1884 MLB Season Leaders

2 leagues · 109 team games · 44 ranking tables

Awards

None of these awards existed yet. The earliest award in this database is from 1911, so a 1884 season has no award to show. That is a fact about the calendar, not about the players on this page.

National League

Led the National League — the first row of every table below.

Batting12 categories

RunsR

1	King Kelly	120
2	Joe Hornung	119
2	Jim O'Rourke	119
4	Abner Dalrymple	111
5	Cap Anson	108
6	Fred Pfeffer	105
7	George Gore	104
8	Ezra Sutton	102
9	Roger Connor	98
9	John Ward	98

HitsH

1	Jim O'Rourke	162
1	Ezra Sutton	162
3	Abner Dalrymple	161
4	King Kelly	160
5	Cap Anson	159
6	Roger Connor	151
7	Paul Hines	148
8	Deacon White	147
9	Jack Glasscock	142
10	Joe Hornung	139

Doubles2B

1	Paul Hines	36
2	Jim O'Rourke	33
3	Cap Anson	30
4	Jack Manning	29
5	Roger Connor	28
5	King Kelly	28
5	Ezra Sutton	28
8	Joe Hornung	27
8	Hardy Richardson	27
10	Bill Phillips	25

Triples3B

1	Buck Ewing	20
2	Dan Brouthers	15
3	Jack Rowe	14
4	Alex McKinnon	13
5	Bill Phillips	12
6	Deacon White	11
7	Paul Hines	10
7	Joe Hornung	10
7	Fred Pfeffer	10
7	George Wood	10

Home RunsHR

1	Ed Williamson	27
2	Fred Pfeffer	25
3	Abner Dalrymple	22
4	Cap Anson	21
5	Dan Brouthers	14
6	King Kelly	13
7	Silver Flint	9
8	George Wood	8
9	Tom Burns	7
9	Joe Hornung	7

Runs Batted InRBI

1	Cap Anson	102
2	Fred Pfeffer	101
3	King Kelly	95
4	Ed Williamson	84
5	Roger Connor	82
6	Dan Brouthers	79
7	Deacon White	74
8	Alex McKinnon	73
9	Abner Dalrymple	69
10	Jim O'Rourke	63

WalksBB

1	George Gore	61
2	King Kelly	46
3	Paul Hines	44
4	Ed Williamson	42
5	Ned Hanlon	40
5	Jack Manning	40
7	George Wood	39
8	Roger Connor	38
9	Charlie Bennett	36
10	Jack Farrell	35
10	Barney Gilligan	35
10	Jim O'Rourke	35
10	Joe Start	35

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Fred Pfeffer	6.9
2	Ed Williamson	6.6
3	King Kelly	6.4
4	Jack Glasscock	5.7
5	Cap Anson	5.3
6	Jim O'Rourke	4.9
7	George Gore	4.9
8	Roger Connor	4.9
9	Paul Hines	4.9
10	Dan Brouthers	4.8

Batting Averagemin 338 PA

1	King Kelly	.354
2	Jim O'Rourke	.347
3	Ezra Sutton	.346
4	Cap Anson	.335
5	Dan Brouthers	.327
6	Deacon White	.325
7	George Gore	.318
8	Roger Connor	.317
9	Jack Rowe	.315
10	Jack Glasscock	.313

On-Base Percentagemin 338 PA

1	King Kelly	.414
2	George Gore	.404
3	Jim O'Rourke	.392
4	Ezra Sutton	.384
5	Dan Brouthers	.378
6	Cap Anson	.373
7	Deacon White	.370
8	Roger Connor	.367
9	Jack Glasscock	.360
9	Paul Hines	.360

Slugging Percentagemin 338 PA

1	Dan Brouthers	.563
2	Ed Williamson	.554
3	Cap Anson	.543
4	King Kelly	.524
5	Fred Pfeffer	.514
6	Abner Dalrymple	.505
7	Jim O'Rourke	.480
8	Ezra Sutton	.455
9	Jack Rowe	.450
10	Buck Ewing	.445

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 338 PA

1	Dan Brouthers	.941
2	King Kelly	.938
3	Cap Anson	.916
4	Ed Williamson	.898
5	Jim O'Rourke	.872
6	Fred Pfeffer	.839
6	Ezra Sutton	.839
8	Abner Dalrymple	.832
9	George Gore	.818
10	Deacon White	.812

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1	Old Hoss Radbourn	60
2	Charlie Buffinton	48
3	Pud Galvin	46
4	Jim McCormick	40
5	Mickey Welch	39
6	Larry Corcoran	35
7	Jim Whitney	23
8	Charlie Ferguson	21
9	Billy Serad	16
10	Ed Bagley	12
10	Fred Goldsmith	12
10	John Harkins	12

