1988 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

1Wade Boggs128
2Jose Canseco120
3Rickey Henderson118
4Paul Molitor115
5Kirby Puckett109
6Dave Henderson100
6Fred McGriff100
8Dwight Evans96
8Dave Winfield96
10Don Mattingly94

HitsH

1Kirby Puckett234
2Wade Boggs214
3Mike Greenwell192
4Paul Molitor190
4Robin Yount190
6Jose Canseco187
7Tony Fernandez186
7Julio Franco186
7Don Mattingly186
10Johnny Ray184

Doubles2B

1Wade Boggs45
2George Brett42
2Kirby Puckett42
2Johnny Ray42
5Tony Fernandez41
6Harold Baines39
6Mike Greenwell39
8Dave Henderson38
8Danny Tartabull38
8Robin Yount38

Triples3B

1Harold Reynolds11
1Willie Wilson11
1Robin Yount11
4Mike Greenwell8
5Dwight Evans7
5Ozzie Guillen7
5Lloyd Moseby7
5Johnny Ray7
9Wade Boggs6
9Joe Carter6
9Cecil Espy6
9Julio Franco6
9Greg Gagne6
9Dan Gladden6
9Fred Manrique6
9Paul Molitor6
9Dick Schofield6

Home RunsHR

1Jose Canseco42
2Fred McGriff34
3Mark McGwire32
4Gary Gaetti28
4Eddie Murray28
6Joe Carter27
6Jack Clark27
8Cory Snyder26
8Danny Tartabull26
10Brian Downing25
10Kent Hrbek25
10Bo Jackson25
10Fred Lynn25
10Dave Winfield25

Runs Batted InRBI

1Jose Canseco124
2Kirby Puckett121
3Mike Greenwell119
4Dwight Evans111
5Dave Winfield107
6George Brett103
7Danny Tartabull102
8Mark McGwire99
9Joe Carter98
10George Bell97

WalksBB

1Wade Boggs125
2Jack Clark113
3Cal Ripken102
4Alvin Davis95
5Mike Greenwell87
6Darrell Evans84
7George Brett82
7Rickey Henderson82
9Brian Downing81
10Fred McGriff79

Stolen BasesSB

1Rickey Henderson93
2Gary Pettis44
3Paul Molitor41
4Jose Canseco40
5Harold Reynolds35
5Willie Wilson35
7Cecil Espy33
7Oddibe McDowell33
9Lloyd Moseby31
9Gary Redus31

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Kirby Puckett9.5
2Wade Boggs9.4
3Jose Canseco8.6
4Robin Yount7.4
5Mike Greenwell7.2
6Dave Henderson7.2
7Cal Ripken6.9
8Paul Molitor6.6
9Ellis Burks6.4
10Rickey Henderson6.3

Batting Averagemin 502 PA

1Wade Boggs.366
2Kirby Puckett.356
3Mike Greenwell.325
4Dave Winfield.322
5Kent Hrbek.312
5Paul Molitor.312
7Don Mattingly.311
7Alan Trammell.311
9Jose Canseco.307
10George Brett.306
10Johnny Ray.306
10Robin Yount.306

On-Base Percentagemin 502 PA

1Wade Boggs.476
2Mike Greenwell.416
3Alvin Davis.412
4Dave Winfield.398
5Rickey Henderson.394
6Jose Canseco.391
7George Brett.389
8Kevin Seitzer.388
9Kent Hrbek.387
10Paul Molitor.384

Slugging Percentagemin 502 PA

1Jose Canseco.569
2Fred McGriff.552
3Gary Gaetti.551
4Kirby Puckett.545
5Mike Greenwell.531
6Dave Winfield.530
7Dave Henderson.525
8Kent Hrbek.520
9Danny Tartabull.515
10George Brett.509

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 502 PA

1Wade Boggs.965
2Jose Canseco.959
3Mike Greenwell.946
4Fred McGriff.928
5Dave Winfield.927
6Kirby Puckett.920
7Kent Hrbek.907
8Gary Gaetti.905
9George Brett.898
10Dave Henderson.887

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1Frank Viola24
2Dave Stewart21
3Mark Gubicza20
4Roger Clemens18
4Bruce Hurst18
4Greg Swindell18
7Bob Welch17
8Allan Anderson16
8Storm Davis16
8Teddy Higuera16
8Dave Stieb16

SavesSV

1Dennis Eckersley45
2Jeff Reardon42
3Doug Jones37
4Bobby Thigpen34
5Dan Plesac30
6Lee Smith29
7Tom Henke25
7Dave Righetti25
9Mike Henneman22
10Steve Farr20

StrikeoutsSO

1Roger Clemens291
2Mark Langston235
3Frank Viola193
4Teddy Higuera192
4Dave Stewart192
6Mark Gubicza183
7Mike Moore182
8Greg Swindell180
9Charlie Hough174
10Bret Saberhagen171

