Who led MLB in home runs in 1885?

Harry Stovey led the majors with 13 in 1885 (AA).

Who had the highest batting average in 1885?

Roger Connor hit ..371, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1885 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1885?

John Clarkson led the majors with 53 wins in 1885 (NL).

1885 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 18852 major leagues12 boards per league

Harry Stovey led the majors with 13 in 1885. The American Association and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1885 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

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League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	.371
2	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	.362
3	Dan Brouthers	BFN	NL	.359
4	Dave Orr	NY4	AA	.342
5	Henry Larkin	PH4	AA	.329
6	Mike Dorgan	NY1	NL	.326
7	Charley Jones	CN2	AA	.322
8	Hardy Richardson	BFN	NL	.319
9	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	.315
10	George Gore	CHN	NL	.313

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	13
2	Abner Dalrymple	CHN	NL	11
3	Frank Fennelly	CN2	AA	10
4	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	9
4	King Kelly	CHN	NL	9
6	Henry Larkin	PH4	AA	8
7	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	7
7	Dan Brouthers	BFN	NL	7
7	Tom Burns	CHN	NL	7
10	Buck Ewing	NY1	NL	6

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	108
2	Frank Fennelly	CN2	AA	89
3	Henry Larkin	PH4	AA	88
4	Dave Orr	NY4	AA	77
5	King Kelly	CHN	NL	75
5	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	75
7	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	73
7	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	NL	73
9	Tom Burns	CHN	NL	71
10	John Coleman	PH4	AA	70

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	130
2	King Kelly	CHN	NL	124
3	Jim O'Rourke	NY1	NL	119
4	George Gore	CHN	NL	115
5	Henry Larkin	PH4	AA	114
6	Abner Dalrymple	CHN	NL	109
7	Charley Jones	CN2	AA	108
8	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	102
9	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	100
10	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	98

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	174
2	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	169
3	Charley Jones	CN2	AA	157
4	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	153
5	Dave Orr	NY4	AA	152
6	Henry Larkin	PH4	AA	149
7	Dan Brouthers	BFN	NL	146
8	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	144
9	Jim O'Rourke	NY1	NL	143
9	John Reilly	CN2	AA	143

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg
1	Ed Andrews	PHI	NL
1	Cap Anson	CHN	NL
1	Sam Barkley	SL4	AA
1	Charlie Bastian	PHI	NL
1	Charlie Bennett	DTN	NL
1	Steve Brady	NY4	AA
1	Dan Brouthers	BFN	NL
1	Pete Browning	LS2	AA
1	Tom Brown	PT1	AA
1	Tom Burns	CHN	NL

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Dan Brouthers	BFN	NL	212
2	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	207
3	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	196
4	Henry Larkin	PH4	AA	188
4	Dave Orr	NY4	AA	188
6	George Gore	CHN	NL	183
7	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	176
8	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	169
9	Charlie Bennett	DTN	NL	167
10	Charley Jones	CN2	AA	165

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	John Clarkson	CHN	NL	53
2	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	44
3	Bob Caruthers	SL4	AA	40
4	Ed Morris	PT1	AA	39
5	Dave Foutz	SL4	AA	33
5	Henry Porter	BR3	AA	33
7	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	32
8	Guy Hecker	LS2	AA	30
8	Bobby Mathews	PH4	AA	30
10	Old Hoss Radbourn	PRO	NL	28

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	1.58
2	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	1.66
3	John Clarkson	CHN	NL	1.85
4	Lady Baldwin	DTN	NL	1.86
5	Bob Caruthers	SL4	AA	2.07
6	Guy Hecker	LS2	AA	2.17
7	Old Hoss Radbourn	PRO	NL	2.20
8	Ed Daily	PHI	NL	2.21
9	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	NL	2.22
10	Ed Morris	PT1	AA	2.35

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	John Clarkson	CHN	NL	308
2	Ed Morris	PT1	AA	298
3	Bobby Mathews	PH4	AA	286
4	Hardie Henderson	BL2	AA	263
5	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	258
6	Charlie Buffinton	BSN	NL	242
7	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	227
8	Guy Hecker	LS2	AA	209
9	Jim Whitney	BSN	NL	200
10	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	NL	197

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Thomas Burns	BL2	AA	3
2	Lady Baldwin	DTN	NL	1
2	Pud Galvin	BFN	NL	1
2	Phil Reccius	LS2	AA	1
2	Adonis Terry	BR3	AA	1
2	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1885, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	179
2	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	169
3	Bob Caruthers	SL4	AA	157
4	Lady Baldwin	DTN	NL	152
4	John Clarkson	CHN	NL	152
6	Guy Hecker	LS2	AA	149
7	Ed Morris	PT1	AA	138
8	Bobby Mathews	PH4	AA	134
9	Ed Daily	PHI	NL	128
9	Old Hoss Radbourn	PRO	NL	128

Batting leaders, American Association

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Pete Browning	LS2	.362
2	Dave Orr	NY4	.342
3	Henry Larkin	PH4	.329
4	Charley Jones	CN2	.322
5	Harry Stovey	PH4	.315
6	Tom Brown	PT1	.307
7	Bill Phillips	BR3	.302
8	John Coleman	PH4	.299
9	John Reilly	CN2	.297
10	Steve Brady	NY4	.295

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Harry Stovey	PH4	13
2	Frank Fennelly	CN2	10
3	Pete Browning	LS2	9
4	Henry Larkin	PH4	8
5	Dave Orr	NY4	6
6	Charley Jones	CN2	5
6	John Reilly	CN2	5
8	Tom Brown	PT1	4
8	James Roseman	NY4	4
8	Germany Smith	BR3	4

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Frank Fennelly	CN2	89
2	Henry Larkin	PH4	88
3	Dave Orr	NY4	77
4	Harry Stovey	PH4	75
5	Pete Browning	LS2	73
6	John Coleman	PH4	70
7	Curt Welch	SL4	69
8	Tom Brown	PT1	68
9	Bill Phillips	BR3	63
10	Germany Smith	BR3	62

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	R
1	Harry Stovey	PH4	130
2	Henry Larkin	PH4	114
3	Charley Jones	CN2	108
4	Pete Browning	LS2	98
4	Candy Nelson	NY4	98
6	John Reilly	CN2	92
7	Hick Carpenter	CN2	89
8	Bill McClellan	BR3	85
8	Pop Smith	PT1	85
10	Arlie Latham	SL4	84

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	H
1	Pete Browning	LS2	174
2	Charley Jones	CN2	157
3	Harry Stovey	PH4	153
4	Dave Orr	NY4	152
5	Henry Larkin	PH4	149
6	John Reilly	CN2	143
7	Chicken Wolf	LS2	141
8	Tom Brown	PT1	134
9	Hick Carpenter	CN2	131
10	Steve Brady	NY4	128

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team
1	Sam Barkley	SL4
1	Steve Brady	NY4
1	Pete Browning	LS2
1	Tom Brown	PT1
1	Hick Carpenter	CN2
1	Jim Clinton	CN2
1	John Coleman	PH4
1	Charlie Comiskey	SL4
1	Fred Corey	PH4
1	John Corkhill	CN2

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Pete Browning	LS2	196
2	Henry Larkin	PH4	188
2	Dave Orr	NY4	188
4	Harry Stovey	PH4	176
5	Charley Jones	CN2	165
6	Tom Brown	PT1	155
7	Bill Phillips	BR3	153
8	Frank Fennelly	CN2	150
9	John Coleman	PH4	145
10	James Roseman	NY4	139

Pitching leaders, American Association

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	W
1	Bob Caruthers	SL4	40
2	Ed Morris	PT1	39
3	Dave Foutz	SL4	33
3	Henry Porter	BR3	33
5	Guy Hecker	LS2	30
5	Bobby Mathews	PH4	30
7	Hardie Henderson	BL2	25
8	Jack Lynch	NY4	23
9	Larry McKeon	CN2	20
10	Will White	CN2	18

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Bob Caruthers	SL4	2.07
2	Guy Hecker	LS2	2.17
3	Ed Morris	PT1	2.35
4	Bobby Mathews	PH4	2.43
5	Dave Foutz	SL4	2.63
6	Al Mays	LS2	2.76
7	Henry Porter	BR3	2.78
8	Larry McKeon	CN2	2.86
9	Ed Cushman	PH4/NY4	3.01
10	Hardie Henderson	BL2	3.19

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Ed Morris	PT1	298
2	Bobby Mathews	PH4	286
3	Hardie Henderson	BL2	263
4	Guy Hecker	LS2	209
5	Henry Porter	BR3	197
6	Bob Caruthers	SL4	190
7	Jack Lynch	NY4	177
8	Ed Cushman	PH4/NY4	170
9	Dave Foutz	SL4	147
10	John Harkins	BR3	141

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Thomas Burns	BL2	3
2	Phil Reccius	LS2	1
2	Adonis Terry	BR3	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1885, American Association
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Bob Caruthers	SL4	157
2	Guy Hecker	LS2	149
3	Ed Morris	PT1	138
4	Bobby Mathews	PH4	134
5	Dave Foutz	SL4	123
6	Al Mays	LS2	118
7	Henry Porter	BR3	117
8	Larry McKeon	CN2	114
9	Ed Cushman	PH4/NY4	108
10	Hardie Henderson	BL2	102

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Roger Connor	NY1	.371
2	Dan Brouthers	BFN	.359
3	Mike Dorgan	NY1	.326
4	Hardy Richardson	BFN	.319
5	George Gore	CHN	.313
5	Ezra Sutton	BSN	.313
7	Cap Anson	CHN	.310
8	Buck Ewing	NY1	.304
9	Ned Hanlon	DTN	.302
10	Jim O'Rourke	NY1	.300

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Abner Dalrymple	CHN	11
2	King Kelly	CHN	9
3	Cap Anson	CHN	7
3	Dan Brouthers	BFN	7
3	Tom Burns	CHN	7
6	Buck Ewing	NY1	6
6	Joe Mulvey	PHI	6
6	Hardy Richardson	BFN	6
9	Charlie Bennett	DTN	5
9	George Gore	CHN	5

