1989 Leaders & Numbers

Kevin Mitchell and Mark Davis respectively gave the Giants and Padres belated, brief—but very major—dividends from a 1987 seven-player trade. Despite a solid block of stats, Ruben Sierra’s MVP chances were diminished by critics who eagerly pointed out his shabby outfield defense (hence his sarcastic nickname, “Sie-error”). In the emerging era of the synthetic superslugger, relative pencil-necks Will Clark and Robin Yount posted some of the year’s most impressive numbers at the plate. Howard Johnson—HoJo to many—showed continued power to gradually prove that accusations of past corked bat usage were bunk. Like Dave Parker before him, Lonnie Smith completed the long road back to prominence after being sidetracked by drugs. Fred McGriff’s ongoing improvement in Toronto was enough to chase competing first baseman Cecil Fielder into Japanese exile—for now. If it’s an odd year, it must be Bret Saberhagen pitching at his best. For the second time in three years, Orel Hershiser’s outstanding pitching could buy him no better than a .500 record. The butt of jokes after a dreadful 2-19 mark for the 1985 Pirates, Jose DeLeon completed the transition from punch line to prime time in St. Louis. Mike Moore signed on with Oakland after a career 66-96 record at lowly Seattle and thrived on the opportunity to play for a winner. Following Dennis Eckersley’s cue, Jeff Russell converted from average starter to cagey closer. Baby-faced Greg Maddux solidified his standing as the real deal with the Cubs.

The Ten Best National League Hitters, 1989
Name	Team	G	BA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IB	HB	SB	CS	GD
1. Kevin Mitchell	San Francisco	154	.291	543	100	158	34	6	47	125	55	32	3	3	4	6
2. Will Clark	San Francisco	159	.333	588	104	198	38	9	23	111	60	14	5	8	3	6
3. Howard Johnson	New York	153	.287	571	104	164	41	3	36	101	69	8	1	41	8	4
4. Lonnie Smith	Atlanta	134	.315	482	89	152	34	4	21	79	73	3	11	25	12	7
5. Pedro Guerrero	St. Louis	162	.311	570	60	177	42	1	17	117	66	13	4	2	0	17
6. Ryne Sandberg	Chicago	157	.290	606	104	176	25	5	30	76	51	8	4	15	5	9
7. Eric Davis	Cincinnati	131	.281	462	74	130	14	2	34	101	56	12	1	21	7	16
8. Bobby Bonilla	Pittsburgh	163	.281	616	96	173	37	10	24	86	56	20	1	8	8	10
9. Von Hayes	Philadelphia	154	.259	540	93	140	27	2	26	78	87	14	4	28	7	7
10. Jack Clark	San Diego	142	.242	455	76	110	19	1	26	94	114	18	1	6	2	10

The Ten Best American League Hitters, 1989
Name	Team	G	BA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IB	HB	SB	CS	GD
1. Ruben Sierra	Texas	162	.306	634	101	194	35	14	29	119	41	2	2	8	2	7
2. Robin Yount	Milwaukee	160	.318	614	101	195	38	9	21	103	54	9	6	19	3	9
3. Rickey Henderson	New York-Oakland	150	.274	541	113	148	26	3	12	57	121	5	3	77	14	8
4. Fred McGriff	Toronto	161	.269	551	98	148	27	3	36	92	107	12	4	7	4	14
5. Alvin Davis	Seattle	142	.305	498	84	152	30	1	21	95	86	15	6	0	1	15
6. Wade Boggs	Boston	156	.330	621	113	205	51	7	3	54	88	19	7	2	6	19
7. Bo Jackson	Kansas City	135	.256	515	86	132	15	6	32	105	31	8	3	26	9	10
8. Kirby Puckett	Minnesota	159	.339	635	75	215	45	4	9	85	32	9	3	11	4	21
9. Don Mattingly	New York	158	.303	631	79	191	37	2	23	113	33	18	1	3	0	15
10. Dwight Evans	Boston	146	.285	520	82	148	27	3	20	100	98	1	3	3	3	16

The Ten Best National League Pitchers, 1989
Name	Team	ERA	W	L	PCT	SV	BS	G	GS	IP	TB	ER	BB	IB	WP	HB	BK	SB	CS	GD
1. Orel Hershiser	Los Angeles	2.31	15	15	.500	0	0	35	33	256.2	298	66	77	14	8	3	4	11	8	29
2. Jose DeLeon	St. Louis	3.05	16	12	.571	0	0	36	36	244.2	271	83	80	5	2	6	0	13	12	12
3. Bruce Hurst	San Diego	2.69	15	11	.577	0	0	33	33	244.2	306	73	66	7	8	0	0	15	14	13
4. Scott Garrelts	San Francisco	2.28	14	5	.737	0	0	30	29	193.1	220	49	43	3	7	0	2	15	5	9
5. Mark Davis	San Diego	1.85	4	3	.571	44	4	70	0	92.2	97	19	30	1	8	2	0	1	1	12
6. Ed Whitson	San Diego	2.66	16	11	.593	0	0	33	33	227	303	67	48	6	2	5	3	8	5	16
7. Greg Maddux	Chicago	2.95	19	12	.613	0	0	35	35	238.1	305	78	82	13	5	6	3	11	12	17
8. Mike Morgan	Los Angeles	2.53	8	11	.421	0	1	40	19	152.2	177	43	25	8	6	2	0	7	7	17
9. Joe Magrane	St. Louis	2.91	18	9	.667	0	0	34	33	234.2	293	76	65	7	14	6	5	24	11	24
10. Mike Scott	Houston	3.10	20	10	.667	0	0	33	32	229	292	79	62	12	7	3	0	39	2	10

The Ten Best American League Pitchers, 1989
Name	Team	ERA	W	L	PCT	SV	BS	G	GS	IP	TB	ER	BB	IB	WP	HB	BK	SB	CS	GD
1. Bret Saberhagen	Kansas City	2.16	23	6	.793	0	0	36	35	262.1	305	63	37	6	8	2	1	5	9	13
2. Mike Moore	Oakland	2.61	19	11	.633	0	0	35	35	241.2	270	70	82	1	17	2	0	7	10	19
3. Bert Blyleven	California	2.73	17	5	.773	0	0	33	33	241	305	73	42	2	2	8	0	18	5	25
4. Mark Gubicza	Kansas City	3.04	15	11	.577	0	0	36	36	255	334	86	55	8	9	5	0	9	8	20
5. Dave Stewart	Oakland	3.32	21	9	.700	0	0	36	36	257.2	389	85	69	0	13	6	0	11	8	19
6. Kevin Brown	Texas	3.35	12	9	.571	0	0	28	28	191	223	71	68	2	7	4	2	6	5	22
7. Jeff Russell	Texas	1.98	6	4	.600	38	6	71	0	72.2	69	16	19	5	6	3	0	3	2	13
8. Chris Bosio	Milwaukee	2.95	15	10	.600	0	0	33	33	234.2	304	77	47	1	4	6	2	16	4	14
9. Kirk McCaskill	California	2.93	15	10	.600	0	0	32	32	212	284	69	58	1	7	3	2	5	5	32
10. Roger Clemens	Boston	3.13	17	11	.607	0	0	35	35	253.1	314	88	88	5	7	8	0	19	17	23

Brown type indicates league leader.
Notes: Walks (BB) do not include intentional walks (IB). For pitchers, caught stealing (CS) also includes pickoffs.
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