Who led MLB in home runs in 1921?

Babe Ruth led the majors with 59 in 1921 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1921?

Rogers Hornsby hit ..397, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1921 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1921?

Carl Mays led the majors with 27 wins in 1921 (AL).

1921 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19212 major leagues12 boards per league

Babe Ruth led the majors with 59 in 1921. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1921 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1920 leaders All seasons 1922 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	NL	.397
2	Harry Heilmann	DET	AL	.394
3	Ty Cobb	DET	AL	.389
4	Babe Ruth	NYA	AL	.378
5	George Sisler	SLA	AL	.371
6	Tris Speaker	CLE	AL	.362
7	Baby Doll Jacobson	SLA	AL	.352
7	Jack Tobin	SLA	AL	.352
9	Austin McHenry	SLN	NL	.350
10	Ken Williams	SLA	AL	.347

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Babe Ruth	NYA	AL	59
2	Bob Meusel	NYA	AL	24
2	Ken Williams	SLA	AL	24
4	George Kelly	NY1	NL	23
4	Tillie Walker	PHA	AL	23
6	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	NL	21
7	Harry Heilmann	DET	AL	19
8	Cy Williams	PHI	NL	18
9	Austin McHenry	SLN	NL	17
10	Jimmy Dykes	PHA	AL	16

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Babe Ruth	NYA	AL	171
2	Harry Heilmann	DET	AL	139
3	Bob Meusel	NYA	AL	136
4	Bobby Veach	DET	AL	128
5	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	NL	126
6	George Kelly	NY1	NL	122
7	Larry Gardner	CLE	AL	120
8	Ken Williams	SLA	AL	117
9	Del Pratt	BOS	AL	104
9	George Sisler	SLA	AL	104

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Babe Ruth	NYA	AL	177
2	Jack Tobin	SLA	AL	132
3	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	NL	131
4	Roger Peckinpaugh	NYA	AL	128
5	George Sisler	SLA	AL	125
6	Ty Cobb	DET	AL	124
7	Dave Bancroft	NY1	NL	121
7	Frankie Frisch	NY1	NL	121
9	Ken Williams	SLA	AL	115
10	Harry Heilmann	DET	AL	114

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Harry Heilmann	DET	AL	237
2	Jack Tobin	SLA	AL	236
3	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	NL	235
4	George Sisler	SLA	AL	216
5	Frankie Frisch	NY1	NL	211
5	Baby Doll Jacobson	SLA	AL	211
7	Bobby Veach	DET	AL	207
8	Carson Bigbee	PIT	NL	204
8	Babe Ruth	NYA	AL	204
10	Jimmy Johnston	BRO	NL	203

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Frankie Frisch	NY1	NL	49
2	Max Carey	PIT	NL	37
3	George Sisler	SLA	AL	35
4	Bucky Harris	WS1	AL	29
5	Jimmy Johnston	BRO	NL	28
6	Sam Bohne	CIN	NL	26
6	Sam Rice	WS1	AL	26
8	Rabbit Maranville	PIT	NL	25
9	Ty Cobb	DET	AL	22
9	Ernie Johnson	CHA	AL	22

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Babe Ruth	NYA	AL	251
2	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	NL	196
3	Ty Cobb	DET	AL	173
3	Harry Heilmann	DET	AL	173
5	Ken Williams	SLA	AL	158
6	Tris Speaker	CLE	AL	155
7	George Sisler	SLA	AL	152
8	Austin McHenry	SLN	NL	150
9	Jack Fournier	SLN	NL	148
10	Irish Meusel	PHI/NY1	NL	142

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Carl Mays	NYA	AL	27
1	Urban Shocker	SLA	AL	27
3	Red Faber	CHA	AL	25
4	Stan Coveleski	CLE	AL	23
4	Sad Sam Jones	BOS	AL	23
6	Wilbur Cooper	PIT	NL	22
6	Burleigh Grimes	BRO	NL	22
8	Art Nehf	NY1	NL	20
8	Joe Oeschger	BSN	NL	20
10	Waite Hoyt	NYA	AL	19

