What is an all time single-season team? Well, what I’ve done is scour baseball-reference.com and picked out the best season a particular player had at each position and made an all-time team. I’m focusing on one brilliant year and not an entire career. I know this is very subjective but since there is no real news to report as of yet and Spring Training is a few weeks away, I figured it was something fun to pass the time and get me excited for the upcoming baseball season.
I picked only from season from
1900 to current, though picking pitcher’s season pre-1930 isn’t all that good
for an exercise like this because pitching has changed so dramatically. But since the Sox have been around since
before 1900, I figured it was a good year to start from.
I ranked each great season by
OPS+ for hitters, which is a stat that normalizes a players OPS and adjusts it
for small variables that might affect OPS(OBP + SLG%) scores (e.g. park
effects). A OPS + score of 100 is league
average, and each point up or down is one percentage point above or below
league average. An example would be if a
batter had an OPS+ of 110 last season. It
would mean that their OPS were 10% above league average.
For pitchers, I used ERA+, which
adjusts a pitchers ERA based on his home ballpark and the average ERA of the
particular league in which the pitcher pitched.
An average ERA+ is 100 and anything above or below that is a percentage
above average.
I felt it important to rank these
seasons by 2 statistics because as you’ll see there are a lot of familiar names
and players that played so long at each position that I needed something to differentiate
them and these 2 fairly new statistics seemed perfect because it helps identify
just how good their season was during the year they played in.
And now, on to the list…
CATCHER – Carlton Fisk, 1972
1972 was Fisk’s first full season
as a big league catcher and he did not disappoint. He won Rookie of the Year and made his first
of 11 All Star games. His slash line of
.293/.370/.538/.909 was one of his best ever.
He had his career best OPS+ of 162 and he played all 131 games at
catcher. His 22 homers and 61 RBI were
impressive but he also led the league in triples with 9 and belted 28 doubles
while scoring 74 runs. Defensively, it
was also his best season as he won his sole Gold Glove that year and led the
league in putouts and assists by a catcher.
Although Fisk would go on to play in 22 more years, mostly with the Chicago
White Sox, there is no denying that one of his best, if not his best season was
his rookie campaign of 1972.
Also considered – Fisk of 1977, Jason Varitek of 2005 and 2003.
FIRST BASE – Jimmie Foxx, 1938
In 1938, Jimmie Foxx put up video
game numbers in his 3rd season with the Red Sox. He batted a ridiculous .349/.462/.704/1.166
with an OPS+ of 182. His 50 home runs
were a Red Sox record for 68 years until David Ortiz broke it in 2006. Nobody has come close to the 175 RBI he had
in the modern era (the closest was Ortiz in 2005 with 148). He almost had the Triple Crown but Hank
Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers belted 58 homers that year and he only lead in
average and RBI. Foxx would win his 3rd
MVP award and first as an American Leaguer.
With 398 total bases, Foxx didn’t only crush homers, he also had 33
doubles and 9 triples and walked a league leading 119 times. Some people like to call Foxx the right
handed Babe Ruth and with his 1938 season, I can see why.
Also considered – Carl Yastrzemski of 1970, Foxx of 1939 and 1936 and
Mo Vaughn of 1996.
SECOND BASE – Dustin Pedroia, 2008
One year after taking home Rookie
of the Year honors, Dustin Pedroia followed up his 2007 season with an MVP
award in 2008. Pedroia had a slash line
of .326/.376/.493/.869 and an OPS+ of 123.
He led the league in runs (118), hits (213) and doubles (54) while also
managing to steal 20 bases (against only 1 caught stealing). He also hit 17 homers and drove in 83 runs
while banging out 322 total bases (his career high). Not only did he win the MVP award, but he
also received his first Gold Glove and sported a ridiculous .992 fielding
percentage. The scrappy second baseman
really made a name for himself that year and he’s become the back-bone of the
Red Sox.
Also considered – Bobby Doerr of 1944, more Doerr and Pedroia and Pete
Runnels of 1958 and 1959.
THIRD BASE – Wade Boggs, 1987
The only real debate on this one
was which Wade Boggs season to choose.
