Note that this visual is based on the previous version of the Hall of wWAR.
Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is a great tool for finding the overall value a player provided… over a replacement player. But, when talking about the Hall of Fame (as I often like to do), should we really be comparing candidates to replacement players? It makes sense to do so when discussing active major league players and roster construction. However, when looking back on a player’s career and comparing him to the all time greats, perhaps we should hold him to a higher standard.
One of the complaints about using WAR as a Hall of Fame measuring stick is that it rewards “compilers”, or players who lasted a long time without necessarily providing a great deal of value. That’s because a player who hangs around for twenty years at a league average level is actually a very valuable commodity when building a team—but he is not a Hall of Famer. In the Hall of wWAR, I’ve tried to account for this by double-counting WAR above 3.0 (for Wins Above Excellence) and triple-counting WAR above 6.0 (for Wins Above MVP). But what would happen if we just threw everything away that lies between those “replacement” and “average” lines?
Enter Wins Above Average.
The graph below displays all 278 position players with 40+ WAR through 2009. Why only through 2009? I worked from Sean Smith’s WAR spreadsheets (for convenience—the WAR components are more flexible than in Baseball-Reference’s Play Index). I added each batting, fielding, baserunning, and positional component together since they are all normalized to league average (there is an additional replacement adjustment that I’m leaving out). Then, I ran those through a run-to-win converter (Tango’s RPW) based on the scoring environment of that season. Finally, I added them all up to get career Wins Above Average.
The graph displays each player’s Wins Above Average and their Replacement Wins (which is WAR accumulated between the replacement level and the average level—in other words, WAR − WAA). Beneath the graph is the same data in table form.
Name | WAR | WAA | RepW | WAA% |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ruth, Babe | 172.0 | 140.5 | 31.5 | 81.7% |
Bonds, Barry | 171.8 | 131.3 | 40.5 | 76.4% |
Cobb, Ty | 159.4 | 114.8 | 44.6 | 72.0% |
Mays, Willie | 154.7 | 113.5 | 41.2 | 73.4% |
Aaron, Hank | 141.6 | 94.2 | 47.4 | 66.5% |
Wagner, Honus | 134.5 | 100.6 | 33.9 | 74.8% |
