Year-by-Year Top-Tens Leaders & Records for Defensive WAR

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Top 10 Yearly Leaders

2026

2025

1. Ernie Clement 2.9
3. Mookie Betts 2.6
4. Taylor Walls 2.5
6. Corey Seager 2.3
7. Nico Hoerner 2.3
8. Zach Neto 2.2
9. Otto Lopez 2.1
10. Freddy Fermin 2.1

2024

2022

2019

1. Javier Báez 3.9
2. Paul DeJong 3.1
4. Trevor Story 2.7
5. Matt Chapman 2.7
7. Nolan Arenado 2.4
8. Kolten Wong 2.2
9. Lorenzo Cain 2.1
10. Nick Ahmed 2.1

2018

2017

2016

2014

2013

2012

2011

1. Austin Jackson 3.1
2. Matt Wieters 3.0
3. Brendan Ryan 2.8
4. Clint Barmes 2.5
5. Evan Longoria 2.4
7. Mark Ellis 2.3
8. Chris Young 2.3
9. Ben Zobrist 2.2
10. Ian Kinsler 2.1

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1. John Valentin 3.1
2. Omar Vizquel 2.5
5. Mike Gallego 2.4
6. Rick Wilkins 2.3
7. Mark Lemke 2.3
8. Jay Bell 2.2
9. Kenny Lofton 2.2
10. Cal Ripken Jr. 2.1

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1. Ozzie Guillén 3.7
2. Greg Gagne 2.7
3. Ozzie Smith 2.4
5. Devon White 2.3
7. Barry Bonds 2.1
8. Bo Díaz 2.0
10. Frank White 1.9

1986

1. Jody Davis 3.3
3. Ozzie Smith 2.8
5. José Uribe 2.7
6. Bob Boone 2.7
7. Gary Pettis 2.4
9. Rich Gedman 2.2
10. Dick Schofield 2.1

1985

1. Ozzie Smith 3.4
2. Tim Wallach 3.0
4. Tony Peña 2.5
5. Bob Boone 2.4
6. Glenn Hubbard 2.4
8. Terry Kennedy 2.1
9. Ron Oester 2.1
10. Rich Gedman 2.1

1984

1. Cal Ripken Jr. 3.6
2. Kirby Puckett 3.3
3. Julio Cruz 2.9
4. Gary Gaetti 2.6
5. Tony Peña 2.5
6. Ozzie Smith 2.5
8. Frank White 2.3
9. Buddy Bell 2.3
10. Lloyd Moseby 2.3

1983

1. Gary Carter 4.0
2. Dickie Thon 3.2
3. Johnny Ray 2.8
5. Chet Lemon 2.4
7. Ozzie Smith 2.3
8. Lance Parrish 2.0
9. Buddy Bell 2.0
10. Ryne Sandberg 2.0

1982

1. Ozzie Smith 3.5
2. Bob Boone 3.1
3. Gary Carter 2.8
4. Dickie Thon 2.4
5. Dale Berra 2.4
6. Bill Russell 2.4
7. Andre Dawson 2.1
8. Alan Trammell 2.1
9. Tom Herr 2.1
10. Willie Wilson 2.0

1981

1980

1. Ozzie Smith 3.5
2. Bucky Dent 3.1
3. Gary Carter 2.5
4. Dwayne Murphy 2.5
5. Willie Wilson 2.2
6. Doug DeCinces 2.2
7. Phil Garner 2.2
8. Butch Wynegar 2.1
9. Tim Blackwell 2.0
10. Rick Cerone 1.9

1979

1. Buddy Bell 3.7
2. Bucky Dent 3.2
3. Rick Burleson 3.0
4. Garry Maddox 2.9
5. Butch Wynegar 2.7
6. Ozzie Smith 2.7
7. Gary Carter 2.6
9. Jim Sundberg 2.0
10. Rick Dempsey 2.0

1978

1. Mark Belanger 3.8
2. Jim Sundberg 3.0
3. Larry Bowa 2.9
4. Bucky Dent 2.8
5. Gary Carter 2.4
6. Rick Burleson 2.2
7. Chris Speier 2.2
8. Garry Maddox 2.2
9. John Stearns 2.2
10. Steve Yeager 1.9

1977

1. Mark Belanger 3.4
4. Bill Russell 2.6
5. Larry Bowa 2.6
6. Mike Schmidt 2.6
7. Jim Sundberg 2.5
8. Mike Tyson 2.4
9. Carlton Fisk 2.4
10. Bucky Dent 2.3

1976

1975

1974

1973

1. Mark Belanger 4.0
2. Bobby Grich 4.0
4. Bill North 2.9
5. Graig Nettles 2.7
7. Bill Russell 2.3
8. Darrell Evans 2.2
9. Paul Blair 2.2
10. Ray Fosse 2.2

1972

1. Freddie Patek 3.2
4. Johnny Bench 2.5
5. Chris Speier 2.2
6. Paul Blair 2.1
7. Frank Duffy 2.0
8. Tim Foli 1.9
9. Ed Brinkman 1.9
10. Don Kessinger 1.8

1971

1970

1969

1968

1967

1. Brooks Robinson 4.2
2. Hal Lanier 3.9
3. Ray Oyler 2.7
4. Ron Santo 2.7
5. Paul Blair 2.4
6. Ken McMullen 2.3
7. Dal Maxvill 2.3
8. Tim McCarver 2.2
9. Gene Alley 2.0
10. Tommie Agee 1.9

1966

1. Ed Brinkman 3.3
2. Dal Maxvill 2.5
3. Gene Alley 2.2
5. Jerry Adair 2.1
6. Bobby Knoop 2.1
7. Luis Aparicio 2.1
8. Willie Mays 2.1
9. Dick Groat 1.9
10. Jim Fregosi 1.9

1965

1. Gene Alley 3.5
3. Don Buford 2.8
4. Luis Aparicio 2.6
6. Jerry Adair 2.3
7. Maury Wills 2.3
8. Ron Hansen 2.2
9. Dick Groat 1.9

1964

1. Ron Hansen 4.0
2. Willie Davis 3.4
3. Bobby Knoop 3.3
4. Jim Fregosi 2.5
5. Tony Kubek 2.4
6. Luis Aparicio 2.3
7. Pete Ward 2.3
10. Willie Mays 2.0

1963

1962

1961

1. Clete Boyer 3.4
2. Roy McMillan 2.8
3. Ron Hansen 2.7
4. Tony Kubek 2.2
5. Al Kaline 2.2
7. Henry Aaron 2.0
10. Frank Bolling 1.9

1960

1. Luis Aparicio 3.8
2. Dick Groat 2.6
3. Tony Kubek 2.2
4. Marv Breeding 2.2
5. Nellie Fox 2.1
6. Jim Gilliam 2.1
8. Clete Boyer 2.0
9. Ernie Banks 2.0
10. Sherm Lollar 1.7

1959

1. Ernie Banks 3.5
2. Nellie Fox 2.6
3. Jim Landis 2.4
4. Del Crandall 2.2
5. Billy Gardner 2.0
6. Ed Bailey 2.0
7. Jim Piersall 1.7
8. Luis Aparicio 1.7
9. Gil McDougald 1.6
10. Joe Koppe 1.6

1958

1. Bill Mazeroski 2.9
2. Luis Aparicio 2.9
3. Curt Flood 2.6
4. Johnny Logan 2.5
5. Tony Kubek 2.3
7. Al Kaline 2.2
8. Ernie Banks 1.9
9. Del Crandall 1.9
10. Eddie Mathews 1.9

1957

1956

1955

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948

1947

1946

1945

1. Snuffy Stirnweiss 2.8
2. Eddie Lake 2.2
3. Eddie Mayo 2.1
4. Don Johnson 2.0
5. Skeeter Webb 1.9
6. Marty Marion 1.8
7. Buddy Kerr 1.5
10. Irv Hall 1.4

1944

1943

1. Eddie Miller 4.0
2. Marty Marion 3.4
3. Lou Boudreau 3.3
4. Lou Klein 2.9
5. Joe Gordon 2.8
6. Lonny Frey 2.6
8. Paul Richards 2.0
9. Buddy Rosar 1.8
10. Bobby Doerr 1.8

1942

1. Pee Wee Reese 3.6
2. Phil Rizzuto 3.4
3. Marty Marion 2.8
4. Joe Gordon 2.5
5. Johnny Pesky 2.2
6. Lonny Frey 2.2
7. Eddie Miller 2.1
8. Billy Jurges 2.0
9. Bobby Doerr 1.8
10. Lou Boudreau 1.7

1941

1. Marty Marion 2.9
2. Phil Rizzuto 2.9
3. Pee Wee Reese 2.5
4. Eddie Miller 2.1
5. Joe Gordon 1.9
6. Billy Jurges 1.7
7. Luke Appling 1.7
8. Lou Boudreau 1.6
9. Lonny Frey 1.4
10. Jimmy Brown 1.3

1940

1. Lonny Frey 3.3
2. Lou Boudreau 2.5
3. Billy Myers 2.0
4. Joe Gordon 2.0
5. Eddie Joost 1.9
6. Eddie Miller 1.8
7. Bobby Mattick 1.7
8. Mickey Witek 1.6
9. Luke Appling 1.2
10. Ray Mack 1.2

1939

1938

1. Arky Vaughan 2.9
2. Pep Young 2.7
3. Dick Bartell 2.3
4. Billy Herman 2.1
6. Joe Cronin 1.4
7. Joe Gordon 1.3
8. Cecil Travis 1.3
9. Billy Rogell 1.3
10. Billy Myers 1.2

1937

1936

1935

1934

1. Hughie Critz 2.7
2. Billy Rogell 2.2
4. Joe Cronin 1.5
6. Eric McNair 1.4
7. Dick Bartell 1.4
9. Dick Seay 1.4
10. Blondy Ryan 1.3

1933

1932

1931

1930

1929

1928

1927

1. Frankie Frisch 4.4
2. Tony Lazzeri 2.0
4. Connie Day 1.9
5. Sparky Adams 1.9
6. Ossie Bluege 1.8
8. Dick Lundy 1.6
9. Mark Koenig 1.5
10. Chuck Dressen 1.4

1926

1. Tommy Thevenow 3.9
2. Jimmy Cooney 3.2
3. Hughie Critz 2.8
5. Sparky Adams 2.1
6. Bingo DeMoss 2.0
7. Willie Kamm 1.9
8. Newt Allen 1.8
10. Joe Sewell 1.5

1925

1. Hughie Critz 2.5
2. Sparky Adams 2.3
4. Bill Riggins 1.7
5. Dobie Moore 1.7
6. Ike Caveney 1.7
7. Ray Schalk 1.6
8. Dave Bancroft 1.6
9. Babe Pinelli 1.6
10. Joe Sewell 1.4

1924

1923

1922

1921

1920

1. Dave Bancroft 4.0
2. Cy Perkins 2.8
3. Art Fletcher 2.4
4. Everett Scott 1.9
6. Ray Schalk 1.8
7. Larry Gardner 1.8
8. Mickey O'Neil 1.7
9. Aaron Ward 1.6
10. Hank Gowdy 1.5

1919

1918

1917

1916

1915

1914

1913

1. George McBride 3.6
2. Bill Killefer 3.0
3. Buck Weaver 2.3
4. Sam Agnew 2.0
5. Art Fletcher 1.9
6. Jack Barry 1.9
7. Jimmy Archer 1.7
8. Mike Mowrey 1.5
9. Joe Tinker 1.4
10. Bill Carrigan 1.3

1912

1. Honus Wagner 3.0
3. Joe Tinker 2.4
4. Eddie Foster 2.0
5. Bill Killefer 2.0
6. Art Fletcher 2.0
7. Jack Barry 1.9
8. Donie Bush 1.8
9. Otto Miller 1.7
10. Mickey Doolin 1.7

1911

1910

1. Eddie Collins 2.8
2. Mickey Doolin 2.8
4. Joe Tinker 2.0
5. Larry McLean 2.0
6. Donie Bush 2.0
7. George Gibson 2.0
8. Terry Turner 1.8
9. Jim Stephens 1.8
10. Jack Barry 1.5

1909

1. Joe Tinker 3.0
2. Bill Bergen 2.8
3. Lee Tannehill 2.5
4. Freddy Parent 2.5
5. George Gibson 2.2
6. Donie Bush 2.2
7. Mickey Doolin 2.1
8. Honus Wagner 2.0
9. Al Bridwell 1.8
10. Larry McLean 1.7

1908

1. Joe Tinker 4.3
2. Bill Dahlen 3.6
3. Bobby Wallace 3.4
5. Boss Schmidt 2.6
6. Nap Lajoie 2.6
7. Red Dooin 2.6
8. Lee Tannehill 2.4
9. Johnny Kling 2.4
10. Heinie Wagner 2.3

1907

1906

1. Terry Turner 5.4
2. Joe Tinker 3.6
3. George Davis 3.0
4. Nap Lajoie 2.6
5. Lee Tannehill 2.5
6. Bobby Wallace 2.4
7. Art Devlin 2.4
8. Jack Warner 2.3
9. Honus Wagner 2.3
10. Johnny Kling 1.9

1905

1. Joe Tinker 3.6
2. Bill Dahlen 3.1
3. George Davis 2.8
4. Lee Tannehill 2.8
5. Honus Wagner 2.7
7. Bill Bradley 1.7
8. Lou Criger 1.6
10. Joe Cassidy 1.5

1904

1903

1. Bill Dahlen 2.5
2. Freddy Parent 2.5
3. Bobby Wallace 2.2
4. Johnny Kling 2.0
6. Lou Criger 1.9
7. Pat Moran 1.9
8. Nap Lajoie 1.8
9. Honus Wagner 1.7
10. Jimmy Williams 1.7

1902

1. Bobby Wallace 2.7
2. Freddy Parent 2.2
3. George Davis 2.0
4. Tommy Leach 1.8
5. Joe Tinker 1.7
6. John Gochnaur 1.7
7. Bobby Lowe 1.6
8. Wid Conroy 1.6
9. Jimmy Collins 1.5
10. Hobe Ferris 1.5

1901

1. Bobby Wallace 3.4
2. Herman Long 2.7
3. Bill Dahlen 2.2
4. Jimmy Collins 1.9
5. Freddy Parent 1.8
7. Bones Ely 1.5
8. Hobe Ferris 1.4
9. Bill Bergen 1.3
10. Lou Criger 1.1

1900

1. Bones Ely 2.5
2. Bill Dahlen 1.5
3. Herman Long 1.5
4. Jimmy Collins 1.3
7. George Davis 1.2
8. Lave Cross 1.2
10. Heinie Peitz .9

1899

1898

1. Herman Long 2.2
2. Bones Ely 2.2
4. Jimmy Collins 1.9
5. Bill Dahlen 1.9
6. Bobby Lowe 1.8
7. Tim Donahue 1.5
8. Bobby Wallace 1.4
9. George Davis 1.3

1897

1896

1895

1894

1893

1. Germany Smith 2.3
3. Shorty Fuller 1.7
4. Lou Bierbauer 1.5
5. John Grim 1.3
6. Lave Cross 1.3
7. Bid McPhee 1.3
9. Herman Long 1.2
10. Charles Zimmer 1.2

1892

1. Germany Smith 3.2
2. Connie Mack 2.6
3. Lou Bierbauer 2.2
4. Billy Nash 2.1
5. Bob Allen 2.0
6. Herman Long 1.7
9. Joe Quinn 1.4
10. Charles Zimmer 1.3

1891

1890

1. Charles Zimmer 2.8
3. Jimmy Cooney 2.6
4. Duke Farrell 2.6
5. Harry Sage 2.3
6. Ollie Beard 2.2
7. Bob Allen 2.2
8. Phil Tomney 2.1
9. Germany Smith 2.0
10. Jack Glasscock 1.9

1889

1888

1887

1886

1885

1. Germany Smith 2.4
3. Ed Williamson 2.0
4. John Ward 1.9
5. Doc Bushong 1.7
6. John Milligan 1.6
7. Pop Smith 1.5
8. Fred Dunlap 1.5
9. Joe Gerhardt 1.4
10. Sam Barkley 1.4

1884

1. Arlie Latham 2.6
2. Fatty Briody 2.4
3. George Baker 2.3
5. Sadie Houck 2.2
6. Joe Gerhardt 2.1
7. Pop Smith 2.1
10. Jack Farrell 1.9

1883

1882

1. Ed Williamson 1.8
3. Pop Snyder 1.6
4. John Peters 1.4
5. Jerry Denny 1.2
7. Joe Start 1.2
8. Jack Rowe 1.1
10. Jack O'Brien 1.1

1881

1. Ed Williamson 1.9
4. Davy Force 1.3
5. Doc Bushong 1.1
6. Silver Flint 1.0
7. Buck Ewing 1.0
8. Cap Anson 1.0
9. Joe Quest .9
10. Ed Caskin .9

1880

1. Arthur Irwin 2.2
2. Cap Anson 1.6
3. Ed Williamson 1.3
5. John Peters 1.2
6. Doc Kennedy 1.1
7. Silver Flint 1.1
8. Bill Holbert 1.0
9. Fred Dunlap 1.0
10. Joe Quest 1.0

1879

1. George Wright 2.1
2. Silver Flint 1.7
3. Pop Snyder 1.6
4. Davy Force 1.5
5. Ed Williamson 1.5
6. Joe Quest 1.4
7. John Clapp 1.1
8. Jake Evans .9
10. Mike Mansell .8

1878

1877

1876

1. Ed Somerville 1.6
2. Joe Battin 1.4
3. Mike McGeary 1.3
4. Doug Allison 1.3
5. Joe Gerhardt 1.2
6. Deacon White 1.2
7. Tom Carey 1.2
9. Ross Barnes 1.1
10. John Clapp 1.0

1875

1. John Peters 1.3
2. Dickey Pearce 1.3
3. Joe Battin 1.1
4. Ross Barnes 1.1
5. Davy Force 1.0
6. George Wright 1.0
8. Doug Allison .9
9. John Clapp .9
10. Ezra Sutton .8

1874

1873

1872

1871