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Red Faber	CHA	AL	2.48
2	Bill Doak	SLN	NL	2.59
3	Babe Adams	PIT	NL	2.64
4	Whitey Glazner	PIT	NL	2.77
5	Eppa Rixey	CIN	NL	2.78
6	Burleigh Grimes	BRO	NL	2.83
7	Clarence Mitchell	BRO	NL	2.89
8	George Mogridge	WS1	AL	3.00
9	Carl Mays	NYA	AL	3.05
10	Waite Hoyt	NYA	AL	3.09

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Walter Johnson	WS1	AL	143
2	Burleigh Grimes	BRO	NL	136
3	Wilbur Cooper	PIT	NL	134
4	Urban Shocker	SLA	AL	132
5	Bob Shawkey	NYA	AL	126
6	Red Faber	CHA	AL	124
7	Dutch Leonard	DET	AL	120
8	Waite Hoyt	NYA	AL	102
8	Dolf Luque	CIN	NL	102
10	George Mogridge	WS1	AL	101

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Carl Mays	NYA	AL	7
1	Jim Middleton	DET	AL	7
1	Lou North	SLN	NL	7
4	Jesse Barnes	NY1	NL	6
5	Hugh McQuillan	BSN	NL	5
6	Jim Bagby	CLE	AL	4
6	Huck Betts	PHI	NL	4
6	Ray Caldwell	CLE	AL	4
6	Hal Carlson	PIT	NL	4
6	Carl Holling	DET	AL	4

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1921, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Red Faber	CHA	AL	173
2	Bill Doak	SLN	NL	146
3	Babe Adams	PIT	NL	143
3	George Mogridge	WS1	AL	143
5	Carl Mays	NYA	AL	140
6	Waite Hoyt	NYA	AL	138
7	Whitey Glazner	PIT	NL	136
7	Eppa Rixey	CIN	NL	136
9	Burleigh Grimes	BRO	NL	134
10	Sad Sam Jones	BOS	AL	133

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Harry Heilmann	DET	.394
2	Ty Cobb	DET	.389
3	Babe Ruth	NYA	.378
4	George Sisler	SLA	.371
5	Tris Speaker	CLE	.362
6	Baby Doll Jacobson	SLA	.352
6	Jack Tobin	SLA	.352
8	Ken Williams	SLA	.347
9	Bobby Veach	DET	.338
10	Eddie Collins	CHA	.337

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Babe Ruth	NYA	59
2	Bob Meusel	NYA	24
2	Ken Williams	SLA	24
4	Tillie Walker	PHA	23
5	Harry Heilmann	DET	19
6	Jimmy Dykes	PHA	16
6	Elmer Smith	CLE	16
6	Bobby Veach	DET	16
9	Ty Cobb	DET	12
9	Cy Perkins	PHA	12

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Babe Ruth	NYA	171
2	Harry Heilmann	DET	139
3	Bob Meusel	NYA	136
4	Bobby Veach	DET	128
5	Larry Gardner	CLE	120
6	Ken Williams	SLA	117
7	Del Pratt	BOS	104
7	George Sisler	SLA	104
9	Ty Cobb	DET	101
9	Tillie Walker	PHA	101

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Babe Ruth	NYA	177
2	Jack Tobin	SLA	132
3	Roger Peckinpaugh	NYA	128
4	George Sisler	SLA	125
5	Ty Cobb	DET	124
6	Ken Williams	SLA	115
7	Harry Heilmann	DET	114
8	Bobby Veach	DET	110
9	Tris Speaker	CLE	107
10	Bob Meusel	NYA	104

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Harry Heilmann	DET	237
2	Jack Tobin	SLA	236
3	George Sisler	SLA	216
4	Baby Doll Jacobson	SLA	211
5	Bobby Veach	DET	207
6	Babe Ruth	NYA	204
7	Whitey Witt	PHA	198
8	Ty Cobb	DET	197
9	Bob Meusel	NYA	190
9	Ken Williams	SLA	190

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	George Sisler	SLA	35
2	Bucky Harris	WS1	29
3	Sam Rice	WS1	26
4	Ty Cobb	DET	22
4	Ernie Johnson	CHA	22
6	Joe Judge	WS1	21
7	Ken Williams	SLA	20
8	Bob Meusel	NYA	17
8	Wally Pipp	NYA	17
8	Babe Ruth	NYA	17

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Babe Ruth	NYA	251
2	Ty Cobb	DET	173
2	Harry Heilmann	DET	173
4	Ken Williams	SLA	158
5	Tris Speaker	CLE	155
6	George Sisler	SLA	152
7	Bobby Veach	DET	138
8	Bob Meusel	NYA	137
9	Tillie Walker	PHA	132
10	Baby Doll Jacobson	SLA	131

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Carl Mays	NYA	27
1	Urban Shocker	SLA	27
3	Red Faber	CHA	25
4	Stan Coveleski	CLE	23
4	Sad Sam Jones	BOS	23
6	Waite Hoyt	NYA	19
6	Dickey Kerr	CHA	19
8	George Mogridge	WS1	18
8	Bob Shawkey	NYA	18
8	Tom Zachary	WS1	18

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Red Faber	CHA	2.48
2	George Mogridge	WS1	3.00
3	Carl Mays	NYA	3.05
4	Waite Hoyt	NYA	3.09
5	Sad Sam Jones	BOS	3.22
6	Stan Coveleski	CLE	3.37
7	Bullet Joe Bush	BOS	3.50
8	Walter Johnson	WS1	3.51
9	Urban Shocker	SLA	3.55
10	Eric Erickson	WS1	3.62

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Walter Johnson	WS1	143
2	Urban Shocker	SLA	132
3	Bob Shawkey	NYA	126
4	Red Faber	CHA	124
5	Dutch Leonard	DET	120
6	Waite Hoyt	NYA	102
7	George Mogridge	WS1	101
8	Dixie Davis	SLA	100
9	Stan Coveleski	CLE	99
10	Sad Sam Jones	BOS	98

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Carl Mays	NYA	7
1	Jim Middleton	DET	7
3	Jim Bagby	CLE	4
3	Ray Caldwell	CLE	4
3	Carl Holling	DET	4
3	Urban Shocker	SLA	4
7	Jose Acosta	WS1	3
7	Bill Bayne	SLA	3
7	Waite Hoyt	NYA	3
7	Eddie Rommel	PHA	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1921, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Red Faber	CHA	173
2	George Mogridge	WS1	143
3	Carl Mays	NYA	140
4	Waite Hoyt	NYA	138
5	Sad Sam Jones	BOS	133
6	Stan Coveleski	CLE	127
7	Bullet Joe Bush	BOS	122
7	Walter Johnson	WS1	122
9	Urban Shocker	SLA	120
10	Eric Erickson	WS1	118

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	.397
2	Austin McHenry	SLN	.350
3	Jack Fournier	SLN	.343
3	Irish Meusel	PHI/NY1	.343
5	Frankie Frisch	NY1	.341
6	Ross Youngs	NY1	.327
7	Jimmy Johnston	BRO	.325
8	Carson Bigbee	PIT	.323
9	Ray Grimes	CHN	.321
10	Zack Wheat	BRO	.320

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	George Kelly	NY1	23
2	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	21
3	Cy Williams	PHI	18
4	Austin McHenry	SLN	17
5	Jack Fournier	SLN	16
6	Irish Meusel	PHI/NY1	14
6	Zack Wheat	BRO	14
8	Tommy Griffith	BRO	12
8	Ray Powell	BSN	12
10	Ed Konetchy	BRO/PHI	11

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	126
2	George Kelly	NY1	122
3	Austin McHenry	SLN	102
3	Ross Youngs	NY1	102
5	Frankie Frisch	NY1	100
6	Irish Meusel	PHI/NY1	87
7	Jack Fournier	SLN	86
8	Zack Wheat	BRO	85
9	Tony Boeckel	BSN	84
9	Milt Stock	SLN	84