Speaker, Tris | 133.0 | 93.8 | 39.2 | 70.5% |
Hornsby, Rogers | 127.8 | 99.2 | 28.6 | 77.6% |
Musial, Stan | 127.8 | 84.7 | 43.1 | 66.3% |
Collins, Eddie | 126.7 | 88.2 | 38.5 | 69.6% |
Williams, Ted | 125.3 | 98.5 | 26.8 | 78.6% |
Mantle, Mickey | 120.2 | 90.0 | 30.2 | 74.8% |
Gehrig, Lou | 118.4 | 90.9 | 27.5 | 76.8% |
Henderson, Rickey | 113.1 | 74.6 | 38.5 | 65.9% |
Ott, Mel | 109.3 | 71.5 | 37.8 | 65.4% |
Schmidt, Mike | 108.3 | 76.6 | 31.7 | 70.8% |
Robinson, Frank | 107.4 | 66.6 | 40.8 | 62.0% |
Lajoie, Nap | 104.2 | 70.3 | 33.9 | 67.4% |
Morgan, Joe | 103.5 | 68.9 | 34.6 | 66.6% |
Anson, Cap | 99.5 | 63.4 | 36.1 | 63.8% |
Rodriguez, Alex | 99.0 | 68.8 | 30.2 | 69.5% |
Mathews, Eddie | 98.3 | 64.7 | 33.6 | 65.8% |
Foxx, Jimmie | 94.1 | 66.7 | 27.4 | 70.9% |
Kaline, Al | 91.0 | 56.6 | 34.4 | 62.2% |
Davis, George | 90.7 | 59.0 | 31.7 | 65.0% |
Ripken, Cal | 89.9 | 50.8 | 39.1 | 56.5% |
Boggs, Wade | 89.0 | 57.5 | 31.5 | 64.6% |
Yastrzemski, Carl | 88.7 | 46.3 | 42.4 | 52.2% |
Connor, Roger | 87.2 | 58.5 | 28.7 | 67.0% |
Brett, George | 85.0 | 49.5 | 35.5 | 58.2% |
Clemente, Roberto | 83.8 | 50.5 | 33.3 | 60.3% |
Brouthers, Dan | 83.7 | 61.5 | 22.2 | 73.5% |
DiMaggio, Joe | 83.6 | 63.8 | 19.8 | 76.3% |
Gehringer, Charlie | 80.9 | 51.0 | 29.9 | 63.1% |
Bagwell, Jeff | 79.9 | 52.4 | 27.5 | 65.6% |
Griffey, Ken | 79.3 | 45.0 | 34.3 | 56.8% |
Carew, Rod | 79.1 | 47.0 | 32.1 | 59.4% |
Jones, Chipper | 76.9 | 49.8 | 27.1 | 64.8% |
Yount, Robin | 76.9 | 40.2 | 36.7 | 52.2% |
Pujols, Albert | 76.6 | 58.2 | 18.4 | 75.9% |
Crawford, Sam | 76.6 | 38.9 | 37.7 | 50.8% |
Dahlen, Bill | 75.9 | 44.9 | 31.0 | 59.1% |
Thomas, Frank | 75.9 | 44.4 | 31.5 | 58.4% |
Vaughan, Arky | 75.6 | 50.2 | 25.4 | 66.4% |
Rose, Pete | 75.3 | 28.2 | 47.1 | 37.4% |
Frisch, Frankie | 74.8 | 45.5 | 29.3 | 60.8% |
Molitor, Paul | 74.8 | 39.5 | 35.3 | 52.8% |
Delahanty, Ed | 74.7 | 50.2 | 24.5 | 67.1% |
Jackson, Reggie | 74.6 | 36.9 | 37.7 | 49.4% |
Waner, Paul | 73.8 | 41.3 | 32.5 | 56.0% |
Clarke, Fred | 73.4 | 44.8 | 28.6 | 61.0% |
Bench, Johnny | 71.3 | 46.2 | 25.1 | 64.8% |
Mize, Johnny | 70.2 | 44.1 | 26.1 | 62.9% |
Whitaker, Lou | 69.7 | 39.7 | 30.0 | 56.9% |
Hamilton, Billy | 69.6 | 48.7 | 20.9 | 69.9% |
Heilmann, Harry | 69.4 | 40.3 | 29.1 | 58.0% |
Appling, Luke | 69.3 | 40.8 | 28.5 | 58.9% |
Robinson, Brooks | 69.1 | 38.8 | 30.3 | 56.2% |
Larkin, Barry | 68.9 | 42.4 | 26.5 | 61.5% |
Jeter, Derek | 68.8 | 38.9 | 29.9 | 56.6% |
