros network, connecting to teammates from 1973-76 and again in 1989.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Astros network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Astros players over the last 64 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

1980s 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 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 team dashboard, and 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: 1980s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#20: 1982 Los Angeles Dodgers, 47.5 WAR162

The 1982 Dodgers finished a single game behind the Braves in the NL West race, despite a Pythagorean projection five games better than Atlanta.

The Dodgers were a solid offensive club, ranking 3rd (out of 14) in runs, OPS, OBP, and BA. Their 138 homers trailed only the Braves. On the mound, the Dodgers topped the NL in ERA, WHIP, and shutouts.

Pedro Guerrero was the offensive stalwart in 1982, batting. 304 with 32 home runs, 100 RBI, and 22 steals. Veteran shortstop Bill Russell had one of his best campaigns, batting .274 with solid defense. Ron Cey added 24 homers and 79 RBI. Steve Sax (.282 BA, 49 steals, Rookie of the Year) and Ken Landreaux (.284 BA, 31 steals) rounded out the top offensive producers for the Dodgers. 21-year-old lefty Fernando Valenzuela was the pitching story, posting a 19-13 record with a 2.87 ERA. Jerry Reuss added 18 wins for a formidable 1-2 punch.

#19: 1988 Boston Red Sox, 47.7 WAR162

The Red Sox topped the AL East, winning the division by a single game over the Tigers in a hotly contested 4-team race. Boston’s season ended in a 4-game ALCS sweep by the Athletics in a one-sided ALCS.

The Red Sox got things done on the offensive side of the ball, leading the league in runs, doubles, BA, OBP, and OPS. The pitching staff was less impressive, ranking 7th in both ERA and WHIP, although they ranked first in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Wade Boggs had a stellar season for the Sox, leading the league in BA (.366), OBP (.476), walks, OPS, doubles, and runs (128). Mike Greenwell had a career season for Boston, batting .325 with 22 homers and 119 RBI. Ellis Burks was a strong third option, batting .294 with 25 stolen bases. On the mound, Roger Clemens led the AL in strikeouts, complete games, and shutouts while winning 18 games. Lefty Bruce Hurst was a capable second starter, posting 18 wins. After the top two, the Sox pitching fell sharply, making the team lean heavily on outscoring opponents.

#18: 1989 Oakland Athletics, 47.8 WAR162

The 1989 Athletics easily won the AL West by 7 games over the Royals. They then topped the Blue Jays in five games and the Giants in four to claim the World Series crown.

The A’s offense was limited in 1989, placing 4th in runs and OBP, and just 6th in BA and OPS. The team ranked 2nd with 157 stolen bases, helping the Athletics’ manufacturer runs. The pitching staff performed well, leading the AL in ERA and WHIP, and tying for first with 20 shutouts.

Rickey Henderson was the offensive sparkplug, batting .294 with 52 steals in just 85 games. Carney Lansford batted .336 with 37 stolen bases, and Dave Henderson added 15 homers and 80 RBI, along with strong defense. Mark McGwire launched 33 homers to help diversify the A’s offense. Mike Moore (19-11, 2.62 ERA) and Dave Stewart (21-9) combined for 40 wins at the top of the rotation, with Bob Welch adding 17 more wins.

#17: 1982 Milwaukee Brewers, 47.9 WAR162

The 1982 Brewers beat out the Orioles by a single game for the AL East title, then defeated the Angels in a 5-game ALCS. Their good fortune ran out in the World Series, where they lost to the Cardinals in seven games.

The Brewers rode a powerful offense to the top of the AL, scoring 891 runs on the season. They also launched 216 home runs, 30 more than their closest rival. The club finished second in BA and first in OPS to rank as the league’s most dominant offense. Pitching was merely average (at best), as the Brewers ranked 6th in ERA and 10th in WHIP out of 14 AL teams.

Robin Yount led the offense with an MVP season, totaling 46 doubles, a .957 OPS, and a .331 BA with 210 hits. He also claimed the Gold Glove Award at shortstop. Paul Molitor topped the league with 136 runs scored while posting a .302 BA, and Cecil Cooper slugged 32 homers with 121 RBI and a .313 BA. Gorman Thomas added additional pop with an AL-best 39 home runs. Pete Vuckovich won the AL Cy Young Award based on his 18-6 record, and Rollie Fingers saved 29 games.

