Best MLB Players of 1945, Ranked by NUT
1945 seasonTommy Holmes (BSN) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1945 by NUT at +7.2, and Hal Newhouser (DET) the most productive pitcher at +3.8.
2 of 227 qualified hitters and 1 of 171 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
Chicago Cubs (98-56) had both the best record and the highest team NUT at +12.3.
Detroit Tigers beat Chicago Cubs 4–3 in the World Series, as the lower team-NUT club (+2.6 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 lower-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 | Tommy HolmesBSN · RF | +7.2 | |
| 2 | Phil CavarrettaCHC · 1B | +5.2 | |
| 3 | Augie GalanBRO · 1B | +4.4 | |
| 4 | Mel OttNYG · RF | +4.0 | |
| 5 | Snuffy StirnweissNYY · 2B | +3.9 | |
| 6 | Roy CullenbineDET · RF | +3.6 | |
| 7 | Stan HackCHC · 3B | +3.6 | |
| 8 | Whitey KurowskiSTL · 3B | +3.5 | |
| 9 | Nick EttenNYY · 1B | +3.1 | |
| 10 | Dixie WalkerBRO · RF | +3.1 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hal NewhouserDET · P | +3.8 | |
| 2 | Preacher RoePIT · P | +2.8 | |
| 3 | Dutch LeonardWSH · P | +2.6 | |
| 4 | Roger WolffWSH · P | +2.3 | |
| 5 | Claude PasseauCHC · P | +2.1 | |
| 6 | Nels PotterSLB · P | +1.9 | |
| 7 | Steve GromekCLE · P | +1.8 | |
| 8 | Ray PrimCHC · P | +1.7 | |
| 9 | Nick StrincevichPIT · P | +1.4 | |
| 10 | Paul DerringerCHC · P | +1.3 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHC | 98-56 | +7.8 | +4.5 | +12.3 | A |
| 2 | PIT | 82-72 | +9.1 | +2.1 | +11.2 | A |
| 3 | BRO | 87-67 | +12.0 | -3.2 | +8.8 | B |
| 4 | NYY | 81-71 | +9.0 | -0.6 | +8.4 | B |
| 5 | WSH | 87-67 | +0.3 | +6.3 | +6.6 | C |
| 6 | NYG | 78-74 | +9.1 | -3.7 | +5.4 | C |
| 7 | STL | 95-59 | +6.8 | -1.7 | +5.1 | C |
| 8 | CLE | 73-72 | +2.9 | +2.1 | +5.0 | C |
| 9 | DET | 88-65 | +0.5 | +2.1 | +2.6 | C |
| 10 | BSN | 67-85 | +7.1 | -6.6 | +0.5 | C |
| 11 | CWS | 71-78 | -1.5 | +0.0 | -1.5 | D |
| 12 | SLB | 81-70 | -3.4 | +1.8 | -1.6 | D |
| 13 | BOS | 71-83 | +0.2 | -5.5 | -5.3 | F |
| 14 | PHA | 52-98 | -7.4 | -1.0 | -8.3 | F |
| 15 | PHI | 46-108 | -5.7 | -5.9 | -11.6 | F |
| 16 | CIN | 61-93 | -6.6 | -6.7 | -13.3 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1945
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 | Jackie RobinsonKCM · SS | +1.7 | |
| 2 | Ed SteeleBBB · RF | +1.3 | |
| 3 | Art PenningtonCAG · 1B | +1.2 | |
| 4 | Johnny SmithCAG · RF | +0.9 | |
| 5 | Jesse WilliamsKCM · 2B | +0.8 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Booker McDanielKCM | +1.5 | |
| 2 | Satchel PaigeKCM · P | +0.8 | |
| 3 | Gentry JessupCAG | +0.5 | |
| 4 | Jim LaMarqueKCM | +0.5 | |
| 5 | Hilton SmithKCM · P | +0.3 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City Monarchs | 35-27 | +6.3 | C |
| 2 | Chicago American Giants | 38-35 | +2.8 | C |
| 3 | Birmingham Black Barons | 37-27 | +2.3 | C |
| 4 | Memphis Red Sox | 15-60 | +0.4 | C |
| 5 | Toledo Crawfords | — | +0.0 | C |
| 6 | Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns | 27-40 | -0.3 | D |
| 7 | Cleveland Buckeyes | 52-15 | -0.8 | D |
Negro National League (II)
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roy CampanellaBEG · C | +2.4 | |
| 2 | Josh GibsonHOM · C | +2.0 | |
| 3 | Wild Bill WrightBEG · RF | +1.6 | |
| 4 | Frank AustinPHS · SS | +1.4 | |
| 5 | Buck LeonardHOM · 1B | +1.4 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bill ByrdBEG | +1.2 | |
| 2 | Luis TiantNYC | +0.6 | |
| 3 | Roy PartlowPHS | +0.6 | |
| 4 | Don NewcombeNE · P | +0.6 | |
| 5 | Bill RicksPHS | +0.6 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore Elite Giants | 25-17 | +4.6 | C |
| 2 | Homestead Grays | 32-13 | +4.2 | C |
| 3 | Philadelphia Stars | 21-19 | +3.1 | C |
| 4 | Newark Eagles | 21-18 | +1.4 | C |
| 5 | New York Cubans | 7-20 | +1.1 | C |
| 6 | New York Black Yankees | 7-26 | -1.5 | 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 1945 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.