Innings PitchedIP

1Dave Stewart275.7
2Mark Gubicza269.7
3Roger Clemens264.0
4Mark Langston261.3
5Bret Saberhagen260.7
6Frank Viola255.3
7Charlie Hough252.0
8Mike Witt249.7
9Bob Welch244.7
10Charlie Leibrandt243.0

Complete GamesCG

1Roger Clemens14
1Dave Stewart14
3Bobby Witt13
4Greg Swindell12
4Mike Witt12
6Tom Candiotti11
6Walt Terrell11
8Charlie Hough10
8Jack Morris10
10Chris Bosio9
10Mark Langston9
10Mike Moore9
10Bret Saberhagen9

ShutoutsSHO

1Roger Clemens8
2Mark Gubicza4
2Dave Stieb4
2Greg Swindell4
5Paul Kilgus3
5Mark Langston3
5Mike Moore3
8Scott Bailes2
8John Candelaria2
8Jose Guzman2
8Jimmy Key2
8Charlie Leibrandt2
8Kirk McCaskill2
8Jack Morris2
8Ted Power2
8Jeff Robinson2
8Dave Stewart2
8Frank Viola2
8Bob Welch2
8Bobby Witt2
8Mike Witt2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Roger Clemens7.5
2Mark Gubicza5.1
3Greg Swindell5.0
4Frank Viola4.8
5Teddy Higuera4.6
6Bret Saberhagen4.5
7Dave Stewart3.8
8Tom Candiotti3.4
9Mike Moore3.0
10Bruce Hurst2.9

Earned Run Averagemin 162 IP

1Allan Anderson2.45
2Teddy Higuera2.46
3Frank Viola2.64
4Mark Gubicza2.70
5Roger Clemens2.93
6Jeff Robinson2.98
7Dave Stieb3.04
8Charlie Leibrandt3.19
9Greg Swindell3.20
10Dave Stewart3.23

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 162 IP

1Teddy Higuera1.00
2Roger Clemens1.06
3Jeff Robinson1.12
4Mike Moore1.13
5Frank Viola1.14
6Dave Stieb1.14
7Greg Swindell1.15
8Allan Anderson1.17
9Mark Gubicza1.19
10Dave LaPoint1.23

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 162 IP

1Roger Clemens2.17
2Teddy Higuera2.79
3Greg Swindell2.82
4Mark Gubicza2.93
5Frank Viola2.94
6Bret Saberhagen3.08
7Tom Candiotti3.22
8Dave Stewart3.27
9Mike Moore3.41
10Bruce Hurst3.42

National League

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

Batting13 categories

RunsR

1Brett Butler109
2Kirk Gibson106
3Will Clark102
4Darryl Strawberry101
4Andy Van Slyke101
6Andres Galarraga99
7Barry Bonds97
8Kal Daniels95
9Barry Larkin91
10Bobby Bonilla87

HitsH

1Andres Galarraga184
2Andre Dawson179
3Rafael Palmeiro178
4Steve Sax175
5Barry Larkin174
6Andy Van Slyke169
7Hubie Brooks164
7Willie McGee164
7Gerald Perry164
10Brett Butler163
10Tony Gwynn163
10Vance Law163
10Ryne Sandberg163

Doubles2B

1Andres Galarraga42
2Rafael Palmeiro41
3Chris Sabo40
4Sid Bream37
5Hubie Brooks35
5Dale Murphy35
7Bobby Bonilla32
7Barry Larkin32
7Juan Samuel32
7Tim Wallach32

Triples3B

1Andy Van Slyke15
2Vince Coleman10
3Brett Butler9
3Juan Samuel9
3Gerald Young9
6Andre Dawson8
6Andres Galarraga8
6Ron Gant8
6Ryne Sandberg8
6Mitch Webster8

Home RunsHR

1Darryl Strawberry39
2Glenn Davis30
3Will Clark29
3Andres Galarraga29
5Kevin McReynolds27
6Eric Davis26
7Kirk Gibson25
7Andy Van Slyke25
9Barry Bonds24
9Bobby Bonilla24
9Andre Dawson24
9Howard Johnson24
9Dale Murphy24

Runs Batted InRBI

1Will Clark109
2Darryl Strawberry101
3Bobby Bonilla100
3Andy Van Slyke100
5Glenn Davis99
5Kevin McReynolds99
7Eric Davis93
8Andres Galarraga92
9Hubie Brooks90
10Tom Brunansky85

WalksBB

1Will Clark100
2Brett Butler97
3Kal Daniels87
4Tom Brunansky86
4Howard Johnson86
6Bobby Bonilla85
6Darryl Strawberry85
8John Kruk80
9Dale Murphy74
9Ozzie Smith74