#16: 1986 California Angels, 48.1 WAR

The 1986 Angels topped the AL West, beating the Rangers by five games before losing a dramatic five-game ALCS to the Red Sox.

The Angels had a rather ordinary offense in 1986, finishing 6th in runs, 7th in homers, and 9th in BA. They were adept at drawing walks, leading the AL with 671 walks, which boosted their OBP to third in the league. Pitching was a strength, as the Angels staff led the league in WHIP and ranked second in ERA behind the Royals.

Garry Pettis stole 50 bases, scored 93 runs, and earned a Gold Glove for his defensive work in center field. Brian Downing posted a .389 OBP with 20 homers and 95 RBI, and Dick Schofield stole 23 bases and provided strong defense at shortstop. Mike Witt was the Angels’ ace on the mound, posting an 18-10 record with a 2.84 ERA, aided by Kirk McCaskill, who logged a 17-10 mark on the season.

Summary

That’s it for the first entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1980s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #15 to #11, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

1970s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 5 through 1

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the third countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1970s. Expansion continued in the 1970s, with four new teams added for the 1977 season, adding to the four that started play in the 1969 season. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1970s (1970-1979), a total of 252 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 8% for the decade. We’ll summarize each team, including portions of their team dashboard, and 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: 1970s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#5: 1975 Cincinnati Reds, 57.4 WAR162

The Reds and Orioles own the top five spots in our 1970s rankings. The list starts with the 1975 Reds, who posted a gaudy 108 wins before sweeping the Pirates in the NLCS. They then defeated the Red Sox in a classic seven-game World Series.

The Reds had an impressive offense in 1975, scoring 840 runs, 105 more than their closest rival. Their 124 homers ranked third, and their 168 stolen bases topped the NL. The team ranked second in BA and first in OBP and OPS. The Reds’ pitching staff was less notable, but still quite effective, ranking third in ERA, fourth in WHIP, and second in walks issued.

Joe Morgan had a sensational season en route to NL MVP honors. Morgan batted .327, and led the NL with 132 walks, a .466 OBP, and a .974 OPS. He also stole 67 bases, scored 107 runs, and earned a Gold Glove at second base. Johnny Bench assembled a big season as well, swatting 28 homers with 110 RBI and a Gold Glove. George Foster added 23 homers and a .300 BA, while Pete Rose batted .317 with NL-bests in doubles (47) and runs (112). Dave Concepcion (.274 BA, 33 steals, Gold Glove) and Cesar Geronimo (Gold Glove) were also major contributors for the Big Red Machine. Gary Nolan and Don Gullett (2.42 ERA) each won 15 games for a balanced Reds pitching staff.

#4: 1976 Cincinnati Reds, 58.5 WAR162

The Reds were back in 1976, once again claiming the NL West title and the NL pennant, before sweeping the Yankees in the World Series.

The Reds’ offense was again fearsome, scoring an NL-best 857 runs, 87 more than the Phillies. Their 271 doubles, 63 triples, and 141 homers all topped the NL; they also swept the BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS rankings. Once again, their pitching lacked big-name stars, but was up to the task. The Reds’ staff ranked fifth (out of 12) in both ERA and WHIP.

Joe Morgan repeated as the NL MVP, batting .320 and leading the league in OBP, SLG, and OPS. He also stole 60 bases, scored 113 runs, and had 11 RBI, plus another Gold Glove Award. Pete Rose had a fine age-35 season, batting .323 and leading the NL in runs, hits, and doubles. George Foster belted 29 homers, had a .306 BA, and topped the NL with 121 RBI. Johnny Bench’s offensive output dipped from prior seasons, but he still managed 74 RBI, a .348 OBP, and another Gold Glove Award. Dave Concepcion (.281 BA, Gold Glove) and Ken Griffey (.336 BA, 34 steals) added offensive and defensive efficiency to the team. Pat Zachry posted a 14-7 record with a 2.74 ERA to capture NL Rookie of the Year honors, while the rest of the pitching staff was solid rather than spectacular.

