1939 MLB Leaders and Award Winners

3 leagues · 151 team games · 62 ranking tables · 2 awards

Awards

Most Valuable Player

Joe DiMaggioAmerican League
Bucky WaltersNational League

Not every award existed in this season. This database has Rookie of the Year (from 1947), Cy Young Award (from 1956), Gold Glove (from 1957), Silver Slugger (from 1980). Their absence here is not a statement about these players: those awards had not been invented yet.

American League

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

Batting13 categories

RunsR

1	Red Rolfe	139
2	Ted Williams	131
3	Jimmie Foxx	130
4	Barney McCosky	120
5	Bob Johnson	115
6	Hank Greenberg	112
7	Doc Cramer	110
8	Frankie Crosetti	109
9	Joe DiMaggio	108
10	Joe Kuhel	107

HitsH

1	Red Rolfe	213
2	George McQuinn	195
3	Ken Keltner	191
4	Barney McCosky	190
5	Ted Williams	185
6	Bob Johnson	184
7	Doc Cramer	183
8	Joe DiMaggio	176
9	Mike Kreevich	175
10	Gee Walker	174

Doubles2B

1	Red Rolfe	46
2	Ted Williams	44
3	Hank Greenberg	42
4	George McQuinn	37
5	Ken Keltner	35
6	Joe Cronin	33
6	Barney McCosky	33
6	Jim Tabor	33
9	Joe DiMaggio	32
9	Joe Gordon	32

Triples3B

1	Buddy Lewis	16
2	Barney McCosky	14
3	Bruce Campbell	13
3	George McQuinn	13
5	Ken Keltner	11
5	Gee Walker	11
5	Ted Williams	11
5	Taffy Wright	11
9	Jimmie Foxx	10
9	Red Rolfe	10

Home RunsHR

1	Jimmie Foxx	35
2	Hank Greenberg	33
3	Ted Williams	31
4	Joe DiMaggio	30
5	Joe Gordon	28
6	Hal Trosky	25
7	Bill Dickey	24
8	Bob Johnson	23
9	George Selkirk	21
10	Frankie Hayes	20
10	George McQuinn	20
10	Rudy York	20

Runs Batted InRBI

1	Ted Williams	145
2	Joe DiMaggio	126
3	Bob Johnson	114
4	Hank Greenberg	112
5	Joe Gordon	111
5	Gee Walker	111
7	Joe Cronin	107
8	Bill Dickey	105
8	Jimmie Foxx	105
10	Hal Trosky	104

WalksBB

1	Harlond Clift	111
2	Ted Williams	107
3	Luke Appling	105
4	George Selkirk	103
5	Bob Johnson	99
6	Hank Greenberg	91
7	Jimmie Foxx	89
8	Ben Chapman	87
8	Joe Cronin	87
10	Charlie Keller	81
10	Red Rolfe	81

Stolen BasesSB

1	George Case	51
2	Pete Fox	23
2	Mike Kreevich	23
4	Barney McCosky	20
5	Ben Chapman	18
5	Joe Kuhel	18
7	Eric McNair	17
7	Gee Walker	17
9	Luke Appling	16
9	Jim Tabor	16

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Joe DiMaggio	9.5
2	Jimmie Foxx	8.5
3	Bob Johnson	8.3
4	Ted Williams	8.2
5	Joe Cronin	6.9
6	Buddy Lewis	6.6
7	Red Rolfe	6.4
8	Hank Greenberg	6.2
9	Bill Dickey	6.1
10	Ken Keltner	5.8

Batting Averagemin 468 PA

1	Joe DiMaggio	.381
2	Jimmie Foxx	.360
3	Bob Johnson	.338
4	Hal Trosky	.335
5	Charlie Keller	.334
6	Red Rolfe	.329
7	Ted Williams	.327
8	Charlie Gehringer	.325
8	Ken Keltner	.325
10	Eric McNair	.324

On-Base Percentagemin 468 PA

1	Jimmie Foxx	.464
2	George Selkirk	.452
3	Joe DiMaggio	.448
4	Charlie Keller	.447
5	Bob Johnson	.440
6	Ted Williams	.436
7	Luke Appling	.430
8	Charlie Gehringer	.423
9	Hank Greenberg	.420
10	Joe Cronin	.407

