The Value Production Standings:  1990-1993

Our earlier journeys have taken us to 1946-1950, 1951-1955, 1956-1960, 1961-1965, 1966-1970, 1971-1975, 1976-1980, 1981-1985, and 1986-1989. Now we’re ready to delve into the decade of Gulf War I, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the arrival in the White House of Mr. & Mrs. Clinton.

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 1990 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox             280    9.1%     4.5%    88   7.8%       -1.3%
Yankees             249    8.1%     4.0%    67   5.9%       -2.2%
Blue Jays           238    7.7%     3.9%    86   7.6%       -0.1%
Brewers             210    6.8%     3.4%    74   6.5%       -0.3%
Tigers              202    6.5%     3.3%    79   7.0%        0.4%
Orioles             183    5.9%     3.0%    76   6.7%        0.8%
Indians             142    4.6%     2.3%    77   6.8%        2.2%
East Division      1504   48.8%    24.4%   547  48.3%       -0.5%      215       90.8%

Mariners            281    9.1%     4.6%    77   6.8%       -2.3%
Royals              266    8.6%     4.3%    75   6.6%       -2.0%
Athletics           257    8.3%     4.2%   103   9.1%        0.8%
Angels              213    6.9%     3.5%    80   7.1%        0.2%
Rangers             193    6.3%     3.1%    83   7.3%        1.1%
Twins               186    6.0%     3.0%    74   6.5%        0.5%
White Sox           184    6.0%     3.0%    94   8.3%        2.3%
West Division      1580   51.2%    25.7%   586  51.7%        0.5%      226       95.4%

AL Total           3084  100.0%    50.1%  1133 100.0%        0.0%      220       93.1%

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

Mets                402   13.1%     6.5%    91   9.4%       -3.7%
Pirates             327   10.7%     5.3%    95   9.8%       -0.9%
Expos               277    9.0%     4.5%    85   8.7%       -0.3%
Cubs                254    8.3%     4.1%    77   7.9%       -0.4%
Phillies            226    7.4%     3.7%    77   7.9%        0.6%
Cardinals           195    6.4%     3.2%    70   7.2%        0.8%
East Division      1681   54.8%    27.3%   495  50.9%       -3.8%      280      118.4%

Reds                299    9.7%     4.9%    91   9.4%       -0.4%
Dodgers             281    9.2%     4.6%    86   8.8%       -0.3%
Giants              251    8.2%     4.1%    85   8.7%        0.6%
Braves              228    7.4%     3.7%    65   6.7%       -0.7%
Padres              222    7.2%     3.6%    75   7.7%        0.5%
Astros              108    3.5%     1.8%    75   7.7%        4.2%
West Division      1389   45.2%    22.6%   477  49.1%        3.8%      232       97.8%

NL Total           3070  100.0%    49.9%   972 100.0%        0.0%      256      108.1%

MLB Total          6154    n/a    100.0%  2105   n/a         n/a       237      100.0%

In 1990, the White Sox finished last in the American League West in WSP. This was nothing unusual: It was the sixth straight last-place performance by the White Sox farm system. Indeed, since the inception of farm systems, few had been as consistently noncompetitive as that of the White Sox. Since 1946, their best performances had been fourth in the 10-team AL of 1968, and a handful of third-place finishes in the six-team AL West in the 1969-73 period. (Interestingly, the White Sox shared this unflattering characteristic with the Cubs; despite the resources of one of baseball’s hugest markets, both Chicago teams persistently failed to build competitive farm systems.)

Yet over the decades the White Sox managed to be reasonably competitive on the field. The 1990 edition was particularly so: Despite being last in the division in organizational talent production, they won 94 games. Their only significant home-grown contributors were closer Bobby Thigpen (who set the still-standing record with 57 saves), starter Jack McDowell, third baseman Robin Ventura and a mid-season call-up, rookie first baseman Frank Thomas. GM Larry Himes had acquired the rest of their key talent in trade, along with one key free agent in veteran star catcher Carlton Fisk.

By contrast, the Mets led the major leagues in WSP in 1990. But like the White Sox, they were a second-place team on the field. The Mets retained a core of outstanding system-developed talent, in right fielder Darryl Strawberry, infielders Dave Magadan and Gregg Jefferies and pitcher Dwight Gooden.