#3: 1971 Baltimore Orioles, 59.3 WAR162

The 1971 Orioles cruised to the AL East title, leaving the Tigers 12 games behind. They then swept the Athletics in the ALCS before falling to the Pirates in a seven-game World Series.

The Orioles topped the AL in BA, OBP, and OPS while scoring a league-leading 742 runs (despite playing four fewer games). They ranked fourth in homers, but only the Tigers hit more per game. Pitching was an Orioles strength in the 1969-73 era, and 1971 was no exception. The Birds led the AL in ERA and placed second in WHIP.

Brooks Robinson (18 homers, 94 RBI, Gold Glove Award) and Merv Rettenmund (.322 BA, 18 home runs in just 385 plate appearances) led the way for the Orioles. Don Buford had another fine season with a .406 OBP and 99 runs scored, and Mark Belanger played his usual exceptional defense at shortstop. Davey Johnson batted .281 and earned a Gold Glove Award at second base, and Boog Powell slugged 35 homers with 114 RBI to claim AL MVP honors. On the mound, the Orioles had four 20-game winners, led by Jim Palmer (20-9, 2.68 ERA), Pat Dobson (20-8, 2.90 ERA), and Dave McNally (21-5, 2.89 ERA). Veteran lefty Mike Cuellar posted a 20-9 mark to complete the dominant starting rotation.

#2: 1970 Baltimore Orioles, 59.4 WAR162

The 1970 Orioles easily won the AL East, finishing 15 games ahead of the Yankees. They then dominated the postseason, sweeping the Twins and the ALCS and beating the Reds in a five-game World Series.

The Orioles featured a potent offense that ranked first in the AL in runs, third in BA, first in OBP, and second in OPS. Their pitching staff led the AL in ERA, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk rate. This team could win either with offense or by shutting down the opposition.

Paul Blair and Boog Powell led the Orioles in positional WAR162 in 1971, albeit via very different means. Blair batted .262 while playing exceptional Gold Glove defense, and Powell belted 22 homers with 92 RBI and drew 82 walks. Merv Rettenmund batted .318 with 15 steals as a fourth outfielder, while veteran star Frank Robinson had 28 homers and 99 RBI in his age-35 season. Don Buford (.413 OBP, AL-best 99 runs), Brooks Robinson (20 homers, 92 RBI, Gold Glove), and Davey Johnson (.282 BA, Gold Glove) all provided significant offensive and defensive support for the Orioles.

#1: 1973 Baltimore Orioles, 60.2 WAR

The 1973 Orioles claimed their 4th AL East title in 5 years, but were upended by the Athletics in a 5-game ALCS. The Orioles Pythagorean win projection was 102, a full five games better than their actual result.

The Orioles again had a diverse offense, albeit one with more speed and less power than in recent years. The O’s 146 steals easily led the AL, while the team ranked third in BA and OPS, and first in OBP. Their 754 runs were just 4 behind the A’s league-leading 758. Pitching remained a strong suit for Baltimore, as its staff topped the AL in ERA and WHIP.

Second baseman Bobby Grich had a career WAR year in 1973, scoring 82 runs, drawing 107 walks, and playing Gold Glove defense. Paul Blair claimed another Gold Glove while batting .280 with 18 steals, and Merv Rettenmund had a .378 OBP and 59 runs scored in 390 plate appearances. Al Bumbry was the AL Rookie of the Year, batting .337 with 23 steals and an AL-best 11 triples. Jim Palmer had another great season on the mound, posting a 22-9 record with a 2.40 ERA in winning the Cy Young Award. Dave McNally won 17 games in support of Palmer.

That’s it for the final entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1970s decade! Here’s a summary of the most dominant franchises of the 1970s:

Angels Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our first entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Angels in all their editions – California, Anaheim, Los Angeles, etc. 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 Angels Network

The Angels’ radial axis network reflects the connections between all players who spent time with the franchise between the 1961 and 2025 seasons. The first season (1961) is found at the bottom center. Subsequent seasons are arranged clockwise, eventually returning to the bottom center with the 2025 season. Player nodes are sized based on 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 – Angels Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

Garret Anderson and Mike Trout top the Angels with 15 seasons on the roster (through 2025). Trout is now in his 16th season, so he’ll be alone atop any future list. Other long-tenured Angels legends include Tim Salmon, Chuck Finley, and Brian Downing.

