1956 MLB Leaders and Award Winners

2 leagues · 155 team games · 46 ranking tables · 5 awards

Awards

Most Valuable Player

Mickey MantleAmerican League
Don NewcombeNational League

Cy Young Award

Don NewcombeBoth leagues — one award across both

Rookie of the Year

Luis AparicioAmerican League
Frank RobinsonNational League

Not every award existed in this season. This database has 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	Mickey Mantle	132
2	Nellie Fox	109
3	Minnie Miñoso	106
4	Hank Bauer	96
4	Al Kaline	96
4	Harvey Kuenn	96
4	Charlie Maxwell	96
8	Eddie Yost	94
9	Yogi Berra	93
10	Roy Sievers	92

HitsH

1	Harvey Kuenn	196
2	Al Kaline	194
3	Nellie Fox	192
4	Mickey Mantle	188
5	Jackie Jensen	182
6	Pete Runnels	179
7	Jim Piersall	176
8	Minnie Miñoso	172
9	Vic Power	164
10	Charlie Maxwell	163

Doubles2B

1	Jim Piersall	40
2	Al Kaline	32
2	Harvey Kuenn	32
4	Yogi Berra	29
4	Billy Klaus	29
4	Minnie Miñoso	29
4	Pete Runnels	29
8	Sherm Lollar	28
8	Mickey Vernon	28
8	Ted Williams	28

Triples3B

1	Jackie Jensen	11
1	Jim Lemon	11
1	Minnie Miñoso	11
1	Harry Simpson	11
5	Nellie Fox	10
5	Al Kaline	10
7	Pete Runnels	9
8	Billy Goodman	8
9	Hank Bauer	7
9	Frank Bolling	7
9	Whitey Herzog	7
9	Harvey Kuenn	7
9	Herb Plews	7

Home RunsHR

1	Mickey Mantle	52
2	Vic Wertz	32
3	Yogi Berra	30
4	Roy Sievers	29
5	Charlie Maxwell	28
6	Al Kaline	27
6	Jim Lemon	27
8	Hank Bauer	26
9	Ray Boone	25
10	Larry Doby	24
10	Ted Williams	24

Runs Batted InRBI

1	Mickey Mantle	130
2	Al Kaline	128
3	Vic Wertz	106
4	Yogi Berra	105
4	Harry Simpson	105
6	Larry Doby	102
7	Jackie Jensen	97
8	Jim Lemon	96
9	Roy Sievers	95
10	Bill Skowron	90

WalksBB

1	Eddie Yost	151
2	Mickey Mantle	112
3	Larry Doby	102
3	Ted Williams	102
5	Roy Sievers	100
6	Billy Klaus	90
6	Bob Nieman	90
8	Jackie Jensen	89
9	Minnie Miñoso	86
10	Al Smith	84

Stolen BasesSB

1	Luis Aparicio	21
2	Jim Rivera	20
3	Bobby Avila	17
4	Minnie Miñoso	12
5	Tito Francona	11
5	Jackie Jensen	11
7	Mickey Mantle	10
8	Andy Carey	9
8	Harvey Kuenn	9
8	Al Pilarcik	9

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Mickey Mantle	12.9
2	Yogi Berra	6.7
3	Al Kaline	6.5
4	Minnie Miñoso	6.4
5	Ted Williams	6.3
6	Charlie Maxwell	6.0
7	Ray Boone	5.8
8	Larry Doby	5.8
9	Gil McDougald	5.3
10	Bob Nieman	5.2

Batting Averagemin 481 PA

1	Mickey Mantle	.353
2	Ted Williams	.345
3	Harvey Kuenn	.332
4	Charlie Maxwell	.326
5	Bob Nieman	.320
6	Minnie Miñoso	.316
7	Jackie Jensen	.315
8	Al Kaline	.314
9	Gil McDougald	.311
10	Pete Runnels	.310

On-Base Percentagemin 481 PA

1	Ted Williams	.479
2	Mickey Mantle	.464
3	Bob Nieman	.436
4	Minnie Miñoso	.425
5	Charlie Maxwell	.414
6	Eddie Yost	.412
7	Jackie Jensen	.405
7	Gil McDougald	.405
9	Ray Boone	.403
10	Larry Doby	.392

