1998 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

1Derek Jeter127
2Ray Durham126
3Alex Rodriguez123
4Ken Griffey120
5Chuck Knoblauch117
6Jim Edmonds115
7Albert Belle113
7John Valentin113
9Joey Cora111
9Nomar Garciaparra111

HitsH

1Alex Rodriguez213
2Mo Vaughn205
3Derek Jeter203
4Albert Belle200
5Nomar Garciaparra195
6Juan Gonzalez193
7Jose Offerman191
7Paul O'Neill191
9Ivan Rodriguez186
10Jim Edmonds184

Doubles2B

1Juan Gonzalez50
2Albert Belle48
3Edgar Martinez46
4John Valentin44
5Carlos Delgado43
6Jim Edmonds42
7Garret Anderson41
7Will Clark41
7Ben Grieve41
7Todd Walker41

Triples3B

1Jose Offerman13
2Johnny Damon10
3Randy Winn9
4Ray Durham8
4Nomar Garciaparra8
4Derek Jeter8
4Troy O'Leary8
8Garret Anderson7
8Quinton McCracken7
10Mike Caruso6
10Joey Cora6
10Matt Lawton6
10Kenny Lofton6
10Otis Nixon6
10Omar Vizquel6

Home RunsHR

1Ken Griffey56
2Albert Belle49
3Jose Canseco46
4Juan Gonzalez45
4Manny Ramirez45
6Rafael Palmeiro43
7Alex Rodriguez42
8Mo Vaughn40
9Carlos Delgado38
10Nomar Garciaparra35
10Shawn Green35

Runs Batted InRBI

1Juan Gonzalez157
2Albert Belle152
3Ken Griffey146
4Manny Ramirez145
5Alex Rodriguez124
6Tino Martinez123
7Nomar Garciaparra122
8Rafael Palmeiro121
9Dean Palmer119
10Paul O'Neill116

WalksBB

1Rickey Henderson118
2Frank Thomas110
3Edgar Martinez106
4Tim Salmon90
5Mark McLemore89
5Jose Offerman89
5Jim Thome89
8Kenny Lofton87
9Matt Lawton86
10Ben Grieve85

Stolen BasesSB

1Rickey Henderson66
2Kenny Lofton54
3Shannon Stewart51
4Alex Rodriguez46
5Jose Offerman45
6Brian Hunter42
7Tom Goodwin38
8Otis Nixon37
8Omar Vizquel37
10Ray Durham36

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Ken Griffey8.4
2Albert Belle7.9
3Alex Rodriguez7.6
4Edgar Martinez7.5
5Bernie Williams6.6
6Nomar Garciaparra6.3
7Mo Vaughn5.9
8Juan Gonzalez5.8
9Matt Lawton5.6
10Rafael Palmeiro5.4

Batting Averagemin 502 PA

1Bernie Williams.339
2Mo Vaughn.337
3Albert Belle.328
4Eric Davis.327
5Derek Jeter.324
6Nomar Garciaparra.323
7Edgar Martinez.322
8Tony Fernandez.321
8Ivan Rodriguez.321
10Juan Gonzalez.318

On-Base Percentagemin 502 PA

1Edgar Martinez.429
2Bernie Williams.422
3Jim Thome.413
4Tim Salmon.410
5Jose Offerman.403
6Mo Vaughn.402
7Albert Belle.399
8Eric Davis.388
9Tony Fernandez.387
9Matt Lawton.387

Slugging Percentagemin 502 PA

1Albert Belle.655
2Juan Gonzalez.630
3Ken Griffey.611
4Manny Ramirez.599
5Carlos Delgado.592
6Mo Vaughn.591
7Nomar Garciaparra.584
7Jim Thome.584
9Eric Davis.582
10Bernie Williams.575

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 502 PA

1Albert Belle1.055
2Juan Gonzalez.997
2Jim Thome.997
2Bernie Williams.997
5Edgar Martinez.993
5Mo Vaughn.993
7Carlos Delgado.978
8Ken Griffey.977
9Manny Ramirez.976
10Eric Davis.970

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1Roger Clemens20
1David Cone20
1Rick Helling20
4Randy Johnson19
4Pedro Martinez19
4Aaron Sele19
7David Wells18
8Tim Wakefield17
9Scott Erickson16
9Andy Pettitte16
9Kenny Rogers16

SavesSV

1Tom Gordon46
2Troy Percival42
2John Wetteland42
4Michael Jackson40
5Rick Aguilera38
6Jeff Montgomery36
6Mariano Rivera36
8Billy Taylor33
9Todd Jones28
9Randy Myers28

StrikeoutsSO

1Randy Johnson329
2Roger Clemens271
3Pedro Martinez251
4Chuck Finley212
5David Cone209
6Scott Erickson186
7Jeff Fassero176
8Mike Mussina175
9Tony Saunders172
10Juan Guzman168

