The Value Production Standings:  1976-1980

Our prior installments have examined the production of farm systems in the periods of 1946-1950, 1951-1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1965, 1966-1970 and 1971-1975. This time we’ll explore what was going on during the Carter administration—and hope we won’t succumb to a crisis of confidence.

For a review of our methodology, please see the References and Resources section below.

Here’s the key to the figures we’re examining:

WSP = Win Shares Produced: the total of major league Win Shares produced that season by all players credited to the organization
Lg. WSP = League Win Shares Produced: the percentage of the league total of WSP credited to the organization
MLB WSP = Major League Baseball Win Shares Produced: the percentage of the MLB-wide total of WSP credited to the organization
W = Wins: the actual win total of the team that season
Lg. W = League Wins: the percentage of the league win total won by the team
W% – WSP% = League Wins minus League Win Shares Produced: a measure of how much better or worse a team actually performed than the league-wide value produced by its organization

And this time we’ve added a couple of new ones, to help assess comparative production in the post-1976 environment of unequally sized divisions and leagues:

Avg WSP = Average Win Shares Produced: the average WSP of the teams in a given division or league
%MLB Avg = Percentage of the Major League Baseball Average: how the Average WSP for a given division or league compares with the overall major league average

The 1976 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox            290   11.5%     5.1%      83    8.6%       -2.9%
Orioles            244    9.6%     4.3%      88    9.1%       -0.5%
Indians            213    8.4%     3.7%      81    8.4%        0.0%
Tigers             200    7.9%     3.5%      74    7.7%       -0.3%
Yankees            166    6.6%     2.9%      97   10.0%        3.5%
Brewers            112    4.4%     2.0%      66    6.8%        2.4%
East Division     1225   48.4%    21.5%     489   50.6%        2.1%      204   85.9%

Athletics          350   13.8%     6.1%      87    9.0%       -4.8%
Angels             241    9.5%     4.2%      76    7.9%       -1.7%
Rangers            231    9.1%     4.1%      76    7.9%       -1.3%
Twins              228    9.0%     4.0%      85    8.8%       -0.2%
White Sox          133    5.3%     2.3%      64    6.6%        1.4%
Royals             121    4.8%     2.1%      90    9.3%        4.5%
West Division     1304   51.6%    22.9%     478   49.4%       -2.1%      217   91.5%

AL Total          2529  100.0%    44.3%     967  100.0%        0.0%      211   88.7%

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

Pirates            346   10.9%     6.1%      92    9.5%       -1.4%
Cardinals          313    9.9%     5.5%      72    7.4%       -2.5%
Mets               300    9.5%     5.3%      86    8.8%       -0.6%
Phillies           286    9.0%     5.0%     101   10.4%        1.4%
Cubs               198    6.2%     3.5%      75    7.7%        1.5%
Expos               79    2.5%     1.4%      55    5.7%        3.2%
East Division     1522   48.0%    26.7%     481   49.5%        1.5%      254  106.8%

Giants             361   11.4%     6.3%      74    7.6%       -3.8%
Dodgers            358   11.3%     6.3%      92    9.5%       -1.8%
Reds               313    9.9%     5.5%     102   10.5%        0.6%
Astros             300    9.5%     5.3%      80    8.2%       -1.2%
Braves             242    7.6%     4.2%      70    7.2%       -0.4%
Padres              78    2.5%     1.4%      73    7.5%        5.1%
West Division     1652   52.0%    29.0%     491   50.5%       -1.5%      275  115.9%

NL Total          3174  100.0%    55.7%     972  100.0%        0.0%      265  111.3%

MLB Total         5703    n/a      100%    1939    n/a         n/a       238  100.0%

The Royals had more initial success than any other expansion team, primarily due to an amazing sequence of trades. But when they achieved their first division title in 1976, in their eighth season of existence, their roster was enriched with many fine products of their farm system: young superstar third baseman George Brett, pitchers Dennis Leonard, Mark Littell, Doug Bird and Paul Splittorff, outfielders Al Cowens and Tom Poquette and second baseman Frank White. They joined the cast of imported talent: center fielder Amos Otis, designated hitter Hal McRae, first baseman John Mayberry, shortstop Freddie Patek and pitchers Al Fitzmorris and Marty Pattin.

