Who led MLB in home runs in 1939?

Jimmie Foxx led the majors with 35 in 1939 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1939?

Joe DiMaggio hit ..381, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1939 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1939?

Bucky Walters led the majors with 27 wins in 1939 (NL).

1939 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19392 major leagues12 boards per league

Jimmie Foxx led the majors with 35 in 1939. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1939 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, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	.381
2	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	.360
3	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	.349
4	Bob Johnson	PHA	AL	.338
5	Hal Trosky	CLE	AL	.335
6	Charlie Keller	NYA	AL	.334
7	Frank McCormick	CIN	NL	.332
7	Joe Medwick	SLN	NL	.332
9	Red Rolfe	NYA	AL	.329
10	Paul Waner	PIT	NL	.328

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	35
2	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	33
3	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	31
4	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	30
5	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	28
5	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	28
7	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	27
8	Dolph Camilli	BRO	NL	26
9	Hal Trosky	CLE	AL	25
10	Bill Dickey	NYA	AL	24

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	145
2	Frank McCormick	CIN	NL	128
3	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	126
4	Joe Medwick	SLN	NL	117
5	Bob Johnson	PHA	AL	114
6	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	112
7	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	111
7	Gee Walker	CHA	AL	111
9	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	108
10	Joe Cronin	BOS	AL	107

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Red Rolfe	NYA	AL	139
2	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	131
3	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	130
4	Barney McCosky	DET	AL	120
5	Bob Johnson	PHA	AL	115
5	Billy Werber	CIN	NL	115
7	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	112
7	Stan Hack	CHN	NL	112
9	Billy Herman	CHN	NL	111
10	Doc Cramer	BOS	AL	110

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Red Rolfe	NYA	AL	213
2	Frank McCormick	CIN	NL	209
3	Joe Medwick	SLN	NL	201
4	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	197
5	George McQuinn	SLA	AL	195
6	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	193
7	Jimmy Brown	SLN	NL	192
8	Stan Hack	CHN	NL	191
8	Billy Herman	CHN	NL	191
8	Ken Keltner	CLE	AL	191

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	George Case	WS1	AL	51
2	Pete Fox	DET	AL	23
2	Mike Kreevich	CHA	AL	23
4	Barney McCosky	DET	AL	20
5	Ben Chapman	CLE	AL	18
5	Joe Kuhel	CHA	AL	18
7	Stan Hack	CHN	NL	17
7	Eric McNair	CHA	AL	17
7	Gee Walker	CHA	AL	17
10	Luke Appling	CHA	AL	16

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	202
2	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	195
3	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	192
4	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	184
5	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	173
6	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	172
7	Bob Johnson	PHA	AL	161
8	Hal Trosky	CLE	AL	160
9	Dolph Camilli	BRO	NL	158
10	George Selkirk	NYA	AL	155

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	27
2	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	25
3	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	24
4	Curt Davis	SLN	NL	22
5	Red Ruffing	NYA	AL	21
6	Luke Hamlin	BRO	NL	20
6	Dutch Leonard	WS1	AL	20
6	Bobo Newsom	SLA/DET	AL	20
9	Bill Lee	CHN	NL	19
10	Harry Gumbert	NY1	NL	18

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	2.29
2	Lefty Grove	BOS	AL	2.54
3	Bob Bowman	SLN	NL	2.60
4	Ted Lyons	CHA	AL	2.76
5	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	2.85
6	Hugh Casey	BRO	NL	2.93
6	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	2.93
6	Red Ruffing	NYA	AL	2.93
9	Milt Shoffner	BSN/CIN	NL	3.18
10	Mort Cooper	SLN	NL	3.25

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	246
2	Bobo Newsom	SLA/DET	AL	192
3	Claude Passeau	PHI/CHN	NL	137
3	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	137
5	Mort Cooper	SLN	NL	130
6	Tommy Bridges	DET	AL	129
7	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	128
8	Johnny Rigney	CHA	AL	119
9	Ken Chase	WS1	AL	118
10	Joe Krakauskas	WS1	AL	110

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Johnny Murphy	NYA	AL	19
2	Clint Brown	CHA	AL	18
3	Bob Bowman	SLN	NL	9
3	Clyde Shoun	SLN	NL	9
5	Jumbo Brown	NY1	NL	7
5	Mace Brown	PIT	NL	7
5	Curt Davis	SLN	NL	7
5	Chubby Dean	PHA	AL	7
5	Joe Heving	BOS	AL	7
10	Pete Appleton	WS1	AL	6

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Lefty Grove	BOS	AL	182
2	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	171
3	Ted Lyons	CHA	AL	167
4	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	162
5	Red Ruffing	NYA	AL	158
6	Bob Bowman	SLN	NL	150
7	Lefty Gomez	NYA	AL	135
8	Hugh Casey	BRO	NL	134
8	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	134
10	Tommy Bridges	DET	AL	132

