Baseball Player Won-Loss Records
Home     List of Articles



1971 Season

The 1971 Season as seen through the Prism of Player Won-Lost Records

This article takes a look at the 1971 season as measured by Player won-lost records.

The Best of 1971

I calculate Player won-lost records two ways: pWins, which tie to team wins and eWins, which control for context and the ability of one's teammates. For players with more pWins than eWins, their Player wins contributed to more team wins than one might expect; for players with more eWins than pWins, just the opposite is true: their Player wins translated into fewer team wins than expected. Or more briefly: a player with more pWins than eWins was better in context, a player with more eWins than pWins was worse in context.

The top 10 players in pWins above Positional Average and Replacement Level were as follows.

pWins over Positional Average
Top 10 Players
pWins over Replacement Level
Top 10 Players
Player pWins pLosses pWOPA pWORL Player pWins pLosses pWOPA pWORL
1Joe Torre26.217.18.2
10.4
1Joe Torre26.217.18.2
10.4
2Willie Stargell23.013.98.0
9.8
2Fergie Jenkins24.117.47.7
10.0
3Fergie Jenkins24.117.47.7
10.0
3Willie Stargell23.013.98.0
9.8
4Tom Seaver19.513.07.4
9.2
4Tom Seaver19.513.07.4
9.2
5Roberto Clemente22.114.36.8
8.6
5Vida Blue20.814.96.8
8.8
6Vida Blue20.814.96.8
8.8
6Roberto Clemente22.114.36.8
8.6
7Jim Palmer19.914.46.4
8.3
7Jim Palmer19.914.46.4
8.3
8Catfish Hunter20.615.56.0
8.0
8Catfish Hunter20.615.56.0
8.0
9Reggie Jackson23.115.96.0
7.9
9Reggie Jackson23.115.96.0
7.9
10Hank Aaron20.713.56.0
7.6
10Hank Aaron20.713.56.0
7.6


The top 10 players in eWins above Positional Average and Replacement Level were as follows.

eWins over Positional Average
Top 10 Players
eWins over Replacement Level
Top 10 Players
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA eWORL Player eWins eLosses eWOPA eWORL
1Fergie Jenkins23.717.77.2
9.5
1Fergie Jenkins23.717.77.2
9.5
2Willie Stargell22.614.37.2
9.0
2Willie Stargell22.614.37.2
9.0
3Tom Seaver19.313.27.0
8.8
3Tom Seaver19.313.27.0
8.8
4Joe Torre25.218.26.2
8.4
4Joe Torre25.218.26.2
8.4
5Hank Aaron20.813.46.2
7.9
5Vida Blue20.315.56.1
8.1
6Vida Blue20.315.56.1
8.1
6Hank Aaron20.813.46.2
7.9
7Bobby Murcer22.116.74.7
6.6
7Wilbur Wood20.917.94.6
6.9
8Wilbur Wood20.917.94.6
6.9
8Bobby Murcer22.116.74.7
6.6
9Don Sutton16.913.34.6
6.3
9Don Sutton16.913.34.6
6.3
10Reggie Jackson22.316.74.4
6.3
10Reggie Jackson22.316.74.4
6.3


I take a look at some of the most interesting players of 1971 at the end of this article.

1971 Postseason

In the American League, the 1971 season saw the Baltimore Orioles win their third straight pennant, sweeping the Oakland A's who won what would be the first of five consecutive AL West division titles. In the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates won their second straight NL East title and defeated the San Francisco Giants for their first National League pennant since their epic 1960 World Series victory.

The resulting World Series was a scintillating seven-game series with 3 of the last 4 games being decided by one run. Alas, my beloved hometown Orioles (I was only 3 years old, but did, in fact, live in Baltimore in 1971) came up on the short end of the stick, losing Game 7 2-1.

The top postseason performers in 1971, as measured by Player won-lost records, are presented next.

1971 Postseason: Total
Player Team pWins pLosses pWORL
Roberto ClementePIT2.11.01.2
Jim PalmerBAL1.81.11.0
Manny SanguillenPIT1.40.80.7
Brooks RobinsonBAL1.50.90.6
Nelson BrilesPIT0.60.10.5
Richie HebnerPIT1.20.70.5
Steve BlassPIT2.11.90.5
Bob RobertsonPIT1.51.10.4
Ellie HendricksBAL0.90.70.4
Don BufordBAL1.31.00.4


Top postseason players by round were as follows.