Slugging Percentagemin 481 PA

1	Mickey Mantle	.705
2	Ted Williams	.605
3	Yogi Berra	.534
3	Charlie Maxwell	.534
5	Al Kaline	.530
6	Bill Skowron	.528
7	Minnie Miñoso	.525
8	Ray Boone	.518
9	Vic Wertz	.509
10	Jim Lemon	.502

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 481 PA

1	Mickey Mantle	1.169
2	Ted Williams	1.084
3	Minnie Miñoso	.950
4	Charlie Maxwell	.948
5	Bob Nieman	.931
6	Ray Boone	.920
7	Al Kaline	.913
8	Yogi Berra	.911
9	Bill Skowron	.910
10	Jackie Jensen	.901

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1	Frank Lary	21
2	Billy Hoeft	20
2	Bob Lemon	20
2	Billy Pierce	20
2	Herb Score	20
2	Early Wynn	20
7	Tom Brewer	19
7	Whitey Ford	19
9	Johnny Kucks	18
10	Tom Sturdivant	16

SavesSV

1	George Zuverink	16
2	Tom Morgan	11
2	Don Mossi	11
4	Ike Delock	9
4	Ellis Kinder	9
4	Bobby Shantz	9
7	Al Aber	7
8	Tommy Byrne	6
9	Bob Grim	5
9	Tom Hurd	5
9	Tom Sturdivant	5

StrikeoutsSO

1	Herb Score	263
2	Billy Pierce	192
3	Paul Foytack	184
4	Billy Hoeft	172
5	Frank Lary	165
6	Camilo Pascual	162
7	Early Wynn	158
8	Jack Harshman	143
9	Whitey Ford	141
10	Connie Johnson	136

Innings PitchedIP

1	Frank Lary	294.0
2	Early Wynn	277.7
3	Billy Pierce	276.3
4	Paul Foytack	256.0
5	Bob Lemon	255.3
6	Art Ditmar	254.3
7	Herb Score	249.3
8	Billy Hoeft	248.0
9	Tom Brewer	244.3
10	Frank Sullivan	242.0

Complete GamesCG

1	Bob Lemon	21
1	Billy Pierce	21
3	Frank Lary	20
4	Whitey Ford	18
4	Billy Hoeft	18
4	Early Wynn	18
7	Paul Foytack	16
7	Herb Score	16
9	Tom Brewer	15
9	Jack Harshman	15
9	Chuck Stobbs	15

ShutoutsSHO

1	Herb Score	5
2	Tom Brewer	4
2	Mike Garcia	4
2	Jack Harshman	4
2	Billy Hoeft	4
2	Early Wynn	4
7	Dick Donovan	3
7	Johnny Kucks	3
7	Frank Lary	3
7	Jim Wilson	3

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Herb Score	6.1
2	Early Wynn	5.5
3	Billy Pierce	5.3
4	Frank Lary	4.9
5	Whitey Ford	4.6
6	Tom Brewer	4.5
7	Connie Johnson	4.1
8	Billy Hoeft	4.0
9	Jack Harshman	4.0
10	Dick Donovan	3.9

Earned Run Averagemin 155 IP

1	Whitey Ford	2.47
2	Herb Score	2.53
3	Early Wynn	2.72
4	Bob Lemon	3.03
5	Jack Harshman	3.10
6	Frank Lary	3.15
7	Don Larsen	3.26
8	Tom Sturdivant	3.30
9	Billy Pierce	3.32
10	Frank Sullivan	3.42

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 155 IP

1	Dick Donovan	1.16
2	Herb Score	1.17
2	Early Wynn	1.17
4	Tom Sturdivant	1.18
5	Whitey Ford	1.20
6	Bob Lemon	1.25
7	Connie Johnson	1.25
8	Jack Harshman	1.26
9	Don Larsen	1.27
10	Tom Brewer	1.28

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 155 IP

1	Herb Score	2.77
2	Connie Johnson	2.92
3	Whitey Ford	3.04
4	Early Wynn	3.16
5	Billy Pierce	3.23
6	Bill Wight	3.27
7	Tom Sturdivant	3.27
8	Jack Harshman	3.30
9	Dick Donovan	3.40
10	Frank Lary	3.44

