1887 MLB Season Leaders

2 leagues · 131 team games · 46 ranking tables

Awards

None of these awards existed yet. The earliest award in this database is from 1911, so a 1887 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.

Batting13 categories

RunsR

1	Dan Brouthers	153
2	Jack Rowe	135
3	Hardy Richardson	131
4	King Kelly	120
5	Sam Thompson	118
5	George Wood	118
7	Jimmy Ryan	117
8	John Ward	114
9	Roger Connor	113
9	Jim Fogarty	113

HitsH

1	Sam Thompson	203
2	John Ward	184
3	Hardy Richardson	178
4	Jack Rowe	171
5	Dan Brouthers	169
6	Jerry Denny	165
7	Cap Anson	164
8	King Kelly	156
8	Sam Wise	156
10	Ed Andrews	151

Doubles2B

1	Dan Brouthers	36
2	Jerry Denny	34
2	King Kelly	34
4	Cap Anson	33
5	Paul Hines	32
5	John Morrill	32
7	Jack Rowe	30
8	Sam Thompson	29
9	Sam Wise	27
10	Roger Connor	26
10	Jim Fogarty	26

Triples3B

1	Sam Thompson	23
2	Roger Connor	22
3	Dan Brouthers	20
3	Dick Johnston	20
5	George Wood	19
6	Hardy Richardson	18
7	Sam Wise	17
8	Otto Schomberg	16
8	Marty Sullivan	16
10	Fred Carroll	15
10	Bill Kuehne	15
10	Emmett Seery	15

Home RunsHR

1	Billy O'Brien	19
2	Roger Connor	17
3	Fred Pfeffer	16
4	George Wood	14
5	Dan Brouthers	12
5	John Morrill	12
7	Jerry Denny	11
7	Jimmy Ryan	11
9	Paul Hines	10
9	Sam Thompson	10
9	Mike Tiernan	10

Runs Batted InRBI

1	Sam Thompson	166
2	Roger Connor	104
3	Cap Anson	102
4	Dan Brouthers	101
5	Jerry Denny	97
6	Jack Rowe	96
7	Billy Nash	94
7	Hardy Richardson	94
9	Sam Wise	92
10	Fred Pfeffer	89

WalksBB

1	Jim Fogarty	82
2	Roger Connor	75
3	Ed Williamson	73
4	Dan Brouthers	71
4	Emmett Seery	71
6	Cap Anson	60
6	Billy Nash	60
8	Otto Schomberg	56
9	King Kelly	55
9	Art Whitney	55

Stolen BasesSB

1	John Ward	111
2	Jim Fogarty	102
3	King Kelly	84
4	Ned Hanlon	69
5	Jack Glasscock	62
6	Ed Andrews	57
6	Fred Pfeffer	57
8	Dick Johnston	52
9	Jimmy Ryan	50
10	Emmett Seery	48

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	John Ward	6.2
2	Sam Wise	5.7
3	Sam Thompson	5.4
4	Dan Brouthers	5.2
5	Jack Glasscock	5.2
6	Jerry Denny	5.1
7	Jim Fogarty	4.8
8	King Kelly	4.7
9	Hardy Richardson	4.6
10	Roger Connor	4.6

Batting Averagemin 406 PA

1	Sam Thompson	.372
2	Cap Anson	.347
3	Dan Brouthers	.338
3	John Ward	.338
5	Sam Wise	.334
6	Fred Carroll	.328
6	Hardy Richardson	.328
8	Ed Andrews	.325
9	Jerry Denny	.324
10	King Kelly	.322

On-Base Percentagemin 406 PA

1	Dan Brouthers	.426
2	Cap Anson	.422
3	Sam Thompson	.416
4	Otto Schomberg	.397
5	King Kelly	.393
6	Roger Connor	.392
7	Sam Wise	.390
8	Fred Carroll	.383
9	Paul Hines	.380
10	Ed Williamson	.377

Slugging Percentagemin 406 PA

1	Sam Thompson	.565
2	Dan Brouthers	.562
3	Roger Connor	.541
4	Sam Wise	.522
5	Cap Anson	.517
6	Jerry Denny	.502
7	Fred Carroll	.499
8	George Wood	.497
9	Billy O'Brien	.492
10	King Kelly	.488

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 406 PA

1	Dan Brouthers	.988
2	Sam Thompson	.982
3	Cap Anson	.939
4	Roger Connor	.933
5	Sam Wise	.913
6	Fred Carroll	.882
7	King Kelly	.880
8	Otto Schomberg	.860
9	Hardy Richardson	.851
10	George Wood	.847

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1	John Clarkson	38
2	Tim Keefe	35
3	Pretzels Getzien	29
4	Dan Casey	28
4	Pud Galvin	28
6	Old Hoss Radbourn	24
6	Jim Whitney	24
8	Charlie Ferguson	22
8	Mickey Welch	22
10	Charlie Buffinton	21
10	Kid Madden	21

SavesSV

1	Mark Baldwin	1
1	Frederick Fass	1
1	Charlie Ferguson	1
1	Bob Pettit	1
1	Bill Stemmyer	1
1	Mike Tiernan	1
1	Larry Twitchell	1
1	George Van Haltren	1

StrikeoutsSO

1	John Clarkson	237
2	Tim Keefe	189
3	Mark Baldwin	164
4	Charlie Buffinton	160
5	Jim Whitney	146
6	Pretzels Getzien	135
7	Charlie Ferguson	125
8	Dan Casey	119
9	Mickey Welch	115
10	Frank Gilmore	114

Innings PitchedIP

1	John Clarkson	523.0
2	Tim Keefe	476.7
3	Pud Galvin	440.7
4	Old Hoss Radbourn	425.0
5	Jim Whitney	404.7
6	Dan Casey	390.3
7	Pretzels Getzien	366.7
8	Mickey Welch	346.0
9	Egyptian Healy	341.0
10	Mark Baldwin	334.0

Complete GamesCG

1	John Clarkson	56
2	Tim Keefe	54
3	Old Hoss Radbourn	48
4	Pud Galvin	47
5	Jim Whitney	46
6	Dan Casey	43
7	Pretzels Getzien	41
8	Egyptian Healy	40
9	Mickey Welch	39
10	Henry Boyle	37
10	Ed Morris	37

ShutoutsSHO

1	Dan Casey	4
2	Pud Galvin	3
2	Egyptian Healy	3
2	Kid Madden	3
5	John Clarkson	2
5	Charlie Ferguson	2
5	Pretzels Getzien	2
5	Tim Keefe	2
5	Lev Shreve	2
5	Mickey Welch	2
5	Jim Whitney	2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	John Clarkson	15.9
2	Tim Keefe	12.8
3	Jim Whitney	11.4
4	Pud Galvin	10.7
5	Dan Casey	9.1
6	Mickey Welch	8.8
7	Charlie Buffinton	8.7
8	Charlie Ferguson	8.3
9	Henry Boyle	8.1
10	Old Hoss Radbourn	7.9

Earned Run Averagemin 131 IP

1	Dan Casey	2.86
2	Pete Conway	2.90
3	Charlie Ferguson	3.00
4	John Clarkson	3.08
5	Tim Keefe	3.12
6	Jim Whitney	3.23
7	Pud Galvin	3.29
8	Mickey Welch	3.35
9	Mark Baldwin	3.40
10	Henry Boyle	3.65

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 131 IP

1	Tim Keefe	1.12
2	John Clarkson	1.16
2	Charlie Ferguson	1.16
4	Jim Whitney	1.17
5	Pete Conway	1.23
6	Mickey Welch	1.24
7	Dan Casey	1.26
8	Pud Galvin	1.26
9	Henry Boyle	1.30
10	Pretzels Getzien	1.31

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 131 IP

1	John Clarkson	3.42
2	Jim Whitney	3.50
3	Tim Keefe	3.53
4	Charlie Ferguson	3.59
5	Mickey Welch	3.71
6	Charlie Buffinton	3.81
7	Pud Galvin	3.82
8	Henry Boyle	3.94
9	Ed Morris	3.98
10	Frank Gilmore	4.04