Gwynn, Tony | 68.4 | 37.6 | 30.8 | 54.9% |
Burkett, Jesse | 68.0 | 40.0 | 28.0 | 58.8% |
Grich, Bobby | 67.6 | 42.7 | 24.9 | 63.2% |
Snider, Duke | 67.5 | 38.8 | 28.7 | 57.4% |
Walker, Larry | 67.3 | 43.0 | 24.3 | 63.9% |
Fisk, Carlton | 67.3 | 36.2 | 31.1 | 53.8% |
Martinez, Edgar | 67.2 | 39.8 | 27.4 | 59.2% |
Trammell, Alan | 66.9 | 39.1 | 27.8 | 58.5% |
Thome, Jim | 66.8 | 36.5 | 30.3 | 54.6% |
Edmonds, Jim | 66.7 | 42.3 | 24.4 | 63.4% |
Reese, Pee Wee | 66.7 | 36.7 | 30.0 | 55.0% |
Rodriguez, Ivan | 66.7 | 33.8 | 32.9 | 50.7% |
Murray, Eddie | 66.7 | 27.6 | 39.1 | 41.4% |
Santo, Ron | 66.4 | 37.0 | 29.4 | 55.8% |
Carter, Gary | 66.3 | 39.6 | 26.7 | 59.8% |
Biggio, Craig | 66.2 | 31.5 | 34.7 | 47.6% |
Ramirez, Manny | 66.0 | 36.3 | 29.7 | 55.1% |
Palmeiro, Rafael | 66.0 | 27.2 | 38.8 | 41.2% |
Lofton, Kenny | 65.3 | 37.1 | 28.2 | 56.8% |
McCovey, Willie | 65.1 | 30.8 | 34.3 | 47.4% |
Smith, Ozzie | 64.6 | 35.6 | 29.0 | 55.1% |
Raines, Tim | 64.6 | 32.1 | 32.5 | 49.6% |
Banks, Ernie | 64.4 | 28.7 | 35.7 | 44.5% |
Baker, Home Run | 63.7 | 41.6 | 22.1 | 65.4% |
Simmons, Al | 63.6 | 34.4 | 29.2 | 54.1% |
Alomar, Roberto | 63.5 | 31.8 | 31.7 | 50.0% |
Smith, Reggie | 63.4 | 38.1 | 25.3 | 60.0% |
Sheffield, Gary | 63.3 | 30.0 | 33.3 | 47.4% |
Robinson, Jackie | 63.2 | 43.0 | 20.2 | 68.1% |
McGwire, Mark | 63.1 | 39.0 | 24.1 | 61.8% |
Goslin, Goose | 63.0 | 33.3 | 29.7 | 52.8% |
Jackson, Shoeless Joe | 62.9 | 43.1 | 19.8 | 68.5% |
Cronin, Joe | 62.5 | 36.4 | 26.1 | 58.3% |
Rolen, Scott | 62.2 | 40.4 | 21.8 | 64.9% |
Sandberg, Ryne | 62.0 | 34.8 | 27.2 | 56.2% |
Berra, Yogi | 61.9 | 38.3 | 23.6 | 61.9% |
Evans, Dwight | 61.8 | 29.2 | 32.6 | 47.2% |
Nettles, Graig | 61.6 | 30.0 | 31.6 | 48.8% |
Beckley, Jake | 61.5 | 29.9 | 31.6 | 48.6% |
Allen, Dick | 61.2 | 34.8 | 26.4 | 56.9% |
Killebrew, Harmon | 61.1 | 30.4 | 30.7 | 49.7% |
Hernandez, Keith | 61.0 | 33.6 | 27.4 | 55.0% |
Bell, Buddy | 60.8 | 31.1 | 29.7 | 51.2% |
Keeler, Willie | 60.8 | 30.6 | 30.2 | 50.3% |
Bando, Sal | 60.6 | 34.8 | 25.8 | 57.4% |
Randolph, Willie | 60.5 | 33.4 | 27.1 | 55.2% |
Wallace, Bobby | 60.5 | 31.1 | 29.4 | 51.3% |
Wynn, Jim | 59.8 | 33.7 | 26.1 | 56.3% |
Sosa, Sammy | 59.7 | 30.2 | 29.5 | 50.6% |
Winfield, Dave | 59.7 | 20.1 | 39.6 | 33.6% |
Kent, Jeff | 59.4 | 31.8 | 27.6 | 53.6% |
Piazza, Mike | 59.1 | 35.5 | 23.6 | 60.0% |
Magee, Sherry | 59.1 | 33.1 | 26.0 | 56.1% |
Glasscock, Jack | 58.7 | 32.4 | 26.3 | 55.2% |