National League

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

Batting13 categories

RunsR

1	Frank Robinson	122
2	Duke Snider	112
3	Hank Aaron	106
4	Eddie Mathews	103
5	Jim Gilliam	102
6	Willie Mays	101
7	Stan Lopata	96
8	Richie Ashburn	94
8	Don Blasingame	94
8	Wally Post	94

HitsH

1	Hank Aaron	200
2	Richie Ashburn	190
3	Bill Virdon	185
4	Stan Musial	184
5	Ken Boyer	182
6	Johnny Temple	180
7	Jim Gilliam	178
8	Gus Bell	176
9	Willie Mays	171
10	Al Dark	170

Doubles2B

1	Hank Aaron	34
2	Stan Lopata	33
2	Stan Musial	33
2	Duke Snider	33
5	Gus Bell	31
6	Ken Boyer	30
6	Roberto Clemente	30
6	Carl Furillo	30
9	Gil Hodges	29
10	Johnny Logan	27
10	Willie Mays	27
10	Walt Moryn	27
10	Frank Robinson	27

Triples3B

1	Bill Bruton	15
2	Hank Aaron	14
3	Wally Moon	11
3	Lee Walls	11
5	Bill Virdon	10
6	Dee Fondy	9
6	Danny O'Connell	9
8	Sandy Amoros	8
8	Richie Ashburn	8
8	Ernie Banks	8
8	Marv Blaylock	8
8	Jackie Brandt	8
8	Jim Gilliam	8
8	Willie Mays	8

Home RunsHR

1	Duke Snider	43
2	Joe Adcock	38
2	Frank Robinson	38
4	Eddie Mathews	37
5	Willie Mays	36
5	Wally Post	36
7	Ted Kluszewski	35
8	Gil Hodges	32
8	Stan Lopata	32
10	Gus Bell	29

Runs Batted InRBI

1	Stan Musial	109
2	Joe Adcock	103
3	Ted Kluszewski	102
4	Duke Snider	101
5	Ken Boyer	98
6	Del Ennis	95
6	Stan Lopata	95
6	Eddie Mathews	95
9	Hank Aaron	92
10	Dale Long	91

WalksBB

1	Duke Snider	99
2	Jim Gilliam	95
3	Willie Jones	92
4	Eddie Mathews	91
5	Wally Moon	80
6	Richie Ashburn	79
7	Gil Hodges	76
7	Roy McMillan	76
7	Danny O'Connell	76
10	Stan Lopata	75
10	Stan Musial	75

Stolen BasesSB

1	Willie Mays	40
2	Jim Gilliam	21
3	Bill White	15
4	Johnny Temple	14
5	Pee Wee Reese	13
6	Wally Moon	12
6	Jackie Robinson	12
8	Richie Ashburn	10
9	Solly Drake	9
9	Dee Fondy	9

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Willie Mays	7.7
2	Duke Snider	7.4
3	Richie Ashburn	6.0
4	Frank Robinson	5.9
5	Hank Aaron	5.7
6	Ed Bailey	5.3
7	Eddie Mathews	5.2
8	Stan Lopata	4.9
9	Stan Musial	4.9
10	Jim Gilliam	4.8

Batting Averagemin 481 PA

1	Hank Aaron	.328
2	Bill Virdon	.319
3	Roberto Clemente	.311
4	Stan Musial	.310
5	Ken Boyer	.306
6	Richie Ashburn	.303
7	Ted Kluszewski	.302
7	Red Schoendienst	.302
9	Jim Gilliam	.300
10	Wally Moon	.298

On-Base Percentagemin 481 PA

1	Jim Gilliam	.399
1	Duke Snider	.399
3	Wally Moon	.390
4	Stan Musial	.386
5	Richie Ashburn	.384
6	Willie Jones	.383
7	Frank Robinson	.379
8	Eddie Mathews	.373
9	Willie Mays	.369
10	Roy McMillan	.366

Slugging Percentagemin 481 PA

1	Duke Snider	.598
2	Joe Adcock	.597
3	Hank Aaron	.558
3	Frank Robinson	.558
5	Willie Mays	.557
6	Ted Kluszewski	.536
7	Stan Lopata	.535
8	Ernie Banks	.530
9	Stan Musial	.522
10	Eddie Mathews	.518

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 481 PA

1	Duke Snider	.997
2	Frank Robinson	.936
3	Joe Adcock	.934
4	Willie Mays	.926
5	Hank Aaron	.923
6	Stan Musial	.908
7	Ted Kluszewski	.898
8	Eddie Mathews	.892
9	Stan Lopata	.888
10	Ernie Banks	.887

