bjhanke Posted: May 25, 2021 at 01:17 AM (#6020704)
Here's Brock Hanke's 1938 ballot, derived solely from Win Share numbers for the season, except for the (admittedly subjective) placement of Ray Brown. For those of you who are wondering if I will ever get around to posting up my series of WAR positional adjustment comments, well, what happened was that I, wandering around the BB-Ref website looking for anything to help me deal with what I'd already found, found a SECOND instance where a WAR calculation has a subjective bias. That was the LAST thing I was expecting, but I have to include it now. So, it will be a week or two, but it will be here. I'd be a quick edit and proofread from publishing except for this new nuisance.

Since I'm just listing Win Shares, please consider this as my final ballot, and transfer it to the Ballot Thread when that's appropriate. - And THANKS, DL, for doing this for me, month after month!

If you check Win Shares, you will find the there are a lot of ties in 1938. The second through fourth ranks are all 34 WS; I ranked them by defensive position (by defensive reputation, at the same position), as my one sop to Positional Adjustments. Seventh and Eighth are both 30; I sorted them, too, by defensive position. . Ninth through 11th are all 28; I had to drop Johnny Mize from the Top Ten to make room for Ray Brown. I kept Bill Lee and Ival Goodman ahead of Mize because Lee is the highest ranked pitcher, and this is Ival's only chance ever at a Top Ten spot. Plus, Goodman was a real good defensive outfielder, while Mize was an OK 1B - sop to WAR.

1. Mel Ott (36)
2. Arky Vaughan (34)
3. Jimmie Foxx (34)
4. Hank Greenberg (34)
5. Stan Hack (33)
6. Ray Brown
7. Joe Cronin (30)
8. Joe DiMaggio (30)
9. Bill Lee (28)
10. Ival Goodman (28)

1938 Ballot

1) Josh Gibson - not his best season but still in his prime and plenty good enough to be the top position player
2) Ray Brown - best pitcher
3) Mel Ott - using wins above position to break a tie with Vaughan
4) Arky Vaughan
5) Joe Cronin
6) Martin Dihigo - peak pitching season for Dihigo and still a good hitter
7) Harlond Clift
8) Bill Lee
9) Hank Greenberg
10) Stan Hack - postseason bonus moves him slightly ahead of Buck Leonard. 8 hits and a walk in 18 PA.

11-15) Buck Leonard, Jimmie Foxx, Bill Dickey, Red Ruffing, Buddy Myer
16-20) Johnny Mize, Quincy Trouppe, Hilton Smith, Ival Goodman, Ted Strong
21-26) Ernie Lombardi, Rudy York, Neil Robinson, Paul Derringer, Charlie Gehringer

1) Mel Ott
2) Ray Brown
3) Josh Gibson
4) Arky Vaughan
5) Jimmie Foxx
6) Hank Greenberg
7) Joe Cronin
8) Bill Lee
9) Johnny Mize
10) Buck Leonard

11-20) Harlond Clift, Hilton Smith, Ival Goodman, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Hack, Bill Dickey, Paul Derringer, Red Ruffing, Charlie Gehringer, Buddy Myer

Final ballot-no postseason bonus but small credit for playing for a Pennant-contender

1. Ray Brown-quiet a year pitching and not too shabby with the bat as well
2. Mel Ott-produced in a somewhat weak line up & played mostly 3B
3. Jimmie Foxx-if not for Greenberg, Double X would have had a Triple Crown. Yes, it’s the insane offense-heavy 1938 AL but Foxx’s HR, RBI, & BA are still awesome
4. Hank Greenberg-just behind Foxx for AL MMP, 58 HRs is outstanding
5. Bill Lee-not the Spaceman had a better season than the Spaceman ever dreamed of
6. Arky Vaughan
7. Josh Gibson-just edges his Grays teammate Buck here
8. Buck Leonard—Brown, Gibson, & Leonard—the Grays were something else
9. Johnny Mize
10.Red Ruffing-bat sneaks him into the top 10

Reminder: Election is scheduled to end tomorrow

Official 1938 MMP Ballot (no postseason bonuses):

1) Ray Brown: Best ML/NeL player and pitcher.
2) Hilton Smith: I believe it's the first time I ever had two hurlers at the top of my ballot.
3) Mel Ott: Best NL player and ML right fielder.
4) Jimmie Foxx: Best AL player and first baseman.
5) Arky Vaughn: Best ML shortstop.
6) Hank Greenberg
7) Stan Hack: Best ML third baseman.
8) Buck Leonard: Best NL positional player and first baseman.
9) Joe Cronin: Best AL shortstop.
10) Bill Byrd: Just edged out Bill Lee (the best ML pitcher).