1971 World Series
Player Team pWins pLosses Net Wins
Steve BlassPIT1.60.71.0
Roberto ClementePIT1.30.70.6
Jim PalmerBAL1.10.60.6
Nelson BrilesPIT0.60.10.5
Manny SanguillenPIT0.90.60.4

1971 Postseason: League Championship Series
Player Team pWins pLosses Net Wins
Richie HebnerPIT1.10.40.7
Roberto ClementePIT0.90.30.6
Mike CuellarBAL0.80.30.5
Brooks RobinsonBAL0.70.30.4
Bob W. JohnsonPIT0.70.30.4


Best of 1971 by Factor and Position

Next, let's look at the top players in various aspects of the game.
Best by Factor: Batting, Baserunning, Pitching, Fielding
There are four basic factors for which players earn Player won-lost records: Batting, Baserunning, Pitching, and Fielding. The top players in 1971 in wins over positional average (WOPA) by factor were as follows.

Batting
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLoss eWOPA Player pWins pLoss pWOPA
1Willie Stargell15.98.8
6.8
1Joe Torre20.211.68.2
2Hank Aaron16.69.6
6.7
2Hank Aaron16.89.56.9
3Joe Torre19.212.6
6.1
3Willie Stargell15.98.76.9
4Bobby Murcer16.210.5
5.3
4Willie Mays13.57.16.2
5Lee May15.710.8
4.5
5Merv Rettenmund15.49.25.8
6Willie Mays12.68.0
4.3
6Bobby Murcer16.310.35.6
7Bobby Bonds16.511.9
4.2
7Dick Dietz14.69.05.3
8Dick Allen15.410.8
4.2
8Norm Cash12.57.15.0
9Merv Rettenmund14.410.2
3.9
9Billy Williams16.411.05.0
10Roy White14.810.7
3.6
10Don Buford12.37.14.9
Positional Average excludes pitcher offense
Baserunning
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLoss eWOPA Player pWins pLoss pWOPA
1Bert Campaneris2.81.4
1.3
1Bert Campaneris2.71.51.2
2Amos Otis2.61.2
1.3
2Bud Harrelson2.01.01.0
3Bobby Bonds2.11.1
1.0
3Sandy Alomar Sr.2.21.30.8
4Lou Brock3.22.2
0.8
4Bobby Bonds2.01.20.8
5Joe L. Morgan2.31.4
0.8
5Lou Brock3.12.30.8
6Cesar Cedeno2.11.3
0.8
6Roy White1.81.00.7
7Tommy Harper1.81.0
0.8
7Joe L. Morgan2.21.50.6
8Bud Harrelson1.91.1
0.7
8Pete Rose Sr.2.11.40.6
9Sandy Alomar Sr.2.11.4
0.6
9Willie Davis1.60.90.6
10Willie Davis1.61.0
0.6
10Dave Cash1.71.00.6
Positional Average excludes pitcher offense
Pitching
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLoss Net eWins Player pWins pLoss Net pWins
1Vida Blue18.513.6
4.9
1Tom Seaver17.410.76.7
2Tom Seaver16.511.6
4.9
2Vida Blue19.412.76.6
3Fergie Jenkins19.615.3
4.3
3Fergie Jenkins20.514.46.1
4Wilbur Wood19.515.4
4.1
4Wilbur Wood20.414.55.9
5Don Sutton14.711.1
3.6
5Jim Palmer17.512.25.4
6Dave A. Roberts15.412.3
3.1
6Joe Coleman Jr.17.612.74.9
7Clyde Wright15.512.6
2.9
7Catfish Hunter17.613.24.3
8Bert Blyleven16.513.6
2.8
8Pat Dobson15.711.44.3
9Mel Stottlemyre Sr.14.812.2
2.6
9Don Sutton15.010.84.2
10Don Wilson15.112.5
2.6
10Al Downing15.111.14.0


