Winning Percentage : 1889 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"I don't think I stayed for a complete game that first year (in Arizona). But something happened. During the second year, I started watching more intently, listening to the broadcasters talk about strategy. I started getting it. Suddenly, a 162-game season didn't seem ridiculously long anymore." - Richard Ruelas in The Arizona Republic (11-07-2001)
 

1889 Winning Percentage Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

John Clarkson .721 (.72059) Boston Beaneaters 1
Mickey Welch .692 (.69231) New York Giants 2
Tim Keefe .683 (.68293) New York Giants 3
Old Hoss Radbourn .645 (.64516) Boston Beaneaters 4
Charlie Buffinton .636 (.63636) Philadelphia Phillies 5
Pud Galvin .590 (.58974) Pittsburgh Alleghenys 6
Ed Crane .583 (.58333) New York Giants 7
Ed Beatin .571 (.57143) Cleveland Spiders 8
Darby O'Brien .564 (.56410) Cleveland Spiders 9
Frank Dwyer .552 (.55172) Chicago White Stockings 10
Ad Gumbert .552 (.55172) Chicago White Stockings  
Amos Rusie .545 (.54545) Indianapolis Hoosiers 12
Ben Sanders .514 (.51351) Philadelphia Phillies 13
Alex Ferson .500 (.50000) Washington Senators 14
Kid Madden .500 (.50000) Boston Beaneaters  
Hank O'Day .500 (.50000) Washington Senators  
New York Giants  
John Tener .500 (.50000) Chicago White Stockings  
Bill Hutchinson .485 (.48485) Chicago White Stockings 18
Henry Boyle .477 (.47727) Indianapolis Hoosiers 19
Charlie Getzien .450 (.45000) Indianapolis Hoosiers 20
Harry Staley .447 (.44681) Pittsburgh Alleghenys 21
Gus Krock .438 (.43750) Chicago White Stockings 22
Indianapolis Hoosiers  
Washington Senators  
Dan Casey .375 (.37500) Philadelphia Phillies 23
Kid Gleason .375 (.37500) Philadelphia Phillies  
George Haddock .367 (.36667) Washington Senators 25



The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

Did you know that more than forty players have worn the number twenty-five for the Boston Red Sox — including Jack Clark, Denny Galehouse, Dizzy Trout and Tony Conigliaro.