Innings PitchedIP

1Scott Erickson251.3
2Randy Johnson244.3
3Kenny Rogers238.7
4Roger Clemens234.7
5Jamie Moyer234.3
6Tim Belcher234.0
7Pedro Martinez233.7
8Jeff Fassero224.7
9Chuck Finley223.3
10Justin Thompson222.0

Complete GamesCG

1Scott Erickson11
2Randy Johnson10
3David Wells8
4Jeff Fassero7
4Kenny Rogers7
6Bartolo Colon6
7Roger Clemens5
7Andy Pettitte5
7Brad Radke5
7Mike Sirotka5
7Justin Thompson5

ShutoutsSHO

1Randy Johnson6
2David Wells5
3Roger Clemens3
3Brian Moehler3
3Jamie Moyer3
6Rolando Arrojo2
6Bartolo Colon2
6Scott Erickson2
6Rick Helling2
6Pedro Martinez2
6Mike Mussina2
6Aaron Sele2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Roger Clemens6.6
2Randy Johnson6.2
3Pedro Martinez4.8
4David Cone3.9
5Mike Mussina3.9
6Jamie Moyer3.9
7Scott Erickson3.8
8Aaron Sele3.5
9Bartolo Colon3.5
10Chuck Finley3.3

Earned Run Averagemin 162 IP

1Roger Clemens2.65
2Pedro Martinez2.89
3Kenny Rogers3.17
4Randy Johnson3.28
5Chuck Finley3.38
6David Wells3.48
7Mike Mussina3.49
8Jamie Moyer3.53
9David Cone3.55
10Rolando Arrojo3.56

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 162 IP

1David Wells1.04
2Pedro Martinez1.09
3Roger Clemens1.09
4Mike Mussina1.11
5Jamie Moyer1.18
6David Cone1.18
7Kenny Rogers1.18
8Randy Johnson1.18
9Bret Saberhagen1.20
10Brian Moehler1.25

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 162 IP

1Roger Clemens2.65
2Randy Johnson2.90
3Pedro Martinez3.40
4David Cone3.45
5Mike Mussina3.48
6Jamie Moyer3.73
7Bartolo Colon3.75
8Aaron Sele3.79
9David Wells3.80
10Scott Erickson3.83

National League

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

Batting13 categories

RunsR

1Sammy Sosa134
2Mark McGwire130
3Jeff Bagwell124
4Craig Biggio123
4Chipper Jones123
6Barry Bonds120
6Scott Rolen120
8Larry Walker113
9Greg Vaughn112
10Derek Bell111

HitsH

1Dante Bichette219
2Craig Biggio210
3Vinny Castilla206
4Vladimir Guerrero202
5Derek Bell198
5Sammy Sosa198
5Fernando Vina198
8John Olerud197
9Jeff Cirillo194
10Doug Glanville189

Doubles2B

1Craig Biggio51
2Dante Bichette48
2Dmitri Young48
4Larry Walker46
5Cliff Floyd45
5Scott Rolen45
7Barry Bonds44
7Brad Fullmer44
9Derek Bell41
10Steve Finley40
10Kevin Young40

Triples3B

1David Dellucci12
2Barry Larkin10
3Wilton Guerrero9
3Neifi Perez9
5Delino DeShields8
5Karim Garcia8
5Andruw Jones8
8Barry Bonds7
8Brant Brown7
8Todd Dunwoody7
8Doug Glanville7
8Vladimir Guerrero7
8Jose Hernandez7
8Brian Jordan7
8Mark Kotsay7
8Fernando Vina7
8Tony Womack7

Home RunsHR

1Mark McGwire70
2Sammy Sosa66
3Greg Vaughn50
4Vinny Castilla46
5Andres Galarraga44
6Moises Alou38
6Jeromy Burnitz38
6Vladimir Guerrero38
9Barry Bonds37
10Jeff Bagwell34
10Chipper Jones34
10Javy Lopez34

Runs Batted InRBI

1Sammy Sosa158
2Mark McGwire147
3Vinny Castilla144
4Jeff Kent128
5Jeromy Burnitz125
6Moises Alou124
7Dante Bichette122
7Barry Bonds122
9Andres Galarraga121
10Greg Vaughn119

WalksBB

1Mark McGwire162
2Barry Bonds130
3Jeff Bagwell109
4Chipper Jones96
4John Olerud96
6Gary Sheffield95
7Mark Grace93
7Scott Rolen93
9Ray Lankford86
10Bobby Abreu84
10Moises Alou84
10Quilvio Veras84

Stolen BasesSB

1Tony Womack58
2Craig Biggio50
3Eric Young42
4Edgar Renteria41
5Barry Bonds28
6Cliff Floyd27
6Andruw Jones27
8Delino DeShields26
8Jason Kendall26
8Ray Lankford26
8Barry Larkin26

