How to turn raw stats into ratings?

RMc · 01-27-2025, 06:01 PM

I've been wanting to create a pre-1871 game for awhile now, only with real (or at least real-ish) players; there are already other dynasties that do this, but with fictional players. But it always seemed impossible, because there aren't any stats for the 1857-70 era, right?

Wrong. Marshall D. Wright's book, "The National Association of Base Ball Players, 1857-1870", has a (mostly) complete history of this period, complete with rosters and, er, "stats".

I put the word "stats" in quotes because for most of this period there isn't much: only Games Played, Runs Scored, and Hands Lost. (A "Hand Lost" occurred every time a batter/runner made an out at the plate or on the bases. Generally, good players have most Runs than Hands Lost.) Later seasons also include Hits and Total Bases (whee!).

I have taken some of these numbers and converted them into something that might be usable, sort of a proto-OPS: crude, but at least we have an idea of who was a good player and who wasn't. The question is, how can we put these numbers into the game? Any ideas?

EDIT: Here's a spreadsheet in which I take the (ahem) stats from the top professional teams of 1869, and thrash them until they confess:

Ancient baseball stats.xlsx

Brad K · 01-28-2025, 09:26 AM

Enter your stats in the editor and select the button "create ratings from these stats."

However its not just about ratings. You need to create league modifiers that will result in the ratings giving you the output you want.

OutS|der · 01-28-2025, 11:59 AM

FYI a neutral modern league environment is from around the 2010's. No specific year

01-27-2025, 06:01 PM	#1
RMc All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,619	How to turn raw stats into ratings? I've been wanting to create a pre-1871 game for awhile now, only with real (or at least real-ish) players; there are already other dynasties that do this, but with fictional players. But it always seemed impossible, because there aren't any stats for the 1857-70 era, right? Wrong. Marshall D. Wright's book, "The National Association of Base Ball Players, 1857-1870", has a (mostly) complete history of this period, complete with rosters and, er, "stats". I put the word "stats" in quotes because for most of this period there isn't much: only Games Played, Runs Scored, and Hands Lost. (A "Hand Lost" occurred every time a batter/runner made an out at the plate or on the bases. Generally, good players have most Runs than Hands Lost.) Later seasons also include Hits and Total Bases (whee!). I have taken some of these numbers and converted them into something that might be usable, sort of a proto-OPS: crude, but at least we have an idea of who was a good player and who wasn't. The question is, how can we put these numbers into the game? Any ideas? EDIT: Here's a spreadsheet in which I take the (ahem) stats from the top professional teams of 1869, and thrash them until they confess: Ancient baseball stats.xlsx __________________ "We're all behind our baseball team..." Last edited by RMc; 01-27-2025 at 06:21 PM.

01-28-2025, 09:26 AM	#2
Brad K Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2016 Location: St Petersburg Florida USA Posts: 6,491 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	Enter your stats in the editor and select the button "create ratings from these stats." However its not just about ratings. You need to create league modifiers that will result in the ratings giving you the output you want. __________________ "What do you mean, I have to share my HRs?" - Babe Ruth. Experience reality in your what-if league. Use pre-calc. Yellow and red is good!

01-28-2025, 11:59 AM	#3
OutS\|der Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: In A Van Down By The River Posts: 2,624 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	FYI a neutral modern league environment is from around the 2010's. No specific year