Best MLB Players of 1926, Ranked by NUT
1926 seasonBabe Ruth (NYY) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1926 by NUT at +9.8, and Lefty Grove (PHA) the most productive pitcher at +2.7.
1 of 215 qualified hitters and 0 of 146 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
New York Yankees (91-63) had both the best record and the highest team NUT at +11.3.
St. Louis Cardinals beat New York Yankees 4–3 in the World Series, as the lower team-NUT club (+5.3 to +11.3).
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 | +9.8 | |
| 2 | Lou GehrigNYY · 1B | +4.4 | |
| 3 | Goose GoslinWSH · LF | +4.2 | |
| 4 | Harry HeilmannDET · RF | +3.9 | |
| 5 | Al SimmonsPHA · CF | +3.9 | |
| 6 | Hack WilsonCHC · CF | +3.7 | |
| 7 | Paul WanerPIT · RF | +3.6 | |
| 8 | Heinie ManushDET · CF | +3.5 | |
| 9 | Johnny MostilCWS · CF | +3.1 | |
| 10 | Cy WilliamsPHI · RF | +2.8 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lefty GrovePHA · P | +2.7 | |
| 2 | Pete DonohueCIN · P | +2.3 | |
| 3 | Charlie RootCHC · P | +2.1 | |
| 4 | Carl MaysCIN · P | +2.1 | |
| 5 | Dazzy VanceBRO · P | +2.0 | |
| 6 | Jakie MayCIN · P | +1.9 | |
| 7 | George UhleCLE · P | +1.7 | |
| 8 | Herb PennockNYY · P | +1.6 | |
| 9 | Waite HoytNYY · P | +1.5 | |
| 10 | Earl WhitehillDET · P | +1.3 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYY | 91-63 | +9.7 | +1.6 | +11.3 | A |
| 2 | WSH | 81-69 | +6.2 | -0.1 | +6.1 | C |
| 3 | CWS | 81-72 | +3.5 | +2.1 | +5.6 | C |
| 4 | PHA | 83-67 | -0.6 | +6.0 | +5.4 | C |
| 5 | CIN | 87-67 | -2.6 | +7.9 | +5.3 | C |
| 6 | STL | 89-65 | +4.6 | +0.7 | +5.3 | C |
| 7 | PIT | 84-69 | +3.3 | +0.0 | +3.3 | C |
| 8 | DET | 79-75 | +4.7 | -2.3 | +2.5 | C |
| 9 | CHC | 82-72 | -1.3 | +3.3 | +2.0 | C |
| 10 | CLE | 88-66 | -1.4 | +0.4 | -1.0 | D |
| 11 | PHI | 58-91 | -0.1 | -2.5 | -2.6 | D |
| 12 | NYG | 74-77 | -4.0 | +0.2 | -3.8 | F |
| 13 | BRO | 71-82 | -10.9 | +3.1 | -7.8 | F |
| 14 | BSN | 64-86 | -9.7 | +1.7 | -7.9 | F |
| 15 | BOS | 46-107 | -11.6 | -1.8 | -13.5 | F |
| 16 | SLB | 62-92 | -2.5 | -11.5 | -14.0 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1926
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 | Mule SuttlesSLS · 1B | +6.4 | |
| 2 | Turkey StearnesDTS · CF | +4.5 | |
| 3 | Dewey CreacySLS · 3B | +3.1 | |
| 4 | Willie WellsSLS · SS | +2.8 | |
| 5 | Cool Papa BellSLS · CF | +2.5 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bill FosterCAG · P | +1.7 | |
| 2 | William BellKCM | +1.4 | |
| 3 | Bullet RoganKCM | +1.2 | |
| 4 | George HarneyCAG | +1.2 | |
| 5 | Andy CooperDTS · P | +1.2 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis Stars | 53-31 | +18.5 | S |
| 2 | Kansas City Monarchs | 57-21 | +5.9 | C |
| 3 | Detroit Stars | 51-43 | +5.2 | C |
| 4 | Indianapolis ABC's | 44-45 | +2.2 | C |
| 5 | Chicago American Giants | 56-24 | +1.6 | C |
| 6 | Birmingham Black Barons | — | +0.0 | C |
| 7 | Memphis Red Sox | — | +0.0 | C |
| 8 | Cleveland Elites | 6-42 | -2.3 | D |
| 9 | Dayton Marcos | 7-37 | -4.0 | F |
| 10 | Cuban Stars West | 18-49 | -5.5 | F |
Eastern Colored League
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin DihigoCSE · 1B | +2.9 | |
| 2 | Jud WilsonBBS · RF | +2.2 | |
| 3 | Biz MackeyHIL · C | +2.1 | |
| 4 | John BeckwithBBS · 3B | +2.0 | |
| 5 | Oscar CharlestonHBG · CF | +1.9 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Claude GrierBG | +2.4 | |
| 2 | Rats HendersonBG | +1.7 | |
| 3 | Red RyanHIL | +0.8 | |
| 4 | Luther FarrellBG | +0.5 | |
| 5 | Martin DihigoCSE · P | +0.5 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilldale Daisies | 35-26 | +4.7 | C |
| 2 | Atlantic City Bacharach Giants | 34-20 | +3.8 | C |
| 3 | Cuban Stars East | 26-21 | +2.5 | C |
| 4 | New York Lincoln Giants | 18-21 | +2.2 | C |
| 5 | Baltimore Black Sox | 18-30 | +1.7 | C |
| 6 | Brooklyn Royal Giants | 7-18 | +1.1 | C |
| 7 | Harrisburg Giants | 25-18 | +1.0 | C |
| 8 | Newark Stars | 1-10 | -1.1 | 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 1926 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.