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	.381
2	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	.360
3	Bob Johnson	PHA	.338
4	Hal Trosky	CLE	.335
5	Charlie Keller	NYA	.334
6	Red Rolfe	NYA	.329
7	Ted Williams	BOS	.327
8	Charlie Gehringer	DET	.325
8	Ken Keltner	CLE	.325
10	Eric McNair	CHA	.324

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	35
2	Hank Greenberg	DET	33
3	Ted Williams	BOS	31
4	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	30
5	Joe Gordon	NYA	28
6	Hal Trosky	CLE	25
7	Bill Dickey	NYA	24
8	Bob Johnson	PHA	23
9	George Selkirk	NYA	21
10	Frankie Hayes	PHA	20

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Ted Williams	BOS	145
2	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	126
3	Bob Johnson	PHA	114
4	Hank Greenberg	DET	112
5	Joe Gordon	NYA	111
5	Gee Walker	CHA	111
7	Joe Cronin	BOS	107
8	Bill Dickey	NYA	105
8	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	105
10	Hal Trosky	CLE	104

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Red Rolfe	NYA	139
2	Ted Williams	BOS	131
3	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	130
4	Barney McCosky	DET	120
5	Bob Johnson	PHA	115
6	Hank Greenberg	DET	112
7	Doc Cramer	BOS	110
8	Frankie Crosetti	NYA	109
9	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	108
10	Joe Kuhel	CHA	107

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Red Rolfe	NYA	213
2	George McQuinn	SLA	195
3	Ken Keltner	CLE	191
4	Barney McCosky	DET	190
5	Ted Williams	BOS	185
6	Bob Johnson	PHA	184
7	Doc Cramer	BOS	183
8	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	176
9	Mike Kreevich	CHA	175
10	Gee Walker	CHA	174

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	George Case	WS1	51
2	Pete Fox	DET	23
2	Mike Kreevich	CHA	23
4	Barney McCosky	DET	20
5	Ben Chapman	CLE	18
5	Joe Kuhel	CHA	18
7	Eric McNair	CHA	17
7	Gee Walker	CHA	17
9	Luke Appling	CHA	16
9	Jim Tabor	BOS	16

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	202
2	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	192
3	Ted Williams	BOS	173
4	Hank Greenberg	DET	172
5	Bob Johnson	PHA	161
6	Hal Trosky	CLE	160
7	George Selkirk	NYA	155
8	Charlie Gehringer	DET	154
9	Charlie Keller	NYA	150
10	Bill Dickey	NYA	140

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Bob Feller	CLE	24
2	Red Ruffing	NYA	21
3	Dutch Leonard	WS1	20
3	Bobo Newsom	SLA/DET	20
5	Tommy Bridges	DET	17
6	Lefty Grove	BOS	15
6	Mel Harder	CLE	15
6	Thornton Lee	CHA	15
6	Johnny Rigney	CHA	15
10	Ted Lyons	CHA	14

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Lefty Grove	BOS	2.54
2	Ted Lyons	CHA	2.76
3	Bob Feller	CLE	2.85
4	Red Ruffing	NYA	2.93
5	Lefty Gomez	NYA	3.41
6	Tommy Bridges	DET	3.50
6	Mel Harder	CLE	3.50
8	Dutch Leonard	WS1	3.54
9	Bobo Newsom	SLA/DET	3.58
10	Dizzy Trout	DET	3.61

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Bob Feller	CLE	246
2	Bobo Newsom	SLA/DET	192
3	Tommy Bridges	DET	129
4	Johnny Rigney	CHA	119
5	Ken Chase	WS1	118
6	Joe Krakauskas	WS1	110
7	Lefty Gomez	NYA	102
8	Red Ruffing	NYA	95
9	Dutch Leonard	WS1	88
10	Lefty Grove	BOS	81

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Johnny Murphy	NYA	19
2	Clint Brown	CHA	18
3	Chubby Dean	PHA	7
3	Joe Heving	BOS	7
5	Pete Appleton	WS1	6
6	Al Benton	DET	5
6	Emerson Dickman	BOS	5
8	Archie McKain	DET	4
8	Fritz Ostermueller	BOS	4
10	Willis Hudlin	CLE	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1939, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Lefty Grove	BOS	182
2	Ted Lyons	CHA	167
3	Bob Feller	CLE	162
4	Red Ruffing	NYA	158
5	Lefty Gomez	NYA	135
6	Tommy Bridges	DET	132
6	Mel Harder	CLE	132
8	Dutch Leonard	WS1	130
9	Bobo Newsom	SLA/DET	129
10	Dizzy Trout	DET	128

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Johnny Mize	SLN	.349
2	Frank McCormick	CIN	.332
2	Joe Medwick	SLN	.332
4	Paul Waner	PIT	.328
5	Morrie Arnovich	PHI	.324
6	Ival Goodman	CIN	.323
7	Zeke Bonura	NY1	.321
8	Enos Slaughter	SLN	.320
9	Harry Danning	NY1	.313
10	Buddy Hassett	BSN	.308