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Mark McGwire10.2
2Mike Piazza7.5
3Sammy Sosa7.5
4Barry Bonds7.4
5Craig Biggio7.0
6Scott Rolen7.0
7Chipper Jones6.8
8Jeff Bagwell6.4
9John Olerud6.3
10Ray Lankford6.2

Batting Averagemin 502 PA

1Larry Walker.363
2John Olerud.354
3Dante Bichette.331
4Mike Piazza.328
5Jason Kendall.327
6Craig Biggio.325
7Vladimir Guerrero.324
8Jeff Cirillo.321
8Tony Gwynn.321
10Vinny Castilla.319

On-Base Percentagemin 502 PA

1Mark McGwire.470
2John Olerud.447
3Larry Walker.445
4Barry Bonds.438
5Gary Sheffield.428
6Jeff Bagwell.424
7Jason Kendall.411
8Bobby Abreu.409
9Chipper Jones.404
10Craig Biggio.403

Slugging Percentagemin 502 PA

1Mark McGwire.752
2Sammy Sosa.647
3Larry Walker.630
4Barry Bonds.609
5Greg Vaughn.597
6Andres Galarraga.595
7Vinny Castilla.589
7Vladimir Guerrero.589
9Moises Alou.582
10Mike Piazza.570

On-Base Plus Sluggingmin 502 PA

1Mark McGwire1.222
2Larry Walker1.075
3Barry Bonds1.047
4Sammy Sosa1.024
5John Olerud.998
6Andres Galarraga.991
7Moises Alou.981
7Jeff Bagwell.981
9Vladimir Guerrero.960
9Mike Piazza.960
9Greg Vaughn.960

Pitching10 categories

WinsW

1Tom Glavine20
2Shane Reynolds19
2Kevin Tapani19
4Kevin Brown18
4Greg Maddux18
6Andy Ashby17
6Al Leiter17
6Kevin Millwood17
6John Smoltz17
10Jose Lima16
10Denny Neagle16
10Rick Reed16
10Kirk Rueter16

SavesSV

1Trevor Hoffman53
2Rod Beck51
3Jeff Shaw48
4Robb Nen40
5John Franco38
6Ugueth Urbina34
7Kerry Ligtenberg30
7Gregg Olson30
7Billy Wagner30
10Bob Wickman25

StrikeoutsSO

1Curt Schilling300
2Kevin Brown257
3Kerry Wood233
4Shane Reynolds209
5Greg Maddux204
5Todd Stottlemyre204
7Chan Ho Park191
8Al Leiter174
9John Smoltz173
10Pedro Astacio170

Innings PitchedIP

1Curt Schilling268.7
2Kevin Brown257.0
3Greg Maddux251.0
4Carlos Perez241.0
5Livan Hernandez234.3
6Jose Lima233.3
6Shane Reynolds233.3
8Andy Benes231.3
9Darryl Kile230.3
10Tom Glavine229.3

Complete GamesCG

1Curt Schilling15
2Livan Hernandez9
2Greg Maddux9
4Kevin Brown7
4Carlos Perez7
6Andy Ashby5
6Denny Neagle5
8Mark Gardner4
8Tom Glavine4
8Darryl Kile4
8Al Leiter4

ShutoutsSHO

1Greg Maddux5
2Kevin Brown3
2Tom Glavine3
4Francisco Cordova2
4Mark Gardner2
4Al Leiter2
4Denny Neagle2
4Carlos Perez2
4Curt Schilling2
4John Smoltz2
4Kevin Tapani2
4Ismael Valdez2

Wins Above ReplacementWAR

1Kevin Brown8.2
2Curt Schilling7.4
3Greg Maddux6.6
4John Smoltz4.6
5Shane Reynolds4.5
6Al Leiter4.4
7Tom Glavine4.3
8Kerry Wood3.9
9Mark Clark3.6
10Darren Dreifort3.5

Earned Run Averagemin 162 IP

1Greg Maddux2.22
2Kevin Brown2.38
3Tom Glavine2.47
3Al Leiter2.47
5Omar Daal2.88
6John Smoltz2.90
7Dustin Hermanson3.13
8Pete Harnisch3.14
9Curt Schilling3.25
10Francisco Cordova3.31

Walks and Hits per Inningmin 162 IP

1Greg Maddux0.98
2Kevin Brown1.07
3Curt Schilling1.10
4Rick Reed1.12
5Jose Lima1.12
6John Smoltz1.13
7Pete Harnisch1.15
8Al Leiter1.15
9Dustin Hermanson1.17
10Brian Anderson1.18

Fielding Independent Pitchingmin 162 IP

1Kevin Brown2.23
2John Smoltz2.71
3Curt Schilling2.77
4Greg Maddux2.81
5Al Leiter3.15
6Kerry Wood3.16
7Darren Dreifort3.26
8Shane Reynolds3.45
9Omar Daal3.47
10Tom Glavine3.50

How this page is built

The qualifying line for 1998 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. 1998 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 1998 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.