Derek Bain

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family. Co-chair of the SABR Games and Simulations Committee since August 2022 along with Mark Wendling. Visit my Amazon author page to check out my books, promotional videos, and post a review if you're a Hardball Retro fan! My Books: “Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handhelds”, published in September 2024 with co-author John Racanelli, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. Hardball Retro’s Compendium of Baseball Video Games and Electronic Handhelds was recognized with the 2025 Sporting News-SABR Baseball Research Award. Hardball Architects – Volume 1 (American League Teams)”, published in July 2020, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com.  Hardball Architects – Volume 2 (National League Teams)”, published in April 2022, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. “Hardball Architects” examines the trades, free agent acquisitions, draft picks and other transactions for the 30 Major League Baseball franchises, divided into a 2-volume set (American League and National League). All key moves are scrutinized for every team and Sabermetric principles are applied to the roster construction throughout the lifetime of the organization to encapsulate the hits and misses by front office executives. Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. A cross-section of essays that I penned for Seamheads.com along with my Baseball Analytics blog spanning nearly a decade touching on subjects including "Taking the Extra Base", "General Manager Scorecard", "Worst Trades", "BABIP By Location" and "Baseball Birthplaces and the Retro World Baseball Classic". Rediscover your favorite hardball arcade and simulations in "Play Retro Baseball Video Games In Your Browser" or take a deep dive into every franchise's minor league successes and failures in relation to their major league operations in "Minors vs. Majors". “Hardball Retrospective” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com. In Hardball Retrospective, I placed every ballplayer in the modern era (from 1901-present) on their original teams. Using a variety of advanced statistics and methods, I generated revised standings for each season based entirely on the performance of each team’s “original” players. I discuss every team’s “original” players and seasons at length along with organizational performance with respect to the Amateur Draft (or First-Year Player Draft), amateur free agent signings and other methods of player acquisition. Season standings, WAR and Win Shares totals for the “original” teams are compared against the real-time or “actual” team results to assess each franchise’s scouting, development and general management skills. Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here “Hardball Retrospective - Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each "original" team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 - 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com. Contact me on BlueSky - @hardballretro.bsky.social

Pilots / Brewers Free Agent Acquisitions (1950-2018) – Win Shares Leaders

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Year Player WS 1988 Paul Molitor 133.4 2012 Aramis Ramirez 57 1990 Robin Yount 52.2 1977 Sal Bando 51.3 2003 Doug Davis 45.1 2000 Jose Hernandez 39.4 2008 Mike Cameron 36 2008 John Axford 35.2 1979 Jim Slaton 34.6 1989 Jim Gantner 32.8 Correctly answered by Rod Humphrey and Doug Snyder Sr. Select one of … Read more

Dodgers Free Agent Acquisitions (1950-2018) – Win Shares Leaders

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Year Player WS 1991 Brett Butler 95.2 2005 Jeff Kent 74.2 1999 Kevin J. Brown 72.4 2013 Zack Greinke 58.2 2014 Justin Turner 57.3 2005 Derek Lowe 54.6 1988 Kirk Gibson 53.2 2006 Rafael Furcal 51.4 2017 Justin Turner 44 1992 Tom Candiotti 43.4 Correctly answered by Rod Humphrey, Matthew Bloss, Michael Danes, Jon Winkler, … Read more

Royals Free Agent Acquisitions (1950-2018) – Win Shares Leaders

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Year Player WS 1979 Larry Gura 68.6 1992 Wally Joyner 58.6 1985 Steve Farr 51.7 1996 Tim Belcher 44.6 1993 David Cone 40.6 2001 Raul Ibanez 39.3 2005 Emil Brown 38.1 2006 Mark Grudzielanek 37.7 1993 Greg Gagne 36.9 1983 Hal McRae 35.9 Correctly answered by Rod Humphrey, Michael Danes, Brian Bohem, Neil Bush, Doug … Read more

Marlins Free Agent Acquisitions (1950-2018) – Win Shares Leaders

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Year Player WS 1998 Kevin Millar 54.6 1996 Kevin J. Brown 48.9 2008 Jorge Cantu 45.5 2004 Luis A. Castillo 38.8 1997 Alex Fernandez 30.3 2005 Carlos Delgado 27.1 1996 Al Leiter 26.9 1997 Bobby Bonilla 24 2001 Charles Johnson 23.5 1996 Devon White 23.4   Select one of the four choices then click Vote … Read more

Tigers Free Agent Acquisitions (1950-2018) – Win Shares Leaders

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Year Player WS 1990 Cecil Fielder 124 1972 John Hiller 112.5 1990 Tony Phillips 108.9 2005 Magglio Ordonez 99.3 2004 Ivan Rodriguez 79.4 2014 J. D. Martinez 71.7 2011 Victor Martinez 63.7 2011 Jhonny Peralta 53 1984 Darrell Evans 47 2012 Prince Fielder 47 Correctly answered by Rod Humphrey, Matthew Bloss, Brian Bohem, Tom Siegler, … Read more

Rockies Free Agent Acquisitions (1950-2018) – Win Shares Leaders

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Year Player WS 1995 Larry Walker 191.4 1994 Andres Galarraga 68.3 1994 Ellis Burks 67 2011 Jorge De La Rosa 42.9 1993 Bruce Ruffin 40.6 2012 Michael Cuddyer 34 2009 Matt Belisle 33.9 2006 Ryan Spilborghs 33.8 1994 Kevin Ritz 33.2 2010 Rafael Betancourt 31.6 Correctly answered by Rod Humphrey, Matthew Bloss, Michael Danes, Michael … Read more

Indians Free Agent Acquisitions (1950-2018) – Win Shares Leaders

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Year Player WS 1999 Roberto Alomar 89.6 2003 Casey Blake 82.3 1986 Tom Candiotti 79.9 1998 Kenny Lofton 68.3 1985 Doug Jones 61.1 1956 Cal McLish 44.4 2004 Ronnie Belliard 43.2 2003 Rafael Betancourt 42.8 2001 Ellis Burks 41.8 1995 Orel Hershiser 38.8 Correctly answered by Rod Humphrey, Matthew Bloss, Brian Bohem, Tom Siegler, Neil … Read more

Reds Free Agent Acquisitions (1950-2018) – Win Shares Leaders

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Year Player WS 1984 Dave Parker 78.2 2003 Ryan Freel 52 1962 Joe Nuxhall 48.3 2008 Francisco Cordero 45.9 1996 Jeff Shaw 41.3 1993 John Smiley 38.8 1998 Pete Harnisch 37.2 2000 Elmer Dessens 34.6 2005 David Weathers 34.6 2004 Javier Valentin 27.9 Correctly answered by Rod Humphrey, Matthew Bloss, Michael Danes, Paul Ivice, Jon … Read more

White Sox Free Agent Acquisitions (1950-2018) – Win Shares Leaders

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Year Player WS 2006 Paul Konerko 96.2 2005 Jermaine Dye 91.1 1981 Carlton Fisk 88.4 1988 Carlton Fisk 71.2 2005 A. J. Pierzynski 69.9 2012 Jose Quintana 67.8 2001 Jose Valentin 61.8 1983 Floyd Bannister 60.7 1997 Albert Belle 57.2 2011 Paul Konerko 50.5 Correctly answered by Rod Humphrey, Matthew Bloss, Michael Danes, Brian Bohem … Read more