[Highlander]

1927 Yankees- 73 Wins- For some reason, the great Yankees teams from history don't translate well to other eras. This 27 team made it here, but it wasn't easy....and now they are struggling. Pitching is an issue, but so is offense. The lack of using Bob Meusel is hurting them as well as how their numbers translate into ratings, it seems. In 1927, Babe Ruth hit .356.....but he often struggles to hit much above .260 here. On the 20-80 rating for contact, he imports in at 45. Gehrig comes in at 50, despite hitting .373. Plus Babe an Lou strike out an incredible number of times in some seasons. The list goes on. OK....Yankees fan rant over!

Top Hitters

CF Earle Combs- .293/.346/.387, 32 doubles, 10 triples, 3 HR, 100 R, 60 RBI, 4 SB, 2.1 WAR

1B- Lou Gehrig- .312/.414/.570, 36 doubles, 12 triples, 30 HR, 101 R, 108 RBI, 2 SB, 7.1 WAR.....Won the Silver Slugger Award at 1B.....3rd in MVP Award voting......Also led the league in Total Bases (331), Extra Base Hits (78) and finished top 10 in most every other category

LF Babe Ruth- .267/.441/.557, 26 doubles, 5 triples, 37 HR, 113 R, 106 RBI, 2 SB, 9.0 WAR.....Won the Silver Slugger in LF.....Finished 2nd in the MVP voting.....Finished top 5 in most hitting categories, including the above and 1st in ISO at .291

Top Pitchers

George Pipgras- 16-15, 257.1 IP, 3.25 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 159 K, 4.1 WAR

Waite Hoyt- 14-15, 270 IP, 3.17 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 134 K, 4.1 WAR....Top 10 in most categories, including 1st in CG with 21.

Wilcy Moore- 12-8, 190 IP, 3.17 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 75 K, 3.1 WAR.....1st in GB% at 56%

Other Notes
- None


1969 Orioles- 73 Wins- Here's a switch, seeing the 69 team before the 71 team. Wonder how many wins separated them this season?

Top Hitters

1B Boog Powell- .280/.333/.458, 25 doubles, 3 triples, 25 HR, 86 R, 82 RBI, 0 SB, 1.7 WAR

LF Curt Motton- .288/.373/.454, 27 doubles, 2 triples, 20 HR, 76 R, 82 RBI, 2 SB, 3.6 WAR

CF Paul Blair- .267/.295/.439, 30 doubles, 7 triples, 19 HR, 59 R, 87 RBI, 6 SB, 2.6 WAR.....Hit for the Cycle against the 76 Reds

Top Pitchers

Mike Cuellar- 18-10, 275 IP, 3.11 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 140 K, 5.0 WAR....Top 10 in a number of categories.....Had 4 games where he gave up 3 hits or less.

Dave McNally- 15-11, 236.2 IP, 3.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 104 K, 4.2 WAR

Jim Hardin- 10-11, 182 IP, 3.91 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 81 K, 2.3 WAR

Other Notes
- None


1943 Cardinals- 75 Wins- Worst showing for them....tightens things up a bit!

Top Hitters

RF Stan Musial- .345/.409/.504, 36 doubles, 12 triples, 10 HR, 72 R, 89 RBI, 3 SB, 6.0 WAR.....Top 10 in a number of categories, including 2nd in BA and 3rd in triples

C Walker Cooper- .302/.331/.424, 29 doubles, 5 triples, 9 HR, 55 R, 66 RBI, 0 SB, 2.7 WAR

CF Harry Walker- .315/.350/.389, 27 doubles, 7 triples, 1 HR, 61 R, 42 RBI, 1 SB, .9 WAR

Top Pitchers

Howie Pollett- 16-15, 290 IP, 2.95 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 152 K, 6.0 WAR.....Top 10 in many categories, including 1st in Complete Games with 21

Max Lanier- 16-10, 228.1 IP, 2.72 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 116 K, 4.7 WAR.....1st in Shutouts with 6

Al Brazle- 12-20, 261.1 IP, 2.65 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 100 K, 6.3 WAR.....1st in HR/9 (.21), Quality Start Percentage (78.1%), Complete Game Percentage (62.5%), 3rd in ERA......Won the Rookie of the Year Award

Other Notes
- 2B Lou Klein was 2nd in triples with 13.
- Marty Marion won the Gold Glove at SS.
- Harry Brecheen was 1st in WHIP (1.06) and 1st in BABIP (.226). He also pitched two 1-hitters, a 2-hitter and a 3-hitter.


1908 Giants- 75 Wins- The teams the seemed to be leading the way the first few seasons both had a rough one here in 1953. Is it just a bump in the road, or will another team start to rise to the top?