Other leagues

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

Batting13 categories

RunsR

1	Tip O'Neill	167
2	Arlie Latham	163
3	Mike Griffin	142
4	Tom Poorman	140
5	Charlie Comiskey	139
6	Pete Browning	137
6	Bid McPhee	137
8	Bill Gleason	135
9	Frank Fennelly	133
9	George Pinkney	133

HitsH

1	Tip O'Neill	225
2	Pete Browning	220
3	Denny Lyons	209
4	Arlie Latham	198
5	Thomas Burns	188
6	Charlie Comiskey	180
7	Bill Gleason	172
8	John Reilly	170
9	John Corkhill	168
10	Hub Collins	162

Doubles2B

1	Tip O'Neill	52
2	Denny Lyons	43
3	Pete Browning	35
3	Arlie Latham	35
3	John Reilly	35
6	Bill Phillips	34
7	Thomas Burns	33
8	Mike Griffin	32
8	William Robinson	32
8	Curt Welch	32

Triples3B

1	Thomas Burns	19
1	Jumbo Davis	19
1	John Kerins	19
1	Bid McPhee	19
1	Tip O'Neill	19
1	Tom Poorman	19
7	Pete Browning	16
7	Frank Fennelly	16
7	Germany Smith	16
10	Denny Lyons	14
10	John Reilly	14

Home RunsHR

1	Tip O'Neill	14
2	John Reilly	10
3	Thomas Burns	9
4	Bob Caruthers	8
4	Jumbo Davis	8
4	Frank Fennelly	8
7	Joe Werrick	7
8	Denny Lyons	6
8	Tommy Tucker	6
10	John Corkhill	5
10	Charley Jones	5
10	John Kerins	5
10	Darby O'Brien	5
10	Ed Seward	5

Runs Batted InRBI

1	Tip O'Neill	123
2	Pete Browning	118
3	Jumbo Davis	109
4	Dave Foutz	108
4	Curt Welch	108
6	Charlie Comiskey	103
7	Denny Lyons	102
7	Chicken Wolf	102
9	Bill Phillips	101
10	Thomas Burns	99
10	Joe Werrick	99

WalksBB

1	Paul Radford	106
2	William Robinson	92
3	Hugh Nicol	86
4	Reddy Mack	83
5	Frank Fennelly	82
6	Bill McClellan	80
7	Jim McTamany	76
8	Bob Caruthers	66
9	Thomas Burns	63
9	Joe Sommer	63

Stolen BasesSB

1	Hugh Nicol	138
2	Arlie Latham	129
3	Charlie Comiskey	117
4	Pete Browning	103
5	Bid McPhee	95
6	Mike Griffin	94
7	Curt Welch	89
8	Tom Poorman	88
8	Blondie Purcell	88
10	Cub Stricker	86

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Tip O'Neill	8.5
2	Pete Browning	8.3
3	Denny Lyons	7.0
4	Thomas Burns	5.9
5	Bid McPhee	5.5
6	Bob Caruthers	4.9
7	William Robinson	4.5
8	Arlie Latham	4.5
9	Mike Griffin	4.3
10	Paul Radford	3.9

Batting Averagemin 406 PA

1	Tip O'Neill	.435
2	Pete Browning	.402
3	Denny Lyons	.367
4	Bob Caruthers	.357
4	Dave Foutz	.357
6	Thomas Burns	.341
7	Charlie Comiskey	.335
8	Guy Hecker	.319
9	Arlie Latham	.316
10	John Corkhill	.311

On-Base Percentagemin 406 PA

1	Tip O'Neill	.490
2	Pete Browning	.464
3	Bob Caruthers	.463
4	William Robinson	.445
5	Denny Lyons	.421
6	Reddy Mack	.415
7	Thomas Burns	.414
8	Paul Radford	.403
9	Dave Foutz	.393
10	Guy Hecker	.381

Slugging Percentagemin 406 PA

1	Tip O'Neill	.691
2	Pete Browning	.547
2	Bob Caruthers	.547
4	Denny Lyons	.523
5	Thomas Burns	.519
6	Dave Foutz	.508
7	Jumbo Davis	.485
8	John Reilly	.477
9	John Kerins	.443
10	Guy Hecker	.441

