The Value Production Standings:  1981-1985

Our earlier journeys have explored farm system production in the periods of 1946-1950, 1951-1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1965, 1966-1970, 1971-1975, and 1976-1980. Now we’ll jump fully into the realm of Pac-Man, leg warmers, and break dancing.

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

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

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

The 1981 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox           240   12.2%     6.0%   59   7.9%        -4.3%
Tigers            169    8.6%     4.2%   60   8.0%        -0.6%
Orioles           160    8.1%     4.0%   59   7.9%        -0.2%
Indians           133    6.8%     3.3%   52   6.9%         0.2%
Brewers           122    6.2%     3.0%   62   8.3%         2.1%
Yankees           108    5.5%     2.7%   59   7.9%         2.4%
Blue Jays          34    1.7%     0.8%   37   4.9%         3.2%
East Division     966   49.1%    24.0%  388  51.8%         2.7%      138   89.2%

Athletics         262   13.3%     6.5%   64   8.5%        -4.8%
Rangers           185    9.4%     4.6%   57   7.6%        -1.8%
Angels            184    9.3%     4.6%   51   6.8%        -2.5%
Royals            138    7.0%     3.4%   50   6.7%        -0.3%
Twins             135    6.9%     3.4%   41   5.5%        -1.4%
White Sox          95    4.8%     2.4%   54   7.2%         2.4%
Mariners            4    0.2%     0.1%   44   5.9%         5.7%
West Division    1003   50.9%    24.9%  361  48.2%        -2.7%      143   92.6%

AL Total         1969  100.0%    49.0%  749 100.0%         0.0%      141   90.9%

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

Pirates           238   11.6%     5.9%   46   7.2%        -4.4%
Cardinals         229   11.2%     5.7%   59   9.2%        -1.9%
Mets              186    9.1%     4.6%   41   6.4%        -2.7%
Phillies          180    8.8%     4.5%   59   9.2%         0.4%
Expos             168    8.2%     4.2%   60   9.4%         1.2%
Cubs              108    5.3%     2.7%   38   5.9%         0.7%
East Division    1109   54.0%    27.6%  303  47.3%        -6.7%      185  119.5%

Dodgers           214   10.4%     5.3%   63   9.8%        -0.6%
Reds              202    9.8%     5.0%   66  10.3%         0.5%
Braves            147    7.2%     3.7%   50   7.8%         0.6%
Giants            145    7.1%     3.6%   56   8.8%         1.7%
Astros            141    6.9%     3.5%   61   9.5%         2.7%
Padres             94    4.6%     2.3%   41   6.4%         1.8%
West Division     943   46.0%    23.5%  337  52.7%         6.7%      157  101.6%

NL Total         2052  100.0%    51.0%  640 100.0%         0.0%      171  110.6%

MLB Total        4021    n/a      100% 1389   n/a          n/a       155  100.0%

In this strike-interrupted season, the Athletics led all of major league baseball in Win Share production for the second straight year. New owner Walter Haas inherited Charlie Finley’s remarkable bounty of young talent, and the only thing that changed was that Haas promoted Billy Martin to the dual role of field manager/GM.

The 1981 “Billyball” A’s had more than a few holes, but under Martin’s dynamic-to-the-point-of-reckless leadership, the team rode four starting pitchers (farm products Steve McCatty, Mike Norris, and Matt Keough, and Finley trade acquisition Rick Langford), a fine outfield (farm products Rickey Henderson and Dwayne Murphy, and Finley trade acquisition Tony Armas), and a good DH (Martin trade acquisition Cliff Johnson) to the most victories in the league, and a division title.

But the A’s were swept in the ALCS by the Yankees, an entirely different sort of ball club. The Yanks were in the post-season for the fifth time in six years, while tending one of the least productive farms in baseball. Ace pitcher Ron Guidry was the only home-grown key player on the roster. But owner George Steinbrenner’s organization had, of course, jumped aggressively into the free agent market as soon as it opened up, and the ’81 team included high-priced signees in outfielders Dave Winfield and Reggie Jackson, and pitchers Tommy John, Goose Gossage, and Rudy May.