Fielding by Position


Fielding, P
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses Net eWins Player pWins pLosses Net pWins
1Ray Sadecki0.50.1
0.4
1Jim Palmer0.70.20.4
2Mike G. Marshall0.50.2
0.3
2Mike G. Marshall0.60.20.4
3Catfish Hunter0.50.2
0.3
3Catfish Hunter0.60.20.4
4Wilbur Wood0.70.5
0.3
4Bill Parsons0.70.30.3
5Bill Parsons0.60.4
0.3
5Mike Kekich0.40.10.3


Fielding, C
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses Net eWins Player pWins pLosses Net pWins
1Ellie Rodriguez1.61.0
0.6
1Manny Sanguillen1.81.10.7
2Johnny Edwards1.51.0
0.5
2Ellie Rodriguez1.61.00.7
3John Bateman1.91.5
0.4
3Jerry May1.10.60.5
4Johnny Bench1.61.2
0.4
4Ellie Hendricks1.30.90.4
5Ken Rudolph0.40.1
0.3
5Thurman Munson1.41.10.4


Fielding, 1B
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses Net eWins Player pWins pLosses Net pWins
1George C. Scott2.62.0
0.6
1Gail Hopkins1.51.10.4
2Hank Aaron1.40.9
0.4
2Hank Aaron1.31.00.4
3Don Mincher2.11.7
0.4
3Ron Fairly2.42.10.4
4Nate Colbert2.82.5
0.3
4Tony Muser0.40.10.3
5Bob Robertson2.42.1
0.3
5Roberto Pena0.80.60.3


Fielding, 2B
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses Net eWins Player pWins pLosses Net pWins
1Tommy Helms6.04.6
1.4
1Dick Green5.74.11.6
2Doug Griffin4.94.2
0.7
2Tommy Helms6.14.51.6
3Dick Green5.14.6
0.5
3Felix Millan5.84.90.8
4Sandy Alomar Sr.5.85.3
0.5
4Doug Griffin5.04.20.8
5Ron Theobald3.83.3
0.4
5Cookie Rojas4.33.60.6


Fielding, 3B
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses Net eWins Player pWins pLosses Net pWins
1Graig Nettles5.94.6
1.4
1Graig Nettles6.04.51.6
2Ken McMullen5.44.5
0.9
2Brooks Robinson5.23.91.3
3Steve Garvey2.62.0
0.6
3Steve Garvey2.81.71.1
4Aurelio Rodriguez5.65.0
0.6
4Ken McMullen5.54.41.1
5Brooks Robinson4.84.3
0.6
5Aurelio Rodriguez5.84.90.9


Fielding, SS
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses Net eWins Player pWins pLosses Net pWins
1Bud Harrelson5.64.5
1.1
1Dal Maxvill5.94.11.7
2Dal Maxvill5.54.5
1.0
2Bud Harrelson5.94.21.7
3Ed Brinkman7.36.5
0.8
3Mark Belanger6.45.11.3
4Maury Wills6.55.9
0.6
4Bert Campaneris5.84.51.3
5Bobby Wine5.04.6
0.5
5Maury Wills6.65.70.9


Fielding, LF
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses Net eWins Player pWins pLosses Net pWins
1Carl Yastrzemski8.57.6
0.9
1Joe Rudi5.83.82.0
2Joe Rudi5.24.5
0.7
2Willie Stargell6.44.42.0
3Ted Uhlaender3.02.4
0.7
3Carl Yastrzemski8.87.21.6
4Roy White6.66.0
0.6
4Bob Bailey2.41.50.9
5Willie Horton5.44.8
0.6
5Walt Williams1.81.10.7


Fielding, CF
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses Net eWins Player pWins pLosses Net pWins
1Mickey Rivers2.81.6
1.3
1Amos Otis7.15.51.6
2Buddy Bradford1.91.0
0.9
2Paul Blair5.03.71.3
3Jose Cardenal2.61.9
0.7
3Rick Monday4.13.01.1
4George Foster4.33.6
0.6
4Tommie Agee3.12.11.0
5Billy Conigliaro3.12.5
0.6
5Al Oliver5.54.61.0


Fielding, RF
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses Net eWins Player pWins pLosses Net pWins
1Roberto Clemente6.75.2
1.5
1Roberto Clemente7.44.43.0
2Roger Repoz3.11.8
1.3
2Reggie Jackson6.84.91.9
3Reggie Jackson6.35.4
1.0
3Joe Keough4.43.01.4
4Reggie Smith3.32.6
0.8
4Reggie Smith3.42.51.0
5Del Unser2.11.4
0.7
5Pete Rose Sr.7.56.60.9


Best by Position
Next, we look at 1971 Major-League leaders by position. The figures shown here only include Player decisions earned while playing this particular position.

