Best MLB Players of 1946, Ranked by NUT
1946 seasonTed Williams (BOS) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1946 by NUT at +10.3, and Bob Feller (CLE) the most productive pitcher at +5.4.
7 of 237 qualified hitters and 3 of 179 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
Boston Red Sox (104-50) had both the best record and the highest team NUT at +18.4.
St. Louis Cardinals beat Boston Red Sox 4–3 in the World Series, as the lower team-NUT club (+10.5 to +18.4).
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 | Ted WilliamsBOS · LF | +10.3 | |
| 2 | Stan MusialSTL · 1B | +7.6 | |
| 3 | Hank GreenbergDET · 1B | +5.5 | |
| 4 | Charlie KellerNYY · LF | +5.4 | |
| 5 | Johnny MizeNYG · 1B | +4.8 | |
| 6 | Roy CullenbineDET · RF | +4.7 | |
| 7 | Mickey VernonWSH · 1B | +4.6 | |
| 8 | Joe DiMaggioNYY · CF | +3.4 | |
| 9 | Stan SpenceWSH · CF | +3.4 | |
| 10 | Dixie WalkerBRO · RF | +3.3 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob FellerCLE · P | +5.4 | |
| 2 | Hal NewhouserDET · P | +4.9 | |
| 3 | Tex HughsonBOS · P | +3.2 | |
| 4 | Spud ChandlerNYY · P | +2.0 | |
| 5 | Johnny SainBSN · P | +1.8 | |
| 6 | Harry BrecheenSTL · P | +1.8 | |
| 7 | Dizzy TroutDET · P | +1.6 | |
| 8 | Ewell BlackwellCIN · P | +1.6 | |
| 9 | Johnny SchmitzCHC · P | +1.5 | |
| 10 | Jack HallettPIT · P | +1.5 |
All 16 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOS | 104-50 | +17.3 | +1.1 | +18.4 | S |
| 2 | DET | 92-62 | +6.0 | +6.9 | +12.9 | A |
| 3 | NYY | 87-67 | +10.1 | +2.2 | +12.3 | A |
| 4 | STL | 96-58 | +7.0 | +3.4 | +10.5 | B |
| 5 | BRO | 96-58 | +9.2 | -0.3 | +8.9 | B |
| 6 | CHC | 82-71 | +1.4 | +3.8 | +5.2 | C |
| 7 | BSN | 81-72 | +1.3 | -0.1 | +1.2 | C |
| 8 | SLB | 66-88 | +1.9 | -1.3 | +0.6 | C |
| 9 | PIT | 63-91 | -0.5 | +0.0 | -0.5 | D |
| 10 | WSH | 76-78 | +2.4 | -3.1 | -0.7 | D |
| 11 | CLE | 68-86 | -2.4 | -0.6 | -3.0 | D |
| 12 | NYG | 61-93 | +7.3 | -10.7 | -3.4 | D |
| 13 | PHI | 69-85 | -0.7 | -3.4 | -4.1 | F |
| 14 | CWS | 74-80 | -3.2 | -1.5 | -4.7 | F |
| 15 | CIN | 67-87 | -7.8 | +1.2 | -6.6 | F |
| 16 | PHA | 49-105 | -3.8 | -4.1 | -7.9 | F |
Negro Leagues, 1946
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 | Ted StrongKCM · RF | +1.2 | |
| 2 | Willard BrownKCM · CF | +1.2 | |
| 3 | Sam HairstonCIC · 3B | +0.7 | |
| 4 | Buck O'NeilKCM · 1B | +0.6 | |
| 5 | Frank WilliamsCAG · RF | +0.6 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Satchel PaigeKCM · P | +0.7 | |
| 2 | Angel GarciaCIC | +0.3 | |
| 3 | Manuel GodínezCIC | +0.3 | |
| 4 | Jim LaMarqueKCM | +0.3 | |
| 5 | Gentry JessupCAG | +0.2 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City Monarchs | 48-17 | +3.1 | C |
| 2 | Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns | 31-37 | +1.6 | C |
| 3 | Chicago American Giants | 30-49 | +1.0 | C |
| 4 | Birmingham Black Barons | 34-31 | +0.0 | C |
| 5 | Toledo Crawfords | — | +0.0 | C |
| 6 | Memphis Red Sox | 32-42 | +0.0 | C |
| 7 | Cleveland Buckeyes | 33-32 | -0.2 | D |
Negro National League (II)
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry KimbroBEG · CF | +2.5 | |
| 2 | Larry DobyNE · 2B | +2.5 | |
| 3 | Monte IrvinNE · SS | +2.1 | |
| 4 | Buck LeonardHOM · 1B | +1.9 | |
| 5 | Josh GibsonHOM · C | +1.7 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leon DayNE · P | +1.2 | |
| 2 | Henry McHenryPHS | +0.8 | |
| 3 | Barney BrownPHS | +0.7 | |
| 4 | Max ManningNE | +0.7 | |
| 5 | Leniel HookerNE · P | +0.7 |
| # | Club | W-L | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark Eagles | 46-16 | +9.9 | B |
| 2 | Homestead Grays | 26-30 | +3.2 | C |
| 3 | Philadelphia Stars | 27-28 | +2.9 | C |
| 4 | Baltimore Elite Giants | 27-29 | +2.0 | C |
| 5 | New York Cubans | 28-21 | -1.1 | D |
| 6 | New York Black Yankees | 8-38 | -3.0 | 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 1946 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.