Randy Johnson leads all players in career Box-Toppers points and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Johnson earned 278.8 Box-Toppers points from the time Box-Toppers record keeping began in 1995 until he retired in 2009.
Read MoreCubs’ Jon Lester tops players for Wednesday, May 1; Cardinals’ Ozuna rises to 4th in player rankings
Cubs pitcher Jon Lester is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Wednesday, Marcell Ozuna of the Cardinals rises to fourth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.
Read MoreIndians’ Carlos Carrasco tops players for Wednesday, April 17; Carrasco, Hamels rise in players rankings top 10
Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to eighth place in season player rankings.
Also Wednesday, Cubs pitcher Cole Hamels rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings—and rises two spots to 13th place on the “all-time” career points list—after earning National League Player of the Day honors.
Read MoreCubs’ Cole Hamels tops players for Friday, April 12, rises to 15th on Box-Toppers career points list
Cubs pitcher Cole Hamels is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to 15th place in career Box-Toppers points since 1995.
Hamels struck out six over eight innings, allowing one run, four hits and no walks, in the 5-1 win over the Angels.
Read MoreA look at Box-Toppers season-by-season AL & NL pitching & batting leaders, 1995-2018
Analyzing 24 years of Box-Toppers points leaders in pitching & batting in both leagues
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A look at Box-Toppers' ‘all-time' top 10 lists—top overall players, top pitchers, top batters—since tracking began in 1995
With Max Scherzer’s rise into Box-Toppers career points top 10 list during 2018, there are now six active players in the top 10, the most since 2008, when there were eight.
Box-Toppers player tracking began in 1995 and the overall top 10 players in career points was composed entirely of active players until 2008. The number of active players on the list slipped to as low as two as recently as 2014, but grew to six on June 5, when Nationals pitcher Scherzer joined the list, rising to 10th place with 172.1 Box-Toppers points, displacing retired pitcher Roy Halladay. Scherzer finished the season with 181.8 points, ranked ninth.
Read MoreA look at Box-Toppers top 100 players of 'all-time' after the 2018 season
Randy Johnson leads all players in career Box-Toppers points and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
The most likely rival to Johnson’s throne at the moment is Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw who has 214.8 career Box-Toppers points, third among all players since 1995 and most among active players.
Read MoreBox-Toppers votes eight players to Hall of Fame in internet writers’ ballot
Box-Toppers is voting for eight players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) ballot.
Read MoreAstros’ Justin Verlander tops players for Saturday, July 21, rises to 5th in player rankings
Astros pitcher Justin Verlander is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to fifth place in season player rankings.
Verlander also rises to 12th place in career Box-Toppers points among all players since 1995.
Read MoreAstros’ Justin Verlander tops players for Tuesday, July 10, rises to 7th in player rankings
Astros pitcher Justin Verlander is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to seventh place in season player rankings.
Verlander struck out six over six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no walks, in the 6-5, 11-inning win over the Athletics. Verlander did not earn the win or save, picking up a no-decision, because the Athletics tied the game after he exited.
Read MoreBox-Toppers career points top 10 has most active players on list in 10 years, with Scherzer’s rise
With Max Scherzer’s rise into Box-Toppers career points top 10 list this month, there are now six active players in the top 10, the most since 2008, when there were eight.
Scherzer, the Nationals pitcher, became the 10th-ranked player on Box-Toppers “all-time” list on June 5 with 172.1 career points, passing Roy Halladay (170.7). Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995.
Read MoreNationals' Max Scherzer tops players for Friday, May 11, regains player rankings lead
Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to first place in season player rankings.
Scherzer struck out 11 over seven innings, allowing one run, four hits and no walks, in the 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks.
Read MoreYankees' Domingo German tops players for Sunday, May 6; Scherzer rises to 2nd in player rankings
Yankees pitcher Domingo German is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Sunday, Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer rises to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning National League Player of the Day honors.
Read MoreBox-Toppers top pitchers by time frame (after 2017)
Randy Johnson has the most Box-Toppers points of any pitcher since tracking began in 1995.
Meanwhile, Chris Sale of the Red Sox led all pitchers in Box-Toppers points in 2017, Max Scherzer of the Nationals led all pitchers in points over the past two seasons and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers led all pitchers in points over the past six seasons. Kershaw also leads all active pitchers in career Box-Toppers points.
Read MoreHow 2018 Hall of Fame candidates fared in Box-Toppers
Four players—Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome and Trevor Hoffman—were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Wednesday. Key players overlooked: Curt Schilling, Jeff Kent, Johan Santana and the PED-clouded five of Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield and Sammy Sosa.
Read MoreA look at Box-Toppers season-by-season AL & NL pitching & batting leaders, 1995-2017
An analysis of 23 years of Box-Toppers points leaders in pitching & batting in both leagues.
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Kershaw breaks record for most consecutive seasons with 20 or more Box-Toppers points
In 2017, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw broke the record for most consecutive seasons with 20 or more Box-Toppers points.
Kershaw earned 23.1 points in 2017, his seventh straight season with at least 20 points. Previously, pitcher Randy Johnson held the record, earning 20 points or more for six straight seasons, from 1997 to 2002. (Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995.)
Read MoreA look at Box-Toppers top 100 players of 'all-time' after the 2017 season
Randy Johnson leads Box-Toppers "all-time" career top 100 list, since record-keeping began in 1995. Clayton Kershaw, ranked third overall, leads all active players. And Box-Toppers 2017 Player of the Year Chris Sale makes the biggest jump up the top 100 chart.
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In 2017, Clayton Kershaw has become new leader among active players in career Box-Toppers points, rising to 3rd on the ‘all-time’ top 100 list
During the 2017 season, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has taken the lead among active players in career Box-Toppers points, rising to third place on Box-Toppers’ “all-time” top 100 players list.
Kershaw has 205.8 career Box-Toppers points, third-most among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. Kershaw leads all players with 22.1 points in 2017.
Read MoreRangers' Cole Hamels tops players for Friday, July 7; Dbacks' Greinke rises to 10th in career Box-Toppers points
Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Friday, Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke rises to 10th place in career Box-Toppers points among all players since Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995 after earning National League Player of the Day honors.
Top 10 players
Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2017 season as of July 7:| Player | Pos | Team | BTP | |
| 1 | Kershaw, Clayton 2494 | pi sp | lad nl | 20.1 |
| 2 | Scherzer, Max 2588 | pi sp | dc nl | 17.0 |
| 3 | Sale, Chris 2806 | pi sp | bos al | 13.1 |
| 4 | Santana, Ervin 2005 | pi sp | min al | 12.4 |
| 5 | Wood, Alex 3246 | pi sp | lad nl | 12.0 |
| 6 | Carrasco, Carlos 2885 | pi sp | cle al | 11.4 |
| 7 | Greinke, Zack 1871 | pi sp | ari nl | 11.4 |
| 8 | Strasburg, Stephen 2736 | pi sp | dc nl | 10.4 |
| 9 | Ray, Robbie 3502 | pi sp | ari nl | 10.0 |
| 10 | McCullers, Lance 3488 | pi sp | hou al | 9.4 |
Plus, three players in Box-Toppers top 10 season player rankings earned Player of the Game honors:
- Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer maintained his spot in second place.
- Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco rose from seventh to sixth place.
- Greinke rose from ninth to seventh place.
Player of the Day—Hamels pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, one walk and striking out six, in the 10-0 win over the Angels.
Hamels earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 147.0 for his career, rising to 24th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Friday, he passes three players on the “all-time” list—David Ortiz (145.9), Jim Thome (146.7) and Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers (146.9). Hamels now trails 23rd-ranked player Javier Vazquez (148.3).
Passing Cabrera, Hamels now ranks eighth among active players in career points, trailing the seventh-ranked player, Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer (148.7).
All-time leaders
Here are Box-Toppers top 20 players since record keeping began in 1995:| Player | Pos | Team | BTP | |
| 1 | Randy Johnson | pi sp | retired | 278.8 |
| 2 | Pedro Martinez | pi sp | retired | 244.8 |
| 3 | Clayton Kershaw | pi sp | lad nl | 203.8 |
| 4 | Curt Schilling | pi sp | retired | 194.1 |
| 5 | CC Sabathia | pi sp | nyy al | 190.0 |
| 6 | Alex Rodriguez | dh | released | 187.0 |
| 7 | Albert Pujols | 1b dh | ana al | 184.3 |
| 8 | Roy Halladay | pi sp | retired | 170.7 |
| 9 | Felix Hernandez | pi sp | sea al | 169.7 |
| 10 | Zack Greinke | pi sp | ari nl | 167.5 |
| 11 | Manny Ramirez | lf dh | retired | 167.2 |
| 12 | Johan Santana | pi sp | free agent | 166.6 |
| 13 | Roger Clemens | pi sp | retired | 164.8 |
| 14 | John Smoltz | pi sp | retired | 160.9 |
| 15 | Tim Hudson | pi sp | retired | 157.0 |
| 16 | Mike Mussina | pi sp | retired | 155.6 |
| 17 | Barry Bonds | lf | retired | 153.2 |
| 18 | Greg Maddux | pi sp | retired | 151.7 |
| 19 | Bartolo Colon | pi sp | min al | 151.2 |
| 20 | Jon Lester | pi sp | chi nl | 149.2 |
List of top 100 players since 1995 at the close of the 2016 season.
Hamels has 3.0 Box-Toppers points this season.
National League Player of the Day—Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke struck out seven over seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and one walk, in the 6-3 win over the Reds.
Greinke earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 11.4 for the season, rising from ninth to seventh place in season player rankings, fourth among NL pitchers.
Greinke also rises to 10th place in career Box-Toppers points among all players since 1995, when player tracking began. He now has 167.5 career Box-Toppers points and with his points Friday, passes two players on the “all-time” list—Johan Santana (166.6) and Manny Ramirez (167.2). Greinke now trails ninth-place player, Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez (169.7).
American League Batter of the Day—George Springer of the Astros hit two homers, doubled and went 4-for-4, scoring four times and driving in five runs, in the 12-2 win over the Blue Jays.
National League Batter of the Day—Jesus Aguilar of the Brewers hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in the 9-4 win over the Yankees. Aguilar also went 3-for-4 and drove in seven runs.
Rankings—In addition to Greinke, two other players in Box-Toppers top 10 season player rankings earned Player of the Game honors Friday:
- Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer (7.2IP 6H 4R BB 10K ND in the 5-4, 10-inning win over the Braves) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 17.0 for the season, maintaining his second-place spot in season player rankings, behind overall leader, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (20.1). Scherzer now has 148.7 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 22nd among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He passes Javier Vazquez (148.3) on the “all-time” list and now trails 21st-ranked player Chipper Jones (149.0).
- Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco (7IP 9H 2R BB 11K W in the 11-2 win over the Tigers) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.4 for the season, rising from seventh to sixth in season player rankings, third among AL pitchers, behind Chris Sale of the Red Sox (13.1) and Ervin Santana of the Twins (12.4).
Debut—Twins pitcher Trevor Hildenberger made his Box-Toppers debut Friday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.
Hildenberger (2.1IP 2H 0R 0BB 3K W in the 9-6 win over the Orioles) made his Major League debut June 23 and was playing in his fourth career game. He is the 3,846th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Scoring—Hamels earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Greinke earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Springer and Aguilar each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.
About Box-Toppers—Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.