SavesSV

1	John Morrill	2
2	Charlie Ferguson	1
2	Jim O'Rourke	1
2	Old Hoss Radbourn	1

StrikeoutsSO

1	Old Hoss Radbourn	441
2	Charlie Buffinton	417
3	Pud Galvin	369
4	Mickey Welch	345
5	Jim McCormick	343
6	Larry Corcoran	272
7	Jim Whitney	270
8	Charlie Ferguson	194
9	John Harkins	192
10	Billy Serad	150

Innings PitchedIP

1	Old Hoss Radbourn	678.7
2	Pud Galvin	636.3
3	Charlie Buffinton	587.0
4	Jim McCormick	569.0
5	Mickey Welch	557.3
6	Larry Corcoran	516.7
7	Charlie Ferguson	416.7
8	John Harkins	391.0
9	Jim Whitney	336.0
10	Billy Serad	308.0

Complete GamesCG

1	Old Hoss Radbourn	73
2	Pud Galvin	71
3	Charlie Buffinton	63
3	Jim McCormick	63
5	Mickey Welch	62
6	Larry Corcoran	57
7	Charlie Ferguson	46
8	John Harkins	42
9	Jim Whitney	35
10	Billy Serad	34

ShutoutsSHO

1	Pud Galvin	12
2	Old Hoss Radbourn	11
3	Jim McCormick	10
4	Charlie Buffinton	8
5	Larry Corcoran	7
6	Jim Whitney	6
7	Mickey Welch	4
8	John Harkins	3
9	Charlie Ferguson	2
9	Billy Serad	2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Old Hoss Radbourn	19.6
2	Pud Galvin	18.3
3	Charlie Buffinton	18.1
4	Jim McCormick	16.0
5	Mickey Welch	14.7
6	Jim Whitney	11.0
7	Larry Corcoran	10.5
8	John Harkins	9.6
9	Charlie Ferguson	9.4
10	Frank Meinke	6.1

Earned Run Averagemin 109 IP

1	Old Hoss Radbourn	1.38
2	Pretzels Getzien	1.96
3	Pud Galvin	1.99
4	Jim Whitney	2.09
5	John Clarkson	2.14
6	Charlie Buffinton	2.15
7	Bill Vinton	2.23
8	Jim McCormick	2.37
9	Larry Corcoran	2.40
10	Mickey Welch	2.50

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 109 IP

1	Jim Whitney	0.89
2	Old Hoss Radbourn	0.92
3	Pretzels Getzien	0.97
4	Pud Galvin	0.99
5	Charlie Buffinton	0.99
6	John Clarkson	1.01
7	Jim McCormick	1.05
8	Bill Vinton	1.10
9	Larry Corcoran	1.14
10	Mickey Welch	1.21

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 109 IP

1	Jim Whitney	2.37
2	Pretzels Getzien	2.51
3	Charlie Buffinton	2.57
4	Old Hoss Radbourn	2.75
5	Pud Galvin	2.88
6	Jim McCormick	2.97
7	Mickey Welch	3.10
8	Bill Vinton	3.13
9	John Clarkson	3.28
10	John Harkins	3.35

Other leagues

Led the Other leagues — the first row of every table below.

Batting12 categories

RunsR

1	Fred Dunlap	160
2	Orator Shafer	130
3	Harry Stovey	124
4	Charley Jones	117
5	Arlie Latham	115
5	Emmett Seery	115
7	Candy Nelson	114
7	John Reilly	114
9	Dude Esterbrook	110
10	Bid McPhee	107

HitsH

1	Fred Dunlap	185
2	Orator Shafer	168
3	Dave Orr	162
4	Henry Moore	155
5	John Reilly	152
6	Pete Browning	150
6	Dude Esterbrook	150
8	Charley Jones	148
9	Emmett Seery	146
9	Harry Stovey	146
9	Chicken Wolf	146

Doubles2B

1	Orator Shafer	40
2	Sam Barkley	39
2	Fred Dunlap	39
4	Pete Browning	33
5	Dave Orr	32
5	Dave Rowe	32
7	Tom O'Brien	31
8	Jack Gleason	30
9	Dude Esterbrook	29
9	Billy Taylor	29

Triples3B

1	Harry Stovey	23
2	John Reilly	19
3	Fred Mann	18
4	Charley Jones	17
4	John Peltz	17
6	Fred Corey	16
6	Bill Kuehne	16
8	Frank Fennelly	15
9	Sadie Houck	14
10	Dave Orr	13

