1986 MLB Leaders and Award Winners

2 leagues · 162 team games · 46 ranking tables · 42 awards

Awards

Most Valuable Player

Cy Young Award

Rookie of the Year

Gold Glove

Silver Slugger

American League

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

Batting13 categories

RunsR

1Rickey Henderson130
2Kirby Puckett119
3Don Mattingly117
4Joe Carter108
5Jesse Barfield107
5Wade Boggs107
5Alan Trammell107
8Oddibe McDowell105
9George Bell101
10Jim Rice98
10Cal Ripken98

HitsH

1Don Mattingly238
2Kirby Puckett223
3Tony Fernandez213
4Wade Boggs207
5Joe Carter200
5Jim Rice200
7George Bell198
8Julio Franco183
9Marty Barrett179
10Cal Ripken177

Doubles2B

1Don Mattingly53
2Wade Boggs47
3Marty Barrett39
3Bill Buckner39
3Jim Rice39
6George Bell38
7Kirby Puckett37
7Frank White37
9Joe Carter36
10Jesse Barfield35
10Cal Ripken35

Triples3B

1Brett Butler14
2Ruben Sierra10
3Joe Carter9
3Tony Fernandez9
5Randy Bush7
5Oddibe McDowell7
5Spike Owen7
5Lonnie Smith7
5Alan Trammell7
5Willie Wilson7
5Robin Yount7

Home RunsHR

1Jesse Barfield40
2Dave Kingman35
3Gary Gaetti34
4Jose Canseco33
4Rob Deer33
6Don Baylor31
6George Bell31
6Don Mattingly31
6Kirby Puckett31
10Pete Incaviglia30

Runs Batted InRBI

1Joe Carter121
2Jose Canseco117
3Don Mattingly113
4Jim Rice110
5Jesse Barfield108
5George Bell108
5Gary Gaetti108
8Jim Presley107
9Dave Winfield104
10Bill Buckner102

WalksBB

1Wade Boggs105
2Dwight Evans97
3Willie Randolph94
4Reggie Jackson92
5Darrell Evans91
6Brian Downing90
7Rickey Henderson89
8Ken Phelps88
9Pete O'Brien87
10George Brett80

Stolen BasesSB

1Rickey Henderson87
2John Cangelosi50
2Gary Pettis50
4Kirk Gibson34
4Willie Wilson34
6Alfredo Griffin33
6Oddibe McDowell33
8Brett Butler32
8Lloyd Moseby32
10Harold Reynolds30

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Kirby Puckett8.1
2Rickey Henderson7.9
3Wade Boggs7.9
4Don Mattingly7.0
5Jesse Barfield6.7
6Gary Gaetti6.1
7Tony Bernazard6.0
8Alan Trammell5.6
9Robin Yount5.5
10Jim Rice5.4

Batting Averagemin 502 PA

1Wade Boggs.357
2Don Mattingly.352
3Kirby Puckett.328
4Pat Tabler.326
5Jim Rice.324
6Robin Yount.312
7Phil Bradley.310
7Tony Fernandez.310
9George Bell.309
10Julio Franco.306

On-Base Percentagemin 502 PA

1Wade Boggs.453
2Phil Bradley.405
3George Brett.401
4Eddie Murray.396
5Don Mattingly.394
6Willie Randolph.393
7Brian Downing.389
8Robin Yount.388
9Pete O'Brien.385
10Jim Rice.384

Slugging Percentagemin 502 PA

1Don Mattingly.573
2Jesse Barfield.559
3Kirby Puckett.537
4George Bell.532
5Gary Gaetti.518
6Joe Carter.514
7Larry Parrish.509
8Rob Deer.494
9Kirk Gibson.492
10Jim Rice.490

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 502 PA

1Don Mattingly.967
2Wade Boggs.939
3Jesse Barfield.927
4Kirby Puckett.903
5George Bell.881
5George Brett.881
7Jim Rice.874
8Gary Gaetti.865
9Kirk Gibson.863
10Eddie Murray.859

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1Roger Clemens24
2Jack Morris21
3Teddy Higuera20
4Dennis Rasmussen18
4Mike Witt18
6Bert Blyleven17
6Charlie Hough17
6Kirk McCaskill17
9Oil Can Boyd16
9Tom Candiotti16
9Frank Viola16

SavesSV

1Dave Righetti46
2Don Aase34
3Tom Henke27
4Willie Hernandez24
5Donnie Moore21
6Ernie Camacho20
6Greg Harris20
8Mark Clear16
8Jay Howell16
8Bob Stanley16

StrikeoutsSO

1Mark Langston245
2Roger Clemens238
3Jack Morris223
4Bert Blyleven215
5Mike Witt208
6Teddy Higuera207
7Kirk McCaskill202
8Frank Viola191
9Ed Correa189
10Jose Rijo176

