The MLB Hall of Fame results came out last week, and I thought it would be interesting to take a look at Fantasy Baseball from a historical perspective. So I looked at the top Fantasy Baseball seasons of all time, and thought about how those seasons give us a glimpse into larger offensive trends and the reasons for those developments.

Top Fantasy Baseball Seasons

Season Name Team AB HR R RBI SB AVG zSCR 1894 Billy Hamilton Phillies 544 4 192 87 98 0.404 24.42 1921 Babe Ruth Yankees 540 59 177 171 17 0.378 24.29 1911 Ty Cobb Tigers 591 8 147 127 83 0.42 24.17 1887 Pete Browning Colonels 547 4 137 118 103 0.402 23.80 1894 Hugh Duffy Beaneaters 539 18 160 145 48 0.44 23.44 1887 Arlie Latham Browns 627 2 163 83 129 0.316 22.93 1895 Billy Hamilton Phillies 517 7 166 74 97 0.389 22.40 1887 Charlie Comiskey Browns 538 4 139 103 117 0.335 22.26 1931 Lou Gehrig Yankees 619 46 163 184 17 0.341 22.06 1922 Rogers Hornsby Cardinals 623 42 141 152 17 0.401 21.90 1930 Hack Wilson Cubs 585 56 146 191 3 0.356 21.78 1927 Babe Ruth Yankees 540 60 158 164 7 0.356 21.75 1927 Lou Gehrig Yankees 584 47 149 175 10 0.373 21.64 1932 Jimmie Foxx Athletics 585 58 151 169 3 0.364 21.63 1915 Ty Cobb Tigers 563 3 144 99 96 0.369 21.62 1997 Larry Walker Rockies 568 49 143 130 33 0.366 21.58 1930 Chuck Klein Phillies 648 40 158 170 4 0.386 21.51 1891 Tom Brown Reds 589 5 177 72 106 0.321 21.41 1930 Lou Gehrig Yankees 581 41 143 174 12 0.379 21.16 1896 Joe Kelley Orioles 519 8 148 100 87 0.364 21.09 1920 Babe Ruth Yankees 457 54 158 137 14 0.376 20.90 1920 George Sisler Browns 631 19 137 122 42 0.407 20.87 1998 Sammy Sosa Cubs 643 66 134 158 18 0.308 20.73 1887 Tip O'Neill Browns 517 14 167 123 30 0.435 20.52 2007 Alex Rodriguez Yankees 583 54 143 156 24 0.314 20.47 1936 Lou Gehrig Yankees 579 49 167 152 3 0.354 20.35 1923 Babe Ruth Yankees 522 41 151 131 17 0.393 20.35 1931 Babe Ruth Yankees 534 46 149 163 5 0.373 20.34 1930 Al Simmons Athletics 554 36 152 165 9 0.381 20.32 2001 Barry Bonds Giants 476 73 129 137 13 0.328 20.20 1930 Babe Ruth Yankees 518 49 150 153 10 0.359 20.19 1922 Ken Williams Browns 585 39 128 155 37 0.332 20.18 1930 Babe Herman Robins 614 35 143 130 18 0.393 20.18 1934 Lou Gehrig Yankees 579 49 128 165 9 0.363 20.14 1938 Jimmie Foxx Red Sox 565 50 139 175 5 0.349 20.14 1891 Billy Hamilton Phillies 527 2 141 60 111 0.34 20.10 2001 Sammy Sosa Cubs 577 64 146 160 0 0.328 20.07 1891 Hugh Duffy Reds 536 9 134 110 85 0.336 20.00 1909 Ty Cobb Tigers 573 9 116 107 76 0.377 19.96 1893 Ed Delahanty Phillies 595 19 145 146 37 0.368 19.94 1922 George Sisler Browns 586 8 134 105 51 0.42 19.93 1996 Ellis Burks Rockies 613 40 142 128 32 0.344 19.93 1937 Joe DiMaggio Yankees 621 46 151 167 3 0.346 19.90 1896 Hughie Jennings Orioles 521 0 125 121 70 0.401 19.89 1895 Hughie Jennings Orioles 529 4 159 125 53 0.386 19.86 1929 Rogers Hornsby Cubs 602 39 156 149 2 0.38 19.82 1926 Babe Ruth Yankees 495 47 139 150 11 0.372 19.80 1894 Jake Stenzel Pirates 522 13 148 121 61 0.354 19.77 1932 Chuck Klein Phillies 650 38 152 137 20 0.348 19.73 1889 Billy Hamilton Cowboys 534 3 144 77 111 0.301 19.71 1895 Joe Kelley Orioles 518 10 148 134 54 0.365 19.69 1895 Sam Thompson Phillies 538 18 131 165 27 0.392 19.58 1897 Willie Keeler Orioles 564 0 145 74 64 0.424 19.51 1901 Nap Lajoie Athletics 544 14 145 125 27 0.426 19.42 1894 Walt Wilmot Colts 597 5 134 130 74 0.33 19.41 1890 Harry Stovey Reds 481 12 142 84 97 0.299 19.38 1937 Hank Greenberg Tigers 594 40 137 183 8 0.337 19.35 1985 Rickey Henderson Yankees 547 24 146 72 80 0.314 19.35 1896 Willie Keeler Orioles 544 4 153 82 67 0.386 19.33 1887 Denny Lyons Athletics 570 6 128 102 73 0.367 19.33 1998 Alex Rodriguez Mariners 686 42 123 124 46 0.31 19.32 1914 Benny Kauff Hoosiers 571 8 120 95 75 0.37 19.22 1894 Joe Kelley Orioles 507 6 165 111 46 0.393 19.21 1889 Harry Stovey Athletics 556 19 152 119 63 0.308 19.21 2000 Todd Helton Rockies 580 42 138 147 5 0.372 19.15 1928 Babe Ruth Yankees 536 54 163 142 4 0.323 19.15 1930 Kiki Cuyler Cubs 642 13 155 134 37 0.355 19.06 1899 Ed Delahanty Phillies 581 9 135 137 30 0.41 19.03 1925 Rogers Hornsby Cardinals 504 39 133 143 5 0.403 19.01 1924 Babe Ruth Yankees 529 46 143 121 9 0.378 18.99 1895 Ed Delahanty Phillies 480 11 149 106 46 0.404 18.99 1938 Hank Greenberg Tigers 556 58 144 146 7 0.315 18.98 1982 Rickey Henderson Athletics 536 10 119 51 130 0.267 18.96 1933 Jimmie Foxx Athletics 573 48 125 163 2 0.356 18.95 1993 Barry Bonds Giants 539 46 129 123 29 0.336 18.94 1897 George Davis Giants 519 10 112 136 65 0.353 18.92 1929 Lefty O'Doul Phillies 638 32 152 122 2 0.398 18.90 1890 Hugh Duffy Pirates 596 7 161 82 78 0.32 18.85 1894 John McGraw Orioles 512 1 156 92 78 0.34 18.84 1895 Bill Lange Colts 478 10 120 98 67 0.389 18.83 2001 Alex Rodriguez Rangers 632 52 133 135 18 0.318 18.83 1956 Mickey Mantle Yankees 533 52 132 130 10 0.353 18.77 1887 Mike Griffin Orioles 532 3 142 94 94 0.301 18.76 1949 Ted Williams Red Sox 566 43 150 159 1 0.343 18.73 1887 John Ward Giants 545 1 114 53 111 0.338 18.66 1912 Ty Cobb Tigers 553 7 120 83 61 0.409 18.65 1948 Stan Musial Cardinals 611 39 135 131 7 0.376 18.65 1896 Billy Hamilton Beaneaters 523 3 152 52 83 0.365 18.64 1890 Tommy McCarthy Browns 548 6 137 69 83 0.35 18.61 2011 Matt Kemp Dodgers 602 39 115 126 40 0.324 18.59 1963 Hank Aaron Braves 631 44 121 130 31 0.319 18.57 1996 Barry Bonds Giants 517 42 122 129 40 0.308 18.50 1997 Ken Griffey Jr. Mariners 608 56 125 147 15 0.304 18.49 1962 Frank Robinson Reds 609 39 134 136 18 0.342 18.48 1998 Mark McGwire Cardinals 509 70 130 147 1 0.299 18.47 2001 Todd Helton Rockies 587 49 132 146 7 0.336 18.47 1888 John Reilly Red Stockings 527 13 112 103 82 0.321 18.46 1955 Willie Mays Giants 580 51 123 127 24 0.319 18.45 1936 Hal Trosky Indians 629 42 124 162 6 0.343 18.42 1988 Jose Canseco Athletics 610 42 120 124 40 0.307 18.39