Kansas City lost an excruciatingly close ALCS to the Yankees, who captured their first pennant after an 11-year drought. These Bronx Bombers didn’t enjoy anything close to the farm production the franchise had featured in its 1950s and ‘60s dynasty; MVP catcher Thurman Munson and left fielder Roy White were their only key home-grown elements.

But the Yankees had pulled off a long series of shrewd trades, netting them third baseman Graig Nettles, first baseman Chris Chambliss, second baseman Willie Randolph, outfielders Mickey Rivers and Oscar Gamble and pitchers Ed Figueroa, Dock Ellis, Doyle Alexander, Sparky Lyle and Dick Tidrow. Plus, they’d signed ace pitcher Catfish Hunter as a free agent after his contract with the Athletics had been defaulted.

The Yankees were swept in the World Series by Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine, which was at its apex. The Reds had featured strong farm production for a long time, and their championship squad was an impressive balance of farm-bred talent in third baseman Pete Rose, catcher Johnny Bench, right fielder Ken Griffey, shortstop Dave Concepcion, first baseman Tony Perez and pitchers Rawly Eastwick, Gary Nolan, Pat Zachry and Don Gullett.

The home-grown players were augmented by trade acquisitions including MVP second baseman Joe Morgan, left fielder George Foster, center fielder Cesar Geronimo and pitchers Fred Norman and Pedro Borbon.

The 1977 Value Production Standings

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

Orioles            331   11.8%     5.4%      97    8.6%       -3.2%
Red Sox            321   11.4%     5.2%      97    8.6%       -2.8%
Tigers             234    8.3%     3.8%      74    6.5%       -1.8%
Indians            188    6.7%     3.1%      71    6.3%       -0.4%
Yankees            150    5.3%     2.5%     100    8.8%        3.5%
Brewers            130    4.6%     2.1%      67    5.9%        1.3%
Blue Jays            0    0.0%     0.0%      54    4.8%        4.8%
East Division     1354   48.1%    22.1%     560   49.5%        1.4%      193   82.2%

Athletics          349   12.4%     5.7%      63    5.6%       -6.8%
Twins              305   10.8%     5.0%      84    7.4%       -3.4%
Rangers            253    9.0%     4.1%      94    8.3%       -0.7%
Angels             217    7.7%     3.5%      74    6.5%       -1.2%
Royals             202    7.2%     3.3%     102    9.0%        1.8%
White Sox          136    4.8%     2.2%      90    8.0%        3.1%
Mariners             0    0.0%     0.0%      64    5.7%        5.7%
West Division     1462   51.9%    23.9%     571   50.5%       -1.4%      209   88.7%

AL Total          2816  100.0%    46.0%    1131  100.0%        0.0%      201   85.4%

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

Pirates            426   12.9%     7.0%      96    9.9%       -3.0%
Cardinals          352   10.7%     5.8%      83    8.5%       -2.1%
Phillies           325    9.8%     5.3%     101   10.4%        0.6%
Mets               310    9.4%     5.1%      64    6.6%       -2.8%
Cubs               185    5.6%     3.0%      81    8.3%        2.7%
Expos              151    4.6%     2.5%      75    7.7%        3.1%
East Division     1749   52.9%    28.6%     500   51.4%       -1.5%      292  123.8%

Giants             368   11.1%     6.0%      75    7.7%       -3.4%
Dodgers            310    9.4%     5.1%      98   10.1%        0.7%
Reds               294    8.9%     4.8%      88    9.1%        0.2%
Astros             254    7.7%     4.1%      81    8.3%        0.6%
Braves             235    7.1%     3.8%      61    6.3%       -0.8%
Padres              95    2.9%     1.6%      69    7.1%        4.2%
West Division     1556   47.1%    25.4%     472   48.6%        1.5%      259  110.2%

NL Total          3305  100.0%    54.0%     972  100.0%        0.0%      275  117.0%

MLB Total         6121    n/a      100%    2103    n/a         n/a       235  100.0%

When free agency arrived with the 1977 season, no team felt its impact more than the Athletics. Already they’d lost Catfish Hunter in 1975 to a contract snafu, and when the rest of their familiar stars got the choice of working for someone other than Charlie Finley, they jumped at it. The only one remaining was Vida Blue; alongside him a suddenly makeshift roster finished last, despite the A’s leading the league in value production.