But in a string of trades enacted by GM Frank Cashen over the past several seasons, most of the “win now” orientation, the Mets had expended a bounty: outfielders Lenny Dykstra (Phillies), Kevin Mitchell (Giants) and Hubie Brooks (Dodgers), first baseman Randy Milligan (Orioles), infielder Jose Oquendo (Cardinals) and pitchers Randy Myers (Reds), Rick Aguilera (Twins) and Greg Harris (Red Sox). And, of course, one long-ago unfortunate trade still haunted them, in the ageless figure of Nolan Ryan (Rangers).

The surprise team of 1990 was the Reds, who won their first division title since 1979, then went all the way, shocking the heavily favored Athletics in a World Series sweep.

Cincinnati had presented a strong farm system for years, and the championship team was largely home-grown, including shortstop Barry Larkin, third baseman Chris Sabo, outfielders Eric Davis and Paul O’Neill, catcher Joe Oliver and pitchers Rob Dibble, Tom Browning and Jack Armstrong.

The WSP gap between the leagues

The American League led the National in overall major league Win Share production in 1990, by a margin of 50.1% to 49.9%. This was the first time the AL had prevailed by this measure since 1950, a 40-year span. Of course, given that the AL had 14 franchises to the NL’s 12 in 1990, the American still trailed in average franchise WSP, with the typical American League team producing just 93.1% of the major league average. Still, the leagues hadn’t been closer in production rate since way back in 1956. The gap between the leagues remained, but it appeared to be closing meaningfully.

The 1991 Value Production Standings

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

Red Sox             264    8.4%     4.3%    84   7.4%       -1.0%
Yankees             233    7.4%     3.8%    71   6.3%       -1.2%
Brewers             230    7.3%     3.7%    83   7.3%        0.0%
Tigers              214    6.8%     3.5%    84   7.4%        0.6%
Blue Jays           207    6.6%     3.4%    91   8.0%        1.4%
Orioles             198    6.3%     3.2%    67   5.9%       -0.4%
Indians             136    4.3%     2.2%    57   5.0%        0.7%
East Division      1482   47.2%    24.0%   537  47.4%        0.1%      212       89.2%

Athletics           292    9.3%     4.7%    84   7.4%       -1.9%
Mariners            263    8.4%     4.3%    83   7.3%       -1.1%
Royals              248    7.9%     4.0%    82   7.2%       -0.7%
Rangers             225    7.2%     3.6%    85   7.5%        0.3%
Angels              218    6.9%     3.5%    81   7.1%        0.2%
White Sox           208    6.6%     3.4%    87   7.7%        1.0%
Twins               203    6.5%     3.3%    95   8.4%        1.9%
West Division      1657   52.8%    26.8%   597  52.6%       -0.1%      237       99.7%

AL Total           3139  100.0%    50.9%  1134 100.0%        0.0%      224       94.4%

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

Pirates             335   11.0%     5.4%    98  10.1%       -0.9%
Mets                309   10.2%     5.0%    77   7.9%       -2.2%
Expos               274    9.0%     4.4%    71   7.3%       -1.7%
Phillies            252    8.3%     4.1%    78   8.0%       -0.3%
Cubs                237    7.8%     3.8%    77   7.9%        0.1%
Cardinals           205    6.8%     3.3%    84   8.7%        1.9%
East Division      1612   53.1%    26.1%   485  50.0%       -3.1%      269      113.2%

Reds                284    9.4%     4.6%    74   7.6%       -1.7%
Padres              283    9.3%     4.6%    84   8.7%       -0.7%
Braves              266    8.8%     4.3%    94   9.7%        0.9%
Giants              249    8.2%     4.0%    75   7.7%       -0.5%
Dodgers             240    7.9%     3.9%    93   9.6%        1.7%
Astros              100    3.3%     1.6%    65   6.7%        3.4%
West Division      1422   46.9%    23.0%   485  50.0%        3.1%      237       99.8%

NL Total           3034  100.0%    49.1%   970 100.0%        0.0%      253      106.5%

MLB Total          6173    n/a    100.0%  2104   n/a         n/a       237      100.0%

The Twins were world champs in 1991, yet like the White Sox of 1990, they were last in the AL West in WSP. Minnesota featured four organizationally produced stars: center fielder Kirby Puckett, second baseman Chuck Knoblauch, first baseman Kent Hrbek and pitcher Scott Erickson. But all other keys to the ball club’s success were imported: designated hitter Chili Davis, right fielder Shane Mack, catcher Brian Harper and pitchers Kevin Tapani, Jack Morris and Rick Aguilera.

