Understanding Sabermetrics Read Online Free PDF

only consider the players’ bottom-line career totals. However, it is important to put these numbers into proper context, historical and otherwise, when ranking the great players, past and present. This issue will be addressed in the chapter Seventh-Inning Stretch: Non-Sabermetrical Factors .
    There is a certain amount of subjectivity here, especially with regard to the selection of “peak” years. In the two figures below, we suggest methodologies to determine both peak and career values.

     

     
    Figure 4.1. Determining “peak” value
     

     
    Figure 4.2. Determining “career” value
     

    A player like Lou Gehrig, for instance, would have an extremely high peak value. In fact, over a ten year period, from 1927 through 1936, Gehrig’s production is nearly unrivaled. Due to his premature retirement, his career value is perhaps not as dominant, but it would be difficult to choose any other first baseman in history with greater career statistics.
    Another argument for comparing peak versus career values has to do with the pinnacle of a player’s career, gaining entrance into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Are there certain numbers which automatically qualify a player for the Hall? In the 1980s, if a player ended his career with 500 home runs or 3000 base hits or 300 pitching victories, most folks would say he was a lock for Cooperstown. The career totals for ballplayers would almost guarantee enough votes. Is this true today? Or, similarly, if a player has a fantastic peak season, relative to other players, is that enough to warrant a plaque in Cooperstown? We offer a few examples.
    Let’s consider some offensive examples first. Roger Maris will always be known as the player who broke Babe Ruth’s single-season mark for total home runs. Of course, every argument about the 1961 season includes the notion that Maris’ Yankees played eight more games (162) than Ruth’s Yankees (154). Let’s contrast Roger Maris’ peak and career totals. In 1961, Roger played in 161 games. In 590 at-bats, he led the American League in runs (with 132), in home runs (with 61) and in runs batted in (with 142). His batting average was .269, his on-base percentage was .372, and his slugging percentage was .620. Does this qualify for a peak season? Roger was coming off of a good season in 1960, where he led the league in slugging (with .581) and RBI (with 112). He was named an outfielder on the Sporting News Major League All-Star Team in 1960, won a Gold Glove as right fielder that year, and won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. He also hit 39 home runs, but that did not lead the league.
    In 1961, however, his offensive numbers improved. He again won the MVP award for the American League, was named to the Sporting News AL All-Star Team, and he was named Major League Player of the Year by the Sporting News . His runs scored, hits, home runs, RBI, walks, hit-by-pitch, sacrifice flies, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage were all career highs. Never before, and never again, would his offensive statistics measure up to those of 1961. We could argue that his peak season was in 1961.
    How did that season compare to other sluggers in the American League? We don’t need to go much further than Roger’s own Yankees. Most fans know that Maris was battling Mickey Mantle all season for the home run crown. In 1961, Mantle played in 153 games (eight fewer than Maris). The Mick also scored 132 runs, but he had 163 hits, compared to Rajah’s 159. Mantle hit 54 homers and knocked in 128 runs, but he had 126 walks to lead the league, had 12 stolen bases (to Maris’ zero) and led the AL in slugging with a .687 mark. Finally, Mantle batted .317, second to teammate Elston Howard’s .348. Mantle also hit more home runs in 1960 than Maris (40).
    Recall that some of the questions that we strive to answer are: How dominant was the player in his era during these peak years? And was anyone else approximately as dominant in the same or