But mostly the Yankees had been trade-built, with important cogs being picked up in clever deals by Steinbrenner’s long list of GMs. Lee MacPhail acquired third baseman Graig Nettles in 1972 and outfielder Lou Piniella in ‘73; Gabe Paul added second baseman Willie Randolph in 1975 and shortstop Bucky Dent in ‘77; Cedric Tallis contributed pitchers Dave Righetti and Ron Davis in 1978, and outfielders Bobby Murcer and Oscar Gamble and catcher Rick Cerone in ‘79; and Gene Michael brought in supersub infielder Larry Milbourne in 1980, and center fielder Jerry Mumphrey and pitcher Rick Reuschel in ’81.

The 1982 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox           339   11.6%     5.5%   89   7.8%        -3.7%
Orioles           247    8.4%     4.0%   94   8.3%        -0.1%
Tigers            241    8.2%     3.9%   83   7.3%        -0.9%
Brewers           218    7.4%     3.5%   95   8.4%         0.9%
Indians           210    7.2%     3.4%   78   6.9%        -0.3%
Yankees           182    6.2%     3.0%   79   7.0%         0.8%
Blue Jays          68    2.3%     1.1%   78   6.9%         4.6%
East Division    1505   51.3%    24.5%  596  52.6%         1.2%      215   91.0%

Athletics         297   10.1%     4.8%   68   6.0%        -4.1%
Rangers           267    9.1%     4.3%   64   5.6%        -3.5%
Royals            261    8.9%     4.2%   90   7.9%        -1.0%
Angels            246    8.4%     4.0%   93   8.2%        -0.2%
Twins             176    6.0%     2.9%   60   5.3%        -0.7%
White Sox         133    4.5%     2.2%   87   7.7%         3.1%
Mariners           46    1.6%     0.7%   76   6.7%         5.1%
West Division    1426   48.7%    23.2%  538  47.4%        -1.2%      204   86.2%

AL Total         2931  100.0%    47.7% 1134 100.0%         0.0%      209   88.6%

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

Pirates           377   11.7%     6.1%   84   8.6%        -3.1%
Phillies          368   11.4%     6.0%   89   9.2%        -2.3%
Cardinals         341   10.6%     5.5%   92   9.5%        -1.1%
Expos             271    8.4%     4.4%   86   8.8%         0.4%
Mets              241    7.5%     3.9%   65   6.7%        -0.8%
Cubs              136    4.2%     2.2%   73   7.5%         3.3%
East Division    1734   54.0%    28.2%  489  50.3%        -3.6%      289  122.3%

Dodgers           375   11.7%     6.1%   88   9.1%        -2.6%
Reds              309    9.6%     5.0%   61   6.3%        -3.3%
Braves            239    7.4%     3.9%   89   9.2%         1.7%
Astros            193    6.0%     3.1%   77   7.9%         1.9%
Giants            192    6.0%     3.1%   87   9.0%         3.0%
Padres            172    5.4%     2.8%   81   8.3%         3.0%
West Division    1480   46.0%    24.1%  483  49.7%         3.6%      247  104.4%

NL Total         3214  100.0%    52.3%  972 100.0%         0.0%      268  113.3%

MLB Total        6145    n/a      100% 2106   n/a          n/a       236  100.0%

In 1981, the Reds had won the most regular season games of any team in the majors (though they were denied a post-season berth by a quirk of the strike-caused split-season format). But in ’82 they flopped disastrously, plunging from 66-42 to 61-101, dead last.