Two organizations presented extraordinarily weak farm production in 1991. The 90-year-old Cleveland Indians franchise was at its nadir. Through the 1950s the Indians had one of the most productive systems in the majors, but since the mid-1960s they’d been perpetually mediocre in organizational talent production.

By 1991 they were last in the American League in WSP with a paltry 136, the team on the field was a 57-105 disaster and their attendance was 25th among the 26 major league franchises. Their only bright spots were three system-produced young talents in left fielder Albert Belle and pitchers Greg Swindell and Charles Nagy, and an infielder they’d acquired in trade, 22-year-old Carlos Baerga.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

The Astros had been a highly productive organization through the 1970s, though they had little to show for it in on-field results. But over the 1980s, Houston’s talent production had steeply declined, and in 1991 the system produced just 100 Win Shares, the most meager total by a non-recent-expansion franchise in a non-strike-shortened season since the 1963 Kansas City Athletics. The ’91 Astros did feature three strong home-grown regulars, in catcher Craig Biggio, third baseman Ken Caminiti and left fielder Luis Gonzalez, but the organization’s dearth of production had the Astros struggling to fill holes, and the team’s 65-97, last-place performance was its worst since 1975.

The 1992 Value Production Standings

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

Brewers             297    9.3%     4.8%    92   8.1%       -1.2%
Yankees             257    8.0%     4.1%    76   6.7%       -1.3%
Red Sox             226    7.1%     3.6%    73   6.4%       -0.6%
Orioles             215    6.7%     3.5%    89   7.8%        1.1%
Blue Jays           199    6.2%     3.2%    96   8.5%        2.2%
Tigers              198    6.2%     3.2%    75   6.6%        0.4%
Indians             136    4.3%     2.2%    76   6.7%        2.5%
East Division      1528   47.8%    24.6%   577  50.9%        3.1%      218       91.4%

Athletics           282    8.8%     4.5%    96   8.5%       -0.3%
Angels              274    8.6%     4.4%    72   6.3%       -2.2%
Rangers             246    7.7%     4.0%    77   6.8%       -0.9%
Royals              245    7.7%     3.9%    72   6.3%       -1.3%
White Sox           227    7.1%     3.7%    86   7.6%        0.5%
Twins               201    6.3%     3.2%    90   7.9%        1.7%
Mariners            197    6.2%     3.2%    64   5.6%       -0.5%
West Division      1672   52.3%    26.9%   557  49.1%       -3.1%      239      100.0%

AL Total           3200  100.0%    51.5%  1134 100.0%        0.0%      229       95.7%

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

Expos               324   10.8%     5.2%    87   9.0%       -1.8%
Pirates             304   10.1%     4.9%    96   9.9%       -0.2%
Cardinals           292    9.7%     4.7%    83   8.5%       -1.2%
Cubs                258    8.6%     4.2%    78   8.0%       -0.5%
Mets                239    7.9%     3.8%    72   7.4%       -0.5%
Phillies            210    7.0%     3.4%    70   7.2%        0.2%
East Division      1627   54.1%    26.2%   486  50.0%       -4.1%      271      113.5%

Dodgers             292    9.7%     4.7%    63   6.5%       -3.2%
Padres              290    9.6%     4.7%    82   8.4%       -1.2%
Reds                245    8.1%     3.9%    90   9.3%        1.1%
Braves              212    7.0%     3.4%    98  10.1%        3.0%
Giants              201    6.7%     3.2%    72   7.4%        0.7%
Astros              143    4.8%     2.3%    81   8.3%        3.6%
West Division      1383   45.9%    22.3%   486  50.0%        4.1%      231       96.5%

NL Total           3010  100.0%    48.5%   972 100.0%        0.0%      251      105.0%

MLB Total          6210    n/a    100.0%  2106   n/a         n/a       239      100.0%

Since the early 1970s, the talent development of the Pirates had generally been among the best in baseball. Their 1992 ball club, led by system-produced MVP left fielder Barry Bonds, cruised to a third consecutive division flag.

The depth of Pittsburgh production was such that the Pirates remained elite achievers despite having surrendered quite a bit of home-grown talent: pitchers John Smiley (Twins) and Steve Farr (Yankees), infielder Bip Roberts (Reds) and outfielders Jay Buhner (Mariners), Moises Alou (Expos), Joe Orsulak (Orioles) and Bobby Bonilla (Mets).

