Using Bill
James' total win shares for each player in each decade, I put together first,
second and third team all-star teams for each decade. The only subjectivity
involved here is when there's a player who played a significant amount of time
at more than one position or a player who split time in a decade fairly evenly
between two different leagues. In that case I have to decide which position to place certain players at, or
which league to place them in. Other than that, the
teams are entirely objective based solely on total win shares accumulated by
each player in each decade.
Note that Babe Ruth made first team in the teens and 20s
and second team in the 30s, each time at a different position.
C - Deacon White John Clapp Lew
Brown
1B - Cal McVey Joe Start John
Morrill
2B - Jack Burdock Ross Barnes Joe
Gerhardt
3B - Cap Anson Bob Ferguson King
Kelly
SS - George Wright John Peters Ezra
Sutton
LF - Charley Jones Tom York Andy
Leonard
CF - Paul Hines Lip Pike Jack
Remsen
RF - Jim O'Rourke Jack Manning Orator
Shaffer
P - Tommy Bond Terry Larkin Monte
Ward
P - Jim Devlin George Bradley Will
White
1880 - 1889 First
Team Second Team Third Team
C - Buck Ewing Charlie Bennett Jack
Rowe
1B - Roger Connor Dan Brouthers Cap Anson
2B - Hardy Richardson Fred Dunlap Bid McPhee
3B - Ned Williamson Ezra Sutton Arlie
Latham
SS - Jack Glasscock Monte Ward Tom Burns
LF - Harry Stovey Tip
O'Neill George Wood/Abner
Daltrymple (tie)
CF - George Gore Paul Hines Pete
Browning
RF - King Kelly Jim O'Rourke
Chicken Wolf
P - Tim Keefe Pud Galvin Jim
Whitney
P - Old Hoss Radbourne
Jim McCormick Bob Caruthers
P - Mickey Welch Tony "Count" Mullane John
Clarkson
1890 - 1899 First
Team Second Team Third Team
C - Duke Farrell Deacon McGuire Chief
Zimmer 1B - Jake Beckley Dan Brouthers Roger
Connor 2B - Cupid Childs Bid McPhee Bobby
Lowe
3B - George Davis John McGraw Bill
Joyce SS - Bill Dahlen Herman Long
Hughie Jennings LF - Ed Delahanty Jesse Burkett Joe
Kelley CF - Billy Hamilton George Van Haltren Mike
Griffin RF - Hugh Duffy Mike Tiernan
Jimmy Ryan P - Kid Nichols Jack Stivetts
Frank Dwyer P - Cy Young Bill Hutchison Nig
Cuppy P - Amos Rusie Ted Breitenstein Pink
Hawley
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1900 - 1909 First
Team Second Team Third Team
C - Roger Bresnahan Johnny Kling Pat Moran
1B - Frank Chance Fred Tenney Dan McGann
2B - Claude Ritchey Johnny Evers Miller
Huggins 3B - Tommy Leach Harry Steinfeldt Art Devlin
SS - Honus Wagner Bill Dahlen Joe
Tinker LF - Fred Clarke Jimmy Sheckard Jimmy
Slagle CF - Roy Thomas Ginger Beaumont Cy Seymour
RF - Mike Donlin John Titus
George Browne P - Christy Mathewson Three Finger Brown Jack Taylor
P - Joe McGinnity Sam Leever Bob
Ewing P - Vic Willis Deacon Phillippe
Noodles Hahn
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1901 - 1909 First
Team Second Team Third Team
C - Ossee Schreckengost Lou Criger Billy
Sullivan 1B - Harry Davis Piano Legs Hickman John
Anderson 2B - Nap Lajoie Jimmy Williams Danny
Murphy 3B - Bill Bradley Jimmy Collins Wid Conroy
SS - Bobby Wallace George Davis Freddy
Parent LF - Topsy Hartsell Patsy Dougherty George
Stone CF - Sam Crawford Fielder Jones Chick
Stahl RF - Elmer Flick Willie Keeler
Socks Seybold
P - Cy Young Jack Chesbro
Addie Joss P - Rube Waddell Doc White
George Mullin P - Eddie Plank Jack Powell
Bill Dineen
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1910 - 1919 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Chief Meyers Art Wilson Bill
Rariden 1B - Ed Konetchy Jake Daubert Fred
Merkle 2B - Larry Doyle
Johnny Evers Miller Huggins/George Cutshaw (tie)
3B - Heinie Zimmerman Heinie Groh Red Smith