It was the Reds’ worst showing since 1937, and they fashioned it despite producing 41 more Win Shares than the league average. Cincinnati had several home-grown talents on hand and performing well, in pitchers Mario Soto and Bruce Berenyi, shortstop Dave Concepcion, second baseman Ron Oester, and first baseman Dan Driessen. But unfortunate trades had surrendered AL RBI leader Hal McRae (Royals), third baseman Ray Knight (Astros), pitcher Joaquin Andujar (Cardinals), and outfielder Ken Griffey (Yankees) for meager return, and the Reds’ conversion of veteran superstar catcher Johnny Bench into a third baseman turned out miserably.

The 1983 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox           366   12.5%     6.0%   78   6.9%        -5.6%
Orioles           249    8.5%     4.1%   98   8.6%         0.1%
Brewers           230    7.9%     3.8%   87   7.7%        -0.2%
Yankees           225    7.7%     3.7%   91   8.0%         0.3%
Tigers            224    7.7%     3.7%   92   8.1%         0.5%
Indians           181    6.2%     3.0%   70   6.2%         0.0%
Blue Jays          80    2.7%     1.3%   89   7.8%         5.1%
East Division    1555   53.1%    25.5%  605  53.4%         0.2%      222   94.7%

Angels            260    8.9%     4.3%   70   6.2%        -2.7%
Athletics         250    8.5%     4.1%   74   6.5%        -2.0%
Rangers           246    8.4%     4.0%   77   6.8%        -1.6%
Royals            220    7.5%     3.6%   79   7.0%        -0.6%
Twins             192    6.6%     3.1%   70   6.2%        -0.4%
White Sox         121    4.1%     2.0%   99   8.7%         4.6%
Mariners           82    2.8%     1.3%   60   5.3%         2.5%
West Division    1371   46.9%    22.5%  529  46.6%        -0.2%      196   83.5%

AL Total         2926  100.0%    48.0% 1134 100.0%         0.0%      209   89.1%

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

Cardinals         340   10.7%     5.6%   79   8.1%        -2.6%
Phillies          331   10.4%     5.4%   90   9.3%        -1.2%
Pirates           323   10.2%     5.3%   84   8.6%        -1.5%
Expos             261    8.2%     4.3%   82   8.4%         0.2%
Mets              239    7.5%     3.9%   68   7.0%        -0.5%
Cubs              136    4.3%     2.2%   71   7.3%         3.0%
East Division    1630   51.3%    26.7%  474  48.8%        -2.6%      272  115.8%

Dodgers           463   14.6%     7.6%   91   9.4%        -5.2%
Reds              331   10.4%     5.4%   74   7.6%        -2.8%
Braves            241    7.6%     4.0%   88   9.1%         1.5%
Astros            200    6.3%     3.3%   85   8.7%         2.4%
Giants            184    5.8%     3.0%   79   8.1%         2.3%
Padres            126    4.0%     2.1%   81   8.3%         4.4%
West Division    1545   48.7%    25.3%  498  51.2%         2.6%      258  109.7%

NL Total         3175  100.0%    52.0%  972 100.0%         0.0%      265  112.8%

MLB Total        6101    n/a      100% 2106   n/a          n/a       235  100.0% 

The White Sox won a surprise division title, completely running away with the AL West. It was their first championship of any kind since 1959, and as had been the case back in ’59, this White Sox team won despite being supported by an extremely weak minor league system. The only key members of the ’83 Sox who were organizational products were power-hitting outfielders Harold Baines and Ron Kittle, and pitcher Britt Burns.

Longtime GM Roland Hemond didn’t have a lavish payroll budget, but he’d managed to snag a couple of high-profile free agents: catcher Carlton Fisk and pitcher Floyd Bannister. The rest of the team’s core had been acquired through shrewd trades, purchases, and drafts: pitchers LaMarr Hoyt, Richard Dotson, and Salome Barojas, center fielder Rudy Law, DH Greg Luzinski, second baseman Julio Cruz, and first basemen Tom Paciorek and Greg Walker.