Stolen BasesSB

1Vince Coleman81
2Gerald Young65
3Ozzie Smith57
4Otis Nixon46
4Chris Sabo46
6Brett Butler43
7Steve Sax42
8Willie McGee41
9Barry Larkin40
10Eric Davis35

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Andy Van Slyke7.0
2Bobby Bonilla6.4
3Barry Larkin6.2
4Brett Butler6.0
5Will Clark5.5
6Ozzie Smith5.4
7Kirk Gibson5.4
8Darryl Strawberry5.4
9Andres Galarraga5.2
10Barry Bonds5.0

Batting Averagemin 502 PA

1Tony Gwynn.313
2Rafael Palmeiro.307
3Andre Dawson.303
4Andres Galarraga.302
5Gerald Perry.300
6Mark Grace.296
6Barry Larkin.296
8Vance Law.293
9Willie McGee.292
10Kal Daniels.291

On-Base Percentagemin 502 PA

1Kal Daniels.397
2Brett Butler.393
3Will Clark.386
4Kirk Gibson.377
5Tony Gwynn.373
6Mark Grace.371
7Barry Bonds.368
8Bobby Bonilla.366
8Darryl Strawberry.366
10Eric Davis.363

Slugging Percentagemin 502 PA

1Darryl Strawberry.545
2Andres Galarraga.540
3Will Clark.508
4Andy Van Slyke.506
5Andre Dawson.504
6Kevin McReynolds.496
7Barry Bonds.491
8Eric Davis.489
9Kirk Gibson.483
10Glenn Davis.478

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 502 PA

1Darryl Strawberry.911
2Will Clark.894
3Andres Galarraga.893
4Kal Daniels.860
4Kirk Gibson.860
6Barry Bonds.859
7Eric Davis.852
8Andy Van Slyke.851
9Andre Dawson.849
10Bobby Bonilla.842

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1Orel Hershiser23
1Danny Jackson23
3David Cone20
4Rick Reuschel19
5Tom Browning18
5Dwight Gooden18
5Greg Maddux18
8Ron Darling17
8Tim Leary17
10Dennis Rasmussen16
10Eric Show16

SavesSV

1John Franco39
2Jim Gott34
3Todd Worrell32
4Steve Bedrosian28
4Mark Davis28
6Dave Smith27
7Randy Myers26
8Jay Howell21
9Tim Burke18
10Roger McDowell16

StrikeoutsSO

1Nolan Ryan228
2David Cone213
3Jose DeLeon208
4Mike Scott190
5Sid Fernandez189
6Tim Leary180
7Orel Hershiser178
8Dwight Gooden175
9Kevin Gross162
10Ron Darling161
10Danny Jackson161

Innings PitchedIP

1Orel Hershiser267.0
2Danny Jackson260.7
3Tom Browning250.7
4Greg Maddux249.0
4Rick Mahler249.0
6Dwight Gooden248.3
7Rick Reuschel245.0
8Ron Darling240.7
9Dennis Martinez235.3
10Eric Show234.7

Complete GamesCG

1Orel Hershiser15
1Danny Jackson15
3Eric Show13
4Rick Sutcliffe12
5Dwight Gooden10
6Tim Leary9
6Greg Maddux9
6Dennis Martinez9
9David Cone8
9Mike Scott8

ShutoutsSHO

1Orel Hershiser8
2Danny Jackson6
2Tim Leary6
4Bob Ojeda5
4Mike Scott5
6David Cone4
6Ron Darling4
8Kelly Downs3
8Dwight Gooden3
8Greg Maddux3
8Joe Magrane3
8Pete Smith3

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Dwight Gooden5.6
2Danny Jackson4.8
3David Cone4.8
4Bob Ojeda4.7
5Tim Leary4.6
6Jose DeLeon4.5
7Orel Hershiser4.0
8Rick Mahler3.9
9Tim Belcher3.8
10Mike Scott3.8

Earned Run Averagemin 162 IP

1Joe Magrane2.18
2David Cone2.22
3Orel Hershiser2.26
4John Tudor2.32
5Jose Rijo2.39
6Pascual Perez2.44
7Don Robinson2.44
8Bob Walk2.71
9Dennis Martinez2.71
10Danny Jackson2.73

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 162 IP

1Pascual Perez0.94
2Mike Scott0.98
3Bob Ojeda1.00
4Orel Hershiser1.05
5Sid Fernandez1.05
6Danny Jackson1.06
7Bryn Smith1.07
8Tom Browning1.07
9Tim Belcher1.08
10Eric Show1.08

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 162 IP

1Bob Ojeda2.36
2Dwight Gooden2.54
3Tim Belcher2.54
4Jose Rijo2.58
5David Cone2.58
6Tim Leary2.75
7Jose DeLeon2.84
8Joe Magrane2.99
9Mike Scott3.00
10Sid Fernandez3.01

How this page is built

The qualifying line for 1988 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. 1988 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 1988 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.