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1	Don Newcombe	27
2	Johnny Antonelli	20
2	Warren Spahn	20
4	Lew Burdette	19
4	Brooks Lawrence	19
4	Robin Roberts	19
7	Bob Buhl	18
8	Bob Friend	17
9	Curt Simmons	15
10	Hersh Freeman	14
10	Ron Kline	14
10	Vinegar Bend Mizell	14

SavesSV

1	Clem Labine	19
2	Hersh Freeman	18
3	Turk Lown	13
4	Don Bessent	9
4	Larry Jackson	9
6	Hoyt Wilhelm	8
7	Jackie Collum	7
7	Marv Grissom	7
7	Dave Jolly	7
7	Jim Konstanty	7
7	Windy McCall	7

StrikeoutsSO

1	Sam Jones	176
2	Harvey Haddix	170
3	Bob Friend	166
4	Robin Roberts	157
5	Vinegar Bend Mizell	153
6	Johnny Antonelli	145
7	Don Newcombe	139
8	Warren Spahn	128
9	Ron Kline	125
10	Joe Nuxhall	120

Innings PitchedIP

1	Bob Friend	314.3
2	Robin Roberts	297.3
3	Warren Spahn	281.3
4	Don Newcombe	268.0
5	Ron Kline	264.0
6	Johnny Antonelli	258.3
7	Lew Burdette	256.3
8	Bob Rush	239.7
9	Harvey Haddix	230.3
10	Murry Dickson	219.3

Complete GamesCG

1	Robin Roberts	22
2	Warren Spahn	20
3	Bob Friend	19
4	Don Newcombe	18
5	Lew Burdette	16
6	Johnny Antonelli	15
7	Curt Simmons	14
8	Bob Buhl	13
8	Bob Rush	13
10	Murry Dickson	12
10	Harvey Haddix	12

ShutoutsSHO

1	Lew Burdette	6
2	Johnny Antonelli	5
2	Don Newcombe	5
4	Bob Friend	4
5	Murry Dickson	3
5	Harvey Haddix	3
5	Sal Maglie	3
5	Vinegar Bend Mizell	3
5	Warren Spahn	3
10	Bob Buhl	2
10	Roger Craig	2
10	Ruben Gomez	2
10	Sam Jones	2
10	Ron Kline	2
10	Joe Nuxhall	2
10	Tom Poholsky	2
10	Herm Wehmeier	2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1	Bob Friend	6.0
2	Johnny Antonelli	5.0
3	Warren Spahn	4.9
4	Don Newcombe	4.7
5	Lew Burdette	4.3
6	Harvey Haddix	4.0
7	Robin Roberts	3.6
8	Ron Kline	3.6
9	Murry Dickson	3.4
10	Vinegar Bend Mizell	3.3

Earned Run Averagemin 155 IP

1	Lew Burdette	2.70
2	Warren Spahn	2.78
3	Johnny Antonelli	2.86
4	Sal Maglie	2.89
5	Don Newcombe	3.06
6	Gene Conley	3.13
7	Bob Rush	3.19
8	Murry Dickson	3.28
9	Bob Buhl	3.32
10	Curt Simmons	3.36

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 155 IP

1	Don Newcombe	0.99
2	Warren Spahn	1.07
3	Sal Maglie	1.09
4	Lew Burdette	1.12
5	Bob Rush	1.12
6	Johnny Antonelli	1.16
7	Murry Dickson	1.20
8	Robin Roberts	1.24
9	Tom Poholsky	1.25
10	Harvey Haddix	1.25

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 155 IP

1	Art Fowler	3.09
2	Johnny Antonelli	3.16
3	Bob Friend	3.18
4	Warren Spahn	3.20
5	Lew Burdette	3.27
6	Harvey Haddix	3.29
7	Don Newcombe	3.48
8	Murry Dickson	3.57
9	Vinegar Bend Mizell	3.57
10	Gene Conley	3.60

How this page is built

The qualifying line for 1956 is 481 plate appearances and 155 innings pitched. It comes from the length of the schedule — 155 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. 1956 is counted as 2 separate leagues — American League and National League, 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, 17 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 1956 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.