Catcher
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Dick Dietz14.612.0
2.8
1Dick Dietz15.311.34.2
2Bill Freehan13.912.1
2.0
2Manny Sanguillen14.511.03.7
3Johnny Bench15.213.6
1.8
3Ted Simmons13.711.52.4
4Earl C. Williams7.76.5
1.2
4Ellie Hendricks9.37.32.1
5Ray Fosse12.611.6
1.2
5Bill Freehan13.912.12.0


First Base
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Hank Aaron11.46.6
3.8
1Norm Cash14.79.34.2
2Lee May18.613.7
3.1
2Hank Aaron11.46.54.0
3Norm Cash13.910.1
2.4
3Lee May18.613.63.2
4Bob Robertson14.410.8
2.2
4Willie McCovey12.08.03.0
5Nate Colbert18.814.9
1.8
5Mike Andrews4.01.81.9


Second Base
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Joe L. Morgan21.918.6
3.7
1Davey Johnson20.215.55.1
2Davey Johnson19.116.6
2.9
2Joe L. Morgan21.918.63.7
3Ron Hunt16.313.8
2.9
3Cookie Rojas15.212.43.2
4Cookie Rojas14.313.3
1.4
4Dick Green15.513.52.3
5Dave Cash12.611.4
1.4
5Dick McAuliffe15.113.42.0


Third Base
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Joe Torre25.018.3
5.8
1Joe Torre26.217.18.2
2Sal Bando20.016.1
3.1
2Sal Bando20.815.34.7
3Graig Nettles20.816.9
3.0
3Tony Perez21.116.63.6
4Bill Melton20.717.1
2.7
4Brooks Robinson20.616.13.6
5Dick Allen10.07.8
1.8
5Paul Schaal20.517.91.8


Shortstop
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Leo Cardenas19.218.1
2.8
1Bert Campaneris19.615.95.2
2Bert Campaneris18.117.4
2.4
2Bud Harrelson18.516.83.3
3Bud Harrelson17.817.4
2.1
3Mark Belanger16.815.13.1
4Mark Belanger16.315.6
2.1
4Maury Wills20.219.32.6
5Freddie Patek19.819.6
1.9
5Leo Cardenas18.918.42.2


Left Field
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Willie Stargell22.014.6
6.2
1Willie Stargell22.914.67.9
2Roy White23.017.7
3.8
2Don Buford18.113.74.4
3Billy Williams21.817.6
2.7
3Roy White23.117.74.0
4Don Buford17.213.7
2.4
4Carl Yastrzemski23.019.13.8
5Willie Horton14.611.9
1.8
5Billy Williams22.317.63.8


Center Field
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Bobby Murcer21.816.7
4.2
1Bobby Murcer21.916.54.5
2Willie Mays11.88.4
2.9
2Willie Mays12.57.74.4
3Amos Otis22.619.0
2.5
3Amos Otis23.318.24.0
4Tommie Agee12.210.3
1.2
4Rick Monday14.410.53.2
5Jim Northrup8.46.9
1.2
5Jim Northrup9.35.93.1


Right Field
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Reggie Jackson21.916.5
4.2
1Roberto Clemente21.314.06.3
2Roberto Clemente19.915.4
3.5
2Reggie Jackson22.915.66.2
3Bobby Bonds18.814.8
2.9
3Merv Rettenmund10.56.33.7
4Merv Rettenmund10.16.7
2.8
4Frank Robinson15.010.63.6
5Rusty Staub24.620.4
2.7
5Al Kaline15.711.43.5


