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. Pittsburgh (90-49)...best ERA (2.58)
2. Philadelphia (83-57)
3. Brooklyn (79-57)
4. St. Louis (76-64)...most runs scored (792)
5. Boston (69-69)...fewest runs scored (531)
6. Chicago (53-86)
7. New York (52-85)
8. Cincinnati (52-87)...worst ERA (4.17)

Leaders
Hits: Jesse Burkett-StL (226)
2B: Ed Delahanty-Phi/Tom Daly-Brook (38)
3B: Jimmy Sheckard-Brook (19)
HR: Sam Crawford-Cin (16)
OPS: Ed Delahanty-Phi (955)
SB: Honus Wagner-Pitt (49)

Strikeouts: Noodles Hahn-Cin (239)
Wins: Bill Donovan-Brook (25)
ERA: Jesse Tannehill-Pitt (2.18)

Big sticks
Pitt: Honus Wagner (Util): 911 OPS, 39 2B, 10 3B, 6 HR; Fred Clarke (OF): .453 slug, 26, 14, 6
Phi: Ed Delahanty (OF/1B): 955, 38, 16, 8; Elmer Flick (OF): .500 slug, 31, 17, 8
Brook: Jimmy Sheckard (OF): 944, 31, 19, 11; Tom Daly (2B): .444 slug, 38, 10, 3
StL: Jesse Burkett (OF): 949, 21, 17, 10; Snags Heidrich (OF): .470 slug, 24, 12, 6
Bos: Nope.
Chi: Topsy Hartsel (OF): 889, 25, 16, 7; Danny Green (OF): .421 slug, 16, 12, 6
NY: George Davis (SS): .418 slug, 21, 6, 7; George Van Haltren (OF): .414 slug, 22, 7, 1
Cin: Sam Crawford (OF): 903, 22, 16, 16; Jake Beckley (1B): .425 slug, 36, 13, 3

Live arms
Pitt: Jack Chesbro (6 SHO, 129 K/52 BB, 2.37 ERA)
Phi: Al Orth (6, 92/32, 2.27)
Brook: Bill Donovan (2, 226/152, 2.77)
StL: Jack Powell (2, 133/50, 3.54)
Bos: Vic Willis (6, 133/78, 2.36)
Chi: Long Tom Hughes (1, 225/115, 3.24)
NY: Christy Mathewson (5, 221/97, 2.41)...first full season, traded by Reds before the season...oops
Cin: Noodles Hahn (2, 239/69, 2.71)

Notes

• About 30 regulars from the 1900 season jumped to the American League for the 1901 season.
• Scoring down about 12% (4.63 runs/team/game) due to new foul-strike rule.