Best MLB Players of 1929, Ranked by NUT
1929 seasonRogers Hornsby (CHC) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1929 by NUT at +7.0, and Lefty Grove (PHA) the most productive pitcher at +3.3.
9 of 214 qualified hitters and 1 of 144 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
New York Yankees (88-66) had the highest team NUT at +13.6; the best record belonged to Philadelphia Athletics (104-46), #2 by team NUT.
Philadelphia Athletics beat Chicago Cubs 4–1 in the World Series, as the higher team-NUT club (+12.3 to +10.8).
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 | Rogers HornsbyCHC · 2B | +7.0 | |
| 2 | Lefty O'DoulPHI · LF | +6.8 | |
| 3 | Mel OttNYG · RF | +5.9 | |
| 4 | Jimmie FoxxPHA · 1B | +5.6 | |
| 5 | Babe RuthNYY · RF | +5.4 | |
| 6 | Chuck KleinPHI · RF | +5.4 | |
| 7 | Babe HermanBRO · RF | +4.9 | |
| 8 | Hack WilsonCHC · CF | +4.8 | |
| 9 | Lou GehrigNYY · 1B | +4.6 | |
| 10 | Al SimmonsPHA · LF | +4.3 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lefty GrovePHA · P | +3.3 | |
| 2 | Firpo MarberryWSH · P | +2.5 | |
| 3 | Watson ClarkBRO · P | +2.3 | |
| 4 | George UhleDET · P | +2.2 | |
| 5 | Pat MaloneCHC · P | +1.9 | |
| 6 | Dazzy VanceBRO · P | +1.8 | |
| 7 | Charlie RootCHC · P | +1.8 | |
| 8 | Willis HudlinCLE · P | +1.6 | |
| 9 | Red LucasCIN · P | +1.2 | |
| 10 | George EarnshawPHA · P | +1.2 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYY | 88-66 | +12.5 | +1.2 | +13.6 | A |
| 2 | PHA | 104-46 | +8.0 | +4.3 | +12.3 | A |
| 3 | CHC | 98-54 | +8.3 | +2.5 | +10.8 | B |
| 4 | STL | 78-74 | +7.8 | -1.6 | +6.2 | C |
| 5 | PHI | 71-82 | +14.4 | -8.4 | +6.0 | C |
| 6 | NYG | 84-67 | +4.7 | +1.0 | +5.8 | C |
| 7 | DET | 70-84 | +8.2 | -2.6 | +5.6 | C |
| 8 | PIT | 88-65 | +4.8 | -0.4 | +4.3 | C |
| 9 | BRO | 70-83 | +4.2 | -1.6 | +2.6 | C |
| 10 | CLE | 81-71 | -3.2 | +3.0 | -0.2 | D |
| 11 | WSH | 71-81 | -6.2 | +5.4 | -0.8 | D |
| 12 | SLB | 79-73 | -5.4 | -1.5 | -6.9 | F |
| 13 | CIN | 66-88 | -10.5 | +3.4 | -7.1 | F |
| 14 | BOS | 58-96 | -13.2 | +0.2 | -13.0 | F |
| 15 | BSN | 56-98 | -10.4 | -5.0 | -15.4 | F |
| 16 | CWS | 59-93 | -16.1 | -3.4 | -19.4 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1929
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 | +4.6 | |
| 2 | Turkey StearnesDTS · CF | +3.6 | |
| 3 | Mule SuttlesSLS · 1B | +3.5 | |
| 4 | Wade JohnstonDTS · LF | +2.5 | |
| 5 | Bullet RoganKCM · CF | +2.3 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Satchel PaigeBBB · P | +2.7 | |
| 2 | Harry SalmonBBB | +1.5 | |
| 3 | William BellKCM | +1.4 | |
| 4 | Heliodoro DiazCUB | +1.4 | |
| 5 | Army CooperKCM | +1.1 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City Monarchs | 62-17 | +12.1 | A |
| 2 | St. Louis Stars | 56-31 | +10.4 | B |
| 3 | Detroit Stars | 32-37 | +4.7 | C |
| 4 | Indianapolis ABC's | — | +0.0 | C |
| 5 | Chicago American Giants | 48-38 | -0.2 | D |
| 6 | Birmingham Black Barons | 32-57 | -1.4 | D |
| 7 | Cuban Stars West | 13-33 | -3.8 | F |
| 8 | Memphis Red Sox | 21-51 | -7.9 | F |
American Negro League
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlie SmithNYL · RF | +4.9 | |
| 2 | Rap DixonBBS · LF | +3.4 | |
| 3 | Jud WilsonBBS · 1B | +3.0 | |
| 4 | George ScalesHOM · 2B | +2.5 | |
| 5 | Oscar CharlestonHOM · RF | +2.4 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe WilliamsHOM · P | +1.5 | |
| 2 | George BrittHOM | +0.8 | |
| 3 | Laymon YokelyBBS | +0.8 | |
| 4 | Sam StreeterHOM | +0.7 | |
| 5 | Porter CharlestonHIL | +0.7 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homestead Grays | 34-29 | +10.1 | B |
| 2 | Baltimore Black Sox | 49-21 | +6.4 | C |
| 3 | New York Lincoln Giants | 40-26 | +4.0 | C |
| 4 | Hilldale Daisies | 40-35 | +1.7 | C |
| 5 | Cuban Stars East | 15-41 | -2.4 | D |
| 6 | Atlantic City Bacharach Giants | 19-45 | -4.0 | F |
MLB's Negro Leagues records are incomplete, and a few games and clubs are missing. A dash means no record on file.
How the 1929 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.