Starting Pitcher
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Tom Seaver16.611.6
5.0
1Tom Seaver17.810.47.4
2Vida Blue18.713.8
4.9
2Vida Blue19.612.86.7
3Wilbur Wood20.115.7
4.3
3Fergie Jenkins21.115.06.1
4Fergie Jenkins20.016.0
3.9
4Wilbur Wood20.914.95.9
5Don Sutton15.111.7
3.4
5Jim Palmer18.212.45.8
6Clyde Wright16.012.9
3.1
6Joe Coleman Jr.18.013.14.8
7Dave A. Roberts15.412.3
3.0
7Catfish Hunter18.113.44.7
8Bert Blyleven16.914.0
2.9
8Pat Dobson16.011.74.3
9Mel Stottlemyre Sr.15.612.7
2.8
9Al Downing15.411.24.2
10Jim Palmer16.614.0
2.6
10Andy Messersmith18.214.04.1


Relief Pitcher
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Ken Sanders9.67.5
2.1
1Ken Sanders10.66.54.1
2Jim Brewer6.24.3
1.9
2Cecil Upshaw7.74.63.1
3Bob L. Miller5.33.8
1.5
3Tug McGraw5.93.32.7
4Tug McGraw5.33.9
1.4
4Jim Brewer6.44.02.4
5Rollie Fingers4.53.2
1.3
5Lloyd Allen6.24.02.2
6Lloyd Allen5.74.5
1.2
6Rollie Fingers4.83.01.8
7Joe Grzenda3.12.1
1.0
7Bart Johnson5.23.41.8
8Dave LaRoche4.23.2
1.0
8Clay Carroll6.85.01.8
9Paul Lindblad5.54.5
1.0
9Joe Grzenda3.41.81.6
10Joe Hoerner4.13.2
0.9
10Moe Drabowsky3.42.01.4


Finally, here are the best at three oft-forgotten positions that can nevertheless matter: pitcher offense, pinch hitting, and pinch running.

Pitcher Offense
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Fergie Jenkins2.72.7
1.3
1Sonny Siebert3.01.72.1
2Sonny Siebert2.52.2
1.3
2Fergie Jenkins3.02.41.7
3Catfish Hunter2.42.2
1.2
3Rick Wise2.41.81.4


Pinch Hitter
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1H. Tommy Davis2.51.3
1.3
1H. Tommy Davis2.71.21.6
2Dick Dietz1.00.3
0.8
2Dick Dietz1.20.11.1
3Gates Brown1.40.8
0.7
3Andy Kosco1.71.00.8


Pinch Runner
Context-Neutral Context-Dependent
Player eWins eLosses eWOPA Player pWins pLosses pWOPA
1Blue Moon Odom0.20.0
0.2
1Blue Moon Odom0.20.00.2
2H. Pat Kelly0.20.0
0.1
2H. Pat Kelly0.10.00.1
3Bobby Valentine0.1-0.0
0.1
3Don Sutton0.10.00.1


Noteworthy Players of 1971

Based on Player won-lost records, particularly pWin over either positional average or replacement level, the BBWAA did a very good job in choosing major award winners. The top two players in both pWOPA and pWORL won the National League MVP and Cy Young awards, while the top American League player on all four of the above tables won both the MVP and Cy Young awards in the American League.

I take a somewhat closer look at these three players, plus one more, next.

Joe Torre
The best player in the major leagues in 1971, as measured by pWins over either positional average or replacement level, was St. Louis Cardinals' third baseman, Joe Torre.

Joe Torre is in the Hall of Fame, but basically as a manager. He is, however, in Baseball Think Factory's Hall of Merit based purely on his playing career. I wrote an article about Joe Torre that I'm publishing concurrent with this one.

Joe Torre's career record, as measured by Player won-lost records, is presented in the next table.

