The Best MLB Hitters by Decade According to WAR (Wins Above Replacement)?
Baseball has seen a different hitting star every decade
Baseball is an ever-evolving sport. As the years go by, stars fade in and out of notoriety and the envelope of skill and ability are constantly being pushed. Hitting a baseball may well be the single toughest thing to do in sports. The greatest hitters will only succeed about three times out of ten. Who have been the best hitters through the decades? WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is one statistic that measures effectiveness against a replacement-level substitute. By that metric (offense only- oWAR), here are the best hitters from each decade since 1900.
1900s- Honus Wagner, 80.8 oWAR: The bow-legged shortstop is still remembered as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. It can’t be understated how much he dominated the 1900s, during which time he batted a combined .352 with 51 home runs, 956 RBIs and 487 stolen bases. His oWAR is more than 40% greater than runner-up Nap Lajoie, who was no slouch himself ,yet lags well behind with 57.4.
1910s- Ty Cobb, 84.4 oWAR: There should be no surprise here since Cobb was the best hitter of the Deadball Era, unless it’s wondering how his total isn’t even higher. Playing for the Detroit Tigers, he tore through the 1910s, hitting…
