Who led MLB in home runs in 1888?

Jimmy Ryan led the majors with 16 in 1888 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1888?

Cap Anson hit ..344, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1888 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1888?

Silver King led the majors with 45 wins in 1888 (AA).

1888 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 18882 major leagues12 boards per league

Jimmy Ryan led the majors with 16 in 1888. The American Association and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1888 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1887 leaders All seasons 1889 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	.344
2	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	.335
3	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	.332
4	John Reilly	CN2	AA	.321
5	King Kelly	BSN	NL	.318
6	Dan Brouthers	DTN	NL	.307
6	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	AA	.307
8	Buck Ewing	NY1	NL	.306
9	Ed McKean	CL3	AA	.299
10	Deacon White	DTN	NL	.298

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	16
2	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	14
3	John Reilly	CN2	AA	13
4	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	12
4	Jerry Denny	IN3	NL	12
4	Dick Johnston	BSN	NL	12
7	Dan Brouthers	DTN	NL	9
7	Tom Brown	BSN	NL	9
7	King Kelly	BSN	NL	9
7	Billy O'Brien	WS8	NL	9

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	John Reilly	CN2	AA	103
2	Henry Larkin	PH4	AA	101
3	Dave Foutz	BR3	AA	99
4	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	98
5	John Corkhill	CN2/BR3	AA	93
6	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	84
7	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	AA	83
7	Denny Lyons	PH4	AA	83
9	Lou Bierbauer	PH4	AA	80
10	Billy Nash	BSN	NL	75

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	George Pinkney	BR3	AA	134
2	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	AA	133
3	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	127
4	Curt Welch	PH4	AA	125
5	Arlie Latham	SL4	AA	119
6	Dan Brouthers	DTN	NL	118
7	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	115
8	Hugh Nicol	CN2	AA	112
8	John Reilly	CN2	AA	112
10	William Robinson	SL4	AA	111

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	182
2	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	177
2	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	177
4	Dick Johnston	BSN	NL	173
5	John Reilly	CN2	AA	169
6	Ed McKean	CL3	AA	164
7	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	AA	162
8	Dan Brouthers	DTN	NL	160
8	John Corkhill	CN2/BR3	AA	160
10	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	AA	157

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Arlie Latham	SL4	AA	109
2	Hugh Nicol	CN2	AA	103
3	Curt Welch	PH4	AA	95
4	Tommy McCarthy	SL4	AA	93
5	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	87
6	Billy Hoy	WS8	NL	82
6	John Reilly	CN2	AA	82
8	Emmett Seery	IN3	NL	80
9	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	AA	72
10	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	AA	71

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	194
2	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	191
3	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	184
4	Dan Brouthers	DTN	NL	183
5	John Reilly	CN2	AA	181
6	King Kelly	BSN	NL	177
7	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	173
8	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	169
9	Buck Ewing	NY1	NL	166
10	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	AA	160

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Silver King	SL4	AA	45
2	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	35
2	Ed Seward	PH4	AA	35
4	John Clarkson	BSN	NL	33
5	Pete Conway	DTN	NL	30
6	Bob Caruthers	BR3	AA	29
6	Ed Morris	PIT	NL	29
8	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	NL	28
8	Gus Weyhing	PH4	AA	28
10	Lee Viau	CN2	AA	27

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Silver King	SL4	AA	1.63
2	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	1.74
3	Ben Sanders	PHI	NL	1.90
4	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	NL	1.91
5	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	1.93
6	Ed Seward	PH4	AA	2.01
7	Adonis Terry	BR3	AA	2.03
8	Bill Sowders	BSN	NL	2.07
9	Mickey Hughes	BR3	AA	2.13
10	Ice Box Chamberlain	LS2/SL4	AA	2.19

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	335
2	Ed Seward	PH4	AA	272
3	Silver King	SL4	AA	258
4	Toad Ramsey	LS2	AA	228
5	John Clarkson	BSN	NL	223
6	Jersey Bakley	CL3	AA	212
7	Gus Weyhing	PH4	AA	204
8	Pretzels Getzien	DTN	NL	202
9	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	NL	199
10	Bert Cunningham	BL2	AA	186

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Ed Crane	NY1	NL	1
1	Tony Mullane	CN2	AA	1
1	George Van Haltren	CHN	NL	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1888, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Silver King	SL4	AA	187
2	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	163
3	Ed Seward	PH4	AA	152
4	Adonis Terry	BR3	AA	151
5	Ben Sanders	PHI	NL	149
6	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	NL	148
7	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	147
8	Mickey Hughes	BR3	AA	143
9	Ice Box Chamberlain	LS2/SL4	AA	140
10	Bill Sowders	BSN	NL	137

