League of Legends esports as we know it turned the corner this year on its first decade of existence. As the scene matures, historical datasets will grow and analysts will streamline their methods. In the long run, statistics should become more an integral part of how the community discusses and understands the game. My hope is that any LoL esports fan who reads this, no matter their math/statistical background, should have an improved picture of how they can use stats on this handy site to help inform their perceptions of player and team performance.

A Long Time Coming: Statistics in Traditional Sports

The year was 1966. Davey Johnson, then-second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, had a disagreement with his manager Earl Weaver. The subject: Johnson had written a computer program called “Optimizing the Orioles Lineup” to try and convince Weaver that, statistically, he should bat second. Continue reading Significant Statistics: A Basic Guide to Informing Your Opinions with Oracle’s Elixir →