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Cap Anson	CHN	108
2	King Kelly	CHN	75
3	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	73
4	Tom Burns	CHN	71
5	Roger Connor	NY1	65
5	Ed Williamson	CHN	65
7	Joe Mulvey	PHI	64
8	Buck Ewing	NY1	63
9	Abner Dalrymple	CHN	61
10	Charlie Bennett	DTN	60

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	King Kelly	CHN	124
2	Jim O'Rourke	NY1	119
3	George Gore	CHN	115
4	Abner Dalrymple	CHN	109
5	Roger Connor	NY1	102
6	Cap Anson	CHN	100
7	Ned Hanlon	DTN	93
8	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	90
8	Hardy Richardson	BFN	90
10	Dan Brouthers	BFN	87

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Roger Connor	NY1	169
2	Dan Brouthers	BFN	146
3	Cap Anson	CHN	144
4	Jim O'Rourke	NY1	143
4	Ezra Sutton	BSN	143
6	George Gore	CHN	138
7	Hardy Richardson	BFN	136
8	Abner Dalrymple	CHN	135
9	Ned Hanlon	DTN	128
10	King Kelly	CHN	126

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team
1	Ed Andrews	PHI
1	Cap Anson	CHN
1	Charlie Bastian	PHI
1	Charlie Bennett	DTN
1	Dan Brouthers	BFN
1	Tom Burns	CHN
1	Cliff Carroll	PRO
1	Roger Connor	NY1
1	Bill Crowley	BFN
1	Abner Dalrymple	CHN

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Dan Brouthers	BFN	212
2	Roger Connor	NY1	207
3	George Gore	CHN	183
4	Cap Anson	CHN	169
5	Charlie Bennett	DTN	167
6	Hardy Richardson	BFN	165
7	Buck Ewing	NY1	162
7	Jim O'Rourke	NY1	162
9	King Kelly	CHN	160
10	Abner Dalrymple	CHN	157

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	John Clarkson	CHN	53
2	Mickey Welch	NY1	44
3	Tim Keefe	NY1	32
4	Old Hoss Radbourn	PRO	28
5	Ed Daily	PHI	26
5	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	26
7	Dupee Shaw	PRO	23
8	Charlie Buffinton	BSN	22
9	Jim McCormick	PRO/CHN	21
10	Jim Whitney	BSN	18

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Tim Keefe	NY1	1.58
2	Mickey Welch	NY1	1.66
3	John Clarkson	CHN	1.85
4	Lady Baldwin	DTN	1.86
5	Old Hoss Radbourn	PRO	2.20
6	Ed Daily	PHI	2.21
7	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	2.22
8	Jim McCormick	PRO/CHN	2.43
9	Dupee Shaw	PRO	2.57
10	Henry Boyle	SL5	2.75

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	John Clarkson	CHN	308
2	Mickey Welch	NY1	258
3	Charlie Buffinton	BSN	242
4	Tim Keefe	NY1	227
5	Jim Whitney	BSN	200
6	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	197
7	Dupee Shaw	PRO	194
8	Old Hoss Radbourn	PRO	154
9	George Weidman	DTN	149
10	Ed Daily	PHI	140

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Lady Baldwin	DTN	1
1	Pud Galvin	BFN	1
1	Mickey Welch	NY1	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1885, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Tim Keefe	NY1	179
2	Mickey Welch	NY1	169
3	Lady Baldwin	DTN	152
3	John Clarkson	CHN	152
5	Ed Daily	PHI	128
5	Old Hoss Radbourn	PRO	128
7	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	127
8	Jim McCormick	PRO/CHN	116
9	Dupee Shaw	PRO	110
10	Henry Boyle	SL5	102

How the 1885 leaderboards are built

Batters qualify at PA >= 3.1 x their league's scheduled games that season (the batting-title rule shape, applied era-consistently; 3.1 x 162 = 502 in the modern schedule). Pitchers qualify on the W, ERA, SO and ERA+ boards at IP >= their league's scheduled games that season (1 inning per scheduled team game; 162 in the modern schedule). The saves board uses the reliever bar: IP >= one-third of scheduled games.

Adjusted stats use same-league-season normalization only: OPS+ = 100 x (OBP/lgOBP + SLG/lgSLG - 1) and ERA+ = 100 x league ERA / player ERA, computed within each player's own league that season. They are not park-adjusted and are not the full Baseball-Reference formulas. In the combined all-leagues view, adjusted values keep their own-league normalization. Unrecorded early-era stats are never invented; a board simply does not appear for a stat the source did not record that season.

Season records come from the SABR / Sean Lahman baseball database (2025 edition), used under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0. Full credits live on our sources page.

Nearby seasons

1879 league leaders 1880 league leaders 1881 league leaders 1882 league leaders 1883 league leaders 1884 league leaders 1886 league leaders 1887 league leaders 1888 league leaders 1889 league leaders 1890 league leaders 1891 league leaders

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