Here’s a look back at the 2014 season, identifying singular statistical accomplishments for each team. This first installment looks at the American league.
More after the jump.
Starting in the East
Baltimore had no pitchers with 10 losses for the second season in a row. Those are the first such back-to-back campaigns for the Orioles in non-strike shortened seasons. Since the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1954, the Orioles have had no more than one pitcher with 10 losses in every season with a league or divisional championship.
New York had no players under 30 who qualified for the batting title. That had happened only once before, in 1983. The 2014 team gets the tie break, though, as none of its under 30 players had even 300 PA, the first such team in Yankee history.
Toronto got 11 or more wins from each of 5 starting pitchers (R.A. Dickey, Mark Buehrle, Drew Hutchison, J.A. Happ, Marcus Stroman), the most in franchise history and the first time the Blue Jays have had four such starters since its two world championship teams in 1992 and 1993.
Tampa Bay had no players on its roster who batted .300, regardless of ABs, a franchise first. It’s also the first Rays team without a position player batting .300, regardless of ABs.
Boston got 50 games and 200 PA from two players (Xander Boegarts, Mookie Betts) aged 21 or younger, tied for the most in franchise history. It’s the first such Red Sox team since the bonus baby era when Tony Conigliaro and Dalton Jones turned the trick in consecutive seasons (1964-65). Of the three earlier teams, two featured a pair of HOFers: Ted Williams and Bobby Doerr in 1939; and Harry Hooper and Tris Speaker in 1909.
In the Central
Detroit had three players (Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez) with 145 OPS+ in 400+ PA, tied for the most in franchise history, and the first such Tigers team since Ty Cobb was patrolling center-field. Among pitchers, Ian Krol appeared in 45 games, the most for a Tiger reliever without a decision.
Kansas City was the first league champion team in a non-strike shortened season to have no players with 20 home runs, none with 75 RBI, and none with 15 pitching wins.
Cleveland‘s Michael Brantley recorded 200 hits and exceeded 150 OPS+, the first such season by an Indian left-fielder. On the pitching side, Corey Kluber was the first Indian right-hander with 250 strikeouts and a SO/9 ratio exceeding 10.
Chicago had four players (Alejandro De Aza, Adam Dunn, Tyler Flowers, Dayan Viciedo) who batted under .250 with 100 strikeouts, twice as many as any previous White Sox team. On the pitching side, Chris Sale became the first Sox hurler since Wilbur Wood in 1971 to lead the AL in ERA+.
Minnesota had ten players with 200 PA and OPS+ of 100 or more, the most in franchise history. But, the Twins also had eight pitchers with 5 starts and ERA+ under 90, the third straight season with 7 or more such pitchers, a level achieved only once before then, way back in 1904.
And out West
Los Angeles had four relievers (Kevin Jepsen, Mike Morin, Cory Rasmus, Joe Smith) with 50 IP and a 125 ERA+, tied with three other teams for the most in franchise history. Huston Street breaks the tie for the 2014 club, handily meeting those criteria for his full season of work, with an ERA+ exceeding 200 for both the Padres and Angels.
Oakland had no players on its roster who batted .280 in 100+ PA, only the fifth As team to reach that low-water mark and the first to do so while qualifying for the post-season. On the mound, Oakland boasted four relievers (Sean Doolittle, Dan Otero, Luke Gregerson, Fernando Abad) with 50 IP and a 135 ERA+, a franchise high and the third team with that many, all in the past six seasons (despite the proximity of those seasons, the twelve such pitchers on those three teams are all different).
Seattle catcher Mike Zunino stroked 22 home runs, more than twice the number hit by Gorman Thomas in 1986, the previous team high by a player batting under .200. Outfielder James Jones swiped 27 bags and was caught just once, the most stolen bases in a rookie season with fewer than 4 times caught stealing. On the mound, Felix Hernandez became the first Mariner (and just the fifth live ball era pitcher) aged 28 or younger to surpass 2000 IP with a 130 career ERA+.
Houston second baseman Jose Altuve‘s 225 hits obliterated the previous Astro team record of 210, set by Craig Biggio in 1998. Altuve also became the first Astro to lead his league in Hits, BA and stolen bases, and the youngest to do so for any team since Ty Cobb.
Texas third basemen Adrian Beltre posted a 147 OPS+, just edging out Rafael Palmeiro for the highest mark in 400+ PA by a Ranger aged 35 or older. As a team, Texas hit just 111 home runs, their lowest total in almost 25 years and the lowest mark for any Ranger team with a BABIP exceeding .300.
What team accomplishments caught your eye in 2014?