The long list of Oakland farm products standing out elsewhere included Reggie Jackson (Yankees), George Hendrick, Gene Tenace and Rollie Fingers (Padres), Chet Lemon (White Sox), Phil Garner (Pirates), Sal Bando (Brewers), Bert Campaneris and Claudell Washington (Rangers), Manny Trillo (Cubs), Dan Ford (Twins) and Joe Rudi (Angels).

Another franchise with little to show for its excellent farm production was the last-in-the-NL-East Mets. They’d executed a multitude of ill-considered trades, and Met farm products included Ken Singleton (Orioles), Tom Seaver (Reds), Nolan Ryan (Angels), Amos Otis (Royals), Tug McGraw (Phillies), Jim Bibby (Indians) and Leroy Stanton (Mariners).

National League organizations continued to produce more talent than their American League counterparts, for the 27th consecutive season. Since divisional play began in 1969, the NL West had been the most productive of all. But in 1977, the NL East vaulted ahead.

The 1978 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox            338   11.8%     5.5%      99    8.8%       -3.0%
Orioles            304   10.6%     4.9%      90    8.0%       -2.6%
Tigers             270    9.4%     4.4%      86    7.6%       -1.8%
Indians            193    6.7%     3.1%      69    6.1%       -0.6%
Yankees            184    6.4%     3.0%     100    8.8%        2.4%
Brewers            183    6.4%     3.0%      93    8.2%        1.8%
Blue Jays            0    0.0%     0.0%      59    5.2%        5.2%
East Division     1472   51.3%    23.9%     596   52.7%        1.4%      210   88.9%

Athletics          330   11.5%     5.4%      69    6.1%       -5.4%
Rangers            277    9.7%     4.5%      87    7.7%       -2.0%
Twins              255    8.9%     4.1%      73    6.5%       -2.4%
Angels             203    7.1%     3.3%      87    7.7%        0.6%
Royals             182    6.3%     3.0%      92    8.1%        1.8%
White Sox          151    5.3%     2.5%      71    6.3%        1.0%
Mariners             0    0.0%     0.0%      56    5.0%        5.0%
West Division     1398   48.7%    22.7%     535   47.3%       -1.4%      200   84.4%

AL Total          2870  100.0%    46.7%    1131  100.0%        0.0%      205   86.7%

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

Pirates            459   14.0%     7.5%      88    9.1%       -4.9%
Phillies           339   10.3%     5.5%      90    9.3%       -1.1%
Cardinals          325    9.9%     5.3%      69    7.1%       -2.8%
Mets               224    6.8%     3.6%      66    6.8%        0.0%
Cubs               190    5.8%     3.1%      79    8.1%        2.3%
Expos              177    5.4%     2.9%      76    7.8%        2.4%
East Division     1714   52.3%    27.9%     468   48.2%       -4.1%      286  120.8%

Giants             391   11.9%     6.4%      89    9.2%       -2.8%
Dodgers            326    9.9%     5.3%      95    9.8%       -0.2%
Reds               282    8.6%     4.6%      92    9.5%        0.9%
Braves             211    6.4%     3.4%      69    7.1%        0.7%
Astros             180    5.5%     2.9%      74    7.6%        2.1%
Padres             175    5.3%     2.8%      84    8.7%        3.3%
West Division     1565   47.7%    25.5%     503   51.8%        4.1%      261  110.3%

NL Total          3279  100.0%    53.3%     971  100.0%        0.0%      273  115.5%

MLB Total         6149    n/a      100%    2102    n/a         n/a       237  100.0%

The Pirates’ total of 459 Win Shares Produced was among the highest of all time, the pinnacle of a decade of outstanding farm production. They’d been a consistent contender through the 1970s, and the 1978 roster was well-stocked with home-grown talent: MVP right fielder Dave Parker, veteran first baseman Willie Stargell, center fielder Omar Moreno, shortstop Frank Taveras, catcher Ed Ott and pitchers Kent Tekulve, John Candelaria and Don Robinson.