The 1984 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox           305   10.6%     5.0%   86   7.6%        -3.0%
Orioles           261    9.0%     4.3%   85   7.5%        -1.5%
Yankees           233    8.1%     3.8%   87   7.7%        -0.4%
Tigers            226    7.8%     3.7%  104   9.2%         1.4%
Indians           173    6.0%     2.8%   75   6.6%         0.6%
Brewers           154    5.3%     2.5%   67   5.9%         0.6%
Blue Jays          87    3.0%     1.4%   89   7.9%         4.8%
East Division    1439   49.8%    23.4%  593  52.3%         2.5%      206   87.0%

Angels            250    8.7%     4.1%   81   7.1%        -1.5%
Royals            249    8.6%     4.1%   84   7.4%        -1.2%
Athletics         239    8.3%     3.9%   77   6.8%        -1.5%
Twins             230    8.0%     3.7%   81   7.1%        -0.8%
Rangers           218    7.5%     3.5%   69   6.1%        -1.5%
White Sox         133    4.6%     2.2%   74   6.5%         1.9%
Mariners          132    4.6%     2.1%   74   6.5%         2.0%
West Division    1451   50.2%    23.6%  540  47.7%        -2.5%      207   87.8%

AL Total         2890  100.0%    47.1% 1133 100.0%         0.0%      206   87.4%

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

Phillies          398   12.2%     6.5%   81   8.3%        -3.9%
Pirates           292    9.0%     4.8%   75   7.7%        -1.3%
Cardinals         284    8.7%     4.6%   84   8.7%        -0.1%
Mets              283    8.7%     4.6%   90   9.3%         0.5%
Expos             236    7.3%     3.8%   78   8.0%         0.8%
Cubs              187    5.8%     3.0%   96   9.9%         4.1%
East Division    1680   51.7%    27.4%  504  51.9%         0.2%      280  118.5%

Dodgers           509   15.7%     8.3%   79   8.1%        -7.5%
Reds              262    8.1%     4.3%   70   7.2%        -0.8%
Braves            248    7.6%     4.0%   80   8.2%         0.6%
Giants            204    6.3%     3.3%   66   6.8%         0.5%
Astros            195    6.0%     3.2%   80   8.2%         2.2%
Padres            153    4.7%     2.5%   92   9.5%         4.8%
West Division    1571   48.3%    25.6%  467  48.1%        -0.2%      262  110.9%

NL Total         3251  100.0%    52.9%  971 100.0%         0.0%      271  114.7%

MLB Total        6141    n/a      100% 2104   n/a          n/a       236  100.0%

From the mid-1950s into the 1960s, the Dodgers’ organization had rivaled that of the Yankees’ as the most productive in baseball. But Dodger production then declined, never leading their league or division from 1964 through 1980. In 1981, under veteran GM Al Campanis, they re-emerged as the NL West leader in WSP, and continued to get stronger. By 1983 the Dodgers led the majors in WSP, and in 1984 their production of 509 Win Shares was one of the highest in history, falling just a hair short of the franchise record of 510 set in 1962.

For all this talent production, the Dodgers in this period weren’t a dominant team. They certainly won their share of titles, including the World Series championship in 1981, but were also prone to intermittent off-years, as in ’84. This Dodger edition enjoyed strong production from system-produced pitchers Fernando Valenzuela, Alejandro Pena, and Orel Hershiser, catcher Mike Scioscia, and outfielder Mike Marshall. Heavy-hitting third baseman-outfielder Pedro Guerrero had been acquired in trade from the Cleveland organization as a young minor leaguer, and subsequently developed by the Dodgers.

But the list of Dodger products excelling elsewhere in 1984 was remarkable, including pitchers Rick Sutcliffe (Indians–Cubs, the NL Cy Young Award winner), Doyle Alexander (Blue Jays), Rick Rhoden (Pirates), Charlie Hough (Rangers), Geoff Zahn (Angels), Don Sutton (Brewers), and Ted Power (Reds), outfielders Jeffrey Leonard (Giants), Lee Lacy (Pirates), and Mickey Hatcher (Twins), second basemen Alan Wiggins (Padres) and Jack Perconte (Mariners), third baseman Ron Cey (Cubs), and first baseman Steve Garvey (Padres).

