Who led MLB in home runs in 1938?

Hank Greenberg led the majors with 58 in 1938 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1938?

Jimmie Foxx hit ..349, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1938 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1938?

Bill Lee led the majors with 22 wins in 1938 (NL).

1938 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19382 major leagues12 boards per league

Hank Greenberg led the majors with 58 in 1938. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1938 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1937 leaders All seasons 1939 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	.349
2	Jeff Heath	CLE	AL	.343
3	Ernie Lombardi	CIN	NL	.342
4	Ben Chapman	BOS	AL	.340
5	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	.337
6	Buddy Myer	WS1	AL	.336
7	Cecil Travis	WS1	AL	.335
8	Hal Trosky	CLE	AL	.334
9	Earl Averill	CLE	AL	.330
9	Rip Radcliff	CHA	AL	.330

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	58
2	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	50
3	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	36
4	Harlond Clift	SLA	AL	34
5	Rudy York	DET	AL	33
6	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	32
7	Ival Goodman	CIN	NL	30
7	Bob Johnson	PHA	AL	30
9	Lou Gehrig	NYA	AL	29
10	Bill Dickey	NYA	AL	27

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	175
2	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	146
3	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	140
4	Rudy York	DET	AL	127
5	Joe Medwick	SLN	NL	122
6	Harlond Clift	SLA	AL	118
7	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	116
8	Bill Dickey	NYA	AL	115
9	Zeke Bonura	WS1	AL	114
9	Lou Gehrig	NYA	AL	114

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	144
2	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	139
3	Charlie Gehringer	DET	AL	133
4	Red Rolfe	NYA	AL	132
5	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	129
6	Buddy Lewis	WS1	AL	122
7	Joe Vosmik	BOS	AL	121
8	Harlond Clift	SLA	AL	119
9	Doc Cramer	BOS	AL	116
9	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	116

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Frank McCormick	CIN	NL	209
2	Joe Vosmik	BOS	AL	201
3	Doc Cramer	BOS	AL	198
4	Mel Almada	WS1/SLA	AL	197
4	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	197
6	Red Rolfe	NYA	AL	196
7	Stan Hack	CHN	NL	195
7	George McQuinn	SLA	AL	195
9	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	194
9	Buddy Lewis	WS1	AL	194

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Frankie Crosetti	NYA	AL	27
2	Lyn Lary	CLE	AL	23
3	Billy Werber	PHA	AL	19
4	Buddy Lewis	WS1	AL	17
5	Pete Fox	DET	AL	16
5	Stan Hack	CHN	NL	16
7	Ernie Koy	BRO	NL	15
7	Cookie Lavagetto	BRO	NL	15
7	Wally Moses	PHA	AL	15
10	Charlie Gehringer	DET	AL	14

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	199
2	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	191
3	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	189
4	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	187
5	Ernie Lombardi	CIN	NL	158
6	Rudy York	DET	AL	156
7	Joe Medwick	SLN	NL	155
8	Ival Goodman	CIN	NL	154
9	Harlond Clift	SLA	AL	152
9	Bill Dickey	NYA	AL	152

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Bill Lee	CHN	NL	22
2	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	21
2	Red Ruffing	NYA	AL	21
4	Bobo Newsom	SLA	AL	20
5	Clay Bryant	CHN	NL	19
6	Lefty Gomez	NYA	AL	18
7	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	17
7	Mel Harder	CLE	AL	17
9	George Caster	PHA	AL	16
9	Monte Pearson	NYA	AL	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Bill Lee	CHN	NL	2.66
2	Charlie Root	CHN	NL	2.86
3	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	2.93
4	Danny MacFayden	BSN	NL	2.95
5	Bob Klinger	PIT	NL	2.99
6	Freddie Fitzsimmons	BRO	NL	3.02
7	Russ Bauers	PIT	NL	3.07
7	Carl Hubbell	NY1	NL	3.07
9	Lefty Grove	BOS	AL	3.08
10	Clay Bryant	CHN	NL	3.10

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	240
2	Bobo Newsom	SLA	AL	226
3	Clay Bryant	CHN	NL	135
4	Howard Mills	SLA	AL	134
5	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	132
6	Lefty Gomez	NYA	AL	129
7	Red Ruffing	NYA	AL	127
8	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	NL	125
9	Bill Lee	CHN	NL	121
10	Russ Bauers	PIT	NL	117

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Dick Coffman	NY1	NL	12
2	Johnny Murphy	NYA	AL	11
3	Charlie Root	CHN	NL	8
4	Dick Errickson	BSN	NL	6
4	Luke Hamlin	BRO	NL	6
4	Johnny Humphries	CLE	AL	6
4	Archie McKain	BOS	AL	6
8	Pete Appleton	WS1	AL	5
8	Jumbo Brown	NY1	NL	5
8	Mace Brown	PIT	NL	5

