We’re doing 3 teams for each league, with players color coded by their Tier Level (S Tier, A Tier, B Tier, C Tier), with selections for each position, 3 starters, 2 bullpen arms, and a closer.
Just a glance shows the differences in the leagues: you want offense, look at the AL, you want pitching, the NL. That’s a generality, and like all such, not fully accurate: the NL actually has more S Tier bats, but the AL is overall more top heavy offensively.
San Francisco, predictably, leads the way with 12 selections while the rivalry between the Black Yankees and Cleveland continues, with the Bill James Division heavyweights having 8 each.
#AL
| Pos | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Ed Bailey (DET/CLE) | Mickey Cochrane (SFS) | Curt Blefary (BAL) |
| 1B | Jim Thome (MCG) | Lance Berkman (CLE) | Jack Clark (SFS) |
| 2B | Eddie Collins (CAG) | Rogers Hornsby (NYY) | Miller Huggins (BAL) |
| SS | Arky Vaughan (CLE) | Cal Ripken, Jr. (BAL) | Dick Lundy (SFS) |
| 3B | Evan Longoria (CLE) | Mike Schmidt (NYY) | Jimmie Foxx (SFS) |
| LF | Babe Ruth (NYY) | Kal Daniels (LAA) | Frank Robinson (BAL) |
| CF | Turkey Stearnes (SFS) | Tris Speaker (CLE) | Mike Trout (LAA) |
| RF | Mickey Mantle (NYY) | Joe Jackson (CAG) | Yasiel Puig (MCG) |
| DH | Ty Cobb (DET) | Lou Gehrig (NYY) | Reggie Jackson (SFS) |
| SP | Lefty Grove (SFS) José Méndez (MCG) Jim Whitney (BBB/MCG) | Bump Hadley (SFS) Andy Pettitte (NYY) Eddie Plank (SFS) | Ed Walsh (CAG) Brett Anderson (LAA) Ron Guidry (NYY) |
| RP | Ken Howell (SFS) Andrew Miller (MEM) | Ross Reynolds (LAA) Al Smith (CLE) | Firpo Marberry (CLE) Ron Reed (CLE) |
| CL | Rod Beck (SFS) | Goose Gossage (NYY) | Jonathan Papelbon (MEM/MCG) |
I do wonder if this points to how fragile Cleveland is. The Spiders are one of only 2 teams to make the playoffs in both WBL seasons, but if you were to pick names likely to fade off this list, Arky Vaughan, Evan Longoria, Al Smith, and Firpo Marberry would jump out.
It also shows just how top heavy Los Angeles is: 2 S-Tier players (plus Brett Anderson and Ross Reynolds) with nothing to show for it. At the other end, there’s Detroit–the other team to make the playoffs each year–with only a single player (the incomparable Ty Cobb) listed, further reinforcing the Wolverines as having done it with a true team effort (although this was also quite close: Terry Adams, Al Kaline, and Hank Greenberg were all in contention for 3rd Team honors).
And the less said about Memphis, the better.
#NL
| Pos | First Team | Second Team | Third Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Josh Gibson (HOM) | Gary Carter (OTT) | Mike Piazza (BRK) |
| 1B | Paul Konerko (CAG/BBB) | Will Clark (NYG) | Jeff Bagwell (HOU) |
| 2B | Roberto Alomar (OTT) | Joe Morgan (IND) | Ryne Sandberg (HOD) |
| SS | Ernie Banks (HOD) | Carlos Correa (HOU) | Alex Rodríguez (OTT) |
| 3B | Ron Cey (BRK) | Albert Pujols (KCM) | Scott Rolen (PHI) |
| LF | Jim Wynn (HOU) | Ryan Braun (BBB) | Rick Reichardt (HOM) |
| CF | Oscar Charleston (IND) | Willie Mays (NYG) | Charles Rogan (PHI) |
| RF | Aaron Judge (PHI) | Larry Walker (OTT) | Tony Gwynn (HOU) |
| DH | Willie Stargell (HOM) | Benny Kauff (NYG) | Rick Monday (OTT) |
| SP | Luis Padrón (IND) Toad Ramsey (HOU) A. Rube Foster (KCM) | Smokey Joe Williams (BRK) Smokey Joe Wood (KCM) Fernando Valenzuela (BRK) | Roger Clemens (HOU) Hardie Henderson (PHI) Orel Hershiser (BRK) |
| RP | Lee Smith (HOD/KCM) Eddie Guardado (KCM) | Robb Nen (NYG/HOM) Terry Forster (BRK) | Andrew Chafin (HOU) Fred Cambria (PHI) |
| CL | Eric Gagné (BRK) | Josh Lindblom (HOM) | Bob Howry (PHI) |
Brooklyn and Kansas City’s pitching is so strong. And imagine just how bad Ottawa’s pitching had to be, given their offensive representation.
Indianapolis has 3 S Tier players, giving them perhaps the most dominant nucleus in the league to build around. Kansas City has 4 S Tier players, but 2 of them are relievers, so most GM’s would prefer the ABC’s group.
And there are some league-wide deficiencies, especially at 1B and LF. Jim Wynn is a nice player, but the best in the league?
Both of Birmingham’s entrants were brought over in trade … but they also lost Jim Whtiney in those deals.
#Team by Team
Portland had nobody–nobody–who was deemed top 3 in the AL at their position. Ouch.
Baltimore. 4: Curt Blefary, Miller Huggins, Cal Ripken, Jr, Frank Robinson.
Birmingham, 2: Ryan Braun, Paul Konerko.
Brooklyn. 7: Ron Cey, Terry Forster, Eric Gagne, Orel Hershiser, Mike Piazza, Fernando Valenzuela, Smokey Joe Williams
Chicago. 3: Eddie Collins, Joe Jackson, Ed Walsh.
Cleveland. 8: Ed Bailey, Lance Berkman, Evan Longoria, Firpo Marberry, Ron Reed, Al Smith, Tris Speaker, Arky Vaughan.
Detroit. 1: Ty Cobb.
Homestead. 5: Josh Gibson, Josh Lindblom, Robb Nen, Rick Reichardt , Willie Stargell.
Houston. 7: Jeff Bagwell, Andrew Chafin, Roger Clemens, Carlos Correa, Tony Gwynn, Toad Ramsey, Jim Wynn.
Indianapolis. 3: Oscar Charleston, Joe Morgan, Luis Padrón.
Kansas City. 5: A. Rube Foster, Eddie Guardado, Albert Pujols, Lee Smith, Smokey Joe Wood.
Los Angeles. 4: Brett Anderson, Kal Daniels, Ross Reynolds, Mike Trout.
Memphis. 1: Andrew Miller.
Miami. 5: José Méndez, Jonathan Papelbon, Yasiel Puig, Jim Thome, Jim Whitney.
New York Black Yankees. 8: Lou Gehrig, Goose Gossage, Ron Guidry, Rogers Hornsby, Mickey Mantle, Andy Pettitte, Babe Ruth, Mike Schmidt.
New York Gothams. 3: Will Clark, Benny Kauff , Willie Mays.
Ottawa. 5: Roberto Alomar , Gary Carter, Rick Monday, Alex Rodríguez, Larry Walker.
Philadelphia. 7: Fred Cambria, Hardie Henderson, Bob Howry, Aaron Judge, Charles Rogan, Scott Rolen.
Portland. 0.
San Francisco. 12: Rod Beck, Jack Clark, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove, Bump Hadley, Ken Howell, Reggie Jackson, Dick Lundy, Eddie Plank, Turkey Stearnes.
Wandering House of David. 2: Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg.