Awards Project By The Numbers
Here are a few items by the numbers 1871-1959 where I currently am in my project:
All MLB
Total number of players (including the Negro Leagues) 1871-1959: 11,701
Total number of players who earned at least 1 award: 3172
Percentage of players who earned at least 1 award: 27.1%
Negro Leagues only
Number of players who played in the Negro Leagues: 2364
Total number of Negro League players who earned at least 1 award: 553
Percentage of Negro League players who earned at least 1 award: 23.4%
19th Century
Number of players who played and retired in the 19th Century: 2205
Number of players who played and retired in the 19th Century that earned at least 1 award: 495
Percentage of 19th Century players who earned at least 1 award: 22.4%
Total number of players who earned exactly 1 award: 301
Players who earned at least 20 awards gain automatic entry into one of the Sooperstown Halls of Fame. In addition, any Negro Leaguer who has earned over 15 awards gains automatic entry (allowing for sporadic play and a more necessary nomadic baseball lifestyle). Finally, any player who is in the actual Baseball Hall of Fame gains automatic entry no matter how many awards they have earned (mostly Negro Leaguers who were finishing their careers as the Negro Leagues were getting started, plus Tommy McCarthy).
So.....
Total number of players who earned at least 20 awards which gains automatic entry into one of the Sooperstown Halls of Fame: 643
Total number of Negro Leaguers who earned between 15-19 awards to gain automatic entry: 33
Total number of actual Baseball Hall of Famers who earned less than 15-20 awards but gain automatic entry: 5 (Tommy McCarthy -18, Joe Williams - 9, Pete Hill - 8, Jose Mendez - 7, Louis Santop - 5).
Top 10 overall award winners: (Noting that players such as Ted Williams and Stan Musial are still active as of the conclusion of the 1959 season)
Babe Ruth - 197
Tris Speaker - 172
Ty Cobb - 170
Eddie Collins - 170
Honus Wagner - 167
Rogers Hornsby - 160
Mel Ott - 158
Nap Lajoie - 154
Turkey Stearnes - 150
Cap Anson - 143
Top 10 award winners - Pitchers
Cy Young - 130
Walter Johnson - 128
Pete Alexander - 115
Christy Mathewson - 97
Lefty Grove - 96
Bullet Rogan - 87
Satchel Paige - 87
Kid Nichols - 81
Carl Hubbell - 77
Eddie Plank - 76
Top 10 award winners - Negro Leaguers
Turkey Stearnes - 150
Josh Gibson - 132
Buck Leonard - 126
Willie Wells - 125
Oscar Charleston - 106
Larry Doby - 103 (combined Negro Leagues and AL)
Roy Campenella - 102 (combined Negro Leagues and NL)
Jud Wilson - 98
Jackie Robinson - 94 (combined)
Mule Suttles - 92
Willard Brown - 92
Top 10 award winners - 19th Century players (all or majority of their careers in the 19th Century)
Cap Anson - 143
Roger Connor - 123
Dan Brouthers - 119
Billy Hamilton - 99
Ed Delahanty - 95
Paul Hines - 91
Jim O'Rourke - 87
Jack Glasscock - 84
Ross Barnes - 78
King Kelly - 78
Top 10 award winners - players not currently in the HOF
Sherry Magee - 102
Ed Konetchy - 92
Paul Hines - 91
Bob Johnson - 85
Jack Glasscock - 84
Joe Jackson - 82
Ross Barnes - 78
Pete Browning - 76
Bobby Veach - 75
Bill Dahlen - 72
Tommy Leach - 72