Winning Percentage : 1897 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)
 

1897 Winning Percentage Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Fred Klobedanz .788 (.78788) Boston Beaneaters 1
Jerry Nops .769 (.76923) Baltimore Orioles 2
Joe Corbett .750 (.75000) Baltimore Orioles 3
Kid Nichols .738 (.73810) Boston Beaneaters 4
Amos Rusie .737 (.73684) New York Giants 5
Jack Stivetts .733 (.73333) Boston Beaneaters 6
Bill Hoffer .667 (.66667) Baltimore Orioles 7
Arlie Pond .667 (.66667) Baltimore Orioles  
Ted Breitenstein .657 (.65714) Cincinnati Reds 9
Jouett Meekin .645 (.64516) New York Giants 10
Ted Lewis .636 (.63636) Boston Beaneaters 11
Nig Cuppy .625 (.62500) Cleveland Spiders 12
Jack Dunn .609 (.60870) Brooklyn Bridegrooms 13
Jack Powell .600 (.60000) Cleveland Spiders 14
Zeke Wilson .593 (.59259) Cleveland Spiders 15
Billy Rhines .583 (.58333) Cincinnati Reds 16
Frank Dwyer .581 (.58065) Cincinnati Reds 17
Nixey Callahan .571 (.57143) Chicago Colts 18
Chauncey Fisher .563 (.56250) Brooklyn Bridegrooms 19
Cy Seymour .563 (.56250) New York Giants  
Clark Griffith .538 (.53846) Chicago Colts 21
Mike Sullivan .533 (.53333) New York Giants 22
Cy Young .525 (.52500) Cleveland Spiders 23
George Wheeler .524 (.52381) Philadelphia Phillies 24
Danny Friend .522 (.52174) Chicago Colts 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?

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.

Future Hall of Famer Sammy Sosa is best known for wearing number twenty-one; however, when the young slugger played for the Chicago White Sox (1989-1991) he only wore number twenty-five.