The team remained highly competitive despite having surrendered a rich bounty: infielders Willie Randolph (Yankees), Don Money (Brewers), Craig Reynolds (Mariners), Richie Hebner (Phillies), Art Howe (Astros), Freddie Patek (Royals) and Dave Cash (Expos), outfielders Al Oliver and Richie Zisk (Rangers) and Mitchell Page (Athletics) and pitchers Gene Garber (Phillies-Braves), Doug Bair (Reds) and Rick Langford (Athletics).

The biggest story of 1978 was the scintillating AL East race between the Yankees and Red Sox, culminating in the single-elimination playoff to be known forever in Red Sox Nation as the “Bucky F’ing Dent Game.” Both clubs were excellent, and remarkably evenly matched: The Yanks’ team OPS+ was 104, their team ERA+ 114; the Bosox’s team OPS+ was 104, and the team ERA+ 116.

But considering mode of construction, the clubs hardly could have presented a more stark contrast: The Yankees, primarily trade-built, had used the dawning free agent era to add two pearls in Reggie Jackson and Goose Gossage. One key addition from their quite weak farm system was Cy Young-winning ace Ron Guidry.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox had a powerhouse system, and the ’78 roster was bursting with home-grown talent: MVP cleanup hitter Jim Rice, catcher Carlton Fisk, outfielders Fred Lynn, Carl Yastrzemski and Dwight Evans, shortstop Rick Burleson and pitchers Bob Stanley and Bill Lee. Only two of their major cogs were trade acquisitions: ace pitcher Dennis Eckersley and second baseman Jerry Remy. Their lone free agent addition was Mr. Dent’s Oct. 2 seventh-inning victim, pitcher Mike Torrez.

The 1979 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox            308   10.6%     5.0%      91    8.1%       -2.5%
Orioles            296   10.2%     4.9%     102    9.0%       -1.1%
Tigers             247    8.5%     4.0%      85    7.5%       -1.0%
Brewers            239    8.2%     3.9%      95    8.4%        0.2%
Indians            229    7.9%     3.8%      81    7.2%       -0.7%
Yankees            158    5.4%     2.6%      89    7.9%        2.5%
Blue Jays           11    0.4%     0.2%      53    4.7%        4.3%
East Division     1488   51.2%    24.4%     596   52.8%        1.6%      213   90.6%

Athletics          334   11.5%     5.5%      54    4.8%       -6.7%
Angels             257    8.8%     4.2%      88    7.8%       -1.0%
Rangers            241    8.3%     4.0%      83    7.4%       -0.9%
Twins              208    7.2%     3.4%      82    7.3%        0.1%
Royals             208    7.2%     3.4%      85    7.5%        0.4%
White Sox          170    5.8%     2.8%      73    6.5%        0.6%
Mariners             0    0.0%     0.0%      67    5.9%        5.9%
West Division     1418   48.8%    23.2%     532   47.2%       -1.6%      203   86.3%

AL Total          2906  100.0%    47.6%    1128  100.0%        0.0%      208   88.5%

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

Pirates            383   12.0%     6.3%      98   10.1%       -1.9%
Phillies           330   10.3%     5.4%      84    8.7%       -1.7%
Cardinals          317    9.9%     5.2%      86    8.9%       -1.0%
Mets               265    8.3%     4.3%      63    6.5%       -1.8%
Expos              254    8.0%     4.2%      95    9.8%        1.9%
Cubs               195    6.1%     3.2%      80    8.3%        2.2%
East Division     1744   54.6%    28.6%     506   52.2%       -2.4%      291  123.9%