Joe Torre
Basic Player Won-Lost Records
Value Decomposition
Season Team Age Games pWins pLosses pWOPA pWORL eWins eLosses eWOPA eWORL
1960MLN19
2
0.10.00.0
0.0
0.00.00.00.0
1961MLN20
113
10.09.90.3
1.4
10.19.80.51.6
1962MLN21
80
5.96.5-0.5
0.2
6.36.10.41.0
1963MLN22
142
15.413.81.3
2.7
15.913.42.33.7
1964MLN23
154
18.214.93.0
4.6
18.214.93.14.7
1965MLN24
148
16.613.43.4
4.9
16.413.63.14.6
1966ATL25
148
18.114.13.9
5.4
18.114.14.05.5
1967ATL26
135
14.813.32.0
3.4
15.412.73.14.5
1968ATL27
115
13.511.62.0
3.3
13.511.61.93.2
1969SLN28
159
18.614.42.4
4.1
17.915.01.02.8
1970SLN29
161
18.517.30.8
2.7
19.716.13.35.1
1971SLN30
161
26.217.18.2
10.4
25.218.26.28.4
1972SLN31
149
17.916.40.9
2.6
17.816.50.62.3
1973SLN32
141
15.413.30.8
2.2
15.613.11.22.7
1974SLN33
147
15.413.30.9
2.2
15.213.50.51.8
1975NYN34
114
10.810.6-0.2
0.8
10.510.9-0.90.1
1976NYN35
114
8.28.0-0.5
0.3
8.77.50.51.4
1977NYN36
26
1.02.0-1.1
-0.9
1.21.8-0.6-0.4
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
CAREER (reg. season)
2,209
244.6209.927.7
50.3
245.7208.830.352.8
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
PostSeason (career)
0
0.00.0 0.00.00.0 0.0
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
COMBINED
2,209
244.6209.9
50.3
245.7208.8 52.8


Fergie Jenkins
The best player in the major leagues in 1971, as measured by eWins over either positional average or replacement level, was Chicago Cubs' starting pitcher, Fergie Jenkins. Award voters recognized Jenkins as the best pitcher in the National League, although they did not also award him the MVP award (he finished 7th).

Jenkins's 1971 season was outstanding, but he arguably had an even better season three years later. Jenkins's 1971 and 1974 seasons rank among the best seasons by a pitcher since MLB expansion in 1961, at least as measured by pWins over replacement level (pWORL). The next table shows every season since 1961 in which a pitcher has earned at least 10.0 pWORL.

Pitcher Seasons of 10 or more pWORL, since 1961
ranked by pWORL
Player Season pWins pLosses pWOPA pWORL
1Sandy Koufax196525.014.511.7
14.1
2Steve Carlton197225.014.911.0
13.4
3Dwight Gooden198521.111.011.1
13.0
4Sandy Koufax196322.513.310.2
12.4
5Randy 'Big Unit' Johnson200219.010.59.6
11.5
6Greg Maddux199516.57.410.0
11.4
7Pedro J. Martinez199916.36.59.9
11.4
8Juan Marichal196622.614.39.2
11.3
9Dean Chance196419.711.78.9
11.1
10Pedro J. Martinez200016.47.19.5
11.0
11Roger Clemens199718.69.79.0
10.9
12Bob Gibson197021.513.69.0
10.8
13Randy 'Big Unit' Johnson199516.47.49.1
10.7
14Fergie Jenkins197422.714.48.4
10.6
15Ron Guidry197818.59.68.8
10.5
16Denny McLain196922.715.58.0
10.3
17Juan Marichal196522.015.28.0
10.2
18Bob Gibson196821.714.38.3
10.2
19Jim Palmer197520.212.18.2
10.2
20Denny McLain196822.915.78.2
10.1
21Curt Schilling200119.212.48.1
10.1
22Sandy Koufax196622.816.17.8
10.1
23Fergie Jenkins197124.117.47.7
10.0


Fergie Jenkins's career record, as measured by Player won-lost records, is presented in the next table.