Best AL pitcher - Red Ruffing.

1938 Ballot
1. Arky Vaughn 9.16 WARR
2. Ray Brown 8.01 WARR
3. Mel Ott 7.85 WARR
4. Josh Gibson 7.84 WARR
5. Hank Greenberg 7.63 WARR
6. Buck Leonard 7.47 WARR
7. Hilton Smith 7.28 WARR
8. Jimmie Foxx 6.91 WARR
9. Joe Cronin 5.97 WARR
10. Ival Goodman 5.91 WARR

Rest of top 20
11. Harlan Clift
12. Red Ruffing (best AL Pitcher)
13. Johnny Mize
14. Stan Hack
15. Rudy York
16. Bill lee (best NL Pitcher)
17. Clay Bryant
18. Bobo Newsom
19. Willie Cornelius
20. Bill McGee

1938 Ballot

1. Ray Brown, P/RF, Homestead Grays: 1.84 ERA and 262 ERA+ lead NgL; adds 129 OPS+ with the bat while playing some center and right field
2. Josh Gibson, C, Homestead Grays: 202 OPS+ while contributing positively from behind the plate (+3 fielding runs)
3. Jimmie Foxx, 1B, Boston Red Sox: a big year with 183 OPS+ and 183 RC, -6 fielding is the difference between Jimmie and Josh
4. Hank Greenberg, 1B, Detroit Tigers: 169 OPS+ and 164 RC are both 2nd in the AL
5. Mel Ott, RF, New York Giants: leads the NL with 178 OPS+
6. Ernie Lombardi, C, Cincinnati Reds: 152 OPS+ as a catcher, with +3 fielding behind the plate
7. Bill Dickey, C, New York Yankees: 143 OPS+ is fourth in AL
8. Johnny Mize, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals: 176 OPS+ is 2nd in NL
9. Buck Leonard, 1B, Homestead Grays: are the '38 Grays the greatest team in NgL history; Leonard hit for a 215 OPS+ but is only the third best player on this team
10. Arky Vaughan, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates: 141 OPS+ and +18 fielding

11. Rudy York, C, Detroit Tigers
12. Joe Cronin, SS, Boston Red Sox
13. Hilton Smith, P, Kansas City Monarchs
14. Harlond Clift, 3B, St. Louis Browns
15. Bill Lee, P, Chicago Cubs: top NL pitcher
16. Paul Derringer, P, Cincinnati Reds
17. Joe DiMaggio, CF, New York Yankees
18. Charlie Gehringer, 2B, Detroit Tigers
19. Thornton Lee, P, Chicago White Sox: top AL pitcher
20. Ival Goodman, 3B, Cincinnati Reds

No ballot yet from Yardape or Michael Binkley

Ballot coming forthwith

After I posted my ballot coming shortly message, I am unable to get back to the 1938 ballot page.

Here is my 1938 MMP ballot:

1. Arky Vaughan
2. Bill Lee - MMPitcher
3. Josh Gibson - NgL MMP
4. Mel Ott
5. Jimmie Foxx - AL MMP
6. Ray Brown - NgL MMPitcher
7. Buck Leonard
8. Red Ruffing - AL MMPitcher
9. Hank Greenberg
10. Martin Dihigo

Sorry again for the difficulties.

Here is my 1938 MMP ballot:

1. Arky Vaughan
2. Bill Lee - MMPitcher
3. Josh Gibson - NgL MMP
4. Mel Ott
5. Jimmie Foxx - AL MMP
6. Ray Brown - NgL MMPitcher
7. Buck Leonard
8. Red Ruffing - AL MMPitcher
9. Hank Greenberg
10. Martin Dihigo

I'm going to hold it open a couple more hours due to the difficulties people have had posting.

Election is over, results in a few minutes