Andruw, Jones | 58.4 | 35.5 | 22.9 | 60.7% |
Boyer, Ken | 58.4 | 30.7 | 27.7 | 52.7% |
Ashburn, Richie | 58.0 | 27.3 | 30.7 | 47.1% |
McPhee, Bid | 57.9 | 31.9 | 26.0 | 55.1% |
Wheat, Zack | 57.8 | 28.3 | 29.5 | 49.0% |
Clark, Will | 57.6 | 30.5 | 27.1 | 52.9% |
Helton, Todd | 57.5 | 35.1 | 22.4 | 61.1% |
Stargell, Willie | 57.5 | 26.0 | 31.5 | 45.2% |
Evans, Darrell | 57.3 | 24.3 | 33.0 | 42.3% |
Davis, Willie | 57.2 | 26.7 | 30.5 | 46.7% |
Williams, Billy | 57.2 | 21.9 | 35.3 | 38.3% |
Guerrero, Vladimir | 57.1 | 33.0 | 24.1 | 57.8% |
Abreu, Bobby | 57.1 | 32.3 | 24.8 | 56.6% |
Bonds, Bobby | 57.0 | 32.8 | 24.2 | 57.5% |
Dawson, Andre | 57.0 | 23.5 | 33.5 | 41.3% |
Greenberg, Hank | 56.8 | 39.8 | 17.0 | 70.0% |
Olerud, John | 56.8 | 26.9 | 29.9 | 47.4% |
Flick, Elmer | 56.7 | 35.0 | 21.7 | 61.7% |
Boudreau, Lou | 56.0 | 39.6 | 16.4 | 70.8% |
Medwick, Joe | 55.8 | 29.1 | 26.7 | 52.2% |
Herman, Billy | 55.6 | 29.6 | 26.0 | 53.3% |
Torre, Joe | 55.6 | 26.9 | 28.7 | 48.3% |
Kelley, Joe | 55.5 | 30.6 | 24.9 | 55.2% |
Ventura, Robin | 55.5 | 28.7 | 26.8 | 51.7% |
Terry, Bill | 55.4 | 33.9 | 21.5 | 61.2% |
Clark, Jack | 55.0 | 27.3 | 27.7 | 49.6% |
Gordon, Joe | 54.9 | 38.5 | 16.4 | 70.1% |
Hack, Stan | 54.8 | 28.6 | 26.2 | 52.2% |
Beltran, Carlos | 54.7 | 33.7 | 21.0 | 61.6% |
Dickey, Bill | 54.4 | 33.2 | 21.2 | 61.0% |
Slaughter, Enos | 54.1 | 23.4 | 30.7 | 43.3% |
O'Rourke, Jim | 53.9 | 29.1 | 24.8 | 53.9% |
Johnson, Bob | 53.2 | 31.8 | 21.4 | 59.8% |
Collins, Jimmy | 53.0 | 29.0 | 24.0 | 54.7% |
Cash, Norm | 52.9 | 28.0 | 24.9 | 52.9% |
Minoso, Minnie | 52.8 | 31.2 | 21.6 | 59.1% |
Giambi, Jason | 52.7 | 26.2 | 26.5 | 49.8% |
Hooper, Harry | 52.5 | 20.1 | 32.4 | 38.2% |
Elliott, Bob | 52.3 | 24.4 | 27.9 | 46.7% |
Cedeno, Cesar | 52.2 | 27.1 | 25.1 | 51.9% |
Cruz, Jose | 52.2 | 23.9 | 28.3 | 45.7% |
Cey, Ron | 52.0 | 26.4 | 25.6 | 50.7% |
Ewing, Buck | 51.8 | 33.1 | 18.7 | 63.9% |
Sheckard, Jimmy | 51.8 | 25.0 | 26.8 | 48.3% |
Cochrane, Mickey | 51.2 | 31.8 | 19.4 | 62.1% |
Rice, Sam | 51.1 | 19.4 | 31.7 | 37.9% |
Leach, Tommy | 50.9 | 25.4 | 25.5 | 49.8% |
Suzuki, Ichiro | 50.7 | 30.6 | 20.1 | 60.4% |
Carey, Max | 50.6 | 21.4 | 29.2 | 42.3% |
McGriff, Fred | 50.5 | 19.4 | 31.1 | 38.4% |
Perez, Tony | 50.5 | 16.3 | 34.2 | 32.2% |
Sisler, George | 50.4 | 23.6 | 26.8 | 46.7% |
Simmons, Ted | 50.4 | 21.6 | 28.8 | 42.9% |
Hartnett, Gabby | 50.3 | 26.8 | 23.5 | 53.3% |
Lemon, Chet | 49.9 | 25.1 | 24.8 | 50.3% |