Innings PitchedIP

1Bert Blyleven271.7
2Mike Witt269.0
3Jack Morris267.0
4Mike Moore266.0
5Roger Clemens254.0
6Tom Candiotti252.3
7Teddy Higuera248.3
8Kirk McCaskill246.3
9Frank Viola245.7
10Mark Langston239.3

Complete GamesCG

1Tom Candiotti17
2Bert Blyleven16
3Teddy Higuera15
3Jack Morris15
5Mike Witt14
6Bruce Hurst11
6Mike Moore11
8Oil Can Boyd10
8Roger Clemens10
8Kirk McCaskill10

ShutoutsSHO

1Jack Morris6
2Teddy Higuera4
2Bruce Hurst4
4Bert Blyleven3
4Tom Candiotti3
4Jim Clancy3
4Juan Nieves3
4Mike Witt3
9Neil Allen2
9Ed Correa2
9Mark Gubicza2
9Charlie Hough2
9Jimmy Key2
9Tim Leary2
9Dennis Leonard2
9Kirk McCaskill2
9Scott McGregor2
9Scott Nielsen2
9Bret Saberhagen2
9Walt Terrell2
9Curt Young2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Roger Clemens5.9
2Mike Witt5.2
3Teddy Higuera4.3
4Kirk McCaskill4.2
5Bruce Hurst3.5
6Mark Eichhorn3.3
7Tom Candiotti3.0
8Charlie Leibrandt3.0
9Bret Saberhagen2.8
10Jack Morris2.6

Earned Run Averagemin 162 IP

1Roger Clemens2.48
2Teddy Higuera2.79
3Mike Witt2.84
4Bruce Hurst2.99
5Danny Darwin3.17
6Danny Jackson3.20
7Jack Morris3.27
8Kirk McCaskill3.36
9Curt Young3.46
10Floyd Bannister3.54

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 162 IP

1Roger Clemens0.97
2Mike Witt1.08
3Dennis Rasmussen1.16
4Danny Darwin1.16
5Don Sutton1.16
6Jack Morris1.17
7Curt Young1.18
8Bert Blyleven1.18
9Charlie Hough1.20
10Jim Clancy1.21
10Teddy Higuera1.21

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 162 IP

1Roger Clemens2.81
2Bruce Hurst3.11
3Mike Witt3.13
4Kirk McCaskill3.31
5Danny Darwin3.36
6Teddy Higuera3.40
7Mark Gubicza3.52
8Joe Johnson3.65
9Charlie Leibrandt3.72
10Tom Candiotti3.73

National League

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

Batting13 categories

RunsR

1Tony Gwynn107
1Von Hayes107
3Eric Davis97
3Mike Schmidt97
5Vince Coleman94
5Keith Hernandez94
7Bill Doran92
8Glenn Davis91
8Tim Raines91
8Steve Sax91

HitsH

1Tony Gwynn211
2Steve Sax210
3Tim Raines194
4Von Hayes186
5Kevin Bass184
6Ryne Sandberg178
7Dave Parker174
7Johnny Ray174
9Keith Hernandez171
10Mitch Webster167

Doubles2B

1Von Hayes46
2Steve Sax43
3Sid Bream37
3Shawon Dunston37
5Juan Samuel36
6Jim Morrison35
6Tim Raines35
8Keith Hernandez34
9Kevin Bass33
9Tony Gwynn33
9Johnny Ray33

Triples3B

1Mitch Webster13
2Juan Samuel12
3Tim Raines10
4Vince Coleman8
5Leon Durham7
5Lenny Dykstra7
5Tony Gwynn7
5Willie McGee7
5Dale Murphy7
5Andy Van Slyke7

Home RunsHR

1Mike Schmidt37
2Glenn Davis31
2Dave Parker31
4Dale Murphy29
5Eric Davis27
5Bob Horner27
5Darryl Strawberry27
8Kevin McReynolds26
9Gary Carter24
10Jim Morrison23
10Franklin Stubbs23

Runs Batted InRBI

1Mike Schmidt119
2Dave Parker116
3Gary Carter105
4Glenn Davis101
5Von Hayes98
6Kevin McReynolds96
7Darryl Strawberry93
8Jim Morrison88
9Bob Horner87
10Candy Maldonado85

WalksBB

1Keith Hernandez94
2Mike Schmidt89
3Chili Davis84
4Ken Oberkfell83
5Bill Doran81
6Ozzie Smith79
7Tim Raines78
8Dale Murphy75
9Bob Brenly74
9Von Hayes74

Stolen BasesSB

1Vince Coleman107
2Eric Davis80
3Tim Raines70
4Mariano Duncan48
5Bill Doran42
5Juan Samuel42
7Steve Sax40
8Billy Hatcher38
9Tony Gwynn37
10Barry Bonds36
10Mitch Webster36