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Lefty Grove	BOS	AL	156
2	Red Ruffing	NYA	AL	145
3	Lefty Gomez	NYA	AL	143
4	Bill Lee	CHN	NL	142
5	Dutch Leonard	WS1	AL	140
6	Thornton Lee	CHA	AL	137
7	Johnny Rigney	CHA	AL	135
8	Bump Hadley	NYA	AL	133
9	Charlie Root	CHN	NL	132
10	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	129

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	.349
2	Jeff Heath	CLE	.343
3	Ben Chapman	BOS	.340
4	Buddy Myer	WS1	.336
5	Cecil Travis	WS1	.335
6	Hal Trosky	CLE	.334
7	Earl Averill	CLE	.330
7	Rip Radcliff	CHA	.330
9	Joe Cronin	BOS	.325
10	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	.324

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Hank Greenberg	DET	58
2	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	50
3	Harlond Clift	SLA	34
4	Rudy York	DET	33
5	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	32
6	Bob Johnson	PHA	30
7	Lou Gehrig	NYA	29
8	Bill Dickey	NYA	27
9	Ken Keltner	CLE	26
10	Joe Gordon	NYA	25

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	175
2	Hank Greenberg	DET	146
3	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	140
4	Rudy York	DET	127
5	Harlond Clift	SLA	118
6	Bill Dickey	NYA	115
7	Zeke Bonura	WS1	114
7	Lou Gehrig	NYA	114
9	Bob Johnson	PHA	113
9	Ken Keltner	CLE	113

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Hank Greenberg	DET	144
2	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	139
3	Charlie Gehringer	DET	133
4	Red Rolfe	NYA	132
5	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	129
6	Buddy Lewis	WS1	122
7	Joe Vosmik	BOS	121
8	Harlond Clift	SLA	119
9	Doc Cramer	BOS	116
10	Lou Gehrig	NYA	115

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Joe Vosmik	BOS	201
2	Doc Cramer	BOS	198
3	Mel Almada	WS1/SLA	197
3	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	197
5	Red Rolfe	NYA	196
6	George McQuinn	SLA	195
7	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	194
7	Buddy Lewis	WS1	194
9	Cecil Travis	WS1	190
10	Pete Fox	DET	186

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Frankie Crosetti	NYA	27
2	Lyn Lary	CLE	23
3	Billy Werber	PHA	19
4	Buddy Lewis	WS1	17
5	Pete Fox	DET	16
6	Wally Moses	PHA	15
7	Charlie Gehringer	DET	14
8	Mel Almada	WS1/SLA	13
8	Ben Chapman	BOS	13
8	Mike Kreevich	CHA	13

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	199
2	Hank Greenberg	DET	187
3	Rudy York	DET	156
4	Harlond Clift	SLA	152
4	Bill Dickey	NYA	152
4	Jeff Heath	CLE	152
7	Earl Averill	CLE	149
7	Joe Cronin	BOS	149
9	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	148
10	Bob Johnson	PHA	147

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Red Ruffing	NYA	21
2	Bobo Newsom	SLA	20
3	Lefty Gomez	NYA	18
4	Bob Feller	CLE	17
4	Mel Harder	CLE	17
6	George Caster	PHA	16
6	Monte Pearson	NYA	16
8	Jim Bagby	BOS	15
8	Wes Ferrell	WS1/NYA	15
8	Monty Stratton	CHA	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Lefty Grove	BOS	3.08
2	Red Ruffing	NYA	3.31
3	Lefty Gomez	NYA	3.35
4	Dutch Leonard	WS1	3.43
5	Thornton Lee	CHA	3.49
6	Johnny Rigney	CHA	3.56
7	Bump Hadley	NYA	3.60
8	Ted Lyons	CHA	3.70
9	Mel Harder	CLE	3.83
10	Monte Pearson	NYA	3.97

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Bob Feller	CLE	240
2	Bobo Newsom	SLA	226
3	Howard Mills	SLA	134
4	Lefty Gomez	NYA	129
5	Red Ruffing	NYA	127
6	Johnny Allen	CLE	112
6	George Caster	PHA	112
8	Mel Harder	CLE	102
9	Lefty Grove	BOS	99
10	Monte Pearson	NYA	98

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Johnny Murphy	NYA	11
2	Johnny Humphries	CLE	6
2	Archie McKain	BOS	6
4	Pete Appleton	WS1	5
4	Nels Potter	PHA	5
6	Harry Eisenstat	DET	4
6	Mel Harder	CLE	4
6	Eddie Smith	PHA	4
9	Ed Cole	SLA	3
9	Denny Galehouse	CLE	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1938, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Lefty Grove	BOS	156
2	Red Ruffing	NYA	145
3	Lefty Gomez	NYA	143
4	Dutch Leonard	WS1	140
5	Thornton Lee	CHA	137
6	Johnny Rigney	CHA	135
7	Bump Hadley	NYA	133
8	Ted Lyons	CHA	129
9	Mel Harder	CLE	125
10	Monte Pearson	NYA	121