Giants             315    9.9%     5.2%      71    7.3%       -2.5%
Dodgers            305    9.5%     5.0%      79    8.2%       -1.4%
Reds               295    9.2%     4.8%      90    9.3%        0.1%
Astros             232    7.3%     3.8%      89    9.2%        1.9%
Braves             159    5.0%     2.6%      66    6.8%        1.8%
Padres             144    4.5%     2.4%      68    7.0%        2.5%
West Division     1450   45.4%    23.8%     463   47.8%        2.4%      242  103.0%

NL Total          3194  100.0%    52.4%     969  100.0%        0.0%      266  113.4%

MLB Total         6100    n/a      100%    2097    n/a         n/a       235  100.0%

Of the four 1969-vintage expansion clubs, the Royals had been by far the quickest to achieve success. But by 1979, the Brewers and the Expos had stepped forward as strong contenders, and each had developed a more productive farm system than Kansas City’s.

The Brewers (as we discussed here) had made one really bad trade, in which they’d surrendered one of their finest products, catcher Darrell Porter, to the Royals. But the rest of their home-grown top talent was still in hand: outfielders Gorman Thomas and Sixto Lezcano, second baseman Paul Molitor, shortstop Robin Yount and pitchers Jim Slaton, Lary Sorensen and Billy Travers. Sharp trades had delivered first baseman Cecil Cooper, outfielder Ben Oglivie and pitcher Mike Caldwell.

The Expos (as we discussed here) hadn’t let any plums get away, and presented a lineup full of system-produced standouts: catcher Gary Carter, outfielders Andre Dawson, Ellis Valentine and Warren Cromartie, third baseman Larry Parrish and pitchers Steve Rogers, Dan Schatzeder, Scott Sanderson and David Palmer.

A very different story was coming from San Francisco. This venerable franchise led the NL West in WSP in 1979 for the ninth time in the 11 seasons of divisional play, and had led the NL for five straight seasons before that. Through all that time, the Giants’ only championship was a lone division flag, and in ’79 they managed just a 71-91 record.

Only two of the many exceptional talents their system had developed were still on the roster and performing well: right fielder Jack Clark and pitcher Gary Lavelle. Giants’ products playing elsewhere included outfielders George Foster (Reds), Gary Matthews (Braves), Dave Kingman (Cubs), Bobby Bonds (Indians) and Garry Maddox (Phillies), infielders Chris Speier (Expos) and Steve Ontiveros (Cubs) and pitchers Gaylord Perry (Padres), Elias Sosa (Expos), Steve Stone (Orioles) and Jim Barr (Angels).

The 1980 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox            312   10.4%     5.1%      83    7.4%       -3.0%
Tigers             267    8.9%     4.4%      84    7.4%       -1.4%
Orioles            250    8.3%     4.1%     100    8.9%        0.5%
Indians            213    7.1%     3.5%      79    7.0%       -0.1%
Brewers            168    5.6%     2.8%      86    7.6%        2.0%
Yankees            157    5.2%     2.6%     103    9.1%        3.9%
Blue Jays           24    0.8%     0.4%      67    5.9%        5.1%
East Division     1391   46.2%    22.8%     602   53.3%        7.1%      199   84.7%

Athletics          418   13.9%     6.9%      83    7.4%       -6.5%
Rangers            278    9.2%     4.6%      76    6.7%       -2.5%
Royals             266    8.8%     4.4%      97    8.6%       -0.2%
Twins              252    8.4%     4.1%      77    6.8%       -1.6%
Angels             230    7.6%     3.8%      65    5.8%       -1.9%
White Sox          174    5.8%     2.9%      70    6.2%        0.4%
Mariners             0    0.0%     0.0%      59    5.2%        5.2%
West Division     1618   53.8%    26.5%     527   46.7%       -7.1%      231   98.5%

AL Total          3009  100.0%    49.3%    1129  100.0%        0.0%      215   91.6%