The inclusion of Bonilla on that list was ominous: He hadn’t been traded by the Pirates, but instead recently had been lured away by a hefty free agent contract. Despite the Pirates’ run of on-field success, their attendance languished below league average, and Bonilla’s departure was a path that Bonds was about to follow.

For the second year in a row, the Pirates were thwarted in the NLCS by Atlanta. The Braves’ overall farm production was mediocre, but they had produced an impressive core of young stars in pitchers Tom Glavine and Steve Avery, outfielders David Justice and Ron Gant and infielder Jeff Blauser.

GMs Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz blended them with free agent signings in third baseman Terry Pendleton and outfielder Deion Sanders, and trade acquisitions in outfielder Otis Nixon and pitchers John Smoltz and Charlie Leibrandt. The Braves were a repeat pennant winner.

But for the second straight season, the Braves lost the World Series, and this time the victor was Toronto, bringing baseball’s ultimate title to Canada for the first time. Like the Braves, the Blue Jays presented nothing special in total production, but they had some key home-grown talent on hand, namely first baseman John Olerud, catcher Pat Borders and pitchers Jimmy Key and Todd Stottlemyre.

But even more than the Braves, the Blue Jays under GM Pat Gillick had artfully weaved in perfect fits: veteran free agents in ace starter Jack Morris and designated hitter Dave Winfield and trade acquisitions in second baseman Roberto Alomar, outfielders Joe Carter, Devon White and Candy Maldonado and pitchers Juan Guzman, Duane Ward and David Cone.

The 1993 Value Production Standings

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

Yankees             302    8.9%     4.6%    88   7.8%       -1.1%
Blue Jays           274    8.1%     4.1%    95   8.4%        0.3%
Red Sox             256    7.5%     3.9%    80   7.1%       -0.5%
Brewers             232    6.8%     3.5%    69   6.1%       -0.7%
Tigers              217    6.4%     3.3%    85   7.5%        1.1%
Orioles             160    4.7%     2.4%    85   7.5%        2.8%
Indians             141    4.1%     2.1%    76   6.7%        2.6%
East Division      1582   46.5%    23.9%   578  51.0%        4.5%      226       95.8%

Rangers             311    9.1%     4.7%    86   7.6%       -1.6%
Royals              290    8.5%     4.4%    84   7.4%       -1.1%
Angels              288    8.5%     4.4%    71   6.3%       -2.2%
Athletics           276    8.1%     4.2%    68   6.0%       -2.1%
Mariners            230    6.8%     3.5%    82   7.2%        0.5%
Twins               213    6.3%     3.2%    71   6.3%        0.0%
White Sox           211    6.2%     3.2%    94   8.3%        2.1%
West Division      1819   53.5%    27.5%   556  49.0%       -4.5%      260      110.1%

AL Total           3401  100.0%    51.5%  1134 100.0%        0.0%      243      103.0%

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

Expos               343   10.7%     5.2%    94   8.3%       -2.4%
Pirates             285    8.9%     4.3%    75   6.6%       -2.3%
Cardinals           282    8.8%     4.3%    87   7.7%       -1.1%
Mets                269    8.4%     4.1%    59   5.2%       -3.2%
Cubs                267    8.3%     4.0%    84   7.4%       -0.9%
Phillies            184    5.7%     2.8%    97   8.6%        2.8%
Marlins               0    0.0%     0.0%    64   5.6%        5.6%
East Division      1630   50.8%    24.7%   560  49.4%       -1.5%      233       98.7%

Dodgers             339   10.6%     5.1%    81   7.1%       -3.4%
Padres              297    9.3%     4.5%    61   5.4%       -3.9%
Braves              281    8.8%     4.3%   104   9.2%        0.4%
Reds                259    8.1%     3.9%    73   6.4%       -1.6%
Giants              239    7.5%     3.6%   103   9.1%        1.6%
Astros              161    5.0%     2.4%    85   7.5%        2.5%
Rockies               0    0.0%     0.0%    67   5.9%        5.9%
West Division      1576   49.2%    23.9%   574  44.7%        1.5%      225       95.4%

NL Total           3206  100.0%    48.5%  1134  94.1%        0.0%      229       97.0%

MLB Total          6607    n/a    100.0%  2268   n/a         n/a       236      100.0%

The 1993 Yankees presented their first over-.500 ball club since 1988, and the franchise led the AL East in WSP for the first time since 1971. Most of this farm bounty had been traded away, including first basemen Fred McGriff (PadresBraves), Hal Morris (Reds) and J.T. Snow (Angels), shortstop Greg Gagne (Royals), third baseman Mike Pagliarulo (TwinsOrioles), outfielders Otis Nixon and Deion Sanders (Braves), Willie McGee (Giants) and Roberto Kelly (Reds) and pitchers Jose Rijo (Reds), Bob Tewksbury (Cardinals), Eric Plunk (Indians) and Al Leiter (Blue Jays).