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Top player from each game
Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score| 7/7 | Score | Game | Player of the Game | AB | R | H | BI | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
| MLB | 9.2 | TEX 10, LAA 0 | Cole Hamels (W, 4-0) | - | - | - | - | 7.2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |
| BAT | 9.0 | HOU 12, TOR 2 | George Springer (CF) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| NL | 9.0 | ARI 6, CIN 3 | Zack Greinke (W, 11-4) | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | |
| BAT | 8.0 | MIL 9, NYY 4 | Jesus Aguilar (1B) | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 7.0 | SEA 7, OAK 2 | James Paxton (W, 7-3) | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | ||
| 6.0 | CHC 6, PIT 1 | Kris Bryant (3B) | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 5.1 | MIA 6, SF 1 | Dan Straily (W, 7-4) | - | - | - | - | 8.1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 5.0 | COL 12, CHW 4 | Nolan Arenado (3B) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 4.0 | SD 4, PHI 3 | Austin Hedges (C) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 4.0 | CLE 11, DET 2 | Carlos Carrasco (W, 10-3) | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | ||
| 3.1 | MIN 9, BAL 6 | Trevor Hildenberger (W, 1-0) | - | - | - | - | 2.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 2.2 | `WSH 5, ATL 4 (F/10) | Max Scherzer | - | - | - | - | 7.2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 2.0 | NYM 6, STL 5 | Jose Reyes (SS) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2.0 | LAD 4, KC 1 | Kenta Maeda (W, 7-4) | - | - | - | - | 5.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | ||
| 1.0 | BOS 8, TB 3 | Dustin Pedroia (2B) | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
AL—Overall American League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.
NL—Overall National League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.
BAT—Top AL or NL Batter of the Day, worth 1.5 total Box-Toppers points.
All other players listed here earn Player of the Game honors, worth 1.0 Box-Toppers point.
` Pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players
Here are Box-Toppers point totals of each of the Players of the Game. Players are ranked by their Box-Toppers point total for the current season (’17). Also shown are each players’ Box-Toppers point total for this season and last (’16-17), the period 2012-2017 (’12-17) and each players’ career point total. Also shown is how their 2017 Box-Toppers point total compares with their 2016 total (+/-).| Player of the Game | Pos | Team | ’17 | ’16-17 | ’12-17 | Career | +/- |
| Scherzer, Max 2588 | pi sp | dc nl | 17.0 | 42.7 | 120.9 | 148.7 | -8.7 |
| Carrasco, Carlos 2885 | pi sp | cle al | 11.4 | 23.8 | 52.5 | 57.9 | -1.0 |
| Greinke, Zack 1871 | pi sp | ari nl | 11.4 | 21.1 | 90.4 | 167.5 | 1.7 |
| Straily, Dan 3080 | pi sp | fla nl | 8.7 | 15.7 | 26.4 | 26.4 | 1.7 |
| Maeda, Kenta 3609 | pi sp | lad nl | 7.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | -3.0 |
| Paxton, James 3280 | pi sp | sea al | 7.0 | 11.4 | 18.1 | 18.1 | 2.6 |
| Arenado, Nolan 3306 | 3b | col nl | 5.5 | 16.2 | 26.2 | 26.2 | -5.2 |
| Springer, George 3337 | rf dh cf | hou al | 5.0 | 11.5 | 15.5 | 15.5 | -1.5 |
| Hedges, Austin 3790 | ca | sd nl | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Hamels, Cole 2135 | pi sp | tex al | 3.0 | 20.8 | 72.0 | 147.0 | -14.8 |
| Bryant, Kris 3465 | 3b lf | chi nl | 2.5 | 13.0 | 21.5 | 21.5 | -8.0 |
| Reyes, Jose 1759 | ss 3b | nym nl | 2.5 | 4.5 | 13.5 | 32.5 | 0.5 |
| Aguilar, Jesus 3787 | 1b | mil nl | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Pedroia, Dustin 2320 | 2b | bos al | 1.0 | 6.0 | 19.0 | 38.5 | -4.0 |
| Hildenberger, Trevor 3846 | pi mr | min al | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |