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.
1888 (105-57) – WS Winner* (d. Browns 111-51)
C Buck Ewing 5.85
1B Roger Connor 8.4
2B Danny Richardson 1.9
SS Monte Ward .9
3B Art Whitney -.2
LF Jim O’Rourke 2.65
CF Mike Slattery .25
RF Mike Tiernan 5.45
OF George Gore -.45
OF Elmer Foster -1.2
C Pat Murphy -.2
IF Gil Hatfield -.75
P Tim Keefe 7.3
P Mickey Welch 6.35
P Cannonball Titcomb .8