Batting leaders, American Association

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	.335
2	John Reilly	CN2	.321
3	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	.307
4	Ed McKean	CL3	.299
5	Denny Lyons	PH4	.296
6	Thomas Burns	BL2/BR3	.293
7	Harry Stovey	PH4	.287
7	Tommy Tucker	BL2	.287
9	Chicken Wolf	LS2	.286
10	John Corkhill	CN2/BR3	.285

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	HR
1	John Reilly	CN2	13
2	Harry Stovey	PH4	9
3	Henry Larkin	PH4	7
4	Thomas Burns	BL2/BR3	6
4	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	6
4	Denny Lyons	PH4	6
4	Ed McKean	CL3	6
4	Tommy Tucker	BL2	6
9	Tip O'Neill	SL4	5
10	Sam Barkley	KC2	4

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	John Reilly	CN2	103
2	Henry Larkin	PH4	101
3	Dave Foutz	BR3	99
4	Tip O'Neill	SL4	98
5	John Corkhill	CN2/BR3	93
6	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	83
6	Denny Lyons	PH4	83
8	Lou Bierbauer	PH4	80
9	Frank Fennelly	CN2/PH4	68
9	Tommy McCarthy	SL4	68

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	R
1	George Pinkney	BR3	134
2	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	133
3	Harry Stovey	PH4	127
4	Curt Welch	PH4	125
5	Arlie Latham	SL4	119
6	Hugh Nicol	CN2	112
6	John Reilly	CN2	112
8	William Robinson	SL4	111
9	Tommy McCarthy	SL4	107
10	Darby O'Brien	BR3	105

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	H
1	Tip O'Neill	SL4	177
2	John Reilly	CN2	169
3	Ed McKean	CL3	164
4	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	162
5	John Corkhill	CN2/BR3	160
6	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	157
7	Dave Foutz	BR3	156
7	George Pinkney	BR3	156
9	Thomas Burns	BL2/BR3	155
9	Curt Welch	PH4	155

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Arlie Latham	SL4	109
2	Hugh Nicol	CN2	103
3	Curt Welch	PH4	95
4	Tommy McCarthy	SL4	93
5	Harry Stovey	PH4	87
6	John Reilly	CN2	82
7	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	72
8	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	71
9	Jay Faatz	CL3	64
10	Cub Stricker	CL3	60

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	John Reilly	CN2	181
2	Tip O'Neill	SL4	173
3	Harry Stovey	PH4	169
4	Hub Collins	LS2/BR3	160
5	Thomas Burns	BL2/BR3	154
6	Denny Lyons	PH4	151
7	Ed McKean	CL3	150
8	Henry Larkin	PH4	138
8	Tommy Tucker	BL2	138
10	William Robinson	SL4	135

Pitching leaders, American Association

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	W
1	Silver King	SL4	45
2	Ed Seward	PH4	35
3	Bob Caruthers	BR3	29
4	Gus Weyhing	PH4	28
5	Lee Viau	CN2	27
6	Tony Mullane	CN2	26
7	Jersey Bakley	CL3	25
7	Ice Box Chamberlain	LS2/SL4	25
7	Nat Hudson	SL4	25
7	Mickey Hughes	BR3	25

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Silver King	SL4	1.63
2	Ed Seward	PH4	2.01
3	Adonis Terry	BR3	2.03
4	Mickey Hughes	BR3	2.13
5	Ice Box Chamberlain	LS2/SL4	2.19
6	Gus Weyhing	PH4	2.25
7	Bob Caruthers	BR3	2.39
8	Dave Foutz	BR3	2.51
9	Nat Hudson	SL4	2.54
10	Lee Viau	CN2	2.65

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Ed Seward	PH4	272
2	Silver King	SL4	258
3	Toad Ramsey	LS2	228
4	Jersey Bakley	CL3	212
5	Gus Weyhing	PH4	204
6	Bert Cunningham	BL2	186
6	Tony Mullane	CN2	186
8	Ice Box Chamberlain	LS2/SL4	176
9	Phenomenal Smith	BL2/PH4	171
10	Lee Viau	CN2	164

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Tony Mullane	CN2	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1888, American Association
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Silver King	SL4	187
2	Ed Seward	PH4	152
3	Adonis Terry	BR3	151
4	Mickey Hughes	BR3	143
5	Ice Box Chamberlain	LS2/SL4	140
6	Gus Weyhing	PH4	136
7	Bob Caruthers	BR3	128
8	Dave Foutz	BR3	122
9	Nat Hudson	SL4	120
10	Lee Viau	CN2	116