Top Hitters

RF Mike Donlin- .337/.367/.515, 28 doubles, 10 triples, 20 HR, 100 R, 113 RBI, 20 SB, 4.3 WAR.....Top 10 in a number of categories, including 3rd in SB

1B Fred Tenney- .294/.375/.399, 31 doubles, 3 triples, 7 HR, 66 R, 76 RBI, 13 SB, 1.7 WAR

2B Buck Herzog- .261/.441/.328, 25 doubles, 4 triples, 1 HR, 107 R, 49 RBI, 16 SB, 5.4 WAR.....3rd in Rookie of the Year voting......2nd in OBP, 3rd in R and 1st in Walks with 166

Top Pitchers

Red Ames- 18-15, 276 IP, 3.13 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 173 K, 7.5 WAR.....3rd in Cy Young Award voting.....Top 10 in most categories, including 2nd in WAR and 3rd in Wins

Christy Mathewson- 14-16, 284 IP, 3.45 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 150 K, 5.1 WAR.....Top 10 in many categories

Doc Crandall- 13-17, 232 IP, 4.34 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 88 K, 2.3 WAR

Other Notes
- Jack Hannifin won the Gold Glove at 3B


1971 Orioles- 77 Wins- They finally overtake the 69 team in a season....only by 4 wins, but this has been a close competition all along.

Top Hitters

LF Don Buford- .296/.382/.447, 23 doubles, 6 triples, 18 HR, 86 R, 78 RBI, 5 SB, 4.9 WAR.....Won the Gold Glove in LF

RF Frank Robinson- .286/.374/.443, 22 doubles, 4 triples, 20 HR, 74 R, 98 RBI, 0 SB, 2.3 WAR

CF Merv Rettenmund- .284/.412/.410, 28 doubles, 6 triples, 11 HR, 105 R, 63 RBI, 7 SB, 7.7 WAR.....3rd in WAR

Top Pitchers

Dave McNally- 14-14, 248.2 IP, 3.87 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 84 K, 1.6 WAR

Eddie Watt- 8-9, 14 Saves, 85 IP, 2.54 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 39 K, 2.8 WAR

Jim Palmer- 11-14, 225 IP, 4.16 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 108 K, 1.6 WAR

Other Notes
- DH Ellie Hendricks hit a Walk-off Grand Slam against the 88 Mets.



1976 Reds- 79 Wins- Middle of the pack, but still a losing record....hurts after 3 straight solid seasons.

Top Hitters

CF George Foster- .307/.361/.517, 26 doubles, 12 triples, 25 HR, 95 R, 108 RBI, 4 SB, 6.2 WAR.....Won the Silver Slugger in CF......Top 10 in most categories, including 2nd in RBI and 3rd in triples

2B Joe Morgan- .293/.414/.477, 27 doubles, 4 triples, 23 HR, 98 R, 89 RBI, 37 SB, 5.4 WAR.....Won the Silver Slugger at 2B.....Top 10 in many categories

RF Ken Griffey- .317/.367/.432, 38 doubles, 9 triples, 7 HR, 111 R, 61 RBI, 17 SB, 2.6 WAR......3rd in Doubles, 2nd in Runs


Top Pitchers

Manny Sarmiento- 7-9, 28 Saves, 112.2 IP, 2.40 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 2.7 WAR....Won Reliever of the Year Award

Fred Norman- 15-17, 239.1 IP, 3.99 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 128 K, 3.6 WAR

Gary Nolan- 11-11, 252.2 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 97 K, 3.6 WAR.....1st in BB/9 at 1.75

Other Notes
- 3B Pete Rose was 3rd in triples with 12.
- Dan Driessen won the Silver Slugger at DH.
- 1B Tony Perez was 2nd in Doubles with 39.
- Johnny Bench won the Gold Glove at C.


2019 Dodgers- 82 Wins- Second 80+ win season in a row, but still not among the top contenders.

Top Hitters

1B David Freese- .322/.400/.533, 38 doubles, 5 triples, 25 HR, 101 R, 89 RBI, 0 SB, 5.1 WAR....Had a 7 RBI game against the 69 Orioles.....Top 10 in many categories, including 3rd in doubles and 2nd in Extra Base Hits with 68

RF Cody Bellinger- .301/.381/.514, 26 doubles, 4 triples, 29 HR, 82 R, 103 RBI, 6 SB, 6.8 WAR.....Won both the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Awards for RF

2B Max Muncy- .252/.373/.445, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 26 HR, 72 R, 75 RBI, 0 SB, 4.8 WAR

Top Pitchers

Hyun-Jin Ryu- 14-11, 222.2 IP, 3.60 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 109 K, 7.2 WAR....1st in K/BB (2.42), 1st in FIP- (66.1), 2nd in HR/9 (.28), 2nd in BB/9 (1.82), 3rd in WAR

Walker Buehler- 11-13, 228.2 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 127 K, 4.7 WAR

Ross Stripling- 14-8, 22 Saves, 117.2 IP, 4.13 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, .4 WAR....1st in Games Pitched with 72, 3rd in Saves