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

Pirates            385   12.5%     6.3%      83    8.5%       -3.9%
Cardinals          375   12.1%     6.1%      74    7.6%       -4.5%
Phillies           316   10.2%     5.2%      91    9.4%       -0.9%
Mets               271    8.8%     4.4%      67    6.9%       -1.9%
Expos              220    7.1%     3.6%      90    9.3%        2.1%
Cubs               125    4.0%     2.0%      64    6.6%        2.5%
East Division     1692   54.8%    27.7%     469   48.3%       -6.5%      282  120.2%

Reds               296    9.6%     4.9%      89    9.2%       -0.4%
Dodgers            285    9.2%     4.7%      92    9.5%        0.2%
Astros             246    8.0%     4.0%      93    9.6%        1.6%
Giants             224    7.2%     3.7%      75    7.7%        0.5%
Braves             214    6.9%     3.5%      81    8.3%        1.4%
Padres             133    4.3%     2.2%      73    7.5%        3.2%
West Division     1398   45.2%    22.9%     503   51.7%        6.5%      233   99.3%

NL Total          3090  100.0%    50.7%     972  100.0%        0.0%      258  109.8%

MLB Total         6099    n/a      100%    2101    n/a         n/a       235  100.0%

Another franchise that hadn’t yielded proportional benefit from a consistently strong farm system was the Cardinals. Throughout the 1970s, they’d been among the better producers of talent, but generally put a mediocre team on the field. In 1980, it was more of the same: second in the league in WSP, but a 74-88 record.

The Cards had a few home-grown stars in first baseman Keith Hernandez, catcher Ted Simmons and shortstop Garry Templeton. But the list of those they’d let get away included outfielders Jose Cruz (Astros), Jerry Mumphrey (Padres) and Bake McBride (Phillies) and pitchers Jerry Reuss (Dodgers) and Bill Caudill (Cubs). It also included superstar Steve Carlton, who was central to the Phillies’ winning their fourth division title in five years, their first pennant since 1950 and their first World Series championship.

The Athletics demonstrated an astonishing feat of rising from the ashes. Stripped nearly bare of talent in 1977, owner/GM Charlie Finley quickly and shrewdly rebuilt. His tremendous farm system continued to deliver, providing outfielders Rickey Henderson and Dwayne Murphy, third baseman Wayne Gross and pitchers Mike Norris, Matt Keough, Steve McCatty and Brian Kingman. Canny trades imported pitcher Rick Langford, outfielder Tony Armas and first baseman Dave Revering.

In his 20th and final season of A’s ownership, Finley produced another winning team. His franchise not only led the AL West in WSP for the 12th consecutive season, but also, for the first time, led all of MLB.

That year marked the 30th in a row that the National League had produced more talent than the American. The average NL franchise had 258 WSP, or 109.8% of the major league average, compared with a 215 average in the AL. Large though this gap was, it was at its narrowest since 1971, so perhaps the two leagues were finally moving toward parity in value production. Significantly, the difference in producing players of color had decreased, to 32.5% NL to 28.8% AL, as compared to 38.6%/27.0% in 1975. Next time we’ll see what the early 1980s would reveal.

The Value Production Standings Summary, 1946-1980

 Year  NYY     DET     BOS     CLE     OAK     MIN     BAL     CHW      CAL      WAS   AL WSP
 1946   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8        x        x     56.5%
 1947   1       2       4       3       5       6       8       7        x        x     55.3%
 1948   1       3       4       2       5       7       6       8        x        x     55.6%
 1949   1       3T      3T      2       5       7       6       8        x        x     51.9%
 1950   1       3       4       2       7       6       5       8        x        x     50.5%
 1951   2       4       3       1       5       6       8       7        x        x     49.0%
 1952   1       4       3       2       5       6       8       7        x        x     47.9%
 1953   2       4       3       1       7       6       8       5        x        x     46.2%
 1954   1T      4       3       1T      7       6       8       5        x        x     47.5%
 1955   1       4       2       3       5       6       8       7        x        x     46.7%
 1956   1       4       2       3       7       5       8       6        x        x     47.1%
 1957   1       4       2       3       6       8       7       5        x        x     46.3%
 1958   1       4       3       2       8       7       6       5        x        x     46.4%
 1959   1       4       3       2       8       7       5       6        x        x     46.5%
 1960   1       5       3       2       8       7       4       6        x        x     46.0%
 1961   1       4       3       2       8       7       5       6        9       10     48.3%
 1962   1       3       4       2       8       6       5       7       10        9     43.1%
 1963   1       5       4       2       8       7       3       6       10        9     43.6%
 1964   1       3       4       5       8       7       2       6        9       10     45.0%
 1965   1       2       7       4       8       6       3       5        9       10     44.5%
 1966   1       3       6       5       7       8       2       4        9       10     44.4%
 1967   7       4       1       6       8       3       2       5        9       10     45.5%
 1968   7       1       4       5       2       8       3       6        9       10     45.8%

