[rockford]

Teams from the Dead Ball era made up an inordinate amount of the highest-seeded teams, placing 10 in the top 25, about twice what a proportional share would be. Given the relative youth of the league at that time, this would seem to indicate that the era’s best teams were much better than their competition; i.e., the gap between the best and rest of the pack narrowed a bit as the league matured.


Of the 10 Dead Ball teams that were seeded in the top 25, six qualified for the quarterfinals. Two more teams made it to the second qualifying round. The final two teams failed to crack the .500 mark in qualifying play, and are likely done.


Here’s a look at the Dead Ball era Top 10, with their original seeding as well as their current rank and winning percentage in the qualifier:

1 1906 Cubs – 50th .560
2 1902 Pirates – 14th .597
3 1909 Pirates – 46th .562
8 1907 Cubs – 102nd .535 (in 2nd qualifier)
15 1904 Giants – 335th .446 (currently out)
16 1912 Red Sox – 95th .538 (in 2nd qualifier)
18 1905 Giants – 15th .596
19 1919 Reds – 324th .453 (currently out)
24 1912 Giants – 28th .577
25 1910 A’s – 66th .551

Other Dead Ball era teams in the quarterfinals:

26 1909 Cubs – 24th .580
32 1911 A’s – 2nd .634
34 1910 Cubs – 9th .617
62 1903 Pirates – 30th .573
69 1911 Giants – 44th .564
129 1913 A’s – 67th .551
163 1909 A’s – 77th .546
191 1912 Pirates – 41st .564

The last three teams listed above all beat expectations considerably, rising between about 60 and 150 spots in the rankings.

Underperformers include the 1901 Pirates, who were seeded 70th but finished 377th at .375, and the 1908 Cubs, seeded 75th but finishing 333rd at .448.