Best MLB Players of 1923, Ranked by NUT
1923 seasonBabe Ruth (NYY) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1923 by NUT at +11.8, and Dolf Luque (CIN) the most productive pitcher at +3.4.
5 of 218 qualified hitters and 1 of 134 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
Cleveland Indians (82-71) had the highest team NUT at +16.7; the best record belonged to New York Yankees (98-54), #3 by team NUT.
New York Yankees beat New York Giants 4–2 in the World Series, as the higher team-NUT club (+7.0 to +6.6).
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 higher-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 · RF | +11.8 | |
| 2 | Tristram SpeakerCLE · CF | +6.7 | |
| 3 | Harry HeilmannDET · RF | +6.6 | |
| 4 | Ken WilliamsSLB · LF | +6.0 | |
| 5 | Rogers HornsbySTL · 2B | +5.1 | |
| 6 | Jack FournierBRO · 1B | +4.2 | |
| 7 | Joe SewellCLE · SS | +4.0 | |
| 8 | Jim BottomleySTL · 1B | +3.7 | |
| 9 | Cy WilliamsPHI · CF | +3.5 | |
| 10 | Charlie JamiesonCLE · LF | +3.1 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dolf LuqueCIN · P | +3.4 | |
| 2 | Eppa RixeyCIN · P | +2.8 | |
| 3 | Dazzy VanceBRO · P | +2.3 | |
| 4 | Urban ShockerSLB · P | +2.0 | |
| 5 | Lee MeadowsPIT · P | +1.9 | |
| 6 | Pete DonohueCIN · P | +1.8 | |
| 7 | Hooks DaussDET · P | +1.5 | |
| 8 | Grover AlexanderCHC · P | +1.5 | |
| 9 | Red FaberCWS · P | +1.4 | |
| 10 | George UhleCLE · P | +1.4 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLE | 82-71 | +13.8 | +2.9 | +16.7 | A |
| 2 | DET | 83-71 | +7.3 | +0.5 | +7.8 | B |
| 3 | NYY | 98-54 | +6.7 | +0.4 | +7.0 | B |
| 4 | NYG | 95-58 | +7.6 | -0.9 | +6.6 | C |
| 5 | CIN | 91-63 | -2.8 | +8.0 | +5.2 | C |
| 6 | PIT | 87-67 | +1.3 | +3.4 | +4.7 | C |
| 7 | STL | 79-74 | +2.8 | -1.7 | +1.1 | C |
| 8 | CHC | 83-71 | +2.5 | -3.1 | -0.6 | D |
| 9 | BRO | 76-78 | -4.3 | +3.3 | -1.0 | D |
| 10 | CWS | 69-85 | -2.6 | +0.8 | -1.8 | D |
| 11 | SLB | 74-78 | -2.4 | -1.2 | -3.6 | F |
| 12 | WSH | 75-78 | -4.2 | -1.6 | -5.8 | F |
| 13 | BSN | 54-100 | -7.7 | +0.9 | -6.8 | F |
| 14 | PHI | 50-104 | -0.9 | -9.1 | -10.0 | F |
| 15 | PHA | 69-83 | -7.0 | -3.8 | -10.9 | F |
| 16 | BOS | 61-91 | -11.6 | -1.6 | -13.2 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1923
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 | Heavy JohnsonKCM · RF | +5.2 | |
| 2 | Turkey StearnesDTS · CF | +2.9 | |
| 3 | Oscar CharlestonABC · 1B | +2.9 | |
| 4 | Cristobal TorrienteCAG · CF | +2.7 | |
| 5 | Candy Jim TaylorSLS · 3B | +2.7 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bullet RoganKCM | +2.7 | |
| 2 | Rube CurryKCM | +1.7 | |
| 3 | Ed RileCAG | +1.4 | |
| 4 | Jose MendezKCM · P | +1.1 | |
| 5 | Bill DrakeKCM | +0.8 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City Monarchs | 59-36 | +15.4 | A |
| 2 | St. Louis Stars | 29-43 | +2.6 | C |
| 3 | Chicago American Giants | 42-29 | +2.2 | C |
| 4 | Birmingham Black Barons | — | +0.0 | C |
| 5 | Dayton Marcos | — | +0.0 | C |
| 6 | Memphis Red Sox | — | +0.0 | C |
| 7 | Todelo Tigers | 10-17 | +0.0 | C |
| 8 | Indianapolis ABC's | 46-32 | -1.1 | D |
| 9 | Cuban Stars West | 24-33 | -1.1 | D |
| 10 | Detroit Stars | 39-28 | -2.2 | D |
| 11 | Milwaukee Bears | 11-42 | -2.8 | D |
Eastern Colored League
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George ScalesNYL · 3B | +3.7 | |
| 2 | Biz MackeyHIL · C | +2.1 | |
| 3 | Jud WilsonBBS · 1B | +1.7 | |
| 4 | George JohnsonHIL · CF | +1.5 | |
| 5 | Charlie MasonBG · LF | +1.3 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar LevisCSE | +0.9 | |
| 2 | Rats HendersonBG | +0.8 | |
| 3 | Red RyanHIL | +0.5 | |
| 4 | Nip WintersHIL | +0.4 | |
| 5 | Joe WilliamsNYL · P | +0.4 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Lincoln Giants | 16-21 | +7.9 | B |
| 2 | Hilldale Daisies | 34-20 | +5.1 | C |
| 3 | Atlantic City Bacharach Giants | 21-24 | -0.4 | D |
| 4 | Baltimore Black Sox | 19-31 | -0.5 | D |
| 5 | Cuban Stars East | 24-17 | -0.7 | D |
| 6 | Brooklyn Royal Giants | 17-18 | -1.5 | 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 1923 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.