 Year  BAL     DET     BOS     NYY     CLE     WAS     TOR   Avg WSP %ML Avg  ALE WSP  AL WSP
 1969   1       2       3       4       5       6       x      259    108.3%    27.1%   45.3%
 1970   2       4       1       3       5       6       x      260    108.3%    27.1%   44.7%
 1971   2       3       4       1       5       6       x      244    101.5%    25.4%   46.0%

       BAL     DET     BOS     NYY     CLE     MIL     TOR
 1972   1       5       2       4       3       6       x      219     95.4%    23.9%   43.0%
 1973   1       5       2       4       3       6       x      219     91.5%    22.9%   42.0%
 1974   2       3       1       4       5       6       x      215     90.5%    22.6%   43.8%
 1975   2       4       1       3       5       6       x      193     81.6%    20.4%   44.4%
 1976   2       4       1       5       3       6       x      204     85.9%    21.5%   44.3%
 1977   1       3       2       5       4       6       7      193     82.2%    22.1%   46.0%
 1978   2       3       1       5       4       6       7      210     88.9%    23.9%   46.7%
 1979   2       3       1       6       5       4       7      213     90.6%    24.4%   47.6%
 1980   3       2       1       6       4       5       7      199     84.7%    22.8%   49.3%


 Year  OAK     MIN     CHW     CAL     KCR     MIL     SEA   Avg WSP  %ML Avg  ALW WSP AL WSP
 1969   1       2       3       4       5T      5T      x      175     73.0%    18.2%   45.3%
 1970   1       2       3       4       5       6       x      169     70.4%    17.6%   44.7%
 1971   1       3       4       2       6       5       x      198     82.3%    20.6%   46.0%

       OAK     MIN     CHW     CAL     KCR     TEX     SEA
 1972   1       2       3       4       6       5       x      177     76.8%    19.2%   43.0%
 1973   1       2       3       4       6       5       x      183     76.5%    19.1%   42.0%
 1974   1       2       5       4       6       3       x      201     84.7%    21.2%   43.8%
 1975   1       2       5       3       6       4       x      228     96.2%    24.0%   44.4%
 1976   1       4       5       2       6       3       x      217     91.5%    22.9%   44.3%
 1977   1       2       6       4       5       3       7      209     88.7%    23.9%   46.0%
 1978   1       3       6       4       5       2       7      200     84.4%    22.7%   46.7%
 1979   1       4T      6       2       4T      3       7      203     86.3%    23.2%   47.6%
 1980   1       4       6       5       3       2       7      231     98.5%    26.5%   49.3%





