Who led MLB in home runs in 1889?

Sam Thompson led the majors with 20 in 1889 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1889?

Dan Brouthers hit ..373, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1889 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1889?

John Clarkson led the majors with 49 wins in 1889 (NL).

1889 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 18892 major leagues12 boards per league

Sam Thompson led the majors with 20 in 1889. The American Association and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1889 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1888 leaders All seasons 1890 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Dan Brouthers	BSN	NL	.373
2	Tommy Tucker	BL2	AA	.372
3	Jack Glasscock	IN3	NL	.352
4	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	.342
5	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	.335
5	Mike Tiernan	NY1	NL	.335
7	Denny Lyons	PH4	AA	.329
8	Buck Ewing	NY1	NL	.327
8	Dave Orr	CL6	AA	.327
10	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	.325

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Sam Thompson	PHI	NL	20
2	Bug Holliday	CN2	AA	19
2	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	19
4	Jerry Denny	IN3	NL	18
5	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	17
6	Charlie Duffee	SL4	AA	16
7	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	13
8	Hugh Duffy	CHN	NL	12
9	Duke Farrell	CHN	NL	11
10	Mike Tiernan	NY1	NL	10

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	130
2	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	119
3	Dan Brouthers	BSN	NL	118
4	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	117
5	Dave Foutz	BR3	AA	113
6	Jerry Denny	IN3	NL	112
7	Sam Thompson	PHI	NL	111
8	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	110
9	Lou Bierbauer	PH4	AA	105
10	Bug Holliday	CN2	AA	104

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Mike Griffin	BL2	AA	152
1	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	152
3	Mike Tiernan	NY1	NL	147
4	Darby O'Brien	BR3	AA	146
5	Hugh Duffy	CHN	NL	144
5	Billy Hamilton	KC2	AA	144
7	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	140
8	Hub Collins	BR3	AA	139
9	Herman Long	KC2	AA	137
10	Tommy McCarthy	SL4	AA	136

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Jack Glasscock	IN3	NL	205
2	Tommy Tucker	BL2	AA	196
3	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	187
4	Dave Orr	CL6	AA	183
5	Hugh Duffy	CHN	NL	182
6	Dan Brouthers	BSN	NL	181
6	Bug Holliday	CN2	AA	181
8	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	179
9	Billy Shindle	BL2	AA	178
10	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	177

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Billy Hamilton	KC2	AA	111
2	Jim Fogarty	PHI	NL	99
3	Darby O'Brien	BR3	AA	91
4	Herman Long	KC2	AA	89
5	Hugh Nicol	CN2	AA	80
6	Arlie Latham	SL4	AA	69
7	King Kelly	BSN	NL	68
8	Dan Stearns	KC2	AA	67
9	Curt Welch	PH4	AA	66
10	Hub Collins	BR3	AA	65

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Dan Brouthers	BSN	NL	178
2	Roger Connor	NY1	NL	173
3	Tommy Tucker	BL2	AA	172
4	Mike Tiernan	NY1	NL	171
5	Harry Stovey	PH4	AA	166
6	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	NL	163
7	Cap Anson	CHN	NL	162
8	Tip O'Neill	SL4	AA	161
9	Denny Lyons	PH4	AA	160
10	Bug Holliday	CN2	AA	152

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	John Clarkson	BSN	NL	49
2	Bob Caruthers	BR3	AA	40
3	Silver King	SL4	AA	35
4	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	AA	32
4	Jesse Duryea	CN2	AA	32
6	Gus Weyhing	PH4	AA	30
7	Matt Kilroy	BL2	AA	29
8	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	NL	28
8	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	28
10	Mark Baldwin	CL6	AA	27

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Jack Stivetts	SL4	AA	2.25
2	Jesse Duryea	CN2	AA	2.56
3	John Clarkson	BSN	NL	2.73
4	Matt Kilroy	BL2	AA	2.85
5	Gus Weyhing	PH4	AA	2.95
6	Jersey Bakley	CL4	NL	2.96
7	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	AA	2.97
8	Tony Mullane	CN2	AA	2.99
9	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	3.02
10	Bob Caruthers	BR3	AA	3.13

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Mark Baldwin	CL6	AA	368
2	John Clarkson	BSN	NL	284
3	Tim Keefe	NY1	NL	225
4	Matt Kilroy	BL2	AA	217
5	Gus Weyhing	PH4	AA	213
6	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	AA	202
7	Silver King	SL4	AA	188
8	Adonis Terry	BR3	AA	186
9	Jesse Duryea	CN2	AA	183
10	Frank Foreman	BL2	AA	180

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Tony Mullane	CN2	AA	5
2	Bill Sowders	BSN/PIT	NL	3
3	Jack Stivetts	SL4	AA	2
3	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	2
5	Mark Baldwin	CL6	AA	1
5	Bill Burdick	IN3	NL	1
5	Bob Caruthers	BR3	AA	1
5	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	AA	1
5	John Clarkson	BSN	NL	1
5	Bert Cunningham	BL2	AA	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1889, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Jack Stivetts	SL4	AA	171
2	Jesse Duryea	CN2	AA	150
3	John Clarkson	BSN	NL	147
4	Jersey Bakley	CL4	NL	136
5	Matt Kilroy	BL2	AA	135
6	Mickey Welch	NY1	NL	133
7	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	AA	130
7	Gus Weyhing	PH4	AA	130
9	Tony Mullane	CN2	AA	129
10	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	NL	124

Batting leaders, American Association

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Tommy Tucker	BL2	.372
2	Tip O'Neill	SL4	.335
3	Denny Lyons	PH4	.329
4	Dave Orr	CL6	.327
5	Bug Holliday	CN2	.321
6	Henry Larkin	PH4	.318
7	Blondie Purcell	PH4	.316
8	Billy Shindle	BL2	.314
9	Harry Stovey	PH4	.308
10	Lefty Marr	CL6	.306

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Bug Holliday	CN2	19
1	Harry Stovey	PH4	19
3	Charlie Duffee	SL4	16
4	Denny Lyons	PH4	9
4	Tip O'Neill	SL4	9
6	John Corkhill	BR3	8
7	Lou Bierbauer	PH4	7
7	George Tebeau	CN2	7
9	Dave Foutz	BR3	6
10	Jim Burns	KC2	5

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Harry Stovey	PH4	119
2	Dave Foutz	BR3	113
3	Tip O'Neill	SL4	110
4	Lou Bierbauer	PH4	105
5	Bug Holliday	CN2	104
6	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	102
7	Thomas Burns	BR3	100
8	Tommy Tucker	BL2	99
9	Jim Burns	KC2	97
10	Reddy Mack	BL2	87

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	R
1	Mike Griffin	BL2	152
1	Harry Stovey	PH4	152
3	Darby O'Brien	BR3	146
4	Billy Hamilton	KC2	144
5	Hub Collins	BR3	139
6	Herman Long	KC2	137
7	Tommy McCarthy	SL4	136
8	Denny Lyons	PH4	135
9	Curt Welch	PH4	134
10	Tip O'Neill	SL4	123

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	H
1	Tommy Tucker	BL2	196
2	Dave Orr	CL6	183
3	Bug Holliday	CN2	181
4	Tip O'Neill	SL4	179
5	Billy Shindle	BL2	178
6	Jim Burns	KC2	176
6	Tommy McCarthy	SL4	176
8	Harry Stovey	PH4	171
9	Darby O'Brien	BR3	170
10	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	168

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Billy Hamilton	KC2	111
2	Darby O'Brien	BR3	91
3	Herman Long	KC2	89
4	Hugh Nicol	CN2	80
5	Arlie Latham	SL4	69
6	Dan Stearns	KC2	67
7	Curt Welch	PH4	66
8	Hub Collins	BR3	65
8	Charlie Comiskey	SL4	65
10	Bid McPhee	CN2	63

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Tommy Tucker	BL2	172
2	Harry Stovey	PH4	166
3	Tip O'Neill	SL4	161
4	Denny Lyons	PH4	160
5	Bug Holliday	CN2	152
6	Henry Larkin	PH4	149
7	Lefty Marr	CL6	139
8	Thomas Burns	BR3	137
9	Billy Hamilton	KC2	135
10	Darby O'Brien	BR3	133

Pitching leaders, American Association

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	W
1	Bob Caruthers	BR3	40
2	Silver King	SL4	35
3	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	32
3	Jesse Duryea	CN2	32
5	Gus Weyhing	PH4	30
6	Matt Kilroy	BL2	29
7	Mark Baldwin	CL6	27
8	Frank Foreman	BL2	23
9	Adonis Terry	BR3	22
9	Lee Viau	CN2	22

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Jack Stivetts	SL4	2.25
2	Jesse Duryea	CN2	2.56
3	Matt Kilroy	BL2	2.85
4	Gus Weyhing	PH4	2.95
5	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	2.97
6	Tony Mullane	CN2	2.99
7	Bob Caruthers	BR3	3.13
8	Silver King	SL4	3.14
9	Jim Conway	KC2	3.25
10	Adonis Terry	BR3	3.29

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Mark Baldwin	CL6	368
2	Matt Kilroy	BL2	217
3	Gus Weyhing	PH4	213
4	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	202
5	Silver King	SL4	188
6	Adonis Terry	BR3	186
7	Jesse Duryea	CN2	183
8	Frank Foreman	BL2	180
9	John Ewing	LS2	155
10	Lee Viau	CN2	152

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Tony Mullane	CN2	5
2	Jack Stivetts	SL4	2
3	Mark Baldwin	CL6	1
3	Bob Caruthers	BR3	1
3	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	1
3	Bert Cunningham	BL2	1
3	Jesse Duryea	CN2	1
3	Silver King	SL4	1
3	John Sowders	KC2	1
3	Scott Stratton	LS2	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1889, American Association
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Jack Stivetts	SL4	171
2	Jesse Duryea	CN2	150
3	Matt Kilroy	BL2	135
4	Ice Box Chamberlain	SL4	130
4	Gus Weyhing	PH4	130
6	Tony Mullane	CN2	129
7	Bob Caruthers	BR3	123
8	Silver King	SL4	122
9	Jim Conway	KC2	118
10	Adonis Terry	BR3	117

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Dan Brouthers	BSN	.373
2	Jack Glasscock	IN3	.352
3	Cap Anson	CHN	.342
4	Mike Tiernan	NY1	.335
5	Buck Ewing	NY1	.327
6	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	.325
7	George Van Haltren	CHN	.322
8	Jim O'Rourke	NY1	.321
9	Ed McKean	CL4	.318
10	Roger Connor	NY1	.317

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Sam Thompson	PHI	20
2	Jerry Denny	IN3	18
3	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	17
4	Roger Connor	NY1	13
5	Hugh Duffy	CHN	12
6	Duke Farrell	CHN	11
7	Mike Tiernan	NY1	10
8	Jake Beckley	PIT	9
8	King Kelly	BSN	9
8	George Van Haltren	CHN	9

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Roger Connor	NY1	130
2	Dan Brouthers	BSN	118
3	Cap Anson	CHN	117
4	Jerry Denny	IN3	112
5	Sam Thompson	PHI	111
6	Danny Richardson	NY1	100
7	Jake Beckley	PIT	97
8	Larry Twitchell	CL4	95
9	Hugh Duffy	CHN	89
10	Buck Ewing	NY1	87

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Mike Tiernan	NY1	147
2	Hugh Duffy	CHN	144
3	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	140
4	George Gore	NY1	132
5	Jack Glasscock	IN3	128
6	George Van Haltren	CHN	126
7	Emmett Seery	IN3	123
8	Hardy Richardson	BSN	122
9	King Kelly	BSN	120
10	Roger Connor	NY1	117

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Jack Glasscock	IN3	205
2	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	187
3	Hugh Duffy	CHN	182
4	Dan Brouthers	BSN	181
5	Cap Anson	CHN	177
6	George Van Haltren	CHN	175
7	Mike Tiernan	NY1	167
8	Emmett Seery	IN3	165
9	Jerry Denny	IN3	163
9	Hardy Richardson	BSN	163

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Jim Fogarty	PHI	99
2	King Kelly	BSN	68
3	Tom Brown	BSN	63
4	John Ward	NY1	62
5	Jack Glasscock	IN3	57
6	Ned Hanlon	PIT	53
7	Hugh Duffy	CHN	52
8	Hardy Richardson	BSN	47
9	Fred Pfeffer	CHN	45
9	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	45

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Dan Brouthers	BSN	178
2	Roger Connor	NY1	173
3	Mike Tiernan	NY1	171
4	Jimmy Ryan	CHN	163
5	Cap Anson	CHN	162
6	George Van Haltren	CHN	147
7	Buck Ewing	NY1	146
7	Jack Glasscock	IN3	146
7	Emmett Seery	IN3	146
10	Walt Wilmot	WS8	143

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	John Clarkson	BSN	49
2	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	28
2	Tim Keefe	NY1	28
4	Mickey Welch	NY1	27
5	Pud Galvin	PIT	23
6	Cinders O'Brien	CL4	22
7	Henry Boyle	IN3	21
7	Harry Staley	PIT	21
9	Ed Beatin	CL4	20
9	Old Hoss Radbourn	BSN	20

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	John Clarkson	BSN	2.73
2	Jersey Bakley	CL4	2.96
3	Mickey Welch	NY1	3.02
4	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	3.24
5	Tim Keefe	NY1	3.36
6	Harry Staley	PIT	3.51
7	Bill Hutchison	CHN	3.54
8	Ben Sanders	PHI	3.55
9	Ed Beatin	CL4	3.57
10	Frank Dwyer	CHN	3.59

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	John Clarkson	BSN	284
2	Tim Keefe	NY1	225
3	Harry Staley	PIT	159
4	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	153
5	Pretzels Getzien	IN3	139
6	Bill Hutchison	CHN	136
7	Ed Crane	NY1	130
8	Ed Beatin	CL4	126
9	Mickey Welch	NY1	125
10	Ben Sanders	PHI	123

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Bill Sowders	BSN/PIT	3
2	Mickey Welch	NY1	2
3	Bill Burdick	IN3	1
3	John Clarkson	BSN	1
3	Pretzels Getzien	IN3	1
3	Kid Gleason	PHI	1
3	Henry Gruber	CL4	1
3	Tim Keefe	NY1	1
3	Kid Madden	BSN	1
3	Ben Sanders	PHI	1

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1889, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	John Clarkson	BSN	147
2	Jersey Bakley	CL4	136
3	Mickey Welch	NY1	133
4	Charlie Buffinton	PHI	124
5	Tim Keefe	NY1	120
6	Harry Staley	PIT	115
7	Bill Hutchison	CHN	114
8	Ed Beatin	CL4	113
8	Ben Sanders	PHI	113
10	Frank Dwyer	CHN	112

How the 1889 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

1883 league leaders 1884 league leaders 1885 league leaders 1886 league leaders 1887 league leaders 1888 league leaders 1890 league leaders 1891 league leaders 1892 league leaders 1893 league leaders 1894 league leaders 1895 league leaders

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