Celebration of White Sox Excellence - MLB Season Leaders

[South Side Hit Men]

While trying to find a search function for win and series streaks, I came across team position performance leaders by bWAR. I thought it would be fun on this off day when we are basking in the sun of a White Sox victory to celebrate the times the Chicago White Sox lead the league either at a position, unit or entire team. This metric celebrates star players staying on the field and also quality backups.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/team_compare.cgi?request=1&year=2023&lg=MLB&stat=WAR

Criteria for top individual listed: All Hitting Categories (Plate Appearances at position); Innings Pitched (All Pitchers), Starts (Starting Pitchers) or Relief Appearances (Relief Pitchers). and Team bWAR leader (Team, All Position Players, Entire Outfield).

Chicago White Sox Individual Season Leaders:

1. (4) 2B 2B 2B T/2B Eddie Collins; 2B 2B 2B 2B Nellie Fox; P P P RP Wilbur Wood
2. (3) LH H T/H/LF Joe Jackson; P/SP P SP Thornton Lee
3. (2) T T/P/SP Eddie Cicotte; SS SS George Davis; C C Carlton Fisk; 3B 3B Willie Kamm; DH DH Frank Thomas

Chicago White Sox Team (Team bWAR leader listed)

• 1919 41.7 (Eddie Cicotte 9.6)
• 1917 50.9 (Eddie Cicotte 11.8)
• 1916 43.8 (Joe Jackson 7.1)
• 1915 53.1 (Eddie Collins 9.4)

Pitching Staff - All Pitchers

• 2010 24.6 (John Danks 213.0 IP 5.2)
• 2005 26.0 (Mark Buehrle 236.7 IP 4.8)
• 1975 24.2 (Jim Kaat 303.7 IP 7.7)
• 1973 26.5 (Wilbur Wood 359.3 IP 7.6)
• 1972 23.8 (Wilbur Wood 376.7 IP 10.7)
• 1971 26.1 (Wilbur Wood 334.0 IP 11.7)
• 1968 22.9 (Joe Horlen 223.7 IP 4.0)
• 1963 22.1 (Gary Peters 243.0 IP 5.9)
• 1952 21.5 (Billy Pierce 255.3 IP 7.3)
• 1941 22.6 (Thornton Lee 300.3 IP 8.6)
• 1939 22.0 (Thornton Lee 235.0 IP 4.1)
• 1917 26.6 (Eddie Cicotte 346.7 IP 11.8)
• 1910 22.7 (Ed Walsh 369.7 IP 11.1)

Pitching Staff - Starting Pitchers

• 2006 16.5 (Freddy Garcia 33 Starts 3.9)
• 1941 20.8 (Thornton Lee 34 Starts 8.6)
• 1938 19.1 (Thornton Lee 30 Starts 5.5)
• 1917 23.4 (Eddie Cicotte 35 Starts 11.8)
• 1913 23.3 (Jim Scott 38 Starts 7.6)

Pitching Staff - Relief Pitchers

• 1975 12.0 (Rich Gossage 62 Relief Appearances 8.2)
• 1968 10.9 (Wilbur Wood 86 Relief Appearances 5.4)
• 1959 5.3 (Gerry Staley 67 Relief Appearances 2.5)
• 1917 4.0 (Dave Danforth 41 Relief Appearances 3.3)
• 1916 3.3 (Reb Russell 31 Relief Appearances 4.0)
• 1915 3.5 (Red Faber 18 Relief Appearances 4.3)
• 1907 1.4 (Doc White 11 Relief Appearances 4.3)

Team Position Players

• 1919 27.6 (Joe Jackson 5.8)
• 1916 28.4 (Joe Jackson 7.1)

Team Outfield

• 1904 11.7 (Danny Green 4.2)

Catchers

• 1990 5.7 (Carlton Fisk 457 PA 4.9)
• 1989 4.0 (Carlton Fisk 357 PA 3.3)
• 1958 4.5 (Sherm Lollar 476 PA 3.7)
• 1917 3.3 (Ray Schalk 328 PA 3.7)
• 1904 3.4 (Billy Sullivan 396 PA 2.1)