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	131
2	Dave Bancroft	NY1	121
2	Frankie Frisch	NY1	121
4	Ray Powell	BSN	114
5	George Burns	NY1	111
6	Jimmy Johnston	BRO	104
7	Jack Fournier	SLN	103
8	Carson Bigbee	PIT	100
9	Sam Bohne	CIN	98
10	Irish Meusel	PHI/NY1	96

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	235
2	Frankie Frisch	NY1	211
3	Carson Bigbee	PIT	204
4	Jimmy Johnston	BRO	203
5	Austin McHenry	SLN	201
5	Irish Meusel	PHI/NY1	201
7	Jack Fournier	SLN	197
8	Dave Bancroft	NY1	193
9	Ray Powell	BSN	191
10	Tony Boeckel	BSN	185

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Frankie Frisch	NY1	49
2	Max Carey	PIT	37
3	Jimmy Johnston	BRO	28
4	Sam Bohne	CIN	26
5	Rabbit Maranville	PIT	25
6	Billy Southworth	BSN	22
7	Carson Bigbee	PIT	21
7	Ross Youngs	NY1	21
9	Tony Boeckel	BSN	20
9	Jack Fournier	SLN	20

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Rogers Hornsby	SLN	196
2	Austin McHenry	SLN	150
3	Jack Fournier	SLN	148
4	Irish Meusel	PHI/NY1	142
5	George Kelly	NY1	138
6	Ross Youngs	NY1	137
7	Frankie Frisch	NY1	136
8	Ray Grimes	CHN	133
9	Zack Wheat	BRO	132
10	Cy Williams	PHI	128

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Wilbur Cooper	PIT	22
1	Burleigh Grimes	BRO	22
3	Art Nehf	NY1	20
3	Joe Oeschger	BSN	20
5	Eppa Rixey	CIN	19
6	Jesse Haines	SLN	18
6	Fred Toney	NY1	18
8	Dolf Luque	CIN	17
8	Rube Marquard	CIN	17
10	Pete Alexander	CHN	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Bill Doak	SLN	2.59
2	Babe Adams	PIT	2.64
3	Whitey Glazner	PIT	2.77
4	Eppa Rixey	CIN	2.78
5	Burleigh Grimes	BRO	2.83
6	Clarence Mitchell	BRO	2.89
7	Jesse Barnes	NY1	3.10
8	Wilbur Cooper	PIT	3.25
9	Earl Hamilton	PIT	3.36
10	Bill Pertica	SLN	3.37

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Burleigh Grimes	BRO	136
2	Wilbur Cooper	PIT	134
3	Dolf Luque	CIN	102
4	Hugh McQuillan	BSN	94
5	Whitey Glazner	PIT	88
5	Rube Marquard	CIN	88
5	Jimmy Ring	PHI	88
8	Speed Martin	CHN	86
9	Jesse Haines	SLN	84
10	Bill Doak	SLN	83

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Lou North	SLN	7
2	Jesse Barnes	NY1	6
3	Hugh McQuillan	BSN	5
4	Huck Betts	PHI	4
4	Hal Carlson	PIT	4
4	Sherry Smith	BRO	4
4	Jimmy Zinn	PIT	4
8	Buck Freeman	CHN	3
8	Dolf Luque	CIN	3
8	Rosy Ryan	NY1	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1921, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Bill Doak	SLN	146
2	Babe Adams	PIT	143
3	Whitey Glazner	PIT	136
3	Eppa Rixey	CIN	136
5	Burleigh Grimes	BRO	134
6	Clarence Mitchell	BRO	131
7	Jesse Barnes	NY1	122
8	Wilbur Cooper	PIT	116
9	Earl Hamilton	PIT	112
9	Dolf Luque	CIN	112

How the 1921 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

1915 league leaders 1916 league leaders 1917 league leaders 1918 league leaders 1919 league leaders 1920 league leaders 1922 league leaders 1923 league leaders 1924 league leaders 1925 league leaders 1926 league leaders 1927 league leaders

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