SS - Art Fletcher Honus Wagner Buck
Herzog LF - Zack Wheat Sherry Magee George
Burns CF - Dode Paskert Max Carey Benny
Kauff RF - Gavvy Cravath Wildfire Schulte Chief
Wilson P - Grover Cleveland Alexander Claude Hendrix Rube Marquard
P - Hippo Vaughn Christy Mathewson Lefty Tyler
P - Slim Sallee Babe Adams Dick
Rudolph
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1910 - 1919 First Team Second
Team Third Team
C - Ray Schalk Wally Schang Steve
O'Neill
1B - Stuffy McInnis Chick Gandil Hal
Chase 2B - Eddie Collins Del Pratt Nap Lajoie
3B - Home Run Baker Larry Gardner Eddie Foster
SS - Donie Bush Ray Chapman Buck Weaver
LF - Joe Jackson Duffy Lewis Bobby Veach
CF - Ty Cobb Tris Speaker Burt
Shotton RF - Harry Hooper Sam Crawford Amos Strunk
P - Walter Johnson Smokey Joe Wood Dutch Leonard
P - Ed Cicotte Eddie Plank Ed
Walsh P - Babe Ruth Ray Caldwell Hooks Dauss
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1920 - 1929 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Bob O'Farrell Gabby Hartnett
Bubble Hargrave 1B - George Kelly Jim Bottomley Jack
Fournier 2B - Rogers Hornsby Frankie Frisch George
Grantham 3B - Pie Traynor Andy High
Jimmy Johnston SS - Dave Bancroft Travis Jackson Rabbit Maranville
LF - Zack Wheat Kiki Cuyler
Irish Meusel CF - Ed Roush Max Carey Hack
Wilson RF - Ross Youngs Cy Williams Curt
Walker P - Grover Cleveland Alexander Dolph Luque Jesse
Haines P - Burleigh Grimes Dazzy Vance Bill
Sherdel P - Eppa Rixey Wilbur Cooper Lee
Meadows
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1920 - 1929 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Wally Schang Muddy Ruel Mickey
Cochrane 1B - Joe Judge George Sisler Lou
Gehrig 2B - Eddie Collins Marty McManus Bucky
Harris 3B - Jimmy Dykes Willie Kamm Joe Dugan
SS - Joe Sewell Roger Peckinpaugh Wally
Gerber LF - Babe Ruth Goose Goslin Ken
Williams CF - Tris Speaker Ty Cobb Al
Simmons RF - Harry Heilmann Sam Rice Bob Meusel
P - Urban Shocker Herb Pennock Sad Sam
Jones P - Eddie Rommel Waite Hoyt Jack
Quinn P - Red Faber George Uhle Stan
Coveleski
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1930 - 1939 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Gabby Hartnett Ernie Lombardi Spud Davis/Gus
Mancuso (tie)
1B - Bill Terry Gus Suhr Rip
Collins
2B - Billy Herman Tony Cuccinello Frankie
Frisch 3B - Stan Hack Pepper Martin Pinky
Whitney SS - Arky Vaughan Dick Bartell Woody
English LF - Joe Medwick Chuck Klein Jo-Jo
Moore CF - Wally Berger Lloyd Waner Kiki
Cuyler RF - Mel Ott Paul Waner Babe
Herman P - Carl Hubbell Lon Warneke Charlie
Root P - Dizzy Dean Paul Derringer
Freddie Fitzsimmons P - Larry French Ed Brandt Hal
Schumacher
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1930 - 1939 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Bill Dickey Mickey Cochrane Rick
Ferrell 1B - Lou Gehrig Jimmie Foxx Hank
Greenberg 2B - Charlie Gehringer Buddy Myer Tony Lazzeri
3B - Red Rolfe Harlond Clift
Pinky Higgins SS - Joe Cronin Luke Appling Billy
Rogell LF - Al Simmons Goose Goslin Indian
Bob Johnson CF - Earl Averill Sammy West Joe
DiMaggio RF - Ben Chapman Babe Ruth John Stone
P - Lefty Grove Mel Harder Ted
Lyons P - Red Ruffing Lefty Gomez Bump
Hadley P - Wes Ferrell Tommy Bridges Earl Whitehill
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1940 - 1949 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Walker Cooper Ernie Lombardi Phil Masi
1B - Johnny Mize Phil Cavaretta Frank
McCormick 2B - Eddie Stanky Lonnie Frey Billy
Herman 3B - Bob Elliott Stan Hack
Whitey Kurowski SS - Marty Marion Pee Wee Reese Eddie Miller
LF - Stan Musial Enos Slaughter Augie
Galan CF - Tommy Holmes Johnny Hopp Pete Reiser
RF - Dixie Walker Bill Nicholson Mel Ott