Boggs had so many great seasons with the Sox that it was tough to really
just pick one. I went with 1987 because
he had career highs in OPS (1.049), OPS+ (174), SLG (.588), HR (24), RBI (89)
and total bases (324). His slash line of
.363/.461/.588/1.049 showed that not only could he get on base but he also
provided plenty of pop. He won the batting
title this year and led the majors in OBP .
Simply put, one of the best seasons by a third baseman, Red Sox or not.
Also considered – Tons more Boggs’ seasons and Jimmy Collins of 1901.
SHORTSTOP – Rico Petrocelli, 1969
This one threw me a bit as I though
for sure I’d be writing in Nomar Garciaparra’s name her but Rico’s career year
of 1969 takes the honor. Petrocelli had a
slash line of .297/.403/.589/.992 with an OPS+ of 168. The average shortstops that year, hit .247
with a .329 SLG, so to do what he did was simply remarkable. He also hit 40 homers, drove in 97 runs, hit
32 doubles, scored 92 runs and walked 98 times.
It was a season that most shortstops just dream of.
Also considered – Nomar Garciaparra of 1999 & 2000, John Valentin
in 1995 and Johnny Pesky in 1946.
LEFT FIELD – Ted Williams, 1941
Another case of which year do we
choose because we all know it’s going to be Teddy Ballgame in left field. Picking just one season of Williams is truly a
test since his whole career is pretty much the epiphany of excellence. I’m going to go with his 1941 campaign in
which he posted a .406/.553/.735/1.287 with an OPS+ of 235. It would be the last time anyone ever hit
.400 and a season in which he also his 37 homers (which lead the league) and
walked 147 times (again led the league).
He hit 33 doubles, had 120 RBI and scored 135 times. The man only struck out 27 times in the
season, yes, just 27. Simply an amazing
season. For him to finish 2nd
in the AL MVP voting is just an absolute crime.
Also considered – Many more Ted Williams’ seasons, Yastrzemski in 1967,
Jim Rice of 1978, Manny Ramirez in 2003 and Babe Ruth of 1919.
CENTER FIELD – Fred Lynn, 1979
Fred Lynn had arguably his best
season in 1979 for the Red Sox. He
batted .333/.423/.637/1.059 with an OPS+ 176 to go along with 39 homers and 122
RBI. His 116 runs and 338 total bases
were both career highs and he also chipped in 42 doubles and 82 walks. To go along with those ridiculous batting
statistics, he also won a Gold Glove and made the All Star team. Though he didn’t finish in the top 3 of MVP
voting, I believe he was better in this season than when he won the MVP in
1975.
Also considered – Tris Speaker 1912 & 1910, Lynn in 1975, Jacoby
Ellsbury in 2011, Bob Johnson in 1944 and Reggie Smith in 1973.
RIGHT FIELD – Dwight Evans, 1981
1981 was cut short due to a
strike but Dwight Evans had his best season that year batting
.296/.415/.522/.937 with an OPS+ of 163.
He played in all 108 games and led the league in homers (22), walks (85)
and total bases (215). Evans was the
winner of the Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and made the All Star team as well as
finished 3rd in the MVP voting.
It would have been great to see what he had done if the season wasn’t
shortened by a strike.
Also considered – More Dewey, Babe Ruth of 1919, Tris Speaker of 1912
& 1913 and Ken Harrelson of 1968.
DESIGNATED HITTER – David Ortiz, 2006
Was their any other doubt who the
designated hitter would be? Ortiz is one
of the best DHs of all time and his 2006 season was a masterpiece. He batted .287/.413/.636/1.049 with an OPS+
of 161. He led the league in HR (54),
RBI (137), walks (119) and total bases (355).
For his efforts, he won the Silver Slugger award and was on the all star
team as well as ranking 3rd in MVP voting. The 54 homers broke Jimmie Foxx’s club record
and made a forgettable 2006 season one to watch.
Also considered – More Big Papi, and Manny Ramirez of 2001.
