Best MLB Players of 1939, Ranked by NUT
1939 seasonJimmie Foxx (BOS) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1939 by NUT at +7.0, and Paul Derringer (CIN) the most productive pitcher at +3.3.
6 of 224 qualified hitters and 1 of 156 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
New York Yankees (106-45) had both the best record and the highest team NUT at +19.3.
New York Yankees beat Cincinnati Reds 4–0 in the World Series, as the higher team-NUT club (+19.3 to +7.1).
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 | +7.0 | |
| 2 | Johnny MizeSTL · 1B | +6.5 | |
| 3 | Ted WilliamsBOS · RF | +6.3 | |
| 4 | Joe DiMaggioNYY · CF | +6.0 | |
| 5 | Hank GreenbergDET · 1B | +5.1 | |
| 6 | Bob JohnsonPHA · LF | +5.1 | |
| 7 | Mel OttNYG · RF | +4.3 | |
| 8 | Dolph CamilliBRO · 1B | +4.1 | |
| 9 | George SelkirkNYY · LF | +4.0 | |
| 10 | Red RolfeNYY · 3B | +3.9 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul DerringerCIN · P | +3.3 | |
| 2 | Claude PasseauCHC · P | +2.7 | |
| 3 | Bob FellerCLE · P | +2.7 | |
| 4 | Larry FrenchCHC · P | +2.0 | |
| 5 | Ted LyonsCWS · P | +1.8 | |
| 6 | Tommy BridgesDET · P | +1.7 | |
| 7 | Cliff MeltonNYG · P | +1.5 | |
| 8 | Mort CooperSTL · P | +1.5 | |
| 9 | Bucky WaltersCIN · P | +1.3 | |
| 10 | Mace BrownPIT · P | +1.3 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYY | 106-45 | +19.6 | -0.3 | +19.3 | S |
| 2 | BOS | 89-62 | +15.1 | +0.9 | +16.0 | A |
| 3 | STL | 92-61 | +10.0 | +3.7 | +13.7 | A |
| 4 | CLE | 87-67 | +5.9 | +1.6 | +7.5 | B |
| 5 | CIN | 97-57 | +2.3 | +4.8 | +7.1 | B |
| 6 | DET | 81-73 | +8.1 | -1.4 | +6.7 | C |
| 7 | CHC | 84-70 | -1.3 | +6.5 | +5.3 | C |
| 8 | NYG | 77-74 | +4.2 | +0.0 | +4.2 | C |
| 9 | CWS | 85-69 | +1.2 | +0.1 | +1.3 | C |
| 10 | PIT | 68-85 | -0.8 | +1.9 | +1.2 | C |
| 11 | BRO | 84-69 | -2.8 | +3.2 | +0.5 | C |
| 12 | WSH | 65-88 | +0.8 | -1.2 | -0.5 | D |
| 13 | BSN | 63-88 | -8.3 | +0.3 | -8.1 | F |
| 14 | PHA | 55-97 | +2.4 | -11.6 | -9.2 | F |
| 15 | SLB | 43-111 | +0.9 | -13.5 | -12.6 | F |
| 16 | PHI | 45-106 | -7.0 | -6.5 | -13.4 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1939
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 American League
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willard BrownKCM · LF | +1.9 | |
| 2 | Turkey StearnesKCM · CF | +1.6 | |
| 3 | Ted StrongKCM · SS | +1.5 | |
| 4 | Henry TurnerCBR · C | +1.2 | |
| 5 | Neil RobinsonMEM · CF | +0.7 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilton SmithKCM · P | +1.5 | |
| 2 | Ted RadcliffeMEM · P | +1.0 | |
| 3 | Frank BradleyKCM | +0.8 | |
| 4 | Lefty WilsonMEM | +0.5 | |
| 5 | George WalkerKCM | +0.4 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City Monarchs | 40-22 | +6.3 | C |
| 2 | St. Louis Stars | 24-22 | +0.5 | C |
| 3 | Chicago American Giants | 32-31 | +0.5 | C |
| 4 | Cleveland Bears | 20-21 | +0.3 | C |
| 5 | Memphis Red Sox | 23-31 | +0.1 | C |
| 6 | Birmingham Black Barons | — | +0.0 | C |
| 7 | Indianapolis ABC's | — | +0.0 | C |
| 8 | Atlanta Black Crackers | 1-7 | -0.8 | D |
Negro National League (II)
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Josh GibsonHOM · C | +1.9 | |
| 2 | Mule SuttlesNE · 1B | +1.8 | |
| 3 | Buck LeonardHOM · 1B | +1.6 | |
| 4 | Ed StoneNE · RF | +1.2 | |
| 5 | David WhatleyHOM · RF | +1.1 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roy PartlowHOM | +0.7 | |
| 2 | Bill ByrdBEG | +0.6 | |
| 3 | Luis TiantNYC | +0.6 | |
| 4 | Jonas GainesBEG | +0.5 | |
| 5 | Tom GloverBEG | +0.5 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homestead Grays | 31-13 | +5.3 | C |
| 2 | Baltimore Elite Giants | 22-21 | +4.1 | C |
| 3 | Newark Eagles | 27-18 | +2.3 | C |
| 4 | Toledo Crawfords | 3-9 | +0.5 | C |
| 5 | New York Black Yankees | 14-18 | +0.3 | C |
| 6 | New York Cubans | 5-22 | +0.3 | C |
| 7 | Philadelphia Stars | 30-31 | -0.4 | 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 1939 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.