Best MLB Players of 1938, Ranked by NUT
1938 seasonJimmie Foxx (BOS) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1938 by NUT at +8.7, and Paul Derringer (CIN) the most productive pitcher at +2.5.
6 of 209 qualified hitters and 0 of 149 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
New York Yankees (99-53) had both the best record and the highest team NUT at +18.4.
New York Yankees beat Chicago Cubs 4–0 in the World Series, as the higher team-NUT club (+18.4 to +3.7).
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
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 | Jimmie FoxxBOS · 1B | +8.7 | |
| 2 | Hank GreenbergDET · 1B | +7.5 | |
| 3 | Mel OttNYG · 3B | +5.8 | |
| 4 | Johnny MizeSTL · 1B | +5.5 | |
| 5 | Harlond CliftSLB · 3B | +4.9 | |
| 6 | Joe DiMaggioNYY · CF | +4.5 | |
| 7 | Bob JohnsonPHA · CF | +4.4 | |
| 8 | Rudy YorkDET · C | +4.4 | |
| 9 | Joe CroninBOS · SS | +4.3 | |
| 10 | Lou GehrigNYY · 1B | +4.3 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul DerringerCIN · P | +2.5 | |
| 2 | Bill McGeeSTL · P | +2.0 | |
| 3 | Lefty GomezNYY · P | +1.7 | |
| 4 | Clay BryantCHC · P | +1.6 | |
| 5 | Bill LeeCHC · P | +1.5 | |
| 6 | Lefty GroveBOS · P | +1.5 | |
| 7 | Russ BauersPIT · P | +1.4 | |
| 8 | Bob WeilandSTL · P | +1.3 | |
| 9 | Carl HubbellNYG · P | +1.2 | |
| 10 | Charlie RootCHC · P | +1.2 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYY | 99-53 | +18.9 | -0.5 | +18.4 | S |
| 2 | BOS | 88-61 | +17.9 | -2.8 | +15.1 | A |
| 3 | CLE | 86-66 | +11.4 | -2.7 | +8.7 | B |
| 4 | NYG | 83-67 | +3.5 | +3.7 | +7.1 | B |
| 5 | PIT | 86-64 | +1.2 | +5.7 | +6.9 | C |
| 6 | WSH | 75-76 | +10.3 | -3.7 | +6.6 | C |
| 7 | STL | 71-80 | +2.3 | +3.3 | +5.6 | C |
| 8 | DET | 84-70 | +13.0 | -7.9 | +5.2 | C |
| 9 | CHC | 89-63 | -2.5 | +6.1 | +3.7 | C |
| 10 | CIN | 82-68 | +0.1 | +3.0 | +3.1 | C |
| 11 | BRO | 69-80 | -0.1 | +0.4 | +0.3 | C |
| 12 | CWS | 65-83 | +0.7 | -5.0 | -4.3 | F |
| 13 | PHA | 53-99 | +5.2 | -10.2 | -5.0 | F |
| 14 | SLB | 55-97 | +4.6 | -10.3 | -5.7 | F |
| 15 | BSN | 77-75 | -12.7 | +3.0 | -9.7 | F |
| 16 | PHI | 45-105 | -12.5 | -1.0 | -13.5 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1938
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 (II)
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh GibsonHOM · C | +2.4 | |
| 2 | Buck LeonardHOM · 1B | +2.4 | |
| 3 | Harry WilliamsPC · 2B | +1.4 | |
| 4 | Sammy HughesBEG · 2B | +1.0 | |
| 5 | Pat PattersonPHS · 2B | +1.0 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ray BrownHOM · P | +1.5 | |
| 2 | Edsall WalkerHOM | +1.1 | |
| 3 | Barney BrownNBY | +0.7 | |
| 4 | Andy PorterBEG | +0.6 | |
| 5 | Barney MorrisPC | +0.6 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homestead Grays | 42-13 | +8.4 | B |
| 2 | Baltimore Elite Giants | 25-24 | +3.5 | C |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Crawfords | 28-27 | +1.7 | C |
| 4 | Newark Eagles | 17-24 | +0.9 | C |
| 5 | Philadelphia Stars | 38-27 | +0.8 | C |
| 6 | New York Black Yankees | 9-27 | +0.3 | C |
| 7 | Washington Black Senators | 2-19 | +0.0 | C |
| 8 | New York Cubans | — | +0.0 | C |
Negro American League
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willard BrownKCM · CF | +1.9 | |
| 2 | Donald ReevesATL · RF | +1.5 | |
| 3 | Henry MiltonKCM · LF | +1.4 | |
| 4 | David WhatleyMEM · RF | +1.0 | |
| 5 | Neil RobinsonMEM · SS | +0.8 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilton SmithKCM · P | +1.4 | |
| 2 | Willie CorneliusCAG | +0.8 | |
| 3 | Frank BradleyKCM | +0.6 | |
| 4 | Lefty CalhounABC | +0.4 | |
| 5 | Lefty WilsonMEM | +0.4 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City Monarchs | 32-20 | +6.9 | C |
| 2 | Atlanta Black Crackers | 30-31 | +2.9 | C |
| 3 | Memphis Red Sox | 38-21 | +1.7 | C |
| 4 | Chicago American Giants | 25-28 | +0.8 | C |
| 5 | Indianapolis ABC's | 20-22 | +0.6 | C |
| 6 | Indianapolis ABC's | — | +0.0 | C |
| 7 | Jacksonville Red Caps | 14-13 | -0.8 | D |
| 8 | Birmingham Black Barons | 11-35 | -1.3 | 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 1938 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.