STARTING PITCHERS
Here’s my rotation with stats:
Pedro Martinez, 2000 – 18-6, 1.74
ERA, 7 CG, 4 SHO, 217.0 IP, 284 K, 291 ERA+, 0.74 WHIP
Cy Young, 1901 – 33-10, 1.62 ERA,
5 CG, 0 SHO, 371.1 IP, 158 K, 219 ERA+, 0.97 WHIPRoger Clemens, 1990 – 21-6, 1.93 ERA, 4 CG, 0 SHO, 228.1 IP, 209 K, 211 ERA+, 1.08 WHIP
Dutch Leonard, 1914 – 19-5, 0.96 ERA, 7 CG, 3 SHO, 224.2 IP, 176 K, 282 ERA+, 0.89 WHIP
Lefty Grove, 1936 – 17-12, 2.81 ERA, 6 CG, 2 SHO, 253.1 IP, 130 K, 189 ERA+, 1.19 WHIP
What a great rotation. Leading the way is Pedro Martinez’s
masterpiece 2000 season. It was easily
one of the greatest seasons ever by a starting pitcher and probably the most
dominant season I’ve ever witnessed first hand.
Then we have Cy Young who 30+
wins and his career best ERA+, not to mention that he finished what he started
that year, completing 38 of his 41 starts which is unheard of in this day and
age.
Next, is the Rocket, Roger
Clemens who although won an MVP award in 1986, it was 1990 that he truly
shined. His ERA+ was his best in a Sox
uniform and he logged a quality start a career best 87 percent of the time that
season.
Leonard’s 1914 ERA+ of 282 is 2nd
all time in Red Sox history so it’s easy to see why he’s here. His 0.96 ERA is almost impossible to
imagine. Lefty Grove’s 1936 season was
impressive but even more impressive when you realize he did it at age 36. He led the league in ERA, shutouts, ERA+ and
WHIP that year.
I would put this rotation up
against any all time team and I’d feel pretty comfortable.
Also considered – Lots more Pedro, lots more Cy Young and Roger
Clemens. Luis Tiant in 1972, Babe Ruth
of 1916 and Curt Schilling of 2004.
RELIEF PITCHERS
I’ve picked 3 relievers to go
into battle with. 2006 Jonathan
Papelbon, 2013 Koji Uehara and 1953 Ellis Kinder. Here are their stats:
Papelbon, 2006 – 4-2, 0.92 ERA,
35 S, 68.1 IP, 75 K, 517 ERA+, 0.78 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 5.77 K/BB
Uehara, 2013 – 4-1, 1.09 ERA, 21
S, 74.1 IP, 101 K, 376 ERA+. 0.57 WHIP, 12.2 K/9, 11.22 K/BBKinder, 1953 – 10-6, 1.85 ERA, 27 S, 107 IP, 39 K, 225 ERA+, 1.14 WHIP, 3.3 K/9, 1.03 K/BB
Papelbon’s 2006 season is beyond
ridiculous. His ERA+ of 517 and 0.92 ERA
are unheard of. He struck out 75 against
only 11 walks and allowed only 3 home runs all season.
Last season, Uehara was as
dominant as you can be. His ERA of 1.09
and ERA+ of 376 are both career highs.
His command was almost impossible as he struck out 101 and only walked
7.
Ellis Kinder played when closers
went a little longer as he logged 107 innings pitched. He led the majors in saves, games pitched and
out of his 69 appearances, 35 went more than one inning. You can’t say that about any closers in today’s
baseball world.
Also considered – Bob Stanley in 1982, Bill Campbell in 1977, Daniel
Bard in 2010 and Derek Lowe in 2000.
There is a website called
Baseball Musings (http://baseballmusings.com/)
that has a lineup analysis on it that I used for the making my lineup and how
many runs per game it would produce. Here’s
the analysis:
1. Fred Lynn – 1979
2. Wade Boggs – 1987
3. Ted Williams – 1941
4. Jimmie Foxx – 1938
5. David Ortiz – 2006
6. Rico Petrocelli – 1969
7. Dwight Evans – 1981
8. Carlton Fisk – 1972
9. Dustin Pedroia – 2008
The output would generate 8.143
runs per game, or 1,319 per a 162 game season.
I’m going to go to www.whatifsports.com and put this lineup
in and simulate some games. I hope you
had as much fun reading as I did with my research and putting this together. I’ll have more updates soon.