Home RunsHR

1	Fred Dunlap	13
2	Ed Crane	12
3	John Reilly	11
4	Harry Stovey	10
5	Dave Orr	9
6	Charley Jones	7
6	Fred Mann	7
8	Thomas Burns	6
8	Fred Carroll	6
8	John Kerins	6
8	Pop Smith	6

Runs Batted InRBI

1	Dave Orr	112
2	John Reilly	91
3	Charlie Comiskey	84
4	Harry Stovey	83
5	Chicken Wolf	73
6	Charley Jones	71
7	John Corkhill	70
8	Bid McPhee	64
9	Hick Carpenter	60
10	Tip O'Neill	54

WalksBB

1	Candy Nelson	74
2	Billy Geer	42
3	Charley Jones	37
3	William Robinson	37
5	Jimmy Macullar	36
6	John Richmond	35
7	Tom York	34
8	Tony Mullane	33
8	Ed Swartwood	33
10	Frank Fennelly	31

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Fred Dunlap	9.6
2	Frank Fennelly	5.7
3	Sam Barkley	5.3
4	Charley Jones	5.3
5	Orator Shafer	5.2
6	Bid McPhee	4.9
7	Harry Stovey	4.8
8	John Reilly	4.8
9	Dave Orr	4.5
10	Pete Browning	4.3

Batting Averagemin 338 PA

1	Fred Dunlap	.412
2	Orator Shafer	.360
3	Dave Orr	.354
4	John Reilly	.339
5	Pete Browning	.336
5	Henry Moore	.336
7	Harry Stovey	.326
8	Jack Gleason	.324
9	Fred Lewis	.321
10	Dude Esterbrook	.314
10	Charley Jones	.314

On-Base Percentagemin 338 PA

1	Fred Dunlap	.448
2	Orator Shafer	.398
3	Charley Jones	.376
4	Candy Nelson	.375
5	Harry Stovey	.368
6	Frank Fennelly	.367
7	John Reilly	.366
8	Fred Lewis	.365
8	Ed Swartwood	.365
10	Henry Moore	.363

Slugging Percentagemin 338 PA

1	Fred Dunlap	.621
2	John Reilly	.551
3	Harry Stovey	.545
4	Dave Orr	.539
5	Orator Shafer	.501
6	Frank Fennelly	.480
7	Pete Browning	.472
8	Charley Jones	.470
9	Fred Mann	.464
10	Dick Burns	.457

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 338 PA

1	Fred Dunlap	1.069
2	John Reilly	.918
3	Harry Stovey	.913
4	Dave Orr	.901
5	Orator Shafer	.899
6	Frank Fennelly	.847
7	Charley Jones	.846
8	Pete Browning	.829
9	Fred Mann	.805
10	Jack Gleason	.802

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1	Guy Hecker	52
2	Billy Taylor	43
3	Charlie Sweeney	41
4	Bill Sweeney	40
5	Tim Keefe	37
5	Jack Lynch	37
7	Tony Mullane	36
8	Ed Morris	34
8	Will White	34
10	Bob Emslie	32

SavesSV

1	Billy Taylor	4
2	Henry Boyle	1
2	Lew Brown	1
2	Thomas Burns	1
2	Fred Dunlap	1
2	Frank Mountain	1
2	Hank O'Day	1
2	Charlie Sweeney	1
2	Lou Sylvester	1

StrikeoutsSO

1	Hugh Daily	483
2	Dupee Shaw	451
3	Guy Hecker	385
4	Bill Sweeney	374
5	Hardie Henderson	346
6	Charlie Sweeney	337
7	Tim Keefe	334
8	Tony Mullane	325
9	Larry McKeon	308
10	Ed Morris	302

Innings PitchedIP

1	Guy Hecker	670.7
2	Tony Mullane	567.0
3	Dupee Shaw	543.3
4	Bill Sweeney	538.0
5	Billy Taylor	523.0
6	Larry McKeon	512.0
7	Hugh Daily	500.7
8	Jack Lynch	496.0
9	Charlie Sweeney	492.0
10	Tim Keefe	483.0

Complete GamesCG

1	Guy Hecker	72
2	Tony Mullane	64
3	Dupee Shaw	60
4	Larry McKeon	59
4	Billy Taylor	59
6	Bill Sweeney	58
7	Hugh Daily	56
7	Tim Keefe	56
9	Adonis Terry	54
10	Jack Lynch	53
10	Charlie Sweeney	53

