2022 has just begun and no one knows how many future major leaguers will be born this year. But now, we can take a look back at the years when the group of MLB players that produced the most WAR was born.
NOTE: This research was done taking into account the total WAR of all MLB players born in a particular year. That means that more recent times will have a greater representation, because those years have more teams and, therefore, more players.
Here are the 10 years in which the biggest WAR-producing major league groups were born.
1. 1983: 1,369.3 WAR
Top 5, by WAR: Zack Greinke (73.1), Justin Verlander (71.8), Miguel Cabrera (68.7), Joey Votto (64.6), Cole Hamels (59.3)
In 1983 he beats second place by WAR of 130, with the first five well above 50. And that in the Top 5, it does not even include figures like Joe Mauer (55.2), Dustin Pedroia (51.9) and Ryan Braun (47.1). And since a lot of them haven’t retired yet, more WAR is coming from them.
2. 1964: 1,238.5 WAR
Top 5: Barry Bonds (162.7), Rafael Palmeiro (71.9), Barry Larkin (70.5), Bret Saberhagen (58.9), Will Clark (56.5)
This was the year that many expected to be number 1. But either way, they are sonorous names that outstrip other figures born in 1964 such as Dwight Gooden (52.9), Kenny Rogers (50.5) and Ellis Burks (49.8).
3. 1968: 1,221.3 WAR_
Top 5: Mike Mussina (82.8), Jeff Bagwell (79.9), Frank Thomas (73.8), Roberto Alomar (67.0), Gary Sheffield (60.5) _
The year 1968 produced five players who are in the Hall of Fame: Mussina, Bagwell, Thomas, Puerto Rican Alomar and Mike Piazza (59.5). Also born in 1968 were Dominican Sammy Sosa (58.6), John Olerud (58.2), Jeff Kent (55.5) and Puerto Rican Bernie Williams (49.6).
4. 1967: 1,170.7 WAR_
Top 5: John Smoltz (69.0), Kenny Lofton (68.4), Robin Ventura (56.1), Kevin Appier (54.5), Luis González (51.6) _
Smoltz is one of two Hall of Fame inductees born in 1967, alongside Trevor Hoffman (28.0). Other notable figures of that year are Reggie Sanders (39.8), Ray Lankford (38.2) and Tom “Flash” Gordon (35.0).
1960: 1,150.1 WAR_
Top 5: Cal Ripken Jr. (95.9), Tony Gwynn (69.2), Kirby Puckett (51.2), Mark Langston (50.1), Frank Viola (47.0_)
The top three on this list are in the Hall of Fame. Other notables born in 1960 are Mexican Fernando Valenzuela (41.4), Andy Van Slyke (41.3), Kent Hrbek (38.6) and Jamaican Chili Davis (38.3).
6. 1975: 1,086.3 WAR_
Top 5: Alex Rodríguez (117.5), Scott Rolen (70.1), Vladimir Guerrero (59.5), Tim Hudson (57.9), David Ortiz (55.3) _
Until now, 1975 has a member of the Hall of Fame, the Dominican Guerrero. But there could be more, like the Dominican Ortiz. Just outside the Top 5 is Torii Hunter (50.7).
7. 1962: 1,083.2 WAR_
Top 5: Roger Clemens (139.2), Chuck Finley (57.9), Jamie Moyer (49.8), Devon White (47.3), Tony Fernandez (45.3) _
The year 1962 produced a pitching WAR of 529.5, second behind 1966 (630.5), which remains on this list. Some who followed the Top 5 are Darryl Strawberry (42.2), Mark Gubicza (37.4), Erid Davis (36.1) and Wally Joyner (35.8).
8. 1966: 1,057.9 WAR_
Top 5: Greg Maddux (106.6), Tom Glavine (80.7), Curt Schilling (79.5), Larry Walker (72.7), David Justice (40.6) _
As we noted above, this year featured a lot, a lot of quality pitching, led by Maddux, Glavine and Schilling. It has 1966 with three Hall of Famers, with Schilling still on the ballot. And just after the Top 5 are Albert Belle (40.1), the Dominican Moisés Alou (39.9) and Tim Wakefield (34.4).
9. 1963: 1,042.5 WAR_
Top 5: Randy Johnson (101.1), Edgar Martínez (68.4), David Cone (62.3), Mark McGwire (62.2), David Wells (53.4) _
There were two Hall of Famers born in 1963: Johnson and Puerto Rican Martinez. And after the Top 5 are Fred McGriff (52.6), Lenny Dykstra (42.4) and Paul O’Neil (38.8).
10. 1949: 1,034.8 WAR_
Top 5: Mike Schmidt (106.9), Bobby Grich (71.0), Rick Reuschel (69.5), Ted Simmons (50.3), Vida Blue (45.1) _
The year 1949 produced two Hall of Famers, Schmidt and Simmons. Right after the Top 5 are Steve Rogers (44.7), Dusty Baker (37.0), Garry Maddox (36.8) and Cecil Cooper (36.0).
And the next 10 years on the list and its leaders … in case you were curious:
11. 1984 **: 1,020.9 WAR – Max Scherzer (67.1) **
12. 1944: 1,006.3 WAR – Tom Seaver (109.9) **
13. 1887: 1,005.5 WAR – Walter Johnson (164.8) **
14. 1987: 999.3 WAR – Paul Goldschmidt (50.7) **
15. 1977: 989.6 WAR – Carlos Beltrán (70.1) **
16. 1956: 954 WAR – Paul Molitor (75.7) **
17. 1965: 945.2 WAR – Kevin Brown (67.8) **
18. 1947: 939 WAR – Nolan Ryan (81.3) **
19. 1974: 927.2 WAR – Derek Jeter (71.3) **
20. 1972: 915.9 WAR – Chipper Jones (85.3)
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Years the kings of WAR were born