Baseball DIY

Stick with me, folks. For my own edification, I'm attempting to do something like a year-in-review for every National League and American League season from 1901 on. Why start with 1901? Because that's when (a) the American League became a major league and (b) the National League started counting foul balls as strikes, pretty much bringing the game up to its current rules and regulations. The "Big sticks" group will cover each team's two best hitters, provided that they have hitters who either hit for an >800 OPS or >.400 slugging percentage (if I'm too lazy to add a player's on-base and slugging percentages that day). I won't list batting averages, because I prefer OPS; it tells you more about a player's abilities. "Live arms" will list each team's best pitcher (in my opinion) based on shutouts (though this may change as I get closer to recent years), strikeouts/walks, and ERA. As always, feel free to add anything I've missed.

Standings
1. Chicago (83-53)...most runs scored (819), best ERA (2.98)
2. Boston (79-57)
3. Detroit (74-61)
4. Philadelphia (74-62)
5. Baltimore (68-65)
6. Washington (61-72)
7. Cleveland (58-82)...worst ERA (4.12)
8. Milwaukee (48-89)...fewest runs scored (641)

Leaders
Hits: Nap Lajoie-Phi (232)
2B: Nap Lajoie-Phi (48)
3B: Jimmy Williams-Bal/Bill Keister-Bal (21)
HR: Nap Lajoie-Phi (14)
OPS: Nap Lajoie-Phi (1106)
SB: Frank Isbell-Chi (52)

Strikeouts: Cy Young-Bos (158)
Wins: Cy Young-Bos (33)
ERA: Cy Young-Bos (1.62)...they named an award after him, you know.

Big sticks
Chi: Fred Hartman (3B): .431 slug, 23 2B, 13 3B, 3 HR; Dummy Hoy (OF): 807 OPS, 23, 11, 2
Bos: Buck Freeman (1B): 920, 22, 15, 12; Jimmy Collins (2B): .492 slug, 42, 16, 6
Det: Kid Elberfeld (SS): .428 slug, 21, 11, 3
Phi: Nap Lajoie (2B): 1106, 48, 13, 14; Socks Seybold (OF): 901, 25, 12, 8
Bal: Jimmy Williams (2B): 883, 26, 21, 7; Mike Donlin (OF): 883, 22, 14, 5
Wash: Mike Grady (1B/C): .470 slug, 17, 10, 9
Cle: Nope.
Mil: John Anderson (1B): .476 slug, 46, 7, 8

Live arms
Chi: Clark Griffith (5 SHO, 67/50, 2.66)
Bos: Cy Young (5, 158/37, 1.63)
Det: Ed Siever (2, 85/65, 3.24)
Phi: Chick Fraser (2, 110/132, 3.81)
Bal: Joe McGinnity (1, 75/96, 3.56)
Wash: Casey Patten (4, 109/74, 3.93)
Cle: Earl Moore (4, 99/107, 2.90)
Mil: Nope.

Notes

• The American League's first year as a de facto "major league" (the A. L. did not honor reserve clauses in National League players' contracts).
• The A. L. did not adopt the foul-strike rule that the N. L. implemented for their 1901 season.
• Lajoie wins Triple Crown (batting average, HR, RBI).
• 5.35 runs/team/game.
• Connie Mack's first year as A's manager.