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Tim Salmon tops the Degree list, having been on a roster with 284 other players across his Angels career. Garret Anderson and Chuck Finley are close behind, with Mike Trout poised to eventually pass everyone.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

The Harmonic Closeness metric measures the relative importance of a player (based on their average distance from all other players) within a franchise’s history. This can be affected by both the number of degrees and the proximity to other well-connected players. On a scale from 0 to 1, Tim Salmon and Garret Anderson earned nearly identical scores atop the rankings. Dick Schofield, Chuck Finley, and Darin Erstad round out the Angels’ top five.

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players are most central to the network. Often, this results in players who played in the middle period of a franchise’s history, or players with multiple stints with one franchise. The latter is the case for both Dick Schofield (1983-92, 1995-96) and Andy Hassler (1971-76, 1980-83). These two players provide the shortest paths to connect to other Angels players. Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon, and Jered Weaver are next, but far behind Schofield and Hassler.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Angels network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Angels players over the last 65 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

Anatomy of MLB Radial Axis Graphs

Posted on by kc2519

This post will introduce you to an upcoming series of MLB radial axis graphs, where we examine the connections between all players at a franchise level. The plan is to feature two teams per week, with an overview of each graph’s structure and highlights within the graph. Each graph will have the same general appearance and functionality; only the underlying data and team color will change. Every post will provide a link to the interactive graph, allowing you to explore freely. One caveat – the graphs are best explored on tablets, laptops, or large monitors; phone screens will not work well.

Let’s begin with the general concept behind the radial axis approach. I selected this layout (using Gephi) to provide an intuitive graph that is both easy to understand and navigate. Using a radial axis graph, we can arrange the data points (nodes) based on the first season a player was with a franchise (e.g., 1964). Players starting in the same season will be arranged in a radian originating near the center of the display. In addition, the players’ nodes are then arranged based on the number of seasons spent with a franchise. Let’s have a quick look, using the Anaheim Angels graph:

There’s a lot going on here, but we’ll explain it in the next few sections. First, you can see the structure of the graph, with each season radiating out from the center. The first season for each franchise is located near the bottom center; this will be the longest radian, as every player is new to the team that season. For the Angels, that season is 1961. The seasons are arranged clockwise from there, eventually wrapping back around to the 2025 season:

Title, Legend, and Search

The title, legend, and search function are all contained within a static window to the left of the graph. This window provides simple information about the graph; selecting the More about this visualization option opens a new window that provides greater detail about the graph:

Specific players and their connections can be found using the Search function:

Player Nodes

Each node in the graph represents a specific player. We can hover over any node to see who the player is, and we can click on any node to find out more information about that player, in this case Jered Weaver:

We now have detailed information about Jered Weaver in the Information Pane to the right of the graph. Later in this post, we’ll walk through the graph statistics, but for now, we can see the first and last seasons played, the size (# of seasons), and at the bottom, all of the players Weaver played with for one or more seasons. Each of these Connections can be clicked on to update the display. The size attribute is reflected in the graph; players with more seasons will have larger nodes than those with just a season or two.

Player Connections

The thin gray lines between graph nodes represent the connections between players. The Connections section contains this information, as we just discussed. As you might expect, these connections (edges) aid us in viewing the overall structure of the graph.

Graph Statistics

Network graph analysis uses several calculations to help summarize a graph. These measures can seem rather technical and difficult to interpret. We will simplify things in our upcoming posts for each franchise. In this section, I’ll provide a simple overview of each metric displayed in the Information Pane.

The Degree statistic measures the number of connections a selected player has. Typically, players with lengthy careers have the most connections, but players with multiple shorter stints may also have high degree numbers.

The Eccentricity statistic measures the number of steps required to connect to the most distant node in the graph. This number will be higher (on average) for original franchises dating to 1901.

