Baseball is a sport that has been around for more than a century. Its history is deep and filled with great players, teams, and moments. One of the most important measures of a player’s success is their Wins Above Replacement (WAR), which is a statistic used to measure a player’s overall value to their team. In this article, we’ll take a look at the players with the highest WAR in baseball history.
Introduction to WAR
What Is WAR?
WAR stands for Wins Above Replacement, and it is a statistic used to measure a player’s overall value to their team. WAR is calculated by comparing a player’s performance to that of a “replacement” player, which is a player that could have been acquired at minimal cost. In other words, WAR measures how much better a player is than the average player that could have been acquired at minimal cost.
How Is WAR Calculated?
WAR is calculated by looking at a variety of factors, such as a player’s batting, base running, fielding, and pitching. Each of these factors is weighted differently, and the total number is then used to calculate a player’s WAR.
The Highest WAR in Baseball History
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth holds the record for highest career WAR in baseball history, with a total of 163.2. Ruth was an outstanding hitter, and he also had a knack for drawing walks. He was an excellent fielder and a capable pitcher, and he played for the Yankees for 15 seasons.
Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb is second on the list, with a total WAR of 149.5. Cobb was a great hitter and an outstanding fielder, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play the game. He played for the Tigers for 22 seasons.
Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson is third on the list, with a total WAR of 143.8. Johnson was an outstanding pitcher, and he was known for his ability to throw the fastest pitches of his era. He played for the Washington Senators for 21 seasons.
Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner is fourth on the list, with a total WAR of 138.5. Wagner was an outstanding hitter and fielder, and he was one of the most popular players of his era. He played for the Pirates for 21 seasons.
Cy Young
Cy Young is fifth on the list, with a total WAR of 136.3. Young was an outstanding pitcher, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. He played for the Red Sox, Indians, and Braves for 22 seasons.
Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds is sixth on the list, with a total WAR of 132.2. Bonds was an outstanding hitter and fielder, and he was one of the most feared batters of his era. He played for the Pirates, Giants, and Cardinals for 22 seasons.
Willie Mays
Willie Mays is seventh on the list, with a total WAR of 130.8. Mays was an outstanding hitter and fielder, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He played for the Giants and Mets for 22 seasons.
Stan Musial
Stan Musial is eighth on the list, with a total WAR of 129.8. Musial was an outstanding hitter and fielder, and he was one of the most popular players of his era. He played for the Cardinals for 22 seasons.
Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron is ninth on the list, with a total WAR of 128.4. Aaron was an outstanding hitter and fielder, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. He played for the Braves and Brewers for 23 seasons.
Ted Williams
Ted Williams is tenth on the list, with a total WAR of 128.3. Williams was an outstanding hitter, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest hitters of all time. He played for the Red Sox for 19 seasons.
Conclusion
The players on this list are some of the greatest to ever play the game, and their total WAR is a testament to their greatness. While Babe Ruth holds the record for highest career WAR in baseball history, the players on this list are all in a class of their own.