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Ranking Outstanding Sports Records

Ranking Outstanding Sports Records. by Bruce L. Golden R. H. Smith School of Business Univ. of Maryland and Edward A. Wasil Kogod College of Business Admin. American University. 10/87. Goal of Paper. Address several key questions -- - What makes a “great” sports record?

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Ranking Outstanding Sports Records

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  1. Ranking Outstanding Sports Records by Bruce L. Golden R. H. Smith School of Business Univ. of Maryland and Edward A. Wasil Kogod College of Business Admin. American University 10/87

  2. Goal of Paper Address several key questions -- - What makes a “great” sports record? - What factors separate “good” records from “great” records? - What are the “great” sports records? Rank the greatest active sports records – - season records - career or multiple-year records - daily or single-game records 1

  3. Motivation It’s fun to argue the merits of your favorite sports records. E.g., - Ted Williams vs. Joe DiMaggio? - Eric Dickerson vs. O. J. Simpson? - Michael Jordan vs. Wilt Chamberlain? - Will Beamon’s record fall by 1990? It’s a challenge since comparison of sports records must be carried out in a rigorous and comprehensive manner and employ a formal ranking method. 2

  4. Two Levels of Paper Sports fans should find paper to be thought-provoking. Nontrivial application of analytic hierarchy process (AHP). - data requirements are numerous - subjective judgments are required - each hierarchy is full - complicating issues 3

  5. The Records Themselves Measurable achievements Relatively recent (after 1920) Historical data available Professional athletes in team sports (primarily) 4

  6. Great Season Records B: Baseball BA: Basketball F: Football H: Hockey 5

  7. Great Career Records * includes point totals from the AFL ** includes point totals from the WHA 6

  8. Great Day/Game Records TF: Track and Field 7

  9. Data Collection Obstacles • Lots of data • Different leagues (e.g., NFL & AFL) • Different length seasons • Degree of specialization 8

  10. Runs Batted In Data Set Best Marks of All Time • Hack Wilson 1930 190 • Lou Gehrig 1931 184 • Hank Greenberg 1937 183 • Lou Gehrig 1927 175 • Jimmie Foxx 1938 175 9

  11. Runs Batted In Data Set -- continued Best Marks Prior to 1930 • Lou Gehrig 1927 175 • Babe Ruth 1921 171 • Babe Ruth 1927 164 • Hack Wilson 1929 159 • Al Simmons 1929 157 10

  12. Runs Batted In Data Set -- continued 1930 Contemporaries • Lou Gehrig 174 • Chuck Klein 170 • Al Simmons 165 • Jimmie Foxx 156 • Babe Ruth 153 11

  13. Comparison Methodology The Analytic Hierarchy Process - Developed by TL Saaty - Uses pairwise comparisons - Eigenvalues lead to priorities on weights - Allows the combination of subjective with objective judgments 12

  14. Comparison Methodology -- continued Example: Duration Improvement Other Duration 1 3/2 3 Improvement 2/3 1 2 Other 1/3 1/2 1 13

  15. Select Best Active Season Sports Record Duration of Record Incremental Improvement Other Record Characteristics Years Record Has Stood Years Record Is Expected To Stand % Better Than Previous Record % Better Than Contemporaries Glamour Purity DiMaggio 56 game hitting streak Maris 61 home runs Ruth .847 slugging average Wilson 190 runs batted in Chamberlain 50.4 scoring average Dickerson 2105 yards gained rushing Hornung 176 points scored Gretzky 215 points scored 14

  16. Select Best Active Career Sports Record Duration of Record Incremental Improvement Other Record Characteristics Years Record Has Stood Years Record Is Expected To Stand % Better Than Next Best Record Glamour Purity Aaron 755 home runs Brock 938 stolen bases Rose 4256 hits Ruth .690 slugging average Ryan 4277 strikeouts* Abdul-Jabbar 36474 points scored* Blanda 2002 points scored Payton 16193 yards gained rushing* Unitas 47 consecutive games, touchdown passes Howe 2358 points scored * athlete still active 15

  17. Select Best Active Daily Sports Record Duration of Record Incremental Improvement Other Record Characteristics Years Record Has Stood Years Record Is Expected To Stand % Better Than Previous Record Glamour Purity Chamberlain 100 points scored Payton 275 yards gained rushing Van Brocklin 554 yards gained passing Beamon 29’ 2 ½” long jump 16

  18. Select Best Active Season Sports Record .500 .333 .167 Duration of Record Incremental Improvement Other Record Characteristics .800 .200 .750 .250 .667 .333 Years Record Has Stood Years Record Is Expected To Stand % Better Than Previous Record % Better Than Contemporaries Glamour Purity Ruth DiMaggio Chamberlain Wilson Gretzky Maris Hornung Dickerson 17

  19. Select Best Active Career Sports Record .500 .333 .167 Duration of Record Incremental Improvement Other Record Characteristics .800 .200 1.000 .667 .333 Years Record Has Stood Years Record Is Expected To Stand % Better Than Next Best Record Glamour Purity Unitas Ruth Payton Howe Aaron Blanda Abdul-Jabbar Ryan Brock Rose 18

  20. Select Best Active Daily Sports Record .500 .333 .167 Duration of Record Incremental Improvement Other Record Characteristics .800 .200 1.000 .667 .333 Years Record Has Stood Years Record Is Expected To Stand % Better Than Previous Record Glamour Purity Chamberlain Van Brocklin Payton Beamon 19

  21. Results of Comparison • Season Record - Babe Ruth .847 slugging average - Joe DiMaggio 56 game hitting streak • Career Record - Johnny Unitas 47 consecutive games, touchdown passes - Babe Ruth .690 slugging average • Daily Record - Wilt Chamberlain 100 points scored 20

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