The Closeness Centrality statistic measures the relative importance (from 0 to 1) of any player within the network. Higher scores indicate an individual who is close to many other players in the network. In practical terms, players who were with a franchise near the middle of all seasons will tend to have higher scores; they may connect to players from both earlier and later eras.

The Betweenness Centrality statistic measures how important an individual node is (from 0 to 1) for traversing the network. Players with many connections are most likely to score high on this statistic.

The Harmonic Closeness Centrality statistic also measures the relative importance of a player (from 0 to 1) in the network. It is a variation on the original Closeness Centrality statistic. We will use this version in our series of franchise summaries.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of MLB radial axis graphs. We’ll start with individual franchises (alphabetized by name) in a couple of days, and will include summaries and a link to the interactive graph. As always, thanks for reading!

1970s 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 1970s. Expansion continued in the 1970s, with four new teams added for the 1977 season, adding to the four that started play in the 1969 season. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1970s (1970-1979), a total of 252 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 8% for the decade. We’ll summarize each team, including portions of their team dashboard, and 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: 1970s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#10: 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates, 53.7 WAR162

The 1972 Pirates ran away with the NL East title, finishing a comfortable 11 games ahead of the Cubs. They then fell to the Reds in a 5-game NLCS series.

The Pirates had a solid offense, finishing third in runs while leading the NL in doubles and triples. Their .274 team BA easily led the league, and they ranked first in OPS by a narrow margin. The Pirates’ pitching staff had a strong season, finishing second in ERA, WHIP, and saves.

Richie Hebner had a fine season, batting .300 with 19 homers and 72 RBI from his third base position. Roberto Clemente batted .312 in 102 games, and Willie Stargell launched 33 homers with 112 RBI and a .293 BA. Manny Sanguillen (.298 BA, 71 RBI) and Dave Cash (.282 BA) provided additional support for a balanced offense. The pitching was led by Steve Blass (19-8, 2.42 ERA) and Bob Moose (13 wins, 2.91 ERA)

#9: 1977 New York Yankees, 55.7 WAR162

The 1977 Yankees prevailed in a tight three-team AL race, finishing 2.5 games ahead of both the Orioles and Red Sox. They then went on to defeat the Royals in the ALCS and the Dodgers in a six-game World Series.

The Yankees had a very respectable offense, finishing fourth in runs, third in BA and OBP, and second in OPS. The pitching staff was similarly strong, ranking third in ERA, first in shutouts, and third in WHIP.

Graig Nettles led a deep Yankees offense, mashing 37 home runs with 107 RBI while earning a Gold Glove at third base. Speedy Mickey Rivers stole 22 bases and batted .326, while Reggie Jackson whacked 32 home runs with 110 RBI and 93 runs scored. Thurman Munson posted a .308 BA with 18 homers and 100 RBI, and Willie Randolph batted .274 and played strong defense in his age-22 season. Ron Guidry was the Yankees’ ace, posting a 16-7 record with a 2.82 ERA. Ed Figueroa (16-11) and Sparky Lyle (13-5, 2.17 ERA, 26 saves, and the Cy Young Award) provided ample support from the mound.

#8: 1979 Baltimore Orioles, 55.8 WAR162

The Orioles cruised to an 8-game margin over the Brewers to claim the AL East. They went on to defeat the Angels in the ALCS before bowing to the Pirates in a seven-game World Series.

The Baltimoreans were not an impressive offensive team in 1979, ranking just 8th (out of 14 teams) in runs scored. They did flash some power, ranking third in home runs, and placed 5th in OPS. Pitching carried the O’s, as their staff easily topped the AL in ERA and WHIP.

Ken Singleton led a balanced offensive attack with a .295 BA, 35 home runs, and 111 RBI. Eddie Murray, a switch-hitter like Singleton, also batted .295 and added 25 homers and 99 RBI in his age-22 season. Gary Roenicke added another 25 home runs in just 133 games. Lefty Mike Flanagan (23-9, 5 shutouts, Cy Young winner) and righty Dennis Martinez (15 wins, AL-best 18 CG) led the pitching staff, supported by 13-game winner Scott McGregor, who led the league in WHIP.

