Database Reference
In-Depth Information
We'll consider how to add trend lines later in this chapter, but for now we can see that there
is a large cloud of dots in the middle and a single dot in the upper-right corner that stands
apart from the rest of the pack. The outlier is Wayne Gretzky, the player who wore jersey
number 99 for Edmonton, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and New York. This view makes it clear
that Gretzky's career statistics were something remarkable, even when compared to the rest
of the players that together with Gretzky make up the top 100 of all-time. There are the 99,
and then there is number 99. To me, this chart shows why Gretzky is regarded by many as
the greatest athlete to play any team sport, ever.
So far we've compared two variables: goals and assists. With the scatterplot, we can add two
more variables to the view rather easily. If we drag
P
(for points) to the Size shelf and
GP
(for
games played) to the Color shelf, we now have a scatterplot that allows us to compare these
100 players along four different dimensions, as shown in
Figure 8-3
.