The original Billy Hamilton, as we will call him, played from 1888 to 1901 for the Phillies, Beaneaters, and Cowboys, was appropriately named “Sliding Billy,” and was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1961.

While Hamilton set numerous records in his career, the numbers that he put up in 1894 allowed him to have the greatest Fantasy Baseball season of all time. And they tell us something about the offensive trends of that era and why they occurred.

In 1894, Hamilton set the all-time record for most runs in a season with 198, and he led the league in stolen bases with 98 swipes. Hamilton is also tied for the major-league record for most stolen bases in a game with seven, and in 1937, Hamilton said, “I was and will be the greatest base stealer of all time.”

Then, out of nowhere, stolen bases began to plummet.

Players didn’t become slower over night, and catchers didn’t get surgery to have mechanical arms attached to their shoulders.

The rules changed.

In the 1900s, players were credited with stolen bases as they are today, but they were also accredited in ways dissimilar from modern baseball. A website on nineteenth century baseball reveals that in the 1900s, “If a base runner makes a start and a battery error is made, the runner should receive the credit of a stolen base and the battery error is scored against the player making it. Should a base runner overrun a base and then be put out; he should receive the credit of a Stolen Base.” In plain English, a battery error is a dropped third strike or a passed ball, and as far as players getting credit for a stolen base even after he overran the base, that’s like if a guy “finished” before he actually hooked up with a girl, yet he still got credit for it — you just look stupid.

Numbers aside, imagine how many more passed balls and dropped third strikes there probably were in the 19th century when catchers used mitts you could use to take a pizza out of the oven with, but not really catch a baseball.

In essence, the rules curbed offense more than a swing in talent actually did.

Thinking About Offense Today …

From 2012 to 2013, home runs dropped at one of the largest rates in baseball history. In 2013, players averaged as many home runs as they did in 1977 — and this is all while batting average has trended down.

Two players — Miguel Cabrera and Chris Davis — hit over 40 home runs last year, while there were 13 players that hit 40 or more in 1999. Also in 1999, 24 players hit 35 or more dingers, but in 2013, only five players hit at least 35 homers.

When you look at the top Fantasy Baseball seasons since 1970 (listed below), there are only two players on that list post-2001: Alex Rodriguez (2007) and Matt Kemp (2011).

Kemp was able to push his way onto this list with a season that was one home run shy a 40-HR/40-SB season, while it will still be debated whether Rodriguez did it with skill or the syringe.

Top Fantasy Baseball Seasons Since 1970

Season Name Team AB HR R RBI SB AVG zSCR 1997 Larry Walker Rockies 568 49 143 130 33 0.366 21.58 1998 Sammy Sosa Cubs 643 66 134 158 18 0.308 20.73 2007 Alex Rodriguez Yankees 583 54 143 156 24 0.314 20.47 2001 Barry Bonds Giants 476 73 129 137 13 0.328 20.20 2001 Sammy Sosa Cubs 577 64 146 160 0 0.328 20.07 1996 Ellis Burks Rockies 613 40 142 128 32 0.344 19.93 1985 Rickey Henderson Yankees 547 24 146 72 80 0.314 19.35 1998 Alex Rodriguez Mariners 686 42 123 124 46 0.31 19.32 2000 Todd Helton Rockies 580 42 138 147 5 0.372 19.15 1982 Rickey Henderson Athletics 536 10 119 51 130 0.267 18.96 1993 Barry Bonds Giants 539 46 129 123 29 0.336 18.94 2001 Alex Rodriguez Rangers 632 52 133 135 18 0.318 18.83 2011 Matt Kemp Dodgers 602 39 115 126 40 0.324 18.59 1996 Barry Bonds Giants 517 42 122 129 40 0.308 18.50 1997 Ken Griffey Jr. Mariners 608 56 125 147 15 0.304 18.49 1998 Mark McGwire Cardinals 509 70 130 147 1 0.299 18.47 2001 Todd Helton Rockies 587 49 132 146 7 0.336 18.47 1988 Jose Canseco Athletics 610 42 120 124 40 0.307 18.39 1999 Jeff Bagwell Astros 562 42 143 126 30 0.304 18.30 1996 Alex Rodriguez Mariners 601 36 141 123 15 0.358 18.27

Like the deflation of stolen bases upon an amendment to the rules in the early 20th century, home runs and offensive production has dipped in the early 21st century because of a rule change — drug testing.

Trends are often a result of subtle changes to the rules that we are unsure of how they will affect the game until years after those alterations have been made. Billy Hamilton was the greatest base stealer of all time because the rules allowed him to be, just like Barry Bonds was the greatest home run hitter of all time because of the rules that existed while he played.

It’s unfair to judge people and players by a standard that exists after their time.

People used to think smoking tobacco was good for you; people used to burn their trash in their back yards; Coca-Cola used to be made with cocaine.

Culture deemed these activities to be acceptable while they happened and were only considered reprehensible after the fact. The same can be said for the steroids era.

Devin Jordan is obsessed with statistical analysis, non-fiction literature, and electronic music. If you enjoyed reading him, follow him on Twitter @devinjjordan.