Best MLB Players of 1978, Ranked by NUT
1978 seasonJim Rice (BOS) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 1978 by NUT at +6.3, and Ron Guidry (NYY) the most productive pitcher at +5.0.
3 of 380 qualified hitters and 6 of 280 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers (95-67) had the highest team NUT at +15.0; the best record belonged to New York Yankees (100-63), #8 by team NUT.
New York Yankees beat Los Angeles Dodgers 4–2 in the World Series, as the lower team-NUT club (+6.7 to +15.0).
Free agency era. Players can change clubs; the DH spreads through the American League.
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 | Jim RiceBOS · LF | +6.3 | |
| 2 | Jeff BurroughsATL · LF | +4.9 | |
| 3 | Dave ParkerPIT · RF | +4.8 | |
| 4 | Greg LuzinskiPHI · LF | +4.0 | |
| 5 | Larry HisleMIL · LF | +4.0 | |
| 6 | George FosterCIN · LF | +3.8 | |
| 7 | Andre ThorntonCLE · 1B | +3.8 | |
| 8 | Reggie SmithLAD · RF | +3.7 | |
| 9 | Jack ClarkSF · RF | +3.6 | |
| 10 | Ken SingletonBAL · RF | +3.5 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ron GuidryNYY · P | +5.0 | |
| 2 | J.R. RichardHOU · P | +3.9 | |
| 3 | Phil NiekroATL · P | +3.8 | |
| 4 | Gaylord PerrySD · P | +3.3 | |
| 5 | Jon MatlackTEX · P | +3.2 | |
| 6 | Vida BlueSF · P | +3.2 | |
| 7 | Mike CaldwellMIL · P | +2.7 | |
| 8 | Pete VuckovichSTL · P | +2.6 | |
| 9 | Bert BlylevenPIT · P | +2.4 | |
| 10 | Bob KnepperSF · P | +2.2 |
All 26 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LAD | 95-67 | +9.9 | +5.1 | +15.0 | A |
| 2 | MIL | 93-69 | +12.4 | +0.3 | +12.8 | A |
| 3 | BOS | 99-64 | +10.4 | -1.8 | +8.5 | B |
| 4 | PHI | 90-72 | +3.1 | +4.9 | +7.9 | B |
| 5 | CIN | 92-69 | +6.8 | +0.9 | +7.7 | B |
| 6 | TEX | 87-75 | +2.6 | +4.7 | +7.3 | B |
| 7 | SF | 89-73 | -3.0 | +9.7 | +6.7 | C |
| 8 | NYY | 100-63 | +1.9 | +4.8 | +6.7 | C |
| 9 | BAL | 90-71 | +3.8 | +2.0 | +5.9 | C |
| 10 | PIT | 88-73 | -0.2 | +4.7 | +4.5 | C |
| 11 | HOU | 74-88 | -3.0 | +7.4 | +4.4 | C |
| 12 | KC | 92-70 | +2.5 | +0.1 | +2.6 | C |
| 13 | SD | 84-78 | -5.8 | +8.3 | +2.5 | C |
| 14 | MIN | 73-89 | -0.5 | +1.0 | +0.6 | C |
| 15 | DET | 86-76 | +4.8 | -4.8 | +0.0 | C |
| 16 | STL | 69-93 | -5.7 | +2.7 | -3.0 | D |
| 17 | CLE | 69-90 | -2.8 | -0.7 | -3.4 | D |
| 18 | CHC | 79-83 | -2.1 | -1.4 | -3.5 | D |
| 19 | NYM | 66-96 | -4.8 | +1.1 | -3.7 | F |
| 20 | LAA | 87-75 | -2.8 | -1.6 | -4.4 | F |
| 21 | MON | 76-86 | -1.7 | -3.3 | -5.0 | F |
| 22 | ATL | 69-93 | -2.0 | -4.5 | -6.5 | F |
| 23 | CWS | 71-90 | -2.5 | -6.6 | -9.1 | F |
| 24 | OAK | 69-93 | -8.7 | -0.6 | -9.2 | F |
| 25 | TOR | 59-102 | -8.8 | -8.8 | -17.6 | F |
| 26 | SEA | 56-104 | -7.0 | -12.6 | -19.6 | F |
How the 1978 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.