But still in pinstripes were home-growns in young center fielder Bernie Williams, young second baseman Pat Kelly, veteran first baseman Don Mattingly and hard-hitting utility man Jim Leyritz. Combined with a trade acquisition (outfielder Paul O’Neill) and a strong cohort of free agent signees (catcher Mike Stanley, pitcher Jimmy Key, outfielder Danny Tartabull and third baseman Wade Boggs), the Yankees were a contender again.

Montreal and Philadelphia battled it out for supremacy in the NL East, while presenting vivid contrasts in team construction. The Expos led the majors in WSP, and featured a lineup brimming with outstanding system-produced young talent, including outfielders Marquis Grissom and Larry Walker, infielders Delino DeShields, Mike Lansing and Wil Cordero and pitchers Mel Rojas, Kirk Rueter and Chris Nabholz.

But the Expos’ 94 wins weren’t enough; they were nosed out by a Phillies team that was 23rd in the majors in WSP. Catcher Darren Daulton was the lone home-grown star, but he was joined by a wealth of talent imported by GM Lee Thomas through adroit trades and free agent signings: outfielders Lenny Dykstra, Pete Incaviglia and Jim Eisenreich, first baseman John Kruk, infielder Mariano Duncan and pitchers Curt Schilling, Tommy Greene, Danny Jackson, Terry Mulholland, Mitch Williams and David West, plus a Rule 5 draftee, third baseman Dave Hollins.

The WSP gap between the leagues

In 1993, the average American League franchise produced 103% of the major league average WSP, finally snapping the National League’s 42-season streak of superiority. However, this feat was greatly facilitated by the NL’s 1993 expansion: Remove the first-year Marlins and Rockies from the equation (neither organization produced any major league Win Shares in 1993), and the average NL franchise was more productive than its AL counterpart for a 43rd consecutive year. Nevertheless, expansion factor or not, the gap between the leagues had been narrowing for several years, and genuine parity at last seemed to be close at hand.

The Value Production Standings Summary, 1946-1993
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%
 1986   3       5       1       2       6       4       7       200     85.6%    23.0%   47.7%
 1987   5       4       1       3       6       2       7       216     91.3%    24.6%   49.3%
 1988   6       5       1       3       4       2       7       216     91.7%    24.7%   49.2%
 1989   4       6       1       3       5       2       7       211     88.6%    23.9%   49.9%
 1990   6       5       1       2       7       4       3       215     90.8%    24.4%   50.1%
 1991   6       4       1       2       7       4       5       212     89.2%    24.0%   50.9%
 1992   4       6       3       2       7       1       5       218     91.4%    24.6%   51.5%
 1993   6       5       3       1       7       4       2       226     95.8%    23.9%   51.5%
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%
 1986   2       5       7       1       4       3       6       213     91.4%    24.6%   47.7%
 1987   2       6       7       4       1       3       5       217     91.9%    24.7%   49.3%
 1988   2       4       7       3       1       6       5       214     90.9%    24.5%   49.2%
 1989   4       5       7       3       2       5       1       230     96.7%    26.0%   49.9%
 1990   3       6       7       4       2       5       1       226     95.4%    25.7%   50.1%
 1991   1       7       6       5       3       4       2       237     99.7%    26.8%   50.9%
 1992   1       6       5       2       4       3       7       239    100.0%    26.9%   51.5%
 1993   4       6       7       3       2       1       5       260    110.1%    27.5%   51.5%
National League

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

 Year  PIT     STL     CHC     NYM     PHI     MON     FLA   Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLE WSP  NL WSP
 1969   1       2       3       4       5       6       x       218     91.1%    22.8%   54.7%
 1970   1       2       4       5       3       6       x       221     91.9%    23.0%   55.3%
 1971   1       3       5       2       4       6       x       230     95.7%    23.9%   54.0%
 1972   1       2       4       3       5       6       x       244    106.1%    26.5%   57.0%
 1973   1       3       5       2       4       6       x       239     99.7%    24.9%   58.0%
 1974   1       4       5       3       2       6       x       249    104.9%    26.2%   56.2%
 1975   1       2       5       3       4       6       x       247    104.2%    26.1%   55.6%
 1976   1       2       5       3       4       6       x       254    106.8%    26.7%   55.7%
 1977   1       2       5       4       3       6       x       290    123.4%    28.5%   53.9%
 1978   1       3       5       4       2       6       x       285    120.7%    27.9%   53.3%
 1979   1       3       6       4       2       5       x       289    123.5%    28.5%   52.3%
 1980   1       2       6       4       3       5       x       280    119.7%    27.6%   50.6%
 1981   1       2       6       3       4       5       x       185    119.5%    27.6%   51.0%
 1982   1       3       6       5       2       4       x       289    122.3%    28.2%   52.3%
 1983   3       1       6       5       2       4       x       272    115.8%    26.7%   52.0%
 1984   2       3       6       4       1       5       x       280    118.5%    27.4%   52.9%
 1985   4       2       6       3       1       5       x       276    117.7%    27.2%   52.3%
 1986   4       3       6       2       1       5       x       280    120.0%    27.7%   52.3%
 1987   5       2       6       3       1       4       x       272    115.2%    26.6%   50.7%
 1988   2       5       4       1       3       6       x       280    119.0%    27.5%   50.8%
 1989   2       6       4       1       3       5       x       271    113.8%    26.3%   50.1%
 1990   2       6       4       1       5       3       x       280    118.4%    27.3%   49.9%
 1991   1       6       5       2       4       3       x       269    113.2%    26.1%   49.1%
 1992   2       3       4       5       6       1       x       271    113.5%    26.2%   48.5%
 1993   2       3       5       4       6       1       7       233     98.7%    24.7%   48.5%
National League West Division

 Year  SFG     CIN     ATL     LAD     HOU     SDP     COL   Avg. WSP % ML Avg. NLW WSP  NL WSP
 1969   1       2       3       4       5       6       x       306    127.7%    31.9%   54.7%
 1970   1       2       3       4       5       6       x       311    129.4%    32.3%   55.3%
 1971   1       2       3       4       5       6       x       289    120.4%    30.1%   54.0%
 1972   2       1       4       5       3       6       x       280    121.7%    30.4%   57.0%
 1973   1       2       5       3       4       6       x       317    132.2%    33.1%   58.0%
 1974   2       1       5       3       4       6       x       285    120.0%    30.0%   56.2%
 1975   1       2       5       4       3       6       x       279    118.0%    29.5%   55.6%
 1976   1       3       5       2       4       6       x       275    115.9%    29.0%   55.7%
 1977   1       3       5       2       4       6       x       259    110.3%    25.5%   53.9%
 1978   1       3       4       2       5       6       x       261    110.3%    25.5%   53.3%
 1979   1       3       5       2       4       6       x       242    103.1%    23.8%   52.3%
 1980   4       1       5       2       3       6       x       233     99.5%    23.0%   50.6%
 1981   4       2       3       1       5       6       x       157    101.6%    23.5%   51.0%
 1982   5       2       3       1       4       6       x       247    104.4%    24.1%   52.3%
 1983   5       2       3       1       4       6       x       258    109.7%    25.3%   52.0%
 1984   4       2       3       1       5       6       x       262    110.9%    25.6%   52.9%
 1985   5       2       3       1       4       6       x       256    108.9%    25.1%   52.3%
 1986   3       2       4       1       6       5       x       249    106.9%    24.7%   52.3%
 1987   3       2       4       1       6       5       x       247    104.4%    24.1%   50.7%
 1988   3T      2       3T      1       6       5       x       238    101.3%    23.4%   50.8%
 1989   3       1       5       2       6       4       x       246    103.3%    23.8%   50.1%
 1990   3       1       4       2       6       5       x       232     97.8%    22.6%   49.9%
 1991   4       1       3       5       6       2       x       237     99.8%    23.0%   49.1%
 1992   5       3       4       1       6       2       x       231     96.5%    22.3%   48.5%
 1993   5       4       3       1       6       2       7       225     95.4%    23.9%   48.5%

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).

Into the 1990s, 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.


Steve Treder has been a co-author of every Hardball Times Annual publication since its inception in 2004. His work has also been featured in Nine, The National Pastime, and other publications. He has frequently been a presenter at baseball forums such as the SABR National Convention, the Nine Spring Training Conference, and the Cooperstown Symposium. When Steve grows up, he hopes to play center field for the San Francisco Giants.

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