Best MLB Players of 1931, Ranked by NUT
1931 seasonBabe Ruth (NYY) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1931 by NUT at +9.5, and Lefty Grove (PHA) the most productive pitcher at +3.4.
6 of 223 qualified hitters and 1 of 147 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
New York Yankees (94-59) had the highest team NUT at +29.9; the best record belonged to Philadelphia Athletics (107-45), #4 by team NUT.
St. Louis Cardinals beat Philadelphia Athletics 4–3 in the World Series, as the higher team-NUT club (+13.6 to +12.3).
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 higher-NUT club won. Every World Series by NUT
Awards vs NUT
NUT's MVP pick is the league's best player by season NUT, hitters and pitchers compared by grade; its Cy Young pick is the best pitcher. Voters also weigh defense, which NUT leaves out. Rookie of the Year shows where the winner ranked among all qualified players.
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 | +9.5 | |
| 2 | Lou GehrigNYY · 1B | +8.4 | |
| 3 | Al SimmonsPHA · LF | +6.3 | |
| 4 | Earl Averill Sr.CLE · CF | +5.4 | |
| 5 | Goose GoslinSLB · LF | +5.1 | |
| 6 | Chuck KleinPHI · LF | +5.0 | |
| 7 | Earl WebbBOS · RF | +4.2 | |
| 8 | Ed MorganCLE · 1B | +4.2 | |
| 9 | Mickey CochranePHA · C | +4.0 | |
| 10 | Bill TerryNYG · 1B | +4.0 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lefty GrovePHA · P | +3.4 | |
| 2 | Watson ClarkBRO · P | +2.3 | |
| 3 | Dazzy VanceBRO · P | +2.2 | |
| 4 | Bill WalkerNYG · P | +2.1 | |
| 5 | Charlie RootCHC · P | +2.0 | |
| 6 | Lefty GomezNYY · P | +2.0 | |
| 7 | Carl HubbellNYG · P | +1.7 | |
| 8 | Paul DerringerSTL · P | +1.6 | |
| 9 | Si JohnsonCIN · P | +1.6 | |
| 10 | George EarnshawPHA · P | +1.5 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYY | 94-59 | +27.2 | +2.7 | +29.9 | S |
| 2 | STL | 101-53 | +9.7 | +3.9 | +13.6 | A |
| 3 | CHC | 84-70 | +11.6 | +1.0 | +12.6 | A |
| 4 | PHA | 107-45 | +10.1 | +2.2 | +12.3 | A |
| 5 | NYG | 87-65 | +7.0 | +3.2 | +10.2 | B |
| 6 | CLE | 78-76 | +12.6 | -3.2 | +9.5 | B |
| 7 | BRO | 79-73 | +1.4 | +6.9 | +8.3 | B |
| 8 | WSH | 92-62 | +5.5 | +0.8 | +6.2 | C |
| 9 | PHI | 66-88 | +4.8 | -3.1 | +1.7 | C |
| 10 | SLB | 63-91 | +1.9 | -2.8 | -0.9 | D |
| 11 | CIN | 58-96 | -6.3 | +1.8 | -4.5 | F |
| 12 | DET | 61-93 | -0.4 | -4.7 | -5.0 | F |
| 13 | BOS | 62-90 | -5.3 | -0.6 | -5.9 | F |
| 14 | PIT | 75-79 | -7.4 | -0.4 | -7.8 | F |
| 15 | BSN | 64-90 | -10.8 | +0.8 | -10.0 | F |
| 16 | CWS | 56-97 | -7.8 | -7.1 | -14.9 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1931
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 | Turkey StearnesDTS · CF | +1.8 | |
| 2 | Mule SuttlesSLS · LF | +1.3 | |
| 3 | Willie WellsSLS · SS | +1.1 | |
| 4 | Wade JohnstonDTS · LF | +0.9 | |
| 5 | Jim WilliamsIND · LF | +0.8 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ray BrownIND · P | +0.9 | |
| 2 | Luther McDonaldDTS | +0.8 | |
| 3 | Logan HensleySLS | +0.5 | |
| 4 | Nelson DeanDTS | +0.5 | |
| 5 | Ted TrentSLS | +0.5 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Louis Stars | 44-11 | +5.1 | C |
| 2 | Detroit Stars | 22-33 | +1.3 | C |
| 3 | Indianapolis ABC's | 32-26 | +0.8 | C |
| 4 | Louisville White Sox | 17-34 | +0.6 | C |
| 5 | Chicago American Giants | 6-19 | +0.1 | C |
| 6 | Cleveland Cubs - Deprecate | 24-22 | +0.0 | C |
| 7 | Indianapolis ABC's | — | +0.0 | C |
MLB's Negro Leagues records are incomplete, and a few games and clubs are missing. A dash means no record on file.
How the 1931 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.