#7: 1976 New York Yankees, 56.9 WAR162

The 1976 Yankees cruised to the AL East title by 10.5 games over the Orioles before defeating the Royals in a five-game ALCS. Their season came to an abrupt end in the World Series, as the Reds swept them in four games.

The Yankees had an offense that ranked in the top three in many categories – 2nd in runs, 3rd in homers, 3rd in stolen bases, 3rd in BA, 2nd in OBP, and 3rd in OPS. Their pitching was also quite effective, ranking 1st in both ERA and WHIP for the season.

Third baseman Graig Nettles had a career year, belting 32 homers with 93 RBI and exceptional defense. Mickey Rivers stole 43 bases to go with a .312 BA, and Roy White led the AL with 104 runs scored while stealing 31 bases. Catcher Thurman Munson claimed the AL MVP with a .302 BA, 17 homers, and 105 RBI. 21-year-old Willie Randolph gave the Yankees another threat on the basepaths, piling up 31 steals. The pitching staff was balanced, without any standouts. Ed Figueroa posted a 19-10 mark with a 3.02 ERA, and Catfish Hunter added 17 wins.

#6: 1974 Los Angeles Dodgers, 57.4 WAR

The 1974 Dodgers defeated the Reds by 4 games in a competitive NL West race before defeating the Pirates to claim the NL pennant. The World Series was a different story, with the Athletics defeating the Dodgers in five games.

The Dodgers had a potent offense that led the NL in runs, home runs, and OPS, while ranking second in BA and OBP. Pitching was also a relative strength, with 2nd-place rankings in WHIP, strikeout-to-walk rate, and strikeouts. The team also featured a strong pitching staff that led the NL in ERA, WHIP, walks, strikeouts, and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Veteran Jim Wynn had a terrific season, batting .271 with a .387 OBP (108 walks), 32 homers, 108 RBI, and 104 runs scored. Ron Cey (18 homers, 97 RBI), Steve Garvey (.312 BA, 21 homers, 11 RBI, NL MVP), and Davey Lopes (59 steals, 95 runs) led a deep supporting cast. Andy Messersmith posted a 20-6 mark with a 2.59 ERA to lead the Dodgers pitchers. Mike Marshall won the Cy Young Award with 15 wins, 21 saves, and a 2.42 ERA in an incredible 106 games. Don Sutton went 19-9 with five shutouts as an effective second starter in the rotation.

That’s it for the third entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1970s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #5 to #1, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

1970s 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 1970s. Expansion continued in the 1970s, with four new teams added for the 1977 season, adding to the four that started play in the 1969 season. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1970s (1970-1979), a total of 252 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 8% for the decade. We’ll summarize each team, including portions of their team dashboard, and 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: 1970s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#15: 1975 Baltimore Orioles, 52.5 WAR162

The 1975 Orioles finished second in the AL East, 5 games behind the Red Sox. The Orioles may have been better than their record, as their Pythagorean win projection was 95, 5 games above their actual result.

The Orioles had a mediocre offense, even given Memorial Stadium’s pitching-friendly confines in 1975. The Birds ranked below league average in most key offensive categories, relying on pitching and defense to carry the team. Their pitching staff led the AL in ERA, shutouts, and WHIP, while their defense featured four Gold Glove winners.

Bobby Grich had perhaps the best season of his long career, with a .389 OBP (with 107 walks), 81 runs scored, and Gold Glove defense. Ken Singleton batted .300 with a .415 OBP (with 115 walks) and 88 runs scored, and Mark Belanger coupled Gold Glove defense with 16 steals. On the mound, Cy Young winner Jim Palmer posted a 23-11 record, 2.09 ERA, and 10 shutouts, all AL-best numbers. His primary support came from Mike Torrez (20-9 record).

#14: 1977 Kansas City Royals, 52.5 WAR162

The Royals experienced quick success by expansion standards, with the 1977 team rating as their best team of the 1970s. Kansas City’s 102 wins were enough to win the AL West by 8 games. Unfortunately, their season ended with a 5-game loss to the Yankees in the ALCS.