First Basemen

• 1972 8.3 (Dick Allen 593 PA 8.6)
• 1914 4.9 (Jack Fournier 331 PA 3.8)

Second Basemen

• 1965 6.2 (Don Buford 579 PA 6.9)
• 1960 4.1 (Nellie Fox 683 PA 4.1)
• 1959 6.1 (Nellie Fox 717 PA 6.1)
• 1957 8.0 (Nellie Fox 718 PA 7.9)
• 1955 5.1 (Nellie Fox 709 PA 5.1)
• 1918 3.4 (Eddie Collins 312 PA 3.1)
• 1917 5.0 (Eddie Collins 462 PA 5.1)
• 1916 7.0 (Eddie Collins 532 PA 7.0)
• 1915 9.3 (Eddie Collins 543 PA 9.4)

Third Basemen

• 1926 5.2 (Willie Kamm 556 PA 5.1)
• 1923 4.7 (Willie Kamm 587 PA 4.6)

Shortstops

• 1964 7.7 (Ron Hansen 665 PA 7.7)
• 1904 7.2 (George Davis 627 PA 7.2)
• 1902 5.8 (George Davis 556 PA 5.9)

Leftfielders

• 1920 7.2 (Joe Jackson 410 PA 7.5)
• 1916 6.3 (Joe Jackson 439 PA 7.1)

Centerfielders

• 1977 5.8 (Chet Lemon 627 PA 5.9)
• 1926 6.3 (Johnny Mostil 677 PA 6.4)
• 1908 5.0 (Fielder Jones 656 4.7)

Designated Hitters

• 2003 3.6 (Frank Thomas 545 PA 4.3)
• 1994 3.5 (Julio Franco 447 PA 3.0)
• 1991 5.2 (Frank Thomas 460 PA 7.0)
• 1989 3.3 (Harold Baines 301 PA 2.6)
• 1981 2.7 (Greg Luzinski 440 PA 2.7)

Pinch Hitters

• 1996 1.7 (Lyle Mouton 19 PA 1.1)
• 1995 1.6 (Warren Newson 21 PA 0.6)
• 1991 2.0 (Matt Merullo 45 PA -0.1)
• 1965 2.0 (Smoky Burgess 77 PA 0.8)
• 1957 1.9 (Ron Northey 39 PA  -)

Edited May 1, 2023 by South Side Hit Men

[South Side Hit Men]

The Sox are known for their shortstops, and I was surprised the White Sox never led the league at SS bWAR during any of Luke Appling and Luis Aparicio seasons.

Not as surprised the Chicago White Sox as a team never had the best bWAR at RF, and Joe Jackson is the lone representative in LF. 

Wilbur Wood does not get enough credit in the media and other avenues for his excellence on behalf of the White Sox over his career, including the fourth highest bWAR in White Sox history. Sox pitchers behind him include Cicotte, Pierce, Buehrle and Sale.

[chitownsportsfan]

I was curious if anybody had bested MB's 236.7 IP in a season since 2005. Turns out he didn't even lead the league that year. It was Livan Hernandez with 246.3

Since then, it's been bested half a dozen times or so. Although I do not think we'll see a 240IP season any time soon. The last one was in 2014 with David Price clocking 248. 

[FloydBannister1983]

3 hours ago, South Side Hit Men said:

While trying to find a search function for win and series streaks, I came across team position performance leaders by bWAR. I thought it would be fun on this off day when we are basking in the sun of a White Sox victory to celebrate the times the Chicago White Sox lead the league either at a position, unit or entire team. This metric celebrates star players staying on the field and also quality backups.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/team_compare.cgi?request=1&year=2023&lg=MLB&stat=WAR

Criteria for top individual listed: All Hitting Categories (Plate Appearances at position); Innings Pitched (All Pitchers), Starts (Starting Pitchers) or Relief Appearances (Relief Pitchers). and Team bWAR leader (Team, All Position Players, Entire Outfield).

Chicago White Sox Individual Season Leaders:

1. (4) 2B 2B 2B T/2B Eddie Collins; 2B 2B 2B 2B Nellie Fox; P P P RP Wilbur Wood
2. (3) LH H T/H/LF Joe Jackson; P/SP P SP Thornton Lee
3. (2) T T/P/SP Eddie Cicotte; SS SS George Davis; C C Carlton Fisk; 3B 3B Willie Kamm; DH DH Frank Thomas

Chicago White Sox Team (Team bWAR leader listed)

• 1919 41.7 (Eddie Cicotte 9.6)
• 1917 50.9 (Eddie Cicotte 11.8)
• 1916 43.8 (Joe Jackson 7.1)
• 1915 53.1 (Eddie Collins 9.4)

Pitching Staff - All Pitchers

• 2010 24.6 (John Danks 213.0 IP 5.2)
• 2005 26.0 (Mark Buehrle 236.7 IP 4.8)
• 1975 24.2 (Jim Kaat 303.7 IP 7.7)
• 1973 26.5 (Wilbur Wood 359.3 IP 7.6)
• 1972 23.8 (Wilbur Wood 376.7 IP 10.7)
• 1971 26.1 (Wilbur Wood 334.0 IP 11.7)
• 1968 22.9 (Joe Horlen 223.7 IP 4.0)
• 1963 22.1 (Gary Peters 243.0 IP 5.9)
• 1952 21.5 (Billy Pierce 255.3 IP 7.3)
• 1941 22.6 (Thornton Lee 300.3 IP 8.6)
• 1939 22.0 (Thornton Lee 235.0 IP 4.1)
• 1917 26.6 (Eddie Cicotte 346.7 IP 11.8)
• 1910 22.7 (Ed Walsh 369.7 IP 11.1)

Pitching Staff - Starting Pitchers

• 2006 16.5 (Freddy Garcia 33 Starts 3.9)
• 1941 20.8 (Thornton Lee 34 Starts 8.6)
• 1938 19.1 (Thornton Lee 30 Starts 5.5)
• 1917 23.4 (Eddie Cicotte 35 Starts 11.8)
• 1913 23.3 (Jim Scott 38 Starts 7.6)

Pitching Staff - Relief Pitchers

• 1975 12.0 (Rich Gossage 62 Relief Appearances 8.2)
• 1968 10.9 (Wilbur Wood 86 Relief Appearances 5.4)
• 1959 5.3 (Gerry Staley 67 Relief Appearances 2.5)
• 1917 4.0 (Dave Danforth 41 Relief Appearances 3.3)
• 1916 3.3 (Reb Russell 31 Relief Appearances 4.0)
• 1915 3.5 (Red Faber 18 Relief Appearances 4.3)
• 1907 1.4 (Doc White 11 Relief Appearances 4.3)

Team Position Players

• 1919 27.6 (Joe Jackson 5.8)
• 1916 28.4 (Joe Jackson 7.1)

Team Outfield

• 1904 11.7 (Danny Green 4.2)

Catchers

• 1990 5.7 (Carlton Fisk 457 PA 4.9)
• 1989 4.0 (Carlton Fisk 357 PA 3.3)
• 1958 4.5 (Sherm Lollar 476 PA 3.7)
• 1917 3.3 (Ray Schalk 328 PA 3.7)
• 1904 3.4 (Billy Sullivan 396 PA 2.1)

First Basemen

• 1972 8.3 (Dick Allen 593 PA 8.6)
• 1914 4.9 (Jack Fournier 331 PA 3.8)

Second Basemen

• 1965 6.2 (Don Buford 579 PA 6.9)
• 1960 4.1 (Nellie Fox 683 PA 4.1)
• 1959 6.1 (Nellie Fox 717 PA 6.1)
• 1957 8.0 (Nellie Fox 718 PA 7.9)
• 1955 5.1 (Nellie Fox 709 PA 5.1)
• 1918 3.4 (Eddie Collins 312 PA 3.1)
• 1917 5.0 (Eddie Collins 462 PA 5.1)
• 1916 7.0 (Eddie Collins 532 PA 7.0)
• 1915 9.3 (Eddie Collins 543 PA 9.4)

Third Basemen

• 1926 5.2 (Willie Kamm 556 PA 5.1)
• 1923 4.7 (Willie Kamm 587 PA 4.6)