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Cap Anson	CHN	.344
2	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	.332
3	King Kelly	BSN	.318
4	Dan Brouthers	DTN	.307
5	Buck Ewing	NY1	.306
6	Deacon White	DTN	.298
7	Dick Johnston	BSN	.296
8	Mike Tiernan	NY1	.293
9	Roger Connor	NY1	.291
10	Billy Nash	BSN	.283

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	16
2	Roger Connor	NY1	14
3	Cap Anson	CHN	12
3	Jerry Denny	IN3	12
3	Dick Johnston	BSN	12
6	Dan Brouthers	DTN	9
6	Tom Brown	BSN	9
6	King Kelly	BSN	9
6	Billy O'Brien	WS8	9
6	Mike Tiernan	NY1	9

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Cap Anson	CHN	84
2	Billy Nash	BSN	75
3	Jack Rowe	DTN	74
4	Ed Williamson	CHN	73
5	Roger Connor	NY1	71
5	King Kelly	BSN	71
5	Deacon White	DTN	71
8	Tom Burns	CHN	70
9	Dick Johnston	BSN	68
10	Larry Twitchell	DTN	67

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Dan Brouthers	DTN	118
2	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	115
3	Dick Johnston	BSN	102
4	Cap Anson	CHN	101
5	Roger Connor	NY1	98
6	Jerry Denny	IN3	92
7	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	90
8	Emmett Seery	IN3	87
9	King Kelly	BSN	85
10	Paul Hines	IN3	84

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	182
2	Cap Anson	CHN	177
3	Dick Johnston	BSN	173
4	Dan Brouthers	DTN	160
5	Deacon White	DTN	157
6	Billy Nash	BSN	149
7	Paul Hines	IN3	144
8	Roger Connor	NY1	140
8	King Kelly	BSN	140
10	Billy Hoy	WS8	138

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Billy Hoy	WS8	82
2	Emmett Seery	IN3	80
3	Billy Sunday	PIT	71
4	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	64
5	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	60
6	Jim Fogarty	PHI	58
7	King Kelly	BSN	56
8	Buck Ewing	NY1	53
9	Mike Tiernan	NY1	52
10	Jack McGeachey	IN3	49

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Cap Anson	CHN	194
2	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	191
3	Roger Connor	NY1	184
4	Dan Brouthers	DTN	183
5	King Kelly	BSN	177
6	Buck Ewing	NY1	166
7	Mike Tiernan	NY1	159
8	Dick Johnston	BSN	156
9	Billy Nash	BSN	145
10	Ed Williamson	CHN	142

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Tim Keefe	NY1	35
2	John Clarkson	BSN	33
3	Pete Conway	DTN	30
4	Ed Morris	PIT	29
5	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	28
6	Mickey Welch	NY1	26
7	Gus Krock	CHN	25
8	Pud Galvin	PIT	23
9	Pretzels Getzien	DTN	19
9	Ben Sanders	PHI	19

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Tim Keefe	NY1	1.74
2	Ben Sanders	PHI	1.90
3	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	1.91
4	Mickey Welch	NY1	1.93
5	Bill Sowders	BSN	2.07
6	Ledell Titcomb	NY1	2.24
7	Pete Conway	DTN	2.26
8	Henry Gruber	DTN	2.29
9	Ed Morris	PIT	2.31
10	Gus Krock	CHN	2.44

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Tim Keefe	NY1	335
2	John Clarkson	BSN	223
3	Pretzels Getzien	DTN	202
4	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	199
5	Hank O'Day	WS8	186
6	Pete Conway	DTN	176
7	Mickey Welch	NY1	167
8	Gus Krock	CHN	161
9	Mark Baldwin	CHN	157
10	George Van Haltren	CHN	139

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Ed Crane	NY1	1
1	George Van Haltren	CHN	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1888, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Tim Keefe	NY1	163
2	Ben Sanders	PHI	149
3	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	148
4	Mickey Welch	NY1	147
5	Bill Sowders	BSN	137
6	Pete Conway	DTN	126
6	Ledell Titcomb	NY1	126
8	Henry Gruber	DTN	124
9	Ed Morris	PIT	123
10	Gus Krock	CHN	116

How the 1888 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

1882 league leaders 1883 league leaders 1884 league leaders 1885 league leaders 1886 league leaders 1887 league leaders 1889 league leaders 1890 league leaders 1891 league leaders 1892 league leaders 1893 league leaders 1894 league leaders

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