The Royals’ 822 runs ranked 5th in the 14-team AL, and they led the league in both doubles and triples. Their offense also ranked 5th in BA and 4th in OPS. The pitching staff produced some excellent results, ranking first in ERA, second in WHIP, and third in strikeout-to-walk rate.

George Brett was the offensive leader at age 24, with a .312 BA, 22 homers, 88 RBI, and 13 triples. Al Cowens also batted .312, and launched 23 home runs with 112 RBI. Hal McRae batted .298 with an AL-best 54 doubles. Dennis Leonard had an outstanding season on the mound, with a 20-12 record and 5 shutouts. He was backed up by Paul Splittorff (16-6) and Jim Colborn (18-14).

#13: 1972 Oakland Athletics, 52.6 WAR162

The 1972 Athletics became the first of three consecutive AL pennant winners and World Series champs from Oakland. The A’s outlasted the White Sox by 5.5 games in a strike-shortened season, then beat the Tigers in a 5-game ALCS win, and the Reds in a 7-game World Series triumph.

The Oakland club didn’t overwhelm teams offensively, ranking second in runs, first in home runs, sixth in BA and OPS, and fourth in OPS, playing home games in the pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum. The Athletics’ pitching staff was quite effective, ranking second in ERA, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk rate, while topping the league with 23 shutouts.

Joe Rudi led the way for the A’s with a .305 BA, 19 home runs, 75 RBI, and 94 runs scored. He was followed closely by a cluster of teammates – Reggie Jackson (25 homers, 75 RBI), Sal Bando (78 walks, 77 RBI), Mike Epstein (26 homers, 70 RBI), and Bert Campaneris (AL-best 52 steals). Catfish Hunter led the pitching staff with a 21-7 record and 2.04 ERA, followed by left-hander Ken Holtzman (19-11, 2.51 ERA).

#12: 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers, 53.0 WAR162

The 1977 Dodgers returned to the top of the NL West after two years of domination by the Reds, topping Cincinnati by 10 games. They went on to beat the Phillies in a 4-game NLCS before falling in a 6-game World Series to the Yankees.

The Dodgers had a capable offense in 1977, finishing 3rd in runs, 1st in homers, 5th in BA, and 3rd in both OBP and OPS. Pitching is what separated the team from the competition, as the Dodgers led the NL in ERA, WHIP, fewest walks, and best strikeout-to-walk rate.

Reggie Smith had a fine season for Los Angeles, with a .307 BA, NL-best .427 OBP, 32 homers, 87 RBI, and 104 runs scored. Davey Lopes stole 47 bases and batted .283, Ron Cey mashed 30 home runs with 110 RBI, and Steve Garvey batted .297 with 33 homers, 115 RBI, and a Gold Glove Award at first base. Dusty Baker rounded out the Dodgers diversified offense with a .291 BA and 30 homers.

#11: 1976 Philadelphia Phillies, 53.3 WAR

The 1976 Phillies rose to the top of the NL East after decades of frequent mediocrity. 1976 was the Phillies’ first time atop the standings since the 1950 Whiz Kids pennant winners. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get past a powerful Reds team, getting swept in a 3-game NLCS.

The Phillies had a potent offense that trailed only the Reds in most major categories – runs, home runs, BA, OBP, OPS, and doubles. Pitching was also a relative strength, with 2nd-place rankings in WHIP, strikeout-to-walk rate, and strikeouts. The Phillies’ staff issued the fewest walks in the NL, and also ranked 3rd in ERA.

Third Baseman Mike Schmidt powered the Phillies at the plate and in the field, belting 38 home runs with 107 RBI, 112 runs scored, 100 walks, and a Gold Glove Award. Center fielder Garry Maddox was another Gold Glove recipient, and batted .330 with 37 doubles and 29 stolen bases. Jay Johnstone batted .318 with 38 doubles to round out the Phillies’ top WAR producers. Veteran lefty Steve Carlton had a typically fine season, posting a 20-7 record. Carlton was supported by another pair of veterans in Jim Lonborg (age 34, 18-10 record) and Jim Kaat (age 37, 12 wins, Gold Glove award).

That’s it for the second entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1970s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #10 to #6, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!