The Yankees had 8 full-time players in 2009 with an OPS+ of over 100. The lowest of the bunch was the late Johnny Damon’s 126.
So using Damon’s OPS+ as a baseline, we took a look back into the depths of baseball history to see how many teams have boasted 8 full-time hitters with a minimum OPS+ of 126. And history shows no team other than the 2009 Yankees have achieved such a feat.
| Rk | Year | Tm | Lg | #Matching |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2009 | New York Yankees | AL | 8 |
| 2 | 1993 | Detroit Tigers | AL | 6 |
| 3 | 1978 | Milwaukee Brewers | AL | 6 |
| 4 | 1968 | Detroit Tigers | AL | 6 |
| 5 | 2003 | St. Louis Cardinals | NL | 5 |
| 6 | 1987 | Detroit Tigers | AL | 5 |
| 7 | 1983 | Baltimore Orioles | AL | 5 |
| 8 | 1979 | Milwaukee Brewers | AL | 5 |
| 9 | 1978 | Los Angeles Dodgers | NL | 5 |
| 10 | 1972 | Kansas City Royals | AL | 5 |
8 Comments
Voomo Zanzibar January 31, 2010 15:40
Nice.
That list of teams with 5 is incomplete, though.
The 1927 and 1939 Yankees had 5.
Oh, and i checked for highest ops+ for anybody with at least 73 PA in one season. The leaders are:
1923 Babe Ruth – 239
1921 Babe Ruth – 239
1998 Shane Spencer – 236
1941 Ted Williams – 235
K.B.D. January 31, 2010 15:52
Let me guess, Shane Spencer had 73 plate appearances in 1998? 73 PAs is nothing.
Voomo Zanzibar January 31, 2010 16:09
28th round pick
Spent 8 seasons in minors.
First at bat ends when Bernie Williams is caught stealing.
Gets sent down after playing one more game a week later.
Called up a month and a half later.
Plays half of one game.
Sent down for another month and a half.
Finally gets to play.
Struggles for a week.
Then does this over his last 54 PAs
.440 .481 1.140 1.621
With 10 homers.
Hits 2 homers in the Divisionals
Wins the World Series…
Then never had an ops+ over 100 again for the rest of his mediocre career.
What a ride!
I’d love to have a beer with Shane Spencer.
Steve January 31, 2010 16:56
I’d be shocked if Spencer wasn’t juicing
AndrewYF January 31, 2010 18:36
You’d think with the best group of OPS+ hitters in the history of the game, they might have scored more than 915 runs. Was Cano’s failure with runners in scoring position that dramatic to cause the team to lose ~50 runs?
Voomo Zanzibar January 31, 2010 20:11
Steve thats just unnecessary.
Besides, McGwire explained that steroids dont really help you hit homeruns.
BronxByTheBay January 31, 2010 22:10
What, like you don’t think I can get an attractive woman and that I settled?
Last Night I Dreamed I Was Playing Centerfield in Yankee Stadium in My Underwear February 1, 2010 14:39
How did you define “full-time”. Number of plate appearances? Qualified for batting title? Your table appears wrong in any case.