ShutoutsSHO

1	Tony Mullane	7
1	Will White	7
3	Guy Hecker	6
3	Charlie Sweeney	6
5	Hugh Daily	5
5	Jack Lynch	5
5	Jumbo McGinnis	5
5	Frank Mountain	5
5	Dupee Shaw	5
10	Bob Emslie	4
10	Hardie Henderson	4
10	Tim Keefe	4
10	Sam Kimber	4
10	Bill Sweeney	4
10	Bill Wise	4

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Guy Hecker	20.8
2	Hugh Daily	18.0
3	Dupee Shaw	17.5
4	Bill Sweeney	17.1
5	Charlie Sweeney	16.3
6	Tony Mullane	16.3
7	Tim Keefe	14.9
8	Billy Taylor	14.8
9	Jack Lynch	14.7
10	Ed Morris	13.7

Earned Run Averagemin 109 IP

1	Charlie Sweeney	1.70
2	Henry Boyle	1.74
3	Guy Hecker	1.80
4	Perry Werden	1.97
5	Charlie Hodnett	2.01
6	Billy Taylor	2.10
7	Dave Foutz	2.18
8	Ed Morris	2.18
9	Tim Keefe	2.25
10	Dupee Shaw	2.30

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 109 IP

1	Charlie Sweeney	0.82
2	Henry Boyle	0.85
3	Guy Hecker	0.87
4	Ed Morris	0.90
5	Jack Lynch	0.93
6	Tim Keefe	0.93
7	Perry Werden	0.95
8	Dave Foutz	0.98
9	Tony Mullane	1.00
10	Frank Mountain	1.02

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 109 IP

1	Hugh Daily	2.06
2	Bob Black	2.28
3	Charlie Geggus	2.30
4	Charlie Sweeney	2.32
5	James Burke	2.38
6	Ed Morris	2.40
7	Dupee Shaw	2.43
8	Bill Wise	2.48
9	Guy Hecker	2.52
10	Tim Keefe	2.56

How this page is built

The qualifying line for 1884 is 338 plate appearances and 109 innings pitched. It comes from the length of the schedule — 109 games per team, measured from the season files themselves — at the official rate of 3.1 plate appearances and one inning per team game. Batting average, on-base, slugging, OPS, earned run average and WHIP all use it; a player who came to the plate twice and got two hits does not appear at the top of the batting average table, which is exactly what that line is for. Counting statistics such as home runs and strikeouts have no minimum, because none is needed.

How the rankings were made

Wins above replacement in these tables is ours rather than the source database's, so it will not match a published figure exactly. Also: why every ranking stops at one league, and why some categories are missing on purpose.

Every ranking on this page is worked out inside one league. 1884 is counted as 2 separate leagues — National League and Other leagues, and a player is ranked only against the men in his own. Leading the American League and leading baseball are different claims, and the one we can make from these files is the first. There is no combined table anywhere on this page, because adding two leagues together would produce a number that no record book recognises.

There are 44 ranking tables here, 15 places deep. Players tied on a value share a place, so a table can run past ten rows when the tenth spot is shared, and a league with fewer than ten qualified players in a category is left out rather than shown as a top ten that is not one. A player who did none of the thing is not ranked in it either — a shutout table lists the pitchers who threw one, not the hundreds who threw none tied on zero. Some categories are missing on purpose: nobody leads a league in strikeouts at the plate, in losses, or in home runs allowed. A ranking is meant to mark an achievement, so only achievements are ranked.

Wins above replacement on this page is ours, not the source database's. The hitting and pitching files carry a WAR column that we compute here from the same season lines you see, using park factors and a run environment worked out per season. Published versions elsewhere use different methods and will not match ours exactly. Every other column is the record as the database supplies it.

Names on this page lead to that player's own record. Most of them open a full career page with every season he appeared in. Some open a summary screen instead — we pre-build pages for the players people look for, and everyone else is assembled on demand from the same files, so the numbers are identical either way even though the address looks different.

Data for 1871 to 2025: Lahman Baseball Database 2025, compiled by SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) and licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported. Negro Leagues data licensed from Seamheads.com and included under SABR major-league recommendations (2021-02-11, 2024-06-03). This page ranks the 1884 season lines published on this site, league by league, with WAR worked out here. — the WAR columns are computed here — and they are published under the same CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported licence, as ShareAlike requires. That database is published once a season is complete, so the 2026 figures on this site come from a different place: the MLB Stats API, whose notice reads “Copyright 2026 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Use of any content on this page acknowledges agreement to the terms posted here http://gdx.mlb.com/components/copyright.txt”. Those numbers are MLB Advanced Media, L.P.’s, not SABR (Society for American Baseball Research)’s, and they carry that notice rather than the CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported licence above. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Major League Baseball or any of its clubs.