Aparicio, Luis | 49.9 | 21.7 | 28.2 | 43.4% |
Duffy, Hugh | 49.6 | 28.3 | 21.3 | 57.1% |
Cuyler, Kiki | 49.6 | 26.1 | 23.5 | 52.6% |
Chance, Frank | 49.5 | 34.3 | 15.2 | 69.2% |
Downing, Brian | 49.4 | 20.0 | 29.4 | 40.4% |
McGraw, John | 49.3 | 33.5 | 15.8 | 68.0% |
Pinson, Vada | 49.3 | 13.9 | 35.4 | 28.2% |
Tinker, Joe | 49.2 | 33.3 | 15.9 | 67.6% |
Tenace, Gene | 48.7 | 30.1 | 18.6 | 61.8% |
Kelly, King | 48.5 | 30.0 | 18.5 | 61.8% |
Evers, Johnny | 48.4 | 29.6 | 18.8 | 61.2% |
Sewell, Joe | 48.4 | 22.4 | 26.0 | 46.2% |
Lazzeri, Tony | 48.3 | 24.8 | 23.5 | 51.4% |
Phillips, Tony | 48.2 | 20.6 | 27.6 | 42.7% |
Jennings, Hughie | 48.0 | 28.8 | 19.2 | 60.1% |
Burks, Ellis | 47.9 | 22.3 | 25.6 | 46.5% |
Jones, Fielder | 47.8 | 24.7 | 23.1 | 51.6% |
Doerr, Bobby | 47.7 | 28.1 | 19.6 | 58.8% |
Doby, Larry | 47.4 | 30.0 | 17.4 | 63.2% |
Lynn, Fred | 47.3 | 22.5 | 24.8 | 47.5% |
Williams, Bernie | 47.3 | 18.7 | 28.6 | 39.6% |
Childs, Cupid | 47.2 | 27.2 | 20.0 | 57.5% |
Doyle, Larry | 47.2 | 25.7 | 21.5 | 54.5% |
Grace, Mark | 47.1 | 20.1 | 27.0 | 42.7% |
Harrah, Toby | 47.1 | 19.5 | 27.6 | 41.5% |
Stovey, Harry | 46.8 | 32.9 | 13.9 | 70.3% |
Cepeda, Orlando | 46.8 | 16.1 | 30.7 | 34.3% |
Thompson, Sam | 46.7 | 28.0 | 18.7 | 59.9% |
Damon, Johnny | 46.7 | 16.9 | 29.8 | 36.2% |
Cameron, Mike | 46.6 | 23.4 | 23.2 | 50.2% |
Roush, Edd | 46.5 | 24.0 | 22.5 | 51.7% |
Butler, Brett | 46.5 | 19.0 | 27.5 | 40.9% |
Groh, Heinie | 46.4 | 26.8 | 19.6 | 57.8% |
Bancroft, Dave | 46.4 | 24.5 | 21.9 | 52.8% |
Colavito, Rocky | 46.4 | 24.2 | 22.2 | 52.2% |
Gonzalez, Luis | 46.3 | 16.7 | 29.6 | 36.0% |
Fregosi, Jim | 46.1 | 25.1 | 21.0 | 54.5% |
Gore, George | 45.9 | 29.1 | 16.8 | 63.3% |
Tiernan, Mike | 45.9 | 26.4 | 19.5 | 57.6% |
Kiner, Ralph | 45.9 | 24.2 | 21.7 | 52.6% |
Campaneris, Bert | 45.3 | 19.1 | 26.2 | 42.2% |
Griffin, Mike | 45.2 | 27.7 | 17.5 | 61.4% |
Staub, Rusty | 45.2 | 7.6 | 37.6 | 16.8% |
Burns, George | 45.1 | 22.0 | 23.1 | 48.7% |
Van Haltren, George | 45.1 | 21.4 | 23.7 | 47.6% |
Walker, Dixie | 45.1 | 19.6 | 25.5 | 43.5% |
Averill, Earl | 45.0 | 24.4 | 20.6 | 54.3% |
Konetchy, Ed | 44.9 | 20.8 | 24.1 | 46.4% |
Ryan, Jimmy | 44.9 | 20.0 | 24.9 | 44.5% |
Puckett, Kirby | 44.8 | 21.7 | 23.1 | 48.4% |
Cross, Lave | 44.8 | 14.8 | 30.0 | 33.0% |
Berkman, Lance | 44.7 | 26.4 | 18.3 | 59.1% |
Combs, Earle | 44.7 | 25.5 | 19.2 | 57.1% |
Long, Herman | 44.6 | 19.5 | 25.1 | 43.8% |
Hodges, Gil | 44.6 | 16.7 | 27.9 | 37.4% |
