Best MLB Players of 1928, Ranked by NUT
1928 seasonBabe Ruth (NYY) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1928 by NUT at +8.6, and Lefty Grove (PHA) the most productive pitcher at +3.4.
7 of 229 qualified hitters and 2 of 146 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
Philadelphia Athletics (98-55) had the highest team NUT at +16.1; the best record belonged to New York Yankees (101-53), #2 by team NUT.
New York Yankees beat St. Louis Cardinals 4–0 in the World Series, as the higher team-NUT club (+16.0 to +7.7).
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 | +8.6 | |
| 2 | Lou GehrigNYY · 1B | +7.5 | |
| 3 | Rogers HornsbyBSN · 2B | +6.9 | |
| 4 | Paul WanerPIT · RF | +5.4 | |
| 5 | Jim BottomleySTL · 1B | +5.2 | |
| 6 | Heinie ManushSLB · LF | +4.8 | |
| 7 | Goose GoslinWSH · LF | +4.6 | |
| 8 | Hack WilsonCHC · CF | +4.0 | |
| 9 | Del BissonetteBRO · 1B | +4.0 | |
| 10 | Chick HafeySTL · LF | +3.7 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lefty GrovePHA · P | +3.4 | |
| 2 | Dazzy VanceBRO · P | +3.3 | |
| 3 | George PipgrasNYY · P | +2.4 | |
| 4 | Herb PennockNYY · P | +1.9 | |
| 5 | Garland BraxtonWSH · P | +1.9 | |
| 6 | Watson ClarkBRO · P | +1.8 | |
| 7 | Eppa RixeyCIN · P | +1.7 | |
| 8 | Jack QuinnPHA · P | +1.5 | |
| 9 | Burleigh GrimesPIT · P | +1.5 | |
| 10 | Firpo MarberryWSH · P | +1.4 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PHA | 98-55 | +11.1 | +5.0 | +16.1 | A |
| 2 | NYY | 101-53 | +14.1 | +1.8 | +16.0 | A |
| 3 | STL | 95-59 | +8.3 | -0.7 | +7.7 | B |
| 4 | WSH | 75-79 | +2.6 | +4.5 | +7.1 | B |
| 5 | PIT | 85-67 | +7.3 | -0.5 | +6.8 | C |
| 6 | NYG | 93-61 | +5.7 | -1.5 | +4.2 | C |
| 7 | CHC | 91-63 | +2.1 | +1.3 | +3.5 | C |
| 8 | BRO | 77-76 | -1.5 | +3.1 | +1.6 | C |
| 9 | DET | 68-86 | +0.7 | -2.2 | -1.5 | D |
| 10 | SLB | 82-72 | -1.5 | -2.9 | -4.4 | F |
| 11 | CLE | 62-92 | -4.5 | -0.8 | -5.3 | F |
| 12 | CIN | 78-74 | -8.1 | +1.4 | -6.7 | F |
| 13 | CWS | 72-82 | -6.2 | -2.2 | -8.4 | F |
| 14 | BOS | 57-96 | -10.7 | +1.6 | -9.1 | F |
| 15 | BSN | 50-103 | -4.3 | -6.2 | -10.5 | F |
| 16 | PHI | 43-109 | -0.8 | -14.4 | -15.2 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1928
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 | Willie WellsSLS · SS | +4.0 | |
| 2 | Mule SuttlesSLS · 1B | +3.7 | |
| 3 | Wilson RedusSLS · LF | +3.6 | |
| 4 | Turkey StearnesDTS · CF | +3.3 | |
| 5 | Ed RileDTS · 1B | +2.5 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Satchel PaigeBBB · P | +2.2 | |
| 2 | Ted TrentSLS | +1.2 | |
| 3 | Willie PowellCAG | +1.1 | |
| 4 | Carl GlassMEM | +1.0 | |
| 5 | Andy CooperKCM · P | +0.9 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis Stars | 61-25 | +16.9 | A |
| 2 | Detroit Stars | 53-36 | +4.2 | C |
| 3 | Kansas City Monarchs | 48-28 | +3.8 | C |
| 4 | Cleveland Tigers | 20-59 | +1.3 | C |
| 5 | Chicago American Giants | 52-32 | +1.1 | C |
| 6 | Indianapolis ABC's | — | +0.0 | C |
| 7 | Memphis Red Sox | 33-51 | -1.6 | D |
| 8 | Birmingham Black Barons | 45-54 | -3.5 | D |
| 9 | Cuban Stars West | 13-41 | -5.9 | F |
Eastern Colored League
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rap DixonBBS · RF | +2.9 | |
| 2 | Jud WilsonBBS · 3B | +2.0 | |
| 3 | Chaney WhiteBG · CF | +1.1 | |
| 4 | George CarrNYL · 1B | +1.0 | |
| 5 | Dick LundyBG · SS | +0.9 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laymon YokelyBBS | +1.4 | |
| 2 | Rats HendersonBG | +0.7 | |
| 3 | Connie RectorNYL | +0.5 | |
| 4 | Herb ThomasNYL | +0.2 | |
| 5 | Nip WintersNYL | +0.2 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Lincoln Giants | 5-2 | +4.2 | C |
| 2 | Baltimore Black Sox | 5-2 | +2.9 | C |
| 3 | Atlantic City Bacharach Giants | 2-5 | +0.9 | C |
| 4 | Philadelphia Tigers | 2-3 | +0.0 | C |
| 5 | Hilldale Daisies | — | +0.0 | C |
| 6 | Cuban Stars East | 2-4 | -0.6 | 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 1928 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.