P - Bucky Walters Rip Sewell Johnny
Vander Meer P - Mort Cooper Claude Passeau Hank Borowy
P - Harry Brecheen Kirby Higbe Jim
Tobin
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1940 - 1949 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Frankie Hayes Buddy Rosar Bill
Dickey 1B - Rudy York George McQuinn Mickey
Vernon 2B - Bobby Doerr Joe Gordon Snuffy
Stirnweiss 3B - Ken Keltner Johnny Pesky George
Kell SS - Lou Boudreau Luke Appling Vern
Stephens LF - Ted Williams Charlie Keller Jeff
Heath CF - Joe DiMaggio Stan Spence Dom
DiMaggio RF - Roy Cullenbine Tommy Henrich Wally Moses
P - Hal Newhouser Dutch Leonard Tex
Hughson P - Dizzy Trout Tiny Bonham Spud
Chandler P - Bob Feller Bobo Newsom Nels
Potter
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1950 - 1959 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Roy Campanella Del Crandall Smokey
Burgess
1B - Gil Hodges Ted Kluszewski Joe
Adcock
2B - Red Schoendienst Jackie Robinson Junior
Gilliam 3B - Eddie Mathews Puddin' Head Jones Hank Thompson
SS - Alvin Dark Ernie Banks
Johnny Logan LF - Stan Musial Del Ennis Ralph Kiner/Hank
Sauer (tie) CF - Duke Snider Richie Ashburn Willie
Mays RF - Hank Aaron Gus Bell Carl
Furillo P - Warren Spahn Bob Rush Lew
Burdette P - Robin Roberts Johnny Antonelli Murray
Dickson P - Don Newcombe Sal Maglie Curt Simmons/Harvey
Haddix (tie)
RP - Hoyt Wilhelm Clem Labine Roy Face
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1950 - 1959 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Yogi Berra Sherm Lollar Jim Hegan
1B - Mickey Vernon Earl Torgeson Ferris
Fain 2B - Nellie Fox Bobby Avila Pete
Runnels 3B - Eddie Yost Al Rosen
Billy Goodman SS - Gil McDougald Ray Boone Harvey
Kuenn LF - Minnie Minoso Ted Williams Gene Woodling
CF - Mickey Mantle Larry Doby Irv
Noren RF - Jackie Jensen Vic Wertz Al
Kaline P - Early Wynn Mike Garcia Bobby
Shantz P - Billy Pierce Whitey Ford
Frank Sullivan P - Bob Lemon Ned Garver
Virgil Trucks RP - Ellis Kinder Gerry Staley
Allie Reynolds
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1960 - 1969 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Joe Torre Tom Haller John Roseboro
1B - Willie McCovey Orlando Cepada Bill White
2B - Pete Rose Bill Mazeroski Tony
Taylor 3B - Ron Santo Eddie Mathews Richie
Allen SS - Maury Wills Dick Groat Leo
Cardenas LF - Frank Robinson Billy Williams Lou
Brock CF - Willie Mays Vada Pinson Curt
Flood RF - Hank Aaron Roberto Clemente Johnny Callison
P - Juan Marichal Sandy Koufax Claude
Osteen P - Bob Gibson Larry Jackson Chris
Short P - Don Drysdale Jim Maloney Gaylord
Perry
RP - Ron Perranoski Lindy McDaniel Roy Face
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1960 - 1969 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Bill Freehan Elston Howard Earl Battey
1B - Harmon Killebrew Norm Cash Boog
Powell 2B - Dick McAuliffe Jerry Lumpe Bobby
Richardson 3B - Brooks Robinson Clete Boyer Pete
Ward SS - Jim Fregosi Luis Aparicio Ron
Hansen LF - Carl Yastrzemski Frank Howard Rocky Colavito
CF - Mickey Mantle Tom Tresh Jimmie
Hall RF - Al Kaline Bob Allison
Roger Maris P - Jim Bunning Whitey Ford Camilo Pascual
P - Jim Kaat Milt Pappas
Jim Perry P - Dean Chance Earl Wilson Sam
McDowell
RP - Hoyt Wilhelm Stu Miller Dick Hall
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1970 - 1979 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Johnny Bench Ted Simmons Manny Sanguillen
1B - Willie Stargell Tony Perez Bob
Watson 2B - Joe Morgan Davey Lopes Dave Cash
3B - Mike Schmidt Darrell Evans Ron Cey
SS - Dave Concepcion Chris Speier Larry Bowa
LF - Pete Rose Lou Brock Greg Luzinski
CF - Cesar Cedeno Al Oliver Rick