Slugging Percentagemin 468 PA

1	Jimmie Foxx	.694
2	Joe DiMaggio	.671
3	Hank Greenberg	.622
4	Ted Williams	.609
5	Hal Trosky	.589
6	Bob Johnson	.553
7	Charlie Gehringer	.544
8	George Selkirk	.517
9	George McQuinn	.515
10	Bill Dickey	.513

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 468 PA

1	Jimmie Foxx	1.158
2	Joe DiMaggio	1.119
3	Ted Williams	1.045
4	Hank Greenberg	1.042
5	Hal Trosky	.994
6	Bob Johnson	.993
7	George Selkirk	.969
8	Charlie Gehringer	.967
9	Charlie Keller	.947
10	Bill Dickey	.915

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1	Bob Feller	24
2	Red Ruffing	21
3	Dutch Leonard	20
3	Bobo Newsom	20
5	Tommy Bridges	17
6	Lefty Grove	15
6	Mel Harder	15
6	Thornton Lee	15
6	Johnny Rigney	15
10	Ted Lyons	14
10	Al Milnar	14

SavesSV

1	Johnny Murphy	19
2	Clint Brown	18
3	Chubby Dean	7
3	Joe Heving	7
5	Pete Appleton	6
6	Al Benton	5
6	Emerson Dickman	5
8	Archie McKain	4
8	Fritz Ostermueller	4
10	Willis Hudlin	3
10	Thornton Lee	3
10	Al Milnar	3

StrikeoutsSO

1	Bob Feller	246
2	Bobo Newsom	192
3	Tommy Bridges	129
4	Johnny Rigney	119
5	Ken Chase	118
6	Joe Krakauskas	110
7	Howard Mills	103
8	Lefty Gomez	102
9	Red Ruffing	95
10	Dutch Leonard	88

Innings PitchedIP

1	Bob Feller	296.7
2	Bobo Newsom	291.7
3	Dutch Leonard	269.3
4	Thornton Lee	235.0
5	Red Ruffing	233.3
6	Ken Chase	232.0
7	Johnny Rigney	218.7
8	Joe Krakauskas	217.3
9	Vern Kennedy	212.7
10	Jack Kramer	211.7

Complete GamesCG

1	Bob Feller	24
1	Bobo Newsom	24
3	Red Ruffing	22
4	Dutch Leonard	21
5	Lefty Grove	17
6	Tommy Bridges	16
6	Ted Lyons	16
8	Ken Chase	15
8	Thornton Lee	15
10	Lefty Gomez	14

ShutoutsSHO

1	Red Ruffing	5
2	Bob Feller	4
3	Bobo Newsom	3
4	Johnny Allen	2
4	Bill Beckmann	2
4	Tommy Bridges	2
4	Atley Donald	2
4	Lefty Gomez	2
4	Lefty Grove	2
4	Jack Kramer	2
4	Thornton Lee	2
4	Dutch Leonard	2
4	Al Milnar	2
4	Lynn Nelson	2
4	Johnny Rigney	2
4	Marius Russo	2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Bob Feller	5.7
2	Bobo Newsom	4.7
3	Tommy Bridges	4.1
4	Dutch Leonard	4.0
5	Ted Lyons	4.0
6	Johnny Rigney	3.7
7	Lefty Grove	3.6
8	Thornton Lee	3.2
9	Red Ruffing	3.1
10	Ken Chase	2.9

Earned Run Averagemin 151 IP

1	Lefty Grove	2.54
2	Ted Lyons	2.76
3	Bob Feller	2.85
4	Red Ruffing	2.93
5	Bump Hadley	2.98
6	Lefty Gomez	3.41
7	Tommy Bridges	3.50
8	Mel Harder	3.50
9	Dutch Leonard	3.54
10	Bobo Newsom	3.58

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 151 IP

1	Ted Lyons	1.09
2	Red Ruffing	1.23
3	Dutch Leonard	1.23
4	Bob Feller	1.24
5	Lefty Grove	1.25
6	Tommy Bridges	1.25
7	Lefty Gomez	1.30
8	Mel Harder	1.33
9	Atley Donald	1.33
10	Johnny Rigney	1.33