Other Notes
- CF Alex Verdugo hit 4 lead-off HRs.
- C Will Smith tied for Rookie of the Year with Al Brazle of the 43 Cardinals.
- Clayton Kershaw won the Gold Glove at P


2011 Rangers- 84 Wins- Best win total yet after their worst. Still not sure where they will end up.

Top Hitters

C Mike Napoli- .366/.456/.649, 33 doubles, 1 triple, 34 HR, 89 R, 81 RBI, 1 SB, 9.9 WAR.....Won the Silver Slugger at C and won the MVP Award.....Also finished 1st in RC (145.59), RC/27 (12.25), wOBA (.474), OPS (1.105) and wRC+ (201.4)

3B Adrian Beltre- .295/.326/.513, 24 doubles, 4 triples, 34 HR, 99 R, 99 RBI, 0 SB, 5.1 WAR.....Won the Silver Slugger for 3B.....2nd in HR and 2nd in Total Bases with 315.....Hit for the Cycle against the 69 Orioles

CF Josh Hamilton- .282/.325/.494, 26 doubles, 6 triples, 31 HR, 91 R, 107 RBI, 2 SB, 4.5 WAR

1B Michael Young- .338/.364/.473, 36 doubles, 11 triples, 10 HR, 90 R, 81 RBI, 2 SB, 4.1 WAR.....1st in hits with 220

Top Pitchers

Alexi Ogando- 13-13, 227 IP, 3.85 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 100 K, 3.6 WAR

Darren Oliver- 5-5, 7 Saves, 107.1 IP, 3.10 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 43 K, .8 WAR

Yoshinori Tateyama- 7-2, 4 Saves, 79 IP, 3.42 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 36 K, .1 WAR

Other Notes
- Derek Holland pitched a NO-HITTER against the 27 Yankees
- Pedro Strop was 2nd in Saves with 25


1988 Mets- 94 Wins- This is more what I thought we'd see from this Mets team. They seem to do well every other season, but maybe as we get closer to their home season that will change.

Top Hitters

3B Gregg Jefferies- .287/.326/.464, 37 doubles, 6 triples, 21 HR, 72 R, 93 RBI, 4 SB, 3.6 WAR

RF Mookie Wilson- .294/.356/.435, 15 doubles, 7 triples, 11 HR, 77 R, 43 RBI, 11 SB, 3.5 WAR

LF Kevin McReynolds- .269/.313/.426, 26 doubles, 4 triples, 20 HR, 69 R, 89 RBI, 7 SB, .9 WAR

Top Pitchers

Bob Ojeda- 17-12, 292.1 IP, 2.43 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 148 K, 8.9 WAR.....Won Cy Young Award.....Top 10 in most categories

David Cone- 19-10, 272 IP, 2.61 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 148 K, 5.8 WAR....2nd in Cy Young Award voting.....Pitched a NO-HITTER against the 27 Yankees (at least the 2nd time they've been no-hit during this season!).....2nd in W, 2nd in ERA, 2nd in Shutouts with 5

Jeff Innis- 11-5, 16 Saves, 85.2 IP, 2.31 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 38 K, 2.3 WAR.....2nd in Reliever of the Year voting

Other Notes
- Lenny Dykstra was 2nd in SB with 26 and won the Gold Glove Award in CF.
- Dave Magadan won the Gold Glove at 1B.
- Howard Johnson won the Silver Slugger at SS.
- Sid Fernandez led the league in H/9 (7.09) and K/9 (5.90).


1953 Dodgers- 98 Wins- Nice finish for the Dodgers in their home season. They have work to do, but this win total puts them right in the picture.

Top Hitters

2B Jackie Robinson- .288/.374/.414, 30 doubles, 6 triples, 12 HR, 98 R, 74 RBI, 10 SB, 5.3 WAR.....Won the Gold Glove at 2B

RF Carl Furillo- .326/.361/.496, 45 doubles, 4 triples, 18 HR, 93 R, 87 RBI, 0 SB, 4.7 WAR.....3rd in hits with 205

CF Duke Snider- .284/.360/.460, 23 doubles, 4 triples, 24 HR, 100 R, 103 RBI, 3 SB, 4.0 WAR

C Roy Campanella- .318/.393/.559, 26 doubles, 2 triples, 29 HR, 2 SB, 6.7 WAR.....3rd in SLG

Top Pitchers

Carl Erskine- 17-10, 265 IP, 3.09 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 157 K, 4.6 WAR.....Top 10 in many categories

Ralph Branca- 20-9, 259.1 IP, 3.44 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 97 K, 4.0 WAR....Also 1st in Winning % at 69%

Clem Labine- 10-4, 2 Saves, 71.1 IP, 1.64 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 30 K, 1.0 WAR

Other Notes
- DH Jim Gilliam was 1st in triples with 14.
- Gil Hodges hit for the Cycle against the 2019 Dodgers.
- Bob Milliken finished 3rd in the Reliever of the Year voting, although he started 7 games

We move to the 1960's next with the first of two very close seasons....1969 and 1971.