My WAR calculation is a combination of Baseball-reference and Clay Davenport; I believe it to be the "best" WAR number available for historical comparison. 8 WAR is an MVP quality season. The record is pythagorean adjusted for 162 games.
1884 (88-74)
C Buck Ewing 6.3
1B Alex McKinnon -1.4
2B. Roger Connor 2.75
SS Ed Caskin -.55
3B Frank Hankinson -.15
LF Patrick Gillespie -.45
CF Monte Ward .8
RF/P Mike Dorgan .9
OF/SS Danny Richardson .15
P Mickey Welch 8.85 MVPQ
P Ed Bagley -.95
