Best MLB Players of 1921, Ranked by NUT
1921 seasonBabe Ruth (NYY) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1921 by NUT at +12.3, and Burleigh Grimes (BRO) the most productive pitcher at +2.3.
5 of 217 qualified hitters and 0 of 139 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
New York Yankees (98-55) had both the best record and the highest team NUT at +16.1.
New York Giants beat New York Yankees 5–3 in the World Series, as the lower team-NUT club (+9.8 to +16.1).
Live-ball era. Clean baseballs and the spitball ban; Ruth turns the home run into the game.
World Series by team NUT
Season team NUT, regular season. The lower-NUT club won. Every World Series by NUT
Best by league
League by the player's final club. By NUT, not award voting.
Top 10 hitters and pitchers
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Babe RuthNYY · LF | +12.3 | |
| 2 | Rogers HornsbySTL · 2B | +7.1 | |
| 3 | Harry HeilmannDET · RF | +6.2 | |
| 4 | Ty CobbDET · CF | +5.2 | |
| 5 | Ken WilliamsSLB · LF | +4.5 | |
| 6 | Tristram SpeakerCLE · CF | +4.2 | |
| 7 | George SislerSLB · 1B | +4.2 | |
| 8 | Austin McHenrySTL · LF | +3.2 | |
| 9 | Jack FournierSTL · 1B | +3.1 | |
| 10 | Jack TobinSLB · RF | +3.0 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burleigh GrimesBRO · P | +2.3 | |
| 2 | Sad Sam JonesBOS · P | +2.0 | |
| 3 | Eppa RixeyCIN · P | +2.0 | |
| 4 | Bill DoakSTL · P | +2.0 | |
| 5 | Wilbur CooperPIT · P | +1.7 | |
| 6 | Waite HoytNYY · P | +1.6 | |
| 7 | Babe AdamsPIT · P | +1.5 | |
| 8 | Walter JohnsonWSH · P | +1.5 | |
| 9 | Grover AlexanderCHC · P | +1.5 | |
| 10 | Rube MarquardCIN · P | +1.4 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYY | 98-55 | +16.4 | -0.3 | +16.1 | A |
| 2 | CLE | 94-60 | +13.4 | +2.5 | +15.9 | A |
| 3 | STL | 87-66 | +11.7 | +0.8 | +12.5 | A |
| 4 | DET | 71-82 | +16.1 | -5.0 | +11.1 | A |
| 5 | NYG | 94-59 | +11.1 | -1.3 | +9.8 | B |
| 6 | PIT | 90-63 | -5.3 | +7.0 | +1.7 | C |
| 7 | SLB | 81-73 | +5.8 | -5.2 | +0.6 | C |
| 8 | CIN | 70-83 | -7.7 | +5.8 | -1.8 | D |
| 9 | BSN | 79-74 | -2.6 | -0.3 | -2.9 | D |
| 10 | BRO | 77-75 | -7.1 | +2.9 | -4.2 | F |
| 11 | WSH | 80-73 | -5.4 | -0.2 | -5.5 | F |
| 12 | CHC | 64-89 | -4.9 | -1.6 | -6.6 | F |
| 13 | BOS | 75-79 | -7.8 | -0.4 | -8.3 | F |
| 14 | CWS | 62-92 | -4.2 | -4.5 | -8.6 | F |
| 15 | PHI | 51-103 | -4.9 | -4.0 | -8.9 | F |
| 16 | PHA | 53-100 | -1.4 | -7.7 | -9.1 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1921
MLB counts the Negro Leagues as major leagues. Each league is ranked on its own, against its own averages, so a +2.0 here means what +2.0 means in the AL or NL. Seasons ran 60 to 90 games, so values run lower.
Negro National League (I)
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar CharlestonSLG · CF | +4.5 | |
| 2 | Charlie BlackwellSLG · RF | +4.5 | |
| 3 | Ben TaylorABC · 1B | +3.4 | |
| 4 | George CarrKCM · 1B | +3.2 | |
| 5 | Hurley McNairKCM · LF | +2.8 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dave BrownCAG | +1.8 | |
| 2 | Bill DrakeSLG | +1.3 | |
| 3 | Bill HollandDTS | +1.1 | |
| 4 | Bullet RoganKCM | +0.9 | |
| 5 | Jose LeblancCUB | +0.8 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis Giants | 42-32 | +9.7 | B |
| 2 | Kansas City Monarchs | 53-41 | +5.6 | C |
| 3 | Indianapolis ABC's | 39-37 | +2.5 | C |
| 4 | Detroit Stars | 31-33 | +1.7 | C |
| 5 | Chicago American Giants | 44-22 | +1.2 | C |
| 6 | Columbus Buckeyes | 31-39 | +0.3 | C |
| 7 | Chicago Giants | 10-35 | +0.2 | C |
| 8 | Dayton Marcos | — | +0.0 | C |
| 9 | Cincinnati Cuban Stars | 29-40 | -1.6 | D |
MLB's Negro Leagues records are incomplete, and a few games and clubs are missing. A dash means no record on file.
How the 1921 season is ranked
Season NUT is one number for production against that season's league average. 0.0 is league average; defense is left out. Players need 100 plate appearances or 25 innings to qualify. Team NUT is the sum of its qualified players. Negro Leagues seasons, which MLB counts as major league, are ranked in their own section, each league against its own averages.