With Wiggins and Garvey playing key roles, the Dodgers’ NL West rival Padres won the division and the pennant, their first-ever titles. In their decade-and-a-half of existence, the Padres hadn’t yet managed to develop a competitive farm system, finishing last in the division in WSP every season. Batting champ right fielder Tony Gwynn, center fielder Kevin McReynolds, and pitchers Eric Show and Mark Thurmond were the only impactful farm products on the ’84 champs.

But General Manager Jack McKeon had acquired Wiggins as a Rule V draft pick and Garvey as a free agent. Relief ace Goose Gossage was also a free agent pickup. “Trader Jack’s” trade acquisitions included pitchers Dave Dravecky, Ed Whitson, Tim Lollar, and Craig Lefferts, left fielder Carmelo Martinez, third baseman Graig Nettles, shortstop Garry Templeton, and catcher Terry Kennedy.

The Padres defeated the Cubs in the NLCS in stirring come-back-from-the-brink fashion. The Cubs were a charter National League franchise, but had endured decades of competitive ineffectuality, largely due to a chronically nonproductive farm system. They’d won their last pennant in 1945, and since 1946, not only had the Cubs never led their league or division in WSP, they’d never done as well as second, and had finished third just four times (1946, ’48, ’49, and ’69). They’d been last in the NL East in WSP every season since 1979.

The ’84 Cubs were almost entirely trade-built, mostly the handiwork of sharp deals by GM Dallas Green. Trades had landed MVP second baseman Ryne Sandberg (in one of the greatest trades of all time), ace starter Rick Sutcliffe (the only mid-season acquisition to win the Cy Young Award), first baseman Leon Durham, the starting outfield of Gary Matthews, Bob Dernier, and Keith Moreland, third baseman Ron Cey, and pitchers Steve Trout, Dennis Eckersley, and Scott Sanderson. Catcher Jody Davis had been a Rule V draftee. The only farm product in a major role was ace reliever Lee Smith.

The 1985 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox           344   11.8%     5.6%   81   7.2%        -4.7%
Yankees           258    8.9%     4.2%   97   8.6%        -0.3%
Orioles           215    7.4%     3.5%   83   7.3%         0.0%
Tigers            208    7.1%     3.4%   84   7.4%         0.3%
Brewers           173    5.9%     2.8%   71   6.3%         0.3%
Blue Jays         123    4.2%     2.0%   99   8.8%         4.5%
Indians           118    4.1%     1.9%   60   5.3%         1.3%
East Division    1439   49.4%    23.6%  575  50.8%         1.4%      206   87.6%

Royals            253    8.7%     4.1%   91   8.0%        -0.6%
Angels            249    8.6%     4.1%   90   8.0%        -0.6%
Athletics         243    8.3%     4.0%   77   6.8%        -1.5%
Rangers           222    7.6%     3.6%   62   5.5%        -2.1%
Twins             202    6.9%     3.3%   77   6.8%        -0.1%
Mariners          168    5.8%     2.8%   74   6.5%         0.8%
White Sox         135    4.6%     2.2%   85   7.5%         2.9%
West Division    1472   50.6%    24.1%  556  49.2%        -1.4%      210   89.6%

AL Total         2911  100.0%    47.7% 1131 100.0%         0.0%      208   88.6%

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

Phillies          376   11.8%     6.2%   75   7.7%        -4.1%
Cardinals         360   11.3%     5.9%  101  10.4%        -0.9%
Mets              272    8.5%     4.5%   98  10.1%         1.6%
Pirates           265    8.3%     4.3%   57   5.9%        -2.4%
Expos             237    7.4%     3.9%   84   8.7%         1.2%
Cubs              147    4.6%     2.4%   77   7.9%         3.3%
East Division    1657   51.9%    27.2%  492  50.7%        -1.2%      276  117.7%

