Complete Games : 1902 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"Although baseball decided to extend the regular season deeper into October to play 162 games (after the 09-11 disaster), why not just play 154? Baseball has dealt with shortened seasons before. (Bud) Selig spoke about the sanctity of playing 162 games, but baseball played 154 games until 1961. Baseball should have just let the games go and continued with the current schedule." - Joe Morgan on ESPN (September 19, 2001)
 

1902 Complete Games Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Vic Willis 45 Boston Beaneaters 1
Togie Pittinger 36 Boston Beaneaters 2
Noodles Hahn 35 Cincinnati Reds 3
Doc White 34 Philadelphia Phillies 4
Jack Taylor 33 Chicago Cubs 5
Jack Chesbro 31 Pittsburgh Pirates 6
Bill Donovan 30 Brooklyn Superbas 7
Bill Phillips 30 Cincinnati Reds  
Christy Mathewson 29 New York Giants 9
Mike O'Neill 29 St. Louis Cardinals  
Deacon Phillippe 29 Pittsburgh Pirates  
Roy Evans 28 New York Giants 12
Brooklyn Superbas  
Frank Kitson 28 Brooklyn Superbas  
Jay Hughes 27 Brooklyn Superbas 14
Stan Yerkes 27 St. Louis Cardinals  
Doc Newton 26 Brooklyn Superbas 16
Pop Williams 26 Chicago Cubs  
Bill Duggleby 25 Philadelphia Phillies 18
Chick Fraser 24 Philadelphia Phillies 19
Sam Leever 23 Pittsburgh Pirates 20
Jesse Tannehill 23 Pittsburgh Pirates  
Mal Eason 22 Chicago Cubs 22
Boston Beaneaters  
Henry Thielman 22 New York Giants  
Cincinnati Reds  
Ham Iburg 20 Philadelphia Phillies 24
Jock Menefee 20 Chicago Cubs  



Jim Thome wore number twenty-five since he first came up with the Cleveland Indians making him the franchise record holder for that particular number (Mike Garcia is second).

The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Future Hall of Famer Sammy Sosa is best known for wearing number twenty-one; however, when the young slugger played for the Chicago White Sox (1989-1991) he only wore number twenty-five.