Who led MLB in home runs in 1887?

Billy O'Brien led the majors with 19 in 1887 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1887?

Tip O'Neill hit ..435, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1887 (AA).

Who led MLB in wins in 1887?

Matt Kilroy led the majors with 46 wins in 1887 (AA).

1887 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 18872 major leagues12 boards per league

Billy O'Brien led the majors with 19 in 1887. The American Association and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1887 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, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	.435
2	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	.402
3	Sam Thompson	DTN	NL	.372
4	Denny Lyons	PH4	AA	.367
5	Dave Foutz	SL4	AA	.357
6	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	.347
7	Thomas Burns	BL2	AA	.341
8	Dan Brouthers	DTN	NL	.338
8	John Ward	NY1	NL	.338
10	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	AA	.335

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Billy O'Brien	WS8	NL	19
2	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	17
3	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	NL	16
4	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	14
4	George Wood	PHI	NL	14
6	Dan Brouthers	DTN	NL	12
6	John Morrill	BSN	NL	12
8	Jerry Denny	IN3	NL	11
8	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	11
10	Paul Hines	WS8	NL	10

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Sam Thompson	DTN	NL	166
2	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	123
3	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	118
4	Jumbo Davis	BL2	AA	109
5	Dave Foutz	SL4	AA	108
5	Curt Welch	SL4	AA	108
7	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	104
8	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	AA	103
9	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	102
9	Denny Lyons	PH4	AA	102

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	167
2	Arlie Latham	SL4	AA	163
3	Dan Brouthers	DTN	NL	153
4	Mike Griffin	BL2	AA	142
5	Tom Poorman	PH4	AA	140
6	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	AA	139
7	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	137
7	Bid McPhee	CN2	AA	137
9	Bill Gleason	SL4	AA	135
9	Jack Rowe	DTN	NL	135

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	225
2	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	220
3	Denny Lyons	PH4	AA	209
4	Sam Thompson	DTN	NL	203
5	Arlie Latham	SL4	AA	198
6	Thomas Burns	BL2	AA	188
7	John Ward	NY1	NL	184
8	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	AA	180
9	Hardy Richardson	DTN	NL	178
10	Bill Gleason	SL4	AA	172

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Hugh Nicol	CN2	AA	138
2	Arlie Latham	SL4	AA	129
3	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	AA	117
4	John Ward	NY1	NL	111
5	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	103
6	Jim Fogarty	PHI	NL	102
7	Bid McPhee	CN2	AA	95
8	Mike Griffin	BL2	AA	94
9	Curt Welch	SL4	AA	89
10	Tom Poorman	PH4	AA	88

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	234
2	Pete Browning	LS2	AA	187
3	Dan Brouthers	DTN	NL	178
4	Sam Thompson	DTN	NL	176
5	Denny Lyons	PH4	AA	167
6	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	165
7	Thomas Burns	BL2	AA	164
8	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	162
9	Sam Wise	BSN	NL	157
10	Dave Foutz	SL4	AA	155

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Matt Kilroy	BL2	AA	46
2	John Clarkson	CHN	NL	38
3	Toad Ramsey	LS2	AA	37
4	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	35
5	Elmer Smith	CN2	AA	34
6	Silver King	SL4	AA	32
7	Tony Mullane	CN2	AA	31
8	Bob Caruthers	SL4	AA	29
8	Pretzels Getzien	DTN	NL	29
10	Dan Casey	PHI	NL	28

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Dan Casey	PHI	NL	2.86
2	Pete Conway	DTN	NL	2.90
3	Elmer Smith	CN2	AA	2.94
4	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	NL	3.00
5	Matt Kilroy	BL2	AA	3.07
6	John Clarkson	CHN	NL	3.08
7	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	3.12
8	Jim Whitney	WS8	NL	3.22
9	Tony Mullane	CN2	AA	3.24
10	Pud Galvin	PIT	NL	3.29

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Toad Ramsey	LS2	AA	355
2	John Clarkson	CHN	NL	237
3	Matt Kilroy	BL2	AA	217
4	Phenomenal Smith	BL2	AA	206
5	Gus Weyhing	PH4	AA	193
6	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	189
7	Elmer Smith	CN2	AA	176
8	Mark Baldwin	CHN	NL	164
9	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	NL	160
10	Mike Morrison	CL3	AA	158