Dodgers           482   15.1%     7.9%   95   9.8%        -5.3%
Reds              297    9.3%     4.9%   89   9.2%        -0.1%
Braves            264    8.3%     4.3%   66   6.8%        -1.5%
Astros            173    5.4%     2.8%   83   8.6%         3.1%
Giants            163    5.1%     2.7%   62   6.4%         1.3%
Padres            154    4.8%     2.5%   83   8.6%         3.7%
West Division    1533   48.1%    25.1%  478  49.3%         1.2%      256  108.9%

NL Total         3190  100.0%    52.3%  970 100.0%         0.0%      266  113.3%

MLB Total        6101    n/a      100% 2101   n/a          n/a       235  100.0% 

Until the 1970s, the Phillies had never presented a top-flight farm system. But in that decade, their organization stepped forward as a strong talent producer, and under GM Paul Owens the team had a concurrent run as one of the most successful in baseball. They made the post-season six times in the eight seasons from 1976-83, capturing two pennants and one World Series title.

In 1984 for the first time the Phillies led their division in WSP, but dropped back to .500. And in 1985, they again led the AL East in WSP, but on the field they finished 26 games behind, their worst showing since 1973. The ’85 Phillies received strong contributions from several of their farm products, including veteran superstar Mike Schmidt, second baseman Juan Samuel, catcher Ozzie Virgil, and pitchers Kevin Gross and Don Carman. But too many outstanding Phillies products had gotten away: infielders Ryne Sandberg (Cubs) and Julio Franco (Indians), outfielders Jorge Bell (Blue Jays), Keith Moreland (Cubs), and Lonnie Smith (Cardinals–Royals), first baseman Greg Walker (White Sox), and pitcher Willie Hernandez (Tigers).

In just their ninth season, the 1985 Blue Jays won a division title. They’d been last in the division in WSP their first eight seasons (not unusual for an expansion team), but in ’85 they nosed out the Indians for sixth. The Toronto ball club constructed by GM Pat Gillick presented an impressive core of home-grown talent, in right fielder Jesse Barfield, center fielder Lloyd Moseby, shortstop Tony Fernandez, and pitchers Dave Stieb and Jimmy Key.

The WSP Gap Between the Leagues

The 1985 season made it 35, that’s correct, 35 consecutive seasons that National League organizations outproduced their American League counterparts in Win Shares. This is a finding I didn’t expect to discover when I undertook this project. The advantage gained by the NL in the 1950s with its far more assertive adoption of racial integration, I expected. The gap increasing into the 1960s and extending into the 1970s, I expected. But I anticipated the gap would decrease and essentially disappear by the 1980s, and it has emphatically not done so.

The great distinction between the leagues in their proportional production of players of color did largely disappear by 1985, as I had anticipated: in ’85, it was 30.4% of AL WSP by players of color, compared to 32.3% in the NL, a negligible difference. But the gap in total Win Shares remained enormous, with the typical NL team producing 113.3% of the MLB average, against 88.6% by the average AL organization. This gap, which had been narrowing over the late 1970s, actually increased again through the 1981-85 period. I am keenly interested in what will happen in the late 1980s, which we’ll explore in our next installment.