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 151 IP

1	Ted Lyons	3.31
2	Bob Feller	3.44
3	Tommy Bridges	3.50
4	Lefty Grove	3.69
5	Johnny Rigney	3.75
6	Johnny Allen	3.85
7	Dutch Leonard	3.90
8	Fritz Ostermueller	3.92
9	Bobo Newsom	3.92
10	Dizzy Trout	4.03

National League

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

Batting13 categories

RunsR

1	Billy Werber	115
2	Stan Hack	112
3	Billy Herman	111
4	Dolph Camilli	105
5	Augie Galan	104
5	Johnny Mize	104
7	Frank McCormick	99
8	Joe Medwick	98
9	Lonny Frey	95
9	Enos Slaughter	95

HitsH

1	Frank McCormick	209
2	Joe Medwick	201
3	Johnny Mize	197
4	Enos Slaughter	193
5	Jimmy Brown	192
6	Stan Hack	191
6	Billy Herman	191
8	Buddy Hassett	182
8	Arky Vaughan	182
10	Cookie Lavagetto	176

Doubles2B

1	Enos Slaughter	52
2	Joe Medwick	48
3	Johnny Mize	44
4	Frank McCormick	41
5	Ival Goodman	37
5	Ernie Koy	37
7	Augie Galan	36
8	Billy Werber	35
9	Billy Herman	34
10	Jimmy Brown	31

Triples3B

1	Billy Herman	18
2	Ival Goodman	16
3	Johnny Mize	14
4	Dolph Camilli	12
5	Billy Jurges	11
5	Arky Vaughan	11
7	Lonny Frey	9
7	Debs Garms	9
7	Dixie Walker	9
10	Fern Bell	8
10	Jimmy Brown	8
10	Augie Galan	8
10	Joe Medwick	8

Home RunsHR

1	Johnny Mize	28
2	Mel Ott	27
3	Dolph Camilli	26
4	Hank Leiber	24
5	Ernie Lombardi	20
6	Max West	19
7	Frank McCormick	18
8	Terry Moore	17
9	Harry Danning	16
10	Wally Berger	14
10	Joe Medwick	14

Runs Batted InRBI

1	Frank McCormick	128
2	Joe Medwick	117
3	Johnny Mize	108
4	Dolph Camilli	104
5	Hank Leiber	88
6	Cookie Lavagetto	87
7	Enos Slaughter	86
8	Zeke Bonura	85
8	Ernie Lombardi	85
10	Ival Goodman	84

WalksBB

1	Dolph Camilli	110
2	Mel Ott	100
3	Johnny Mize	92
4	Billy Werber	91
5	Cookie Lavagetto	78
6	Augie Galan	75
7	Lonny Frey	72
8	Billy Myers	71
9	Arky Vaughan	70
10	Elbie Fletcher	67

Stolen BasesSB

1	Stan Hack	17
1	Lee Handley	17
3	Billy Werber	15
4	Cookie Lavagetto	14
5	Buddy Hassett	13
6	Arky Vaughan	12
7	Ernie Koy	11
8	Pete Coscarart	10
9	Billy Herman	9
10	Augie Galan	8

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Johnny Mize	7.8
2	Arky Vaughan	7.3
3	Dolph Camilli	5.7
4	Lonny Frey	5.7
5	Mel Ott	5.6
6	Billy Herman	5.5
7	Hank Leiber	5.0
8	Billy Myers	4.9
9	Billy Werber	4.9
10	Billy Jurges	4.9

Batting Averagemin 468 PA

1	Johnny Mize	.349
2	Frank McCormick	.332
2	Joe Medwick	.332
4	Paul Waner	.328
5	Morrie Arnovich	.324
6	Ival Goodman	.323
7	Zeke Bonura	.321
8	Enos Slaughter	.320
9	Harry Danning	.313
10	Buddy Hassett	.308
10	Mel Ott	.308

