One way to check this is to look at every World Series team since 1905, when the Fall Classic became a permanent fixture. To determine whether they relied more on pitching or hitting, we simply check their league ranking for runs scored and runs allowed, then compare them. If they ranked higher in runs scored, we can determine that they relied more on offense. If they ranked higher in runs allowed, we can determine that they relied more on pitching and defense. Compiling the totals gives us the overall picture of whether, in the long run, good pitching wins out over good hitting.
Since 1905, 95 World Series have been played. On the National League side, 35 teams have been ranked higher in runs scored, 42 teams have been ranked higher in runs allowed, and 18 teams ranked the same in both. The American League representative has ranked higher in runs scored 35 times, runs allowed 32 times, and had the same ranking in both 28 times. This suggests that NL teams need to focus more on pitching and defense, while the AL is too close to call. As for the winners of those 94 World Series, 31 teams ranked higher in runs scored, 47 teams ranked higher in runs allowed, and 27 teams ranked the same in both. These numbers indicate that the cliché is quite accurate; pitching and defense do indeed win championships.