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 406 PA

1	Tip O'Neill	1.180
2	Pete Browning	1.011
3	Bob Caruthers	1.010
4	Denny Lyons	.943
5	Thomas Burns	.933
6	Dave Foutz	.901
7	William Robinson	.850
8	Jumbo Davis	.838
9	John Reilly	.829
10	Guy Hecker	.821

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1	Matt Kilroy	46
2	Toad Ramsey	37
3	Elmer Smith	34
4	Silver King	32
5	Tony Mullane	31
6	Bob Caruthers	29
7	Gus Weyhing	26
8	Dave Foutz	25
8	Ed Seward	25
8	Phenomenal Smith	25

SavesSV

1	Adonis Terry	3
2	Lou Bierbauer	1
2	Guy Hecker	1
2	Silver King	1
2	William Robinson	1
2	Billy Serad	1
2	Cub Stricker	1

StrikeoutsSO

1	Toad Ramsey	355
2	Matt Kilroy	217
3	Phenomenal Smith	206
4	Gus Weyhing	193
5	Elmer Smith	176
6	Mike Morrison	158
7	Ed Seward	155
8	Adonis Terry	138
9	Silver King	128
10	Al Mays	124

Innings PitchedIP

1	Matt Kilroy	589.3
2	Toad Ramsey	561.0
3	Phenomenal Smith	491.3
4	Ed Seward	470.7
5	Gus Weyhing	466.3
6	Elmer Smith	447.3
7	Al Mays	441.3
8	Tony Mullane	416.3
9	Silver King	390.0
10	Billy Crowell	389.3

Complete GamesCG

1	Matt Kilroy	66
2	Toad Ramsey	61
3	Phenomenal Smith	54
4	Gus Weyhing	53
5	Ed Seward	52
6	Al Mays	50
7	Elmer Smith	49
8	Tony Mullane	47
9	Billy Crowell	45
10	Silver King	43

ShutoutsSHO

1	Matt Kilroy	6
1	Tony Mullane	6
3	Ed Seward	3
3	Elmer Smith	3
5	Bob Caruthers	2
5	Guy Hecker	2
5	Silver King	2
5	Billy Serad	2
5	Gus Weyhing	2
10	Ice Box Chamberlain	1
10	Billy Crowell	1
10	Dave Foutz	1
10	Bob Gilks	1
10	Ed Knouff	1
10	Henry Porter	1
10	Phenomenal Smith	1
10	Adonis Terry	1
10	Steve Toole	1

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Toad Ramsey	17.5
2	Matt Kilroy	15.5
3	Elmer Smith	12.6
4	Phenomenal Smith	12.3
5	Ed Seward	11.8
6	Gus Weyhing	10.8
7	Silver King	10.6
8	Al Mays	10.2
9	Bob Caruthers	9.2
10	Tony Mullane	9.1

Earned Run Averagemin 131 IP

1	Elmer Smith	2.94
2	Matt Kilroy	3.07
3	Tony Mullane	3.24
4	Bob Caruthers	3.30
5	Toad Ramsey	3.43
6	Hugh Daily	3.67
7	Silver King	3.79
8	Ice Box Chamberlain	3.79
9	Phenomenal Smith	3.79
10	Dave Foutz	3.87

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 131 IP

1	Bob Caruthers	1.17
2	Elmer Smith	1.18
3	Ed Seward	1.24
4	Matt Kilroy	1.26
5	Toad Ramsey	1.27
6	Tony Mullane	1.28
7	Silver King	1.31
8	Guy Hecker	1.31
9	Adonis Terry	1.35
10	Dave Foutz	1.35

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 131 IP

1	Toad Ramsey	3.20
2	Elmer Smith	3.54
3	Matt Kilroy	3.64
4	Silver King	3.72
5	Bob Caruthers	3.75
6	Phenomenal Smith	3.78
7	Adonis Terry	3.84
8	Ed Seward	3.86
9	Dave Foutz	3.88
10	Guy Hecker	3.91

How this page is built

The qualifying line for 1887 is 406 plate appearances and 131 innings pitched. It comes from the length of the schedule — 131 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. 1887 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 46 ranking tables here, 18 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 1887 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.