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Steve Sax6.3
2Eric Davis5.8
3Tim Raines5.8
4Mike Schmidt5.8
5Tony Gwynn5.3
6Keith Hernandez5.2
7Kevin McReynolds4.7
8Lenny Dykstra4.5
9Von Hayes4.2
10Tony Peña4.1

Batting Averagemin 502 PA

1Tim Raines.334
2Steve Sax.332
3Tony Gwynn.329
4Kevin Bass.311
5Keith Hernandez.310
6Ken Griffey.306
7Von Hayes.305
8Johnny Ray.301
9Ray Knight.298
10Mike Schmidt.290
10Mitch Webster.290

On-Base Percentagemin 502 PA

1Keith Hernandez.413
1Tim Raines.413
3Steve Sax.390
3Mike Schmidt.390
5Tony Gwynn.381
6Von Hayes.379
7Ozzie Smith.376
8Chili Davis.375
9Ken Oberkfell.373
10Bill Doran.368

Slugging Percentagemin 502 PA

1Mike Schmidt.547
2Darryl Strawberry.507
3Kevin McReynolds.504
4Glenn Davis.493
5Ken Griffey.492
6Kevin Bass.486
7Jim Morrison.482
8Von Hayes.480
9Andre Dawson.478
10Dale Murphy.477
10Dave Parker.477

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 502 PA

1Mike Schmidt.937
2Tim Raines.889
3Darryl Strawberry.865
4Kevin McReynolds.862
5Von Hayes.859
5Keith Hernandez.859
7Tony Gwynn.848
8Kevin Bass.842
8Ken Griffey.842
10Glenn Davis.837

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1Fernando Valenzuela21
2Mike Krukow20
3Bob Ojeda18
3Mike Scott18
5Dwight Gooden17
5Bob Knepper17
7Sid Fernandez16
8Ron Darling15
8Bill Gullickson15
8Rick Rhoden15

SavesSV

1Todd Worrell36
2Jeff Reardon35
3Dave Smith33
4Lee Smith31
5Steve Bedrosian29
5John Franco29
7Gene Garber24
8Roger McDowell22
9Rich Gossage21
9Jesse Orosco21

StrikeoutsSO

1Mike Scott306
2Fernando Valenzuela242
3Floyd Youmans202
4Sid Fernandez200
4Dwight Gooden200
6Nolan Ryan194
7Ron Darling184
8Bob Welch183
9Mike Krukow178
10David Palmer170

Innings PitchedIP

1Mike Scott275.3
2Fernando Valenzuela269.3
3Bob Knepper258.0
4Rick Rhoden253.7
5Dwight Gooden250.0
6Mike Krukow245.0
7Bill Gullickson244.7
8Tom Browning243.3
9Kevin Gross241.7
10Rick Mahler237.7

Complete GamesCG

1Fernando Valenzuela20
2Dwight Gooden12
2Rick Rhoden12
4Mike Krukow10
5Danny Cox8
5Orel Hershiser8
5Bob Knepper8
8Kevin Gross7
8Rick Mahler7
8Bob Ojeda7
8Shane Rawley7
8Mike Scott7
8Bob Welch7

ShutoutsSHO

1Bob Knepper5
1Mike Scott5
3Fernando Valenzuela3
3Bob Welch3
5Tom Browning2
5Ron Darling2
5Dwight Gooden2
5Kevin Gross2
5Bill Gullickson2
5Mike Krukow2
5Bob Ojeda2
5Rick Reuschel2
5Jay Tibbs2
5Floyd Youmans2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Mike Scott8.3
2Fernando Valenzuela6.0
3Bob Welch5.3
4Dwight Gooden4.9
5Rick Rhoden4.6
6Bob Ojeda4.2
7Sid Fernandez4.1
8Mike Krukow4.0
9Bob Knepper4.0
10Ron Darling3.6

Earned Run Averagemin 162 IP

1Mike Scott2.22
2Bob Ojeda2.57
3Ron Darling2.81
4Rick Rhoden2.84
5Dwight Gooden2.84
6Danny Cox2.90
7John Tudor2.92
8Mike Krukow3.05
9Scott Garrelts3.11
10Bob Knepper3.14

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 162 IP

1Mike Scott0.92
2Mike Krukow1.06
3Bob Ojeda1.09
4Dwight Gooden1.11
5Nolan Ryan1.13
6Rick Rhoden1.13
7Danny Cox1.13
8Bob Knepper1.14
9John Tudor1.14
10Fernando Valenzuela1.16

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 162 IP

1Mike Scott2.16
2Bob Welch2.78
3Fernando Valenzuela2.80
4Sid Fernandez3.01
5Bob Ojeda3.05
6Dwight Gooden3.06
6Nolan Ryan3.06
8Rick Honeycutt3.13
9Rick Rhoden3.31
10Mike Krukow3.31

How this page is built

The qualifying line for 1986 is 502 plate appearances and 162 innings pitched. It comes from the length of the schedule — 162 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. 1986 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, 21 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 1986 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.