On-Base Percentagemin 468 PA

1	Mel Ott	.449
2	Johnny Mize	.444
3	Dolph Camilli	.409
4	Ival Goodman	.401
5	Morrie Arnovich	.397
6	Gus Suhr	.394
7	Augie Galan	.392
8	Zeke Bonura	.388
8	Lonny Frey	.388
8	Billy Werber	.388

Slugging Percentagemin 468 PA

1	Johnny Mize	.626
2	Mel Ott	.581
3	Dolph Camilli	.524
4	Ival Goodman	.515
5	Joe Medwick	.507
6	Max West	.497
7	Frank McCormick	.495
8	Ernie Lombardi	.487
8	Terry Moore	.487
10	Enos Slaughter	.482

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 468 PA

1	Johnny Mize	1.070
2	Mel Ott	1.030
3	Dolph Camilli	.933
4	Ival Goodman	.916
5	Joe Medwick	.886
6	Frank McCormick	.869
7	Zeke Bonura	.865
8	Max West	.861
9	Enos Slaughter	.852
10	Terry Moore	.849

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1	Bucky Walters	27
2	Paul Derringer	25
3	Curt Davis	22
4	Luke Hamlin	20
5	Bill Lee	19
6	Harry Gumbert	18
7	Hugh Casey	15
7	Larry French	15
7	Claude Passeau	15
7	Bill Posedel	15

SavesSV

1	Bob Bowman	9
1	Clyde Shoun	9
3	Jumbo Brown	7
3	Mace Brown	7
3	Curt Davis	7
6	Cliff Melton	5
7	Mort Cooper	4
7	Fred Frankhouse	4
7	Johnny Lanning	4
7	Hugh Mulcahy	4
7	Charlie Root	4
7	Bill Swift	4
7	Vito Tamulis	4

StrikeoutsSO

1	Claude Passeau	137
1	Bucky Walters	137
3	Mort Cooper	130
4	Paul Derringer	128
5	Bill Lee	105
6	Johnny Vander Meer	102
7	Larry French	98
8	Kirby Higbe	95
8	Cliff Melton	95
10	Luke Hamlin	88

Innings PitchedIP

1	Bucky Walters	319.0
2	Paul Derringer	301.0
3	Bill Lee	282.3
4	Claude Passeau	274.3
5	Luke Hamlin	269.7
6	Curt Davis	248.0
7	Harry Gumbert	243.7
8	Hugh Casey	227.3
9	Hugh Mulcahy	225.7
10	Bob Klinger	225.0

Complete GamesCG

1	Bucky Walters	31
2	Paul Derringer	28
3	Bill Lee	20
4	Luke Hamlin	19
5	Bill Posedel	18
6	Claude Passeau	17
7	Hugh Casey	15
8	Harry Gumbert	14
8	Kirby Higbe	14
8	Hugh Mulcahy	14

ShutoutsSHO

1	Lou Fette	6
2	Paul Derringer	5
2	Bill Posedel	5
4	Bill McGee	4
5	Curt Davis	3
5	Gene Thompson	3
5	Bob Weiland	3
8	Bob Bowman	2
8	Max Butcher	2
8	Mort Cooper	2
8	Dizzy Dean	2
8	Larry French	2
8	Harry Gumbert	2
8	Luke Hamlin	2
8	Bob Klinger	2
8	Cliff Melton	2
8	Whitey Moore	2
8	Claude Passeau	2
8	Tot Pressnell	2
8	Bucky Walters	2
8	Lon Warneke	2
8	Whit Wyatt	2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Paul Derringer	6.7
2	Claude Passeau	5.6
3	Bucky Walters	4.9
4	Bill Lee	4.0
5	Larry French	3.6
6	Mort Cooper	3.5
7	Cliff Melton	3.3
8	Luke Hamlin	3.2
9	Curt Davis	3.0
10	Bill Posedel	2.9

Earned Run Averagemin 151 IP

1	Bucky Walters	2.29
2	Gene Thompson	2.54
3	Bob Bowman	2.60
4	Carl Hubbell	2.75
5	Hugh Casey	2.93
5	Paul Derringer	2.93
7	Milt Shoffner	3.18
8	Mort Cooper	3.25
9	Claude Passeau	3.28
10	Larry French	3.29