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Adonis Terry	BR3	AA	3
2	Mark Baldwin	CHN	NL	1
2	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	NL	1
2	Guy Hecker	LS2	AA	1
2	Silver King	SL4	AA	1
2	Billy Serad	CN2	AA	1
2	Bill Stemmyer	BSN	NL	1
2	Larry Twitchell	DTN	NL	1
2	George Van Haltren	CHN	NL	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1887, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Elmer Smith	CN2	AA	146
2	Dan Casey	PHI	NL	142
3	Pete Conway	DTN	NL	140
3	Matt Kilroy	BL2	AA	140
5	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	NL	135
6	Tony Mullane	CN2	AA	132
7	John Clarkson	CHN	NL	131
8	Bob Caruthers	SL4	AA	130
8	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	130
10	Toad Ramsey	LS2	AA	125

Batting leaders, American Association

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	.435
2	Pete Browning	LS2	.402
3	Denny Lyons	PH4	.367
4	Dave Foutz	SL4	.357
5	Thomas Burns	BL2	.341
6	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	.335
7	Arlie Latham	SL4	.316
8	John Corkhill	CN2	.311
9	Henry Larkin	PH4	.310
10	Jumbo Davis	BL2	.309

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	14
2	John Reilly	CN2	10
3	Thomas Burns	BL2	9
4	Jumbo Davis	BL2	8
4	Frank Fennelly	CN2	8
6	Joe Werrick	LS2	7
7	Denny Lyons	PH4	6
7	Tommy Tucker	BL2	6
9	John Corkhill	CN2	5
9	Charley Jones	CN2/NY4	5

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	123
2	Pete Browning	LS2	118
3	Jumbo Davis	BL2	109
4	Dave Foutz	SL4	108
4	Curt Welch	SL4	108
6	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	103
7	Denny Lyons	PH4	102
7	Chicken Wolf	LS2	102
9	Bill Phillips	BR3	101
10	Thomas Burns	BL2	99

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	R
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	167
2	Arlie Latham	SL4	163
3	Mike Griffin	BL2	142
4	Tom Poorman	PH4	140
5	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	139
6	Pete Browning	LS2	137
6	Bid McPhee	CN2	137
8	Bill Gleason	SL4	135
9	Frank Fennelly	CN2	133
9	George Pinkney	BR3	133

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	H
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	225
2	Pete Browning	LS2	220
3	Denny Lyons	PH4	209
4	Arlie Latham	SL4	198
5	Thomas Burns	BL2	188
6	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	180
7	Bill Gleason	SL4	172
8	John Reilly	CN2	170
9	John Corkhill	CN2	168
10	Hub Collins	LS2	162

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Hugh Nicol	CN2	138
2	Arlie Latham	SL4	129
3	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	117
4	Pete Browning	LS2	103
5	Bid McPhee	CN2	95
6	Mike Griffin	BL2	94
7	Curt Welch	SL4	89
8	Tom Poorman	PH4	88
8	Blondie Purcell	BL2	88
10	Cub Stricker	CL3	86

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	234
2	Pete Browning	LS2	187
3	Denny Lyons	PH4	167
4	Thomas Burns	BL2	164
5	Dave Foutz	SL4	155
6	William Robinson	SL4	143
7	Jumbo Davis	BL2	137
8	John Reilly	CN2	135
9	Reddy Mack	LS2	131
10	Mike Griffin	BL2	128

Pitching leaders, American Association

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	W
1	Matt Kilroy	BL2	46
2	Toad Ramsey	LS2	37
3	Elmer Smith	CN2	34
4	Silver King	SL4	32
5	Tony Mullane	CN2	31
6	Bob Caruthers	SL4	29
7	Gus Weyhing	PH4	26
8	Dave Foutz	SL4	25
8	Ed Seward	PH4	25
8	Phenomenal Smith	BL2	25

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Elmer Smith	CN2	2.94
2	Matt Kilroy	BL2	3.07
3	Tony Mullane	CN2	3.24
4	Bob Caruthers	SL4	3.30
5	Toad Ramsey	LS2	3.43
6	Silver King	SL4	3.78
7	Ice Box Chamberlain	LS2	3.79
7	Phenomenal Smith	BL2	3.79
9	Dave Foutz	SL4	3.87
10	Adonis Terry	BR3	4.02

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Toad Ramsey	LS2	355
2	Matt Kilroy	BL2	217
3	Phenomenal Smith	BL2	206
4	Gus Weyhing	PH4	193
5	Elmer Smith	CN2	176
6	Mike Morrison	CL3	158
7	Ed Seward	PH4	155
8	Adonis Terry	BR3	138
9	Silver King	SL4	128
10	Al Mays	NY4	124

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Adonis Terry	BR3	3
2	Guy Hecker	LS2	1
2	Silver King	SL4	1
2	Billy Serad	CN2	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1887, American Association
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Elmer Smith	CN2	146
2	Matt Kilroy	BL2	140
3	Tony Mullane	CN2	132
4	Bob Caruthers	SL4	130
5	Toad Ramsey	LS2	125
6	Ice Box Chamberlain	LS2	113
6	Silver King	SL4	113
6	Phenomenal Smith	BL2	113
9	Dave Foutz	SL4	111
10	Adonis Terry	BR3	107

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Sam Thompson	DTN	.372
2	Cap Anson	CHN	.347
3	Dan Brouthers	DTN	.338
3	John Ward	NY1	.338
5	Sam Wise	BSN	.334
6	Fred Carroll	PIT	.328
6	Hardy Richardson	DTN	.328
8	Ed Andrews	PHI	.325
9	Jerry Denny	IN3	.324
10	King Kelly	BSN	.322

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Billy O'Brien	WS8	19
2	Roger Connor	NY1	17
3	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	16
4	George Wood	PHI	14
5	Dan Brouthers	DTN	12
5	John Morrill	BSN	12
7	Jerry Denny	IN3	11
7	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	11
9	Paul Hines	WS8	10
9	Sam Thompson	DTN	10

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Sam Thompson	DTN	166
2	Roger Connor	NY1	104
3	Cap Anson	CHN	102
4	Dan Brouthers	DTN	101
5	Jerry Denny	IN3	97
6	Jack Rowe	DTN	96
7	Billy Nash	BSN	94
7	Hardy Richardson	DTN	94
9	Sam Wise	BSN	92
10	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	89

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Dan Brouthers	DTN	153
2	Jack Rowe	DTN	135
3	Hardy Richardson	DTN	131
4	King Kelly	BSN	120
5	Sam Thompson	DTN	118
5	George Wood	PHI	118
7	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	117
8	John Ward	NY1	114
9	Roger Connor	NY1	113
9	Jim Fogarty	PHI	113

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Sam Thompson	DTN	203
2	John Ward	NY1	184
3	Hardy Richardson	DTN	178
4	Jack Rowe	DTN	171
5	Dan Brouthers	DTN	169
6	Jerry Denny	IN3	165
7	Cap Anson	CHN	164
8	King Kelly	BSN	156
8	Sam Wise	BSN	156
10	Ed Andrews	PHI	151

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	John Ward	NY1	111
2	Jim Fogarty	PHI	102
3	King Kelly	BSN	84
4	Ned Hanlon	DTN	69
5	Jack Glasscock	IN3	62
6	Ed Andrews	PHI	57
6	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	57
8	Dick Johnston	BSN	52
9	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	50
10	Emmett Seery	IN3	48

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Dan Brouthers	DTN	178
2	Sam Thompson	DTN	176
3	Cap Anson	CHN	165
4	Roger Connor	NY1	162
5	Sam Wise	BSN	157
6	Fred Carroll	PIT	148
6	King Kelly	BSN	148
8	Otto Schomberg	IN3	143
9	Hardy Richardson	DTN	139
10	George Wood	PHI	138

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	John Clarkson	CHN	38
2	Tim Keefe	NY1	35
3	Pretzels Getzien	DTN	29
4	Dan Casey	PHI	28
4	Pud Galvin	PIT	28
6	Old Hoss Radbourn	BSN	24
6	Jim Whitney	WS8	24
8	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	22
8	Mickey Welch	NY1	22
10	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	21

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Dan Casey	PHI	2.86
2	Pete Conway	DTN	2.90
3	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	3.00
4	John Clarkson	CHN	3.08
5	Tim Keefe	NY1	3.12
6	Jim Whitney	WS8	3.22
7	Pud Galvin	PIT	3.29
8	Mickey Welch	NY1	3.36
9	Mark Baldwin	CHN	3.40
10	Henry Boyle	IN3	3.65

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	John Clarkson	CHN	237
2	Tim Keefe	NY1	189
3	Mark Baldwin	CHN	164
4	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	160
5	Jim Whitney	WS8	146
6	Pretzels Getzien	DTN	135
7	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	125
8	Dan Casey	PHI	119
9	Mickey Welch	NY1	115
10	Frank Gilmore	WS8	114

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Mark Baldwin	CHN	1
1	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	1
1	Bill Stemmyer	BSN	1
1	Larry Twitchell	DTN	1
1	George Van Haltren	CHN	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1887, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Dan Casey	PHI	142
2	Pete Conway	DTN	140
3	Charlie Ferguson	PHI	135
4	John Clarkson	CHN	131
5	Tim Keefe	NY1	130
6	Jim Whitney	WS8	125
7	Pud Galvin	PIT	123
8	Mickey Welch	NY1	121
9	Mark Baldwin	CHN	119
10	Henry Boyle	IN3	111

How the 1887 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

1881 league leaders 1882 league leaders 1883 league leaders 1884 league leaders 1885 league leaders 1886 league leaders 1888 league leaders 1889 league leaders 1890 league leaders 1891 league leaders 1892 league leaders 1893 league leaders

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