Monday RF - Bobby Bonds Reggie Smith Dave Parker
P - Tom Seaver Andy Messersmith Tommy John
P - Phil Niekro Jerry Koosman Burt
Hooton P - Steve Carlton Rick Reuschel Dave
Roberts P - Don Sutton Rick Wise Steve
Rogers RP - Mike Marshall Tug McGraw Gene Garber
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1970 - 1979 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Thurman Munson Gene Tenace Carlton Fisk
1B - John Mayberry George Scott Chris
Chambliss 2B - Rod Carew Bobby Grich Jorge
Orta 3B - Graig Nettles Sal Bando George
Brett SS - Toby Harrah Bert Campaneris Fred Patek
LF - Carl Yastrzemski Roy White Joe Rudi
CF - Amos Otis Bobby Murcer Mickey
Rivers RF - Reggie Jackson Ken Singleton Jeff
Burroughs DH - Rusty Staub Don Baylor Hal
McRae P - Jim Palmer Nolan Ryan Wilbur
Wood P - Gaylord Perry Luis Tiant
Mickey Lolich P - Ferguson Jenkins Catfish Hunter Jim Kaat
P - Bert Blyleven Vida Blue Bill
Lee RP - Rollie Fingers Sparky Lyle John
Hiller
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1980 - 1989 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Gary Carter Terry Kennedy Mike Scioscia
1B - Keith Hernandez Darrell Evans Leon
Durham 2B - Ryne Sandberg Steve Sax Tommie
Herr 3B - Mike Schmidt Tim Wallach Ken Oberkfell
SS - Ozzie Smith Garry Templeton Dickie
Thon
LF - Tim Raines Pedro Guerrero Jose
Cruz CF - Dale Murphy Andre Dawson Brett
Butler RF - Jack Clark Tony Gwynn Darryl
Strawberry P - Fernando Valenzuela John Tudor Mario Soto
P - Bob Welch Rick Sutcliffe
Dwight Gooden P - Nolan Ryan Rick Rhoden Rick
Reuschel P - Orel Hershiser Steve Carlton Jerry
Reuss RP - Lee Smith Jeff Reardon Greg
Minton
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1980 - 1989 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Lance Parrish Carlton Fisk Ernie Whitt
1B - Eddie Murray Don Mattingly Kent Hrbek
2B - Lou Whitaker Willie Randolph Frank White
3B - Wade Boggs George Brett Carney Lansford
SS - Robin Yount Alan Trammell Cal Ripken Jr.
LF - Rickey Henderson Brian Downing Jim Rice
CF - Willie Wilson Chet Lemon Lloyd Moseby
RF - Dwight Evans Dave Winfield Kirk Gibson
DH - Paul Molitor Harold Baines Reggie Jackson
P - Dave Stieb Frank Viola Floyd
Bannister P - Jack Morris Doyle Alexander Mike Witt
P - Bert Blyleven Dennis Eckersley Jim Clancy
P - Charlie Hough Roger Clemens Bret Saberhagen
RP - Dan Quisenberry Dave Righetti Bob Stanley
NATIONAL LEAGUE 1990 - 1999 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Mike Piazza Darren Daulton Benito Santiago
1B - Jeff Bagwell Fred McGriff Mark Grace
2B - Craig Biggio Ryne Sandberg Delino DeShields
3B - Matt Williams Ken Caminitti Bobby Bonilla
SS - Barry Larkin Jay Bell Tony
Fernandez
LF - Barry Bonds Gary Sheffield Ron Gant
CF - Ray Lankford Steve Finley Marquis
Grissom
RF - Tony Gwynn Larry Walker Sammy Sosa
P - Greg Maddux Pedro Martinez Dennis Martinez
P - Tom Glavine Curt Schilling Todd Stottlemyre
P - Kevin Brown Andy Benes Ramon Martinez
P - John Smoltz Ken Hill Jeff Fassero
RP - Trevor Hoffman Doug Jones Randy Myers
AMERICAN LEAGUE 1990 - 1999 First Team
Second Team Third Team
C - Ivan Rodriguez Mickey Tettleton Terry Steinbach
1B - Rafael Palmeiro Mark McGwire John Olerud
2B - Roberto Alomar Chuck Knoblauch Carlos Baerga
3B - Robin Ventura Travis Fryman Wade Boggs
SS - Cal Ripken Jr. Omar Vizquel Jon Valentin
LF - Albert Belle Rickey Henderson David Justice
CF - Ken Griffey Jr. Bernie Williams Brady Anderson
RF - Paul O'Neill Juan Gonzalez Jose Canseco
DH - Frank Thomas Edgar Martinez Paul Molitor
P - Roger Clemens Kevin Appier Jack McDowell
P - Randy Johnson Mike Mussina Kevin Tapani
P - David Cone Scott Erickson Jimmy Key