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 151 IP

1	Bucky Walters	1.13
2	Carl Hubbell	1.13
3	Luke Hamlin	1.15
4	Paul Derringer	1.18
5	Bob Bowman	1.19
6	Gene Thompson	1.21
7	Hugh Casey	1.24
8	Claude Passeau	1.25
9	Lon Warneke	1.29
10	Tot Pressnell	1.30

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 151 IP

1	Paul Derringer	3.24
2	Larry French	3.31
3	Claude Passeau	3.35
4	Gene Thompson	3.58
5	Cliff Melton	3.59
6	Mort Cooper	3.61
7	Freddie Fitzsimmons	3.62
8	Mace Brown	3.69
9	Carl Hubbell	3.70
10	Charlie Root	3.79

Negro Leagues in 1939

16 more ranking tables from 1939. These clubs played a much shorter league schedule than the American and National Leagues did, so the counting statistics are not on the same scale as the ones above.

The Negro Leagues had none of these awards. There was no Most Valuable Player vote, no Cy Young Award, no Gold Glove and no Silver Slugger in Black baseball, so no player in those sections below could appear in the award list above however he played. A blank there says something about how the leagues were organised and nothing at all about the players.

Negro Leagues

Led the Negro Leagues — the first row of every table below.

There is no batting average table in this section, and that is not a gap in the record. Rate statistics need a qualifying line, and the one this site uses for 1939 is 468 plate appearances — three point one per team game across a 151-game schedule. The Negro Leagues played a far shorter league season than that, so no player in it reaches the line and no rate table can be built without comparing a handful of games to a full year. The counting tables above are unaffected: those are simply what the players did.

Batting9 categories

RunsR

1	Turkey Stearnes	44
2	Mule Suttles	38
3	Willard Brown	36
3	Pat Patterson	36
3	Ed Stone	36
3	Ted Strong	36
7	Josh Gibson	35
7	Buck Leonard	35
9	Henry Milton	34
10	Rainey Bibbs	33

HitsH

1	Willard Brown	64
2	Turkey Stearnes	63
3	Chester Williams	59
4	Pat Patterson	56
5	Ted Strong	53
6	Mule Suttles	51
7	Henry Milton	49
8	Rainey Bibbs	48
8	Ed Stone	48
8	David Whatley	48
8	Fred Wilson	48

Doubles2B

1	Willard Brown	15
2	Pat Patterson	12
3	Buck Leonard	11
3	Turkey Stearnes	11
5	Rainey Bibbs	10
5	Sammy Hughes	10
5	Mule Suttles	10
5	Chester Williams	10
9	Alex Radcliff	9
9	Ed Young	9

Triples3B

1	Willard Brown	7
2	Henry Spearman	5
2	Henry Turner	5
4	Marlin Carter	4
4	Leon Day	4
4	Jelly Jackson	4
4	Henry Milton	4
4	Buck O'Neil	4
4	Alex Radcliff	4
4	Joe Sparks	4
4	David Whatley	4
4	Parnell Woods	4

Home RunsHR

1	Josh Gibson	11
1	Buck Leonard	11
3	Mule Suttles	9
4	Turkey Stearnes	7
4	Ed Stone	7
6	Gene Benson	5
6	Lennie Pearson	5
8	Willard Brown	4
9	Jabbo Andrews	3
9	Bill Byrd	3
9	Babe Davis	3
9	Leslie Green	3
9	Johnny Hayes	3
9	Monte Irvin	3
9	Henry Kimbro	3
9	George Scales	3
9	Willie Simms	3
9	Henry Spearman	3
9	Ted Strong	3
9	Willie Wells	3
9	Fred Wilson	3
9	Jud Wilson	3

Runs Batted InRBI

1	Buck Leonard	48
2	Willard Brown	44
3	Josh Gibson	40
4	Turkey Stearnes	39
5	Mule Suttles	37
6	Ted Strong	32
7	Ed Stone	31
8	Pat Patterson	29
8	Lennie Pearson	29
10	Curtis Harris	28
10	Fred Wilson	28