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Ernie Lombardi	CIN	.342
2	Johnny Mize	SLN	.337
3	Frank McCormick	CIN	.327
4	Joe Medwick	SLN	.322
4	Arky Vaughan	PIT	.322
6	Stan Hack	CHN	.320
7	Lloyd Waner	PIT	.313
8	Mel Ott	NY1	.311
9	Jo-Jo Moore	NY1	.302
9	Carl Reynolds	CHN	.302

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Mel Ott	NY1	36
2	Ival Goodman	CIN	30
3	Johnny Mize	SLN	27
4	Dolph Camilli	BRO	24
5	Johnny Rizzo	PIT	23
6	Joe Medwick	SLN	21
7	Ernie Lombardi	CIN	19
8	Harry Craft	CIN	15
9	Vince DiMaggio	BSN	14
10	Ripper Collins	CHN	13

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Joe Medwick	SLN	122
2	Mel Ott	NY1	116
3	Johnny Rizzo	PIT	111
4	Frank McCormick	CIN	106
5	Johnny Mize	SLN	102
6	Dolph Camilli	BRO	100
7	Ernie Lombardi	CIN	95
8	Ival Goodman	CIN	92
9	Harry Craft	CIN	83
10	Cookie Lavagetto	BRO	79

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Mel Ott	NY1	116
2	Stan Hack	CHN	109
3	Dolph Camilli	BRO	106
4	Ival Goodman	CIN	103
5	Joe Medwick	SLN	100
6	Johnny Rizzo	PIT	97
7	Lee Handley	PIT	91
8	Frank McCormick	CIN	89
9	Arky Vaughan	PIT	88
10	Billy Herman	CHN	86

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Frank McCormick	CIN	209
2	Stan Hack	CHN	195
3	Lloyd Waner	PIT	194
4	Joe Medwick	SLN	190
5	Johnny Mize	SLN	179
6	Paul Waner	PIT	175
7	Arky Vaughan	PIT	174
8	Billy Herman	CHN	173
9	Ernie Lombardi	CIN	167
9	Johnny Rizzo	PIT	167

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Stan Hack	CHN	16
2	Ernie Koy	BRO	15
2	Cookie Lavagetto	BRO	15
4	Don Gutteridge	SLN	14
4	Arky Vaughan	PIT	14
6	Vince DiMaggio	BSN	11
7	Carl Reynolds	CHN	9
8	Hersh Martin	PHI	8
9	Lee Handley	PIT	7
9	Johnny Hudson	BRO	7

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Johnny Mize	SLN	191
2	Mel Ott	NY1	189
3	Ernie Lombardi	CIN	158
4	Joe Medwick	SLN	155
5	Ival Goodman	CIN	154
6	Arky Vaughan	PIT	150
7	Dolph Camilli	BRO	149
8	Johnny Rizzo	PIT	148
9	Stan Hack	CHN	140
10	Gus Suhr	PIT	134

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Bill Lee	CHN	22
2	Paul Derringer	CIN	21
3	Clay Bryant	CHN	19
4	Bob Weiland	SLN	16
5	Harry Gumbert	NY1	15
5	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	15
5	Bucky Walters	PHI/CIN	15
8	Danny MacFayden	BSN	14
8	Cliff Melton	NY1	14
8	Jim Tobin	PIT	14

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Bill Lee	CHN	2.66
2	Charlie Root	CHN	2.86
3	Paul Derringer	CIN	2.93
4	Danny MacFayden	BSN	2.95
5	Bob Klinger	PIT	2.99
6	Freddie Fitzsimmons	BRO	3.02
7	Russ Bauers	PIT	3.07
7	Carl Hubbell	NY1	3.07
9	Clay Bryant	CHN	3.10
10	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	3.12

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Clay Bryant	CHN	135
2	Paul Derringer	CIN	132
3	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	125
4	Bill Lee	CHN	121
5	Russ Bauers	PIT	117
5	Bob Weiland	SLN	117
7	Carl Hubbell	NY1	104
7	Bill McGee	SLN	104
9	Cliff Melton	NY1	101
10	Claude Passeau	PHI	100

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Dick Coffman	NY1	12
2	Charlie Root	CHN	8
3	Dick Errickson	BSN	6
3	Luke Hamlin	BRO	6
5	Jumbo Brown	NY1	5
5	Mace Brown	PIT	5
5	Bill McGee	SLN	5
8	Joe Cascarella	CIN	4
8	Ira Hutchinson	BSN	4
8	Bill Swift	PIT	4

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1938, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Bill Lee	CHN	142
2	Charlie Root	CHN	132
3	Paul Derringer	CIN	129
4	Danny MacFayden	BSN	128
5	Bob Klinger	PIT	126
6	Freddie Fitzsimmons	BRO	125
7	Russ Bauers	PIT	123
7	Carl Hubbell	NY1	123
9	Clay Bryant	CHN	122
10	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	121

How the 1938 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

1932 league leaders 1933 league leaders 1934 league leaders 1935 league leaders 1936 league leaders 1937 league leaders 1939 league leaders 1940 league leaders 1941 league leaders 1942 league leaders 1943 league leaders 1944 league leaders

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