Fergie Jenkins
Basic Player Won-Lost Records
Value Decomposition
Season Team Age Games pWins pLosses pWOPA pWORL eWins eLosses eWOPA eWORL
1965PHI22
7
0.70.8-0.1
0.0
0.80.8-0.00.1
1966CHN23
61
9.410.2-0.3
1.2
9.79.80.51.9
1967CHN24
39
20.217.53.8
6.0
19.518.22.64.7
1968CHN25
40
21.017.84.3
6.3
20.618.23.55.5
1969CHN26
43
22.017.45.7
8.0
21.118.33.96.3
1970CHN27
40
21.616.96.0
8.0
22.016.56.99.0
1971CHN28
39
24.117.47.7
10.0
23.717.77.29.5
1972CHN29
36
18.616.23.3
5.4
18.016.72.34.4
1973CHN30
38
15.818.4-1.7
0.2
16.517.7-0.31.6
1974TEX31
41
22.714.48.4
10.6
21.415.75.77.9
1975TEX32
37
16.414.91.6
3.5
15.915.40.62.5
1976BOS33
30
11.111.4-0.2
1.1
11.511.00.61.9
1977BOS34
28
10.210.20.1
1.5
10.410.00.51.8
1978TEX35
34
14.710.34.3
5.9
14.011.02.94.4
1979TEX36
37
14.814.10.7
2.5
14.414.6-0.11.7
1980TEX37
29
12.311.80.6
2.0
12.511.71.02.4
1981TEX38
19
6.57.1-0.6
0.3
6.17.5-1.4-0.4
1982CHN39
34
13.914.50.5
2.0
13.115.3-1.10.4
1983CHN40
33
8.911.1-1.5
-0.4
9.610.4-0.11.0
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
CAREER (reg. season)
665
285.0252.342.7
74.3
280.8256.535.366.9
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
PostSeason (career)
0
0.00.0 0.00.00.0 0.0
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
COMBINED
665
285.0252.3
74.3
280.8256.5 66.9


Vida Blue
The 1971 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner was a 21-year-old phenom in his first full season. Vida Blue started 39 games, completing 24 of them. He led the American League in shutouts (8) and ERA (1.82) while striking out 301 batters in 312 innings pitched, amassing a traditional won-lost record of 24-8. As shown above, Blue's 1971 season was one of the top 10 pitching seasons of the 1970s.

Vida Blue never had another season as good as his 1971 season, although that is probably at least a bit unfair: most pitchers don't even have one season as good as Vida Blue's 1971 season. In fact, Vida Blue had several other very good seasons and overall put together a very good career.

Vida Blue's career record, as measured by Player won-lost records, is presented in the next table.

Vida Blue
Basic Player Won-Lost Records
Value Decomposition
Season Team Age Games pWins pLosses pWOPA pWORL eWins eLosses eWOPA eWORL
1969OAK19
12
1.72.8-1.0
-0.7
1.53.0-1.4-1.0
1970OAK20
6
3.01.12.0
2.2
2.71.41.51.7
1971OAK21
39
20.814.96.8
8.8
20.315.56.18.1
1972OAK22
27
9.49.9-0.1
1.1
9.79.60.61.8
1973OAK23
38
16.113.82.3
4.2
14.815.1-0.31.6
1974OAK24
40
15.014.80.1
1.9
15.514.31.23.0
1975OAK25
39
16.913.53.4
5.2
15.914.51.53.4
1976OAK26
37
17.712.55.3
7.1
17.013.23.85.6
1977OAK27
38
16.316.30.1
2.3
16.616.00.72.9
1978SFN28
35
15.913.03.6
5.2
15.713.33.45.0
1979SFN29
37
13.016.5-2.7
-1.0
12.816.7-3.0-1.3
1980SFN30
31
14.912.13.7
5.2
14.212.72.54.0
1981SFN31
18
7.97.41.0
2.0
7.87.60.61.6
1982KCA32
31
12.111.21.2
2.6
11.511.9-0.11.3
1983KCA33
19
3.15.0-1.9
-1.4
3.54.6-1.1-0.6
1985SFN35
33
6.68.9-1.9
-1.0
6.19.3-2.8-1.8
1986SFN36
28
9.410.9-0.9
0.3
9.011.3-1.6-0.5
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
CAREER (reg. season)
508
199.8184.721.1
44.0
194.6189.911.934.8
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
PostSeason (career)
17
4.34.6 0.44.54.5 0.7
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
COMBINED
525
204.1189.3
44.4
199.1194.3 35.5
Willie Stargell
Willie Stargell shared an NL MVP award for leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to the best regular-season record in the National League in a season which culminated with the Pirates winning a 7-game World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. As the above tables suggest, this could have been a reasonable result: Willie Stargell did National League position players in eWins over positional average (eWOPA) and replacement level (eWORL) in 1971. Except that Willie Stargell didn't share the 1971 NL MVP; he shared the 1979 NL MVP award.

Willie Stargell's career record, as measured by Player won-lost records, is presented in the next table.