White, Roy | 44.5 | 19.6 | 24.9 | 44.0% |
Posada, Jorge | 44.4 | 22.3 | 22.1 | 50.3% |
Myer, Buddy | 44.4 | 19.5 | 24.9 | 43.9% |
Fox, Nellie | 44.4 | 18.3 | 26.1 | 41.1% |
Drew, J.D. | 44.3 | 27.5 | 16.8 | 62.2% |
Delgado, Carlos | 44.2 | 17.4 | 26.8 | 39.4% |
Murphy, Dale | 44.2 | 15.7 | 28.5 | 35.5% |
Manush, Heinie | 44.1 | 18.3 | 25.8 | 41.5% |
Galan, Augie | 44.0 | 22.7 | 21.3 | 51.5% |
Williams, Matt | 43.9 | 21.8 | 22.1 | 49.7% |
Schang, Wally | 43.8 | 22.2 | 21.6 | 50.6% |
Judge, Joe | 43.7 | 14.7 | 29.0 | 33.5% |
Veach, Bobby | 43.6 | 19.1 | 24.5 | 43.9% |
Stephens, Vern | 43.5 | 25.6 | 17.9 | 58.9% |
Keller, Charlie | 43.4 | 32.0 | 11.4 | 73.7% |
Munson, Thurman | 43.4 | 25.0 | 18.4 | 57.7% |
Freehan, Bill | 43.3 | 23.2 | 20.1 | 53.5% |
Jackson, Travis | 43.3 | 23.0 | 20.3 | 53.1% |
Vizquel, Omar | 43.2 | 7.8 | 35.4 | 18.1% |
White, Deacon | 43.1 | 22.3 | 20.8 | 51.8% |
Camilli, Dolph | 43.0 | 22.1 | 20.9 | 51.3% |
Gardner, Larry | 43.0 | 18.4 | 24.6 | 42.8% |
Strawberry, Darryl | 42.9 | 21.8 | 21.1 | 50.8% |
Fletcher, Art | 42.8 | 28.7 | 14.1 | 67.1% |
Thomas, Roy | 42.8 | 24.3 | 18.5 | 56.7% |
Tenney, Fred | 42.8 | 17.4 | 25.4 | 40.6% |
Giles, Brian | 42.7 | 20.3 | 22.4 | 47.6% |
Garciaparra, Nomar | 42.6 | 23.8 | 18.8 | 56.0% |
Foster, George | 42.5 | 17.8 | 24.7 | 41.9% |
Oliva, Tony | 42.4 | 21.0 | 21.4 | 49.6% |
Rizzuto, Phil | 41.8 | 25.4 | 16.4 | 60.7% |
Hines, Paul | 41.8 | 21.2 | 20.6 | 50.7% |
Canseco, Jose | 41.8 | 16.7 | 25.1 | 39.9% |
Bresnahan, Roger | 41.6 | 26.1 | 15.5 | 62.8% |
Van Slyke, Andy | 41.6 | 21.2 | 20.4 | 51.0% |
Dykstra, Lenny | 41.5 | 26.0 | 15.5 | 62.6% |
Rice, Jim | 41.5 | 13.9 | 27.6 | 33.5% |
White, Devon | 41.3 | 17.8 | 23.5 | 43.1% |
Chapman, Ben | 41.2 | 19.6 | 21.6 | 47.6% |
Knoblauch, Chuck | 41.2 | 18.6 | 22.6 | 45.0% |
Pratt, Del | 40.8 | 16.0 | 24.8 | 39.3% |
Richardson, Hardy | 40.6 | 23.0 | 17.6 | 56.6% |
Porter, Darrell | 40.6 | 20.2 | 20.4 | 49.6% |
Tejada, Miguel | 40.6 | 14.9 | 25.7 | 36.6% |
Singleton, Ken | 40.6 | 13.1 | 27.5 | 32.2% |
Franco, Julio | 40.6 | 11.2 | 29.4 | 27.6% |
Fournier, Jack | 40.5 | 21.5 | 19.0 | 53.1% |
Finley, Steve | 40.5 | 10.5 | 30.0 | 26.0% |
Peckinpaugh, Roger | 40.4 | 15.5 | 24.9 | 38.4% |
Otis, Amos | 40.4 | 13.5 | 26.9 | 33.4% |
Schoendienst, Red | 40.4 | 11.4 | 29.0 | 28.3% |
McDougald, Gil | 40.0 | 25.6 | 14.4 | 64.0% |
Berger, Wally | 40.0 | 22.2 | 17.8 | 55.5% |
McKean, Ed | 40.0 | 18.6 | 21.4 | 46.6% |