P - Chuck Finley David Wells Charles Nagy
RP - John Wetteland Rick Aguilera Jeff Montgomery
NATIONAL LEAGUE 2000 - 2009 First Team Second Team
Third Team
C - Jason
Kendall Paul Lo Duca Mike Piazza
1B - Albert
Pujols Todd Helton Derrek Lee
2B - Jeff
Kent Luis Castillo Placido
Polanco
3B -
Chipper Jones Scott Rolen Aramis
Ramirez
SS - Jimmy
Rollins Rafael Furcal Orlando Cabrera
LF - Barry
Bonds Brian Giles Alfonso
Soriano
CF - Carlos
Beltran Jim Edmonds Andruw Jones
RF - Lance Berkman Bobby Abreu Gary Sheffield
P - Randy
Johnson Curt Schilling Brandon Webb
P - Roy Oswalt Derek Lowe Carlos Zambrano
P - Javier
Vazquez Greg Maddux Jake Peavy
RP - Billy
Wagner John Smoltz Trevor Hoffman
AMERICAN LEAGUE 2000 - 2009 First Team Second Team
Third Team
C - Jorge
Posada Ivan Rodriguez Joe Mauer
1B - Carlos
Delgado Jim Thome Paul Konerko
2B - Brian
Roberts Orlando Hudson Adam Kennedy
3B - Alex
Rodriguez Mike Lowell Eric Chavez
SS - Derek
Jeter Miguel Tejada Michael Young
LF - Manny
Ramirez Carlos Lee Garret Anderson
CF - Johnny
Damon Mike Cameron Randy Winn
RF - Ichiro
Suzuki Vlad Guererro Magglio Ordonez
DH - Jason Giambi David Ortiz Frank Thomas
P - Roy Halladay Tim Hudson Pedro
Martinez
P - Johan
Santana C.C. Sabathia Andy Pettitte
P - Mark Buehrle Barry Zito Mike Mussina
RP -
Mariano Rivera Joe Nathan Francisco
Rodriguez
CAREER LEADERS NOT ON ANY DECADE TEAM
C - Darrell Porter
1B - Will Clark
2B - Kid Gleason
3B - Buddy Bell
SS - Julio Franco
LF - Heinie Manush
CF - Willie Davis
RF - Jim Wynn
DH - Chili Davis
P - Dave Foutz
P - Charlie Buffinton
P - Clark Griffith
P - Adonis Terry
RP - Goose Gossage
Explanation of Win Shares Win
shares is the name of the metric Bill James
describes in his 2002 book
Win Shares. It considers statistics
for baseball players, in the context of their team and in a sabermetric
way, and assigns a single number to each player for his contributions for
the year. All pitching, hitting and defensive contributions by the player
are taken into account. Statistics are adjusted for park, league and era.
A win share represents one-third of a team win, by
definition. If a team wins 80 games in a season, then its players will share
240 win shares. The formula for calculating win shares is complicated; it
takes up pages 16–100 in the book. The general approach is to take the
team's win shares (i.e., 3 times its number of wins), then divide them
between offense and defense.
On a team with equal offensive and defensive prowess,
hitters receive 48% of the win shares and those win shares are allocated
among the hitters based on runs created. An estimation is then made to
decide what amount of the defensive credit goes to pitchers and what amount
goes to fielders. Pitching contributions typically receive 35% (or 36%) of
the win shares, defensive contributions receive 17% (or 16%) of the win
shares. The pitching contributions are allocated among the pitchers based on
runs prevented, the pitchers' analogue to runs created. Fielding
contributions are allocated among the fielders based on a number of
assumptions and a selection of traditional defensive statistics.
In Major League Baseball, based on a 162-game schedule, a
typical All-Star might amass 20 win shares in a season. More than 30 win
shares (i.e. the player is directly responsible for 10 wins by his team) is
indicative of MVP-level performance, and 40+ win shares represents an
exceptional, historic season. For pitchers, Win Shares levels are typically
lower—in fact, they often come close to mirroring actual wins.
Win shares differs from other sabermetric player rating
metrics such as Total player rating and VORP in that it is based on total
team wins, not runs above average.