WalksBB

1	Ted Strong	23
2	Subby Byas	22
3	Jerry Benjamin	20
3	Vic Harris	20
3	Mule Suttles	20
6	Goose Curry	19
6	Buck Leonard	19
6	Flash Miller	19
6	Dick Seay	19
6	Turkey Stearnes	19
6	Willie Wells	19

Stolen BasesSB

1	Ted Strong	14
2	Henry Milton	11
2	Turkey Stearnes	11
4	Ed Young	10
5	Willard Brown	9
5	Dan Wilson	9
7	Leslie Green	7
7	Ernie Smith	7
7	Parnell Woods	7
10	Jerry Benjamin	6
10	Lloyd Davenport	6
10	Cowan Hyde	6
10	Willie Simms	6

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Josh Gibson	2.8
2	Mule Suttles	2.3
3	Buck Leonard	2.3
4	Chester Williams	2.1
5	Ed Stone	1.9
6	Ted Strong	1.9
7	Willard Brown	1.8
8	Turkey Stearnes	1.7
9	Sammy Hughes	1.5
10	Bill Hoskins	1.4

Pitching7 categories

WinsW

1	Henry McHenry	10
2	Leon Day	9
2	George Walker	9
4	Bill Byrd	8
4	Smoky Owens	8
6	Frank Bradley	7
6	Ted Radcliffe	7
8	Ray Brown	6
8	Preacher Henry	6
8	Jimmy Hill	6
8	Hilton Smith	6

SavesSV

1	Hilton Smith	4
2	Lefty Calhoun	2
2	Bill Holland	2
2	George Walker	2
5	Bill Byrd	1
5	Bill Harvey	1
5	Jimmy Hill	1
5	Willie Hubert	1
5	Willie Hutchinson	1
5	Tommy Johnson	1
5	Terris McDuffie	1
5	Henry McHenry	1
5	Roy Partlow	1
5	Specs Roberts	1
5	Sam Thompson	1

StrikeoutsSO

1	Hilton Smith	84
2	Frank Bradley	65
3	Ted Radcliffe	62
3	George Walker	62
5	Leon Day	61
6	Preacher Henry	54
7	Jimmy Hill	50
8	Willie Cornelius	47
9	Neck Stanley	46
10	Lefty Bowe	45

Innings PitchedIP

1	Preacher Henry	108.0
2	Leon Day	105.7
3	Hilton Smith	105.3
4	Henry McHenry	101.7
5	Willie Cornelius	99.3
6	George Walker	89.7
7	Frank Bradley	88.7
7	Bill Byrd	88.7
9	Ted Radcliffe	80.7
10	Silvino Ruíz	78.3

Complete GamesCG

1	Bill Byrd	9
1	Leon Day	9
3	Preacher Henry	7
3	Jesse Houston	7
3	Henry McHenry	7
3	Smoky Owens	7
3	Silvino Ruíz	7
3	Theolic Smith	7
3	Edsall Walker	7
10	Ray Brown	6
10	Jimmy Hill	6
10	Jimmy Johnson	6
10	Ted Radcliffe	6
10	Hilton Smith	6

ShutoutsSHO

1	James Brown	2
1	Leon Day	2
1	Roy Partlow	2
4	Jesse Brown	1
4	Jonas Gaines	1
4	Bill Harvey	1
4	Preacher Henry	1
4	Jimmy Hill	1
4	Willie Jefferson	1
4	Tommy Johnson	1
4	Max Manning	1
4	Terris McDuffie	1
4	Jim Missouri	1
4	Smoky Owens	1
4	Hilton Smith	1
4	Theolic Smith	1
4	Neck Stanley	1
4	Luis Tiant	1
4	Lefty Wilson	1

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Hilton Smith	3.1
2	Ted Radcliffe	2.2
3	Frank Bradley	2.2
4	Bill Byrd	2.0
5	Willie Cornelius	2.0
6	George Walker	1.7
7	Preacher Henry	1.6
8	Jimmy Johnson	1.6
9	Theolic Smith	1.5
10	Edsall Walker	1.3

How this page is built

The qualifying line for 1939 is 468 plate appearances and 151 innings pitched. It comes from the length of the schedule — 151 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. 1939 is counted as 3 separate leagues — American League, National League and Negro 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 62 ranking tables here, 22 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 1939 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.