The Value Production Standings Summary, 1946-1985

American League

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

American League East Division

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

       BAL     DET     BOS     NYY     CLE     MIL
 1972   1       5       2       4       3       6               219     95.4%    23.9%   43.0%
 1973   1       5       2       4       3       6               219     91.5%    22.9%   42.0%
 1974   2       3       1       4       5       6               215     90.5%    22.6%   43.8%
 1975   2       4       1       3       5       6               193     81.6%    20.4%   44.4%
 1976   2       4       1       5       3       6               204     85.9%    21.5%   44.3%

       BAL     DET     BOS     NYY     CLE     MIL     TOR
 1977   1       3       2       5       4       6       7       193     82.2%    22.1%   46.1%
 1978   2       3       1       5       4       6       7       210     88.9%    23.9%   46.7%
 1979   2       3       1       6       5       4       7       213     90.7%    24.4%   47.7%
 1980   3       2       1       6       4       5       7       199     84.9%    22.8%   49.4%
 1981   3       2       1       6       4       5       7       138     89.2%    24.0%   49.0%
 1982   2       3       1       6       5       4       7       215     91.0%    24.5%   47.7%
 1983   2       5       1       4       6       3       7       222     94.7%    25.5%   48.0%
 1984   2       4       1       3       5       6       7       206     87.0%    23.4%   47.1%
 1985   3       4       1       2       7       5       6       206     87.6%    23.6%   47.7%

American League West Division

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

       OAK     MIN     CHW     CAL     KCR     TEX
 1972   1       2       3       4       6       5               177     76.8%    19.2%   43.0%
 1973   1       2       3       4       6       5               183     76.5%    19.1%   42.0%
 1974   1       2       5       4       6       3               201     84.7%    21.2%   43.8%
 1975   1       2       5       3       6       4               228     96.2%    24.0%   44.4%
 1976   1       4       5       2       6       3               217     91.5%    22.9%   44.3%

       OAK     MIN     CHW     CAL     KCR     TEX     SEA
 1977   1       2       6       4       5       3       7       209     88.9%    23.9%   46.1%
 1978   1       3       6       4       5       2       7       200     84.5%    22.7%   46.7%
 1979   1       4T      6       2       4T      3       7       203     86.5%    23.3%   47.7%
 1980   1       4       6       5       3       2       7       231     98.7%    26.6%   49.4%
 1981   1       5       6       3       4       2       7       143     92.6%    24.9%   49.0%
 1982   1       5       6       4       3       2       7       204     86.2%    23.2%   47.7%
 1983   2       5       6       1       4       3       7       196     83.5%    22.5%   48.0%
 1984   3       4       6       1       2       5       7       207     87.8%    23.6%   47.1%
 1985   3       5       7       2       1       4       6       210     89.6%    24.1%   47.7%

National League

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

National League East Division

 Year  PIT     STL     CHC     NYM     PHI     MON           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               290    123.4%    28.5%   53.9%
 1978   1       3       5       4       2       6               285    120.7%    27.9%   53.3%
 1979   1       3       6       4       2       5               289    123.5%    28.5%   52.3%
 1980   1       2       6       4       3       5               280    119.7%    27.6%   50.6%
 1981   1       2       6       3       4       5               185    119.5%    27.6%   51.0%
 1982   1       3       6       5       2       4               289    122.3%    28.2%   52.3%
 1983   3       1       6       5       2       4               272    115.8%    26.7%   52.0%
 1984   2       3       6       4       1       5               280    118.5%    27.4%   52.9%
 1985   4       2       6       3       1       5               276    117.7%    27.2%   52.3%

National League West Division

 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    110.3%    25.5%   53.9%
 1978   1       3       4       2       5       6               261    110.3%    25.5%   53.3%
 1979   1       3       5       2       4       6               242    103.1%    23.8%   52.3%
 1980   4       1       5       2       3       6               233     99.5%    23.0%   50.6%
 1981   4       2       3       1       5       6               157    101.6%    23.5%   51.0%
 1982   5       2       3       1       4       6               247    104.4%    24.1%   52.3%
 1983   5       2       3       1       4       6               258    109.7%    25.3%   52.0%
 1984   4       2       3       1       5       6               262    110.9%    25.6%   52.9%
 1985   5       2       3       1       4       6               256    108.9%    25.1%   52.3%

References & Resources

Methodology

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

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

In the early 1980s, 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.