Willie Stargell
Basic Player Won-Lost Records
Value Decomposition
Season Team Age Games pWins pLosses pWOPA pWORL eWins eLosses eWOPA eWORL
1962PIT22
10
0.61.0-0.5
-0.4
0.70.9-0.2-0.1
1963PIT23
108
9.310.1-1.6
-0.7
9.79.7-0.70.3
1964PIT24
117
12.512.3-0.8
0.4
13.011.80.11.4
1965PIT25
144
19.016.11.5
3.3
19.116.01.83.6
1966PIT26
140
21.113.86.5
8.1
20.314.64.76.3
1967PIT27
133
16.815.00.2
1.8
17.114.71.12.6
1968PIT28
127
16.615.9-1.1
0.6
17.515.01.02.7
1969PIT29
145
19.115.72.3
4.1
19.715.13.65.4
1970PIT30
136
18.615.71.2
3.0
18.815.51.73.5
1971PIT31
141
23.013.98.0
9.8
22.614.37.29.0
1972PIT32
138
20.313.05.5
7.1
18.914.52.64.3
1973PIT33
148
25.517.36.7
8.8
25.717.27.09.1
1974PIT34
140
21.915.55.2
6.9
21.415.94.36.0
1975PIT35
124
15.710.93.5
4.8
15.311.22.74.0
1976PIT36
117
11.310.20.1
1.1
11.79.80.92.0
1977PIT37
63
5.74.01.4
1.9
5.64.11.11.6
1978PIT38
120
13.99.73.4
4.5
13.510.02.73.8
1979PIT39
126
14.410.33.2
4.4
14.110.62.73.9
1980PIT40
67
6.45.30.6
1.2
6.74.91.41.9
1981PIT41
38
1.61.7-0.1
0.1
1.61.7-0.10.1
1982PIT42
74
2.42.6-0.1
0.2
2.52.50.20.5
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
CAREER (reg. season)
2,356
295.7230.045.1
71.0
295.7230.146.072.0
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
PostSeason (career)
36
4.43.8 0.64.53.6 0.9
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
COMBINED
2,392
300.1233.8
71.7
300.2233.7 72.9


Fond Farewells
Finally, 1971 was the final season for two players who have been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame: Ernie Banks and Jim Bunning. Their careers, as measured by Player won-lost records, are compared in the final table of the article.

Ernie Banks Jim Bunning
Season Games pWins pLoss pWOPA pWORL Games pWins pLoss pWOPA pWORL
1953101.11.3-0.1
0.0
195415419.220.4-0.3
2.0
195515422.718.74.7
6.9
153.15.6-2.4-1.8
195613918.317.41.8
3.7
153.32.31.21.6
195715622.018.34.1
6.2
4517.914.14.66.5
195815424.819.16.7
8.8
3614.614.70.62.3
195915525.519.07.1
9.2
4016.016.40.42.2
196015622.921.22.4
4.7
3815.013.62.34.0
196113817.416.01.9
3.7
3818.414.44.76.7
196215417.417.2-1.6
0.1
4318.114.34.66.6
196312912.612.2-0.7
0.5
4014.916.2-0.31.7
196415617.217.2-1.5
0.2
4118.013.65.37.4
196516318.617.2-0.5
1.3
3919.314.26.18.2
196614112.213.1-2.4
-1.2
4320.016.84.26.3
196715117.314.70.8
2.3
4019.215.15.17.0
196815017.014.90.2
1.8
278.212.0-3.3-2.3
196915517.914.01.9
3.6
3412.612.80.42.0
1970725.05.7-1.4
-0.9
3511.813.1-0.60.8
1971381.32.1-1.0
-0.8
317.49.1-1.4-0.4
------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
CAREER RECORDS2,525310.5279.622.1
52.1
600237.7218.231.458.7


Article last updated: June 1, 2020

Wins over positional average and replacement level are calculated using data only for the 1971 season. Positional averages for starting pitching and relief pitching are calculated using single-year data for all starting pitchers and all relief pitchers.

All articles are written so that they pull data directly from the most recent version of the Player won-lost database. Hence, any numbers cited within these articles should automatically incorporate the most recent update to Player won-lost records. In some cases, however, the accompanying text may have been written based on previous versions of Player won-lost records. I apologize if this results in non-sensical text in any cases.

Home     List of Articles