 Year  STL     LAD     CHC     CIN     PHI     PIT     ATL     SFG      HOU      NYM   NL WSP
 1946   1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8        x        x     43.5%
 1947   1       2       4       3       7       6       8       5        x        x     44.7%
 1948   1       2       3       4       6       7       8       5        x        x     44.4%
 1949   1       2       3       4       5       7       8       6        x        x     48.1%
 1950   1       2       5       6       4       7       8       3        x        x     49.5%
 1951   1       2       5       4       6       7       8       3        x        x     51.0%
 1952   1       2       5       4       6       8       7       3        x        x     52.1%
 1953   2       1       7       4       5       8       3       6        x        x     53.8%
 1954   2       1       7       5       6       8       3       4        x        x     52.5%
 1955   3       1       6       5       7       8       2       4        x        x     53.3%
 1956   2       1       8       4       6       7       3       5        x        x     52.9%
 1957   2       1       7       5       4       8       3       6        x        x     53.7%
 1958   4       1       8       6       7       5       2       3        x        x     53.6%
 1959   3       1       7       5       8       6       2       4        x        x     53.5%
 1960   3       1       8       6       7       5       4       2        x        x     54.0%
 1961   2       1       7       5       8       6       3       4        x        x     51.7%
 1962   4       1       7       5       8       6       2       3        9       10     56.9%
 1963   5       1       7       4       8       6       3       2        9       10     56.4%
 1964   6       3       7       4       8       5       2       1        9       10     55.0%
 1965   6       2       8       3       7       5       4       1        9       10     55.5%
 1966   6       4       7       2       8       5       3       1        9       10     55.6%
 1967   5       3       6       2       7       8       4       1        9       10     54.5%
 1968   5       4       6       2       8       7       3       1        9       10     54.2%

 Year  PIT     STL     CHC     NYM     PHI     MON           Avg WSP  %ML Avg NLE WSP  NL WSP
 1969   1       2       3       4       5       6              218     91.1%    22.8%   54.7%
 1970   1       2       4       5       3       6              221     91.9%    23.0%   55.3%
 1971   1       3       5       2       4       6              230     95.7%    23.9%   54.0%
 1972   1       2       4       3       5       6              244    106.1%    26.5%   57.0%
 1973   1       3       5       2       4       6              239     99.7%    24.9%   58.0%
 1974   1       4       5       3       2       6              249    104.9%    26.2%   56.2%
 1975   1       2       5       3       4       6              247    104.2%    26.1%   55.6%
 1976   1       2       5       3       4       6              254    106.8%    26.7%   55.7%
 1977   1       2       5       4       3       6              292    123.8%    28.6%   54.0%
 1978   1       3       5       4       2       6              286    120.8%    27.9%   53.3%
 1979   1       3       6       4       2       5              291    123.9%    28.6%   52.4%
 1980   1       2       6       4       3       5              282    120.2%    27.7%   50.7%

 Year  SFG     CIN     ATL     LAD     HOU     SDP           Avg WSP  %ML Avg NLW WSP  NL WSP
 1969   1       2       3       4       5       6              306    127.7%    31.9%   54.7%
 1970   1       2       3       4       5       6              311    129.4%    32.3%   55.3%
 1971   1       2       3       4       5       6              289    120.4%    30.1%   54.0%
 1972   2       1       4       5       3       6              280    121.7%    30.4%   57.0%
 1973   1       2       5       3       4       6              317    132.2%    33.1%   58.0%
 1974   2       1       5       3       4       6              285    120.0%    30.0%   56.2%
 1975   1       2       5       4       3       6              279    118.0%    29.5%   55.6%
 1976   1       3       5       2       4       6              275    115.9%    29.0%   55.7%
 1977   1       3       5       2       4       6              259    110.2%    25.4%   54.0%
 1978   1       3       4       2       5       6              261    110.3%    25.5%   53.3%
 1979   1       3       5       2       4       6              242    103.0%    23.8%   52.4%
 1980   4       1       5       2       3       6              233     99.3%    22.9%   50.7%

References & Resources

Methodology

First, we identify every player in the major leagues each season with at least five career Win Shares. Then we identify which major league organization was responsible for originally signing and developing that player (or perhaps not originally signing him, but clearly being the organization most responsible for developing him). Finally, we credit every season’s production of major league Win Shares by that player to that organization, regardless of whether he actually played that season for that organization.

Sometimes it’s impossible to assign a player to one organization. Lots of players were signed by one team, but then acquired by another organization while still young minor leaguers. For such players, we assign half-credit to each of the two organizations (and in a few cases, we assign one-third-credit to each of three organizations).

In the late 1970s, a handful of players weren’t the products of any major league team’s farm system, having been purchased from independent teams in the Mexican League. The Win Shares of such players aren’t counted in this analysis.