Shortstops

• 1964 7.7 (Ron Hansen 665 PA 7.7)
• 1904 7.2 (George Davis 627 PA 7.2)
• 1902 5.8 (George Davis 556 PA 5.9)

Leftfielders

• 1920 7.2 (Joe Jackson 410 PA 7.5)
• 1916 6.3 (Joe Jackson 439 PA 7.1)

Centerfielders

• 1977 5.8 (Chet Lemon 627 PA 5.9)
• 1926 6.3 (Johnny Mostil 677 PA 6.4)
• 1908 5.0 (Fielder Jones 656 4.7)

Designated Hitters

• 2003 3.6 (Frank Thomas 545 PA 4.3)
• 1994 3.5 (Julio Franco 447 PA 3.0)
• 1991 5.2 (Frank Thomas 460 PA 7.0)
• 1989 3.3 (Harold Baines 301 PA 2.6)
• 1981 2.7 (Greg Luzinski 440 PA 2.7)

Pinch Hitters

• 1996 1.7 (Lyle Mouton 19 PA 1.1)
• 1995 1.6 (Warren Newson 21 PA 0.6)
• 1991 2.0 (Matt Merullo 45 PA -0.1)
• 1965 2.0 (Smoky Burgess 77 PA 0.8)
• 1957 1.9 (Ron Northey 39 PA  -)

Wasn’t Thomas still at 1B in 1991?

[Lip Man 1]

31 minutes ago, FloydBannister1983 said:

Wasn’t Thomas still at 1B in 1991?

Yes

[Buehrle>Wood]

1B vs SS has become an interesting debate but still probably SS.

[4uckOffCommieScum]

Top 20 pitching seasons by WAR, post deadball era:

W. Wood 1971 11.7

W. Wood 1972 10.4

T. Lee 1941 8.6

T. Thomas 1927 8.3

Gossage 1975 8.2

Kaat 1975 7.7

W. Wood 1973 7.6

T. Lyons 1927 7.3

Pierce 1952 7.3

Loaiza 2003 7.2

Kaat 1973 7.1

Pierce 1955 7.1

B. Burns 1980 7.1

J. Rigney 1940 6.7

T. Thomas 1928 6.7

Sale 2013 6.5

Cease 2022 6.4

Danks 2008  6.4

Fernandez 1996 6.4

 

 

[South Side Hit Men]

3 hours ago, FloydBannister1983 said:

Wasn’t Thomas still at 1B in 1991?

2 hours ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Yes

1991 Appearances by Frank Thomas:

• 101 Designated Hitter
• 56 First Base

1991 White Sox Designated Hitter Appearances:

• 101 Frank Thomas
• 21 Bo Jackson
• 19 Tim Raines
• 13 Carlton Fisk
• 8 Dan Pasqua
• 6 Rodney McCray & Matt Merullo
• 3 Warren Newson & Cory Snyder
• 2 Joey Cora & Sammy Sosa
• 1 Mike Huff

bWAR team totals are for bWAR earned by the entire team in a season at the listed position. Frank Thomas had the most plate appearances at Designated Hitter for the Chicago White Sox in the years he is listed.

The Chicago White Sox never accumulated the most bWAR at First Base during Frank’s tenure with the team. In fact no position for the eight defensive hitting positions are represented since the replacement stadium was opened in 1991.

There are links provided for each year of people have questions or are curious.

[South Side Hit Men]

12 minutes ago, FourEyesShottenhoffer said:

Top 20 pitching seasons by WAR, post deadball era:

#5 Gossage 1975 8.2

What’s most amazing about your list is the fact Goose Gossage not only appeared on it but ranked 5th all time while solely pitching as a reliever.

He pitched more innings than a large number of starters will in the current era.

Rich Gossage 1975

Age 23 - All Star Game

Award Voting: 6th Cy Young & 17th MVP 

• 8.2 bWAR
• 62 Games
• 0 Games Started
• 141 2/3 Innings Pitched
• 9-8 Decisions
• 1.84 ERA
• 1.193 Ratio
• 26 Saves
• 130 K / 70 BB (15 Intentional)