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Johnny Mize	SLN	28
2	Mel Ott	NY1	27
3	Dolph Camilli	BRO	26
4	Ernie Lombardi	CIN	20
5	Max West	BSN	19
6	Frank McCormick	CIN	18
7	Harry Danning	NY1	16
8	Joe Medwick	SLN	14
9	Harry Craft	CIN	13
10	Elbie Fletcher	BSN/PIT	12

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Frank McCormick	CIN	128
2	Joe Medwick	SLN	117
3	Johnny Mize	SLN	108
4	Dolph Camilli	BRO	104
5	Cookie Lavagetto	BRO	87
6	Enos Slaughter	SLN	86
7	Zeke Bonura	NY1	85
7	Ernie Lombardi	CIN	85
9	Ival Goodman	CIN	84
10	Max West	BSN	82

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Billy Werber	CIN	115
2	Stan Hack	CHN	112
3	Billy Herman	CHN	111
4	Dolph Camilli	BRO	105
5	Augie Galan	CHN	104
5	Johnny Mize	SLN	104
7	Frank McCormick	CIN	99
8	Joe Medwick	SLN	98
9	Lonny Frey	CIN	95
9	Enos Slaughter	SLN	95

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Frank McCormick	CIN	209
2	Joe Medwick	SLN	201
3	Johnny Mize	SLN	197
4	Enos Slaughter	SLN	193
5	Jimmy Brown	SLN	192
6	Stan Hack	CHN	191
6	Billy Herman	CHN	191
8	Buddy Hassett	BSN	182
8	Arky Vaughan	PIT	182
10	Cookie Lavagetto	BRO	176

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Stan Hack	CHN	17
2	Billy Werber	CIN	15
3	Cookie Lavagetto	BRO	14
4	Buddy Hassett	BSN	13
5	Arky Vaughan	PIT	12
6	Billy Herman	CHN	9
7	Augie Galan	CHN	8
8	Morrie Arnovich	PHI	7
9	Joe Medwick	SLN	6
10	Harry Craft	CIN	5

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Johnny Mize	SLN	195
2	Mel Ott	NY1	184
3	Dolph Camilli	BRO	158
4	Ival Goodman	CIN	153
5	Joe Medwick	SLN	144
6	Frank McCormick	CIN	140
7	Zeke Bonura	NY1	139
8	Max West	BSN	137
9	Enos Slaughter	SLN	135
10	Lonny Frey	CIN	133

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	27
2	Paul Derringer	CIN	25
3	Curt Davis	SLN	22
4	Luke Hamlin	BRO	20
5	Bill Lee	CHN	19
6	Harry Gumbert	NY1	18
7	Hugh Casey	BRO	15
7	Larry French	CHN	15
7	Claude Passeau	PHI/CHN	15
7	Bill Posedel	BSN	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	2.29
2	Bob Bowman	SLN	2.60
3	Hugh Casey	BRO	2.93
3	Paul Derringer	CIN	2.93
5	Milt Shoffner	BSN/CIN	3.18
6	Mort Cooper	SLN	3.25
7	Claude Passeau	PHI/CHN	3.28
8	Larry French	CHN	3.29
9	Mace Brown	PIT	3.37
10	Bill Lee	CHN	3.44

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Claude Passeau	PHI/CHN	137
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	137
3	Mort Cooper	SLN	130
4	Paul Derringer	CIN	128
5	Bill Lee	CHN	105
6	Larry French	CHN	98
7	Kirby Higbe	CHN/PHI	95
7	Cliff Melton	NY1	95
9	Luke Hamlin	BRO	88
10	Vito Tamulis	BRO	83

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Bob Bowman	SLN	9
1	Clyde Shoun	SLN	9
3	Jumbo Brown	NY1	7
3	Mace Brown	PIT	7
3	Curt Davis	SLN	7
6	Cliff Melton	NY1	5
7	Mort Cooper	SLN	4
7	Johnny Lanning	BSN	4
7	Hugh Mulcahy	PHI	4
7	Charlie Root	CHN	4

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1939, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	171
2	Bob Bowman	SLN	150
3	Hugh Casey	BRO	134
3	Paul Derringer	CIN	134
5	Milt Shoffner	BSN/CIN	123
6	Mort Cooper	SLN	121
7	Larry French	CHN	119
7	Claude Passeau	PHI/CHN	119
9	Mace Brown	PIT	116
10	Bill Lee	CHN	114

How the 1939 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

1933 league leaders 1934 league leaders 1935 league leaders 1936 league leaders 1937 league leaders 1938 league leaders 1940 league leaders 1941 league leaders 1942 league leaders 1943 league leaders 1944 league leaders 1945 league leaders

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