Who led MLB in home runs in 1940?

Johnny Mize led the majors with 43 in 1940 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1940?

Joe DiMaggio hit ..352, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1940 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1940?

Bob Feller led the majors with 27 wins in 1940 (AL).

1940 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19402 major leagues12 boards per league

Johnny Mize led the majors with 43 in 1940. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1940 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1939 leaders All seasons 1941 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	.352
2	Luke Appling	CHA	AL	.348
3	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	.344
4	Rip Radcliff	SLA	AL	.342
5	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	.340
5	Barney McCosky	DET	AL	.340
7	Taffy Wright	CHA	AL	.337
8	Cecil Travis	WS1	AL	.322
9	Lou Finney	BOS	AL	.320
10	Stan Hack	CHN	NL	.317

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	43
2	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	41
3	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	36
4	Rudy York	DET	AL	33
5	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	31
5	Bob Johnson	PHA	AL	31
7	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	30
8	Joe Kuhel	CHA	AL	27
9	Bill Nicholson	CHN	NL	25
9	Hal Trosky	CLE	AL	25

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	150
2	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	137
3	Rudy York	DET	AL	134
4	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	133
5	Frank McCormick	CIN	NL	127
6	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	119
7	Maurice Van Robays	PIT	NL	116
8	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	113
9	Joe Cronin	BOS	AL	111
10	Bobby Doerr	BOS	AL	105

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	134
2	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	129
3	Barney McCosky	DET	AL	123
4	Arky Vaughan	PIT	NL	113
5	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	112
6	Joe Kuhel	CHA	AL	111
6	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	111
8	George Case	WS1	AL	109
9	Charlie Gehringer	DET	AL	108
10	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	106

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Doc Cramer	BOS	AL	200
1	Barney McCosky	DET	AL	200
1	Rip Radcliff	SLA	AL	200
4	Luke Appling	CHA	AL	197
5	Taffy Wright	CHA	AL	196
6	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	195
7	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	193
8	George Case	WS1	AL	192
9	Stan Hack	CHN	NL	191
9	Frank McCormick	CIN	NL	191

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	George Case	WS1	AL	35
2	Lonny Frey	CIN	NL	22
3	Stan Hack	CHN	NL	21
3	Gee Walker	WS1	AL	21
5	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	18
5	Terry Moore	SLN	NL	18
7	Billy Werber	CIN	NL	16
8	Mike Kreevich	CHA	AL	15
8	Buddy Lewis	WS1	AL	15
10	Frankie Crosetti	NYA	AL	14

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Johnny Mize	SLN	NL	193
2	Hank Greenberg	DET	AL	191
3	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	178
4	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	175
5	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	AL	163
5	Rudy York	DET	AL	163
7	Dolph Camilli	BRO	NL	162
8	Bill Nicholson	CHN	NL	154
9	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	147
10	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	146

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	27
2	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	22
3	Bobo Newsom	DET	AL	21
4	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	20
4	Claude Passeau	CHN	NL	20
6	Al Milnar	CLE	AL	18
7	Sid Hudson	WS1	AL	17
8	Elden Auker	SLA	AL	16
8	Bill McGee	SLN	NL	16
8	Schoolboy Rowe	DET	AL	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	2.48
2	Claude Passeau	CHN	NL	2.50
3	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	2.61
4	Rip Sewell	PIT	NL	2.80
5	Bobo Newsom	DET	AL	2.83
6	Jim Turner	CIN	NL	2.89
7	Vern Olsen	CHN	NL	2.97
8	Paul Derringer	CIN	NL	3.06
8	Luke Hamlin	BRO	NL	3.06
10	Manny Salvo	BSN	NL	3.08

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	261
2	Bobo Newsom	DET	AL	164
3	Johnny Rigney	CHA	AL	141
4	Kirby Higbe	PHI	NL	137
5	Tommy Bridges	DET	AL	133
6	Ken Chase	WS1	AL	129
7	Dutch Leonard	WS1	AL	124
7	Claude Passeau	CHN	NL	124
7	Whit Wyatt	BRO	NL	124
10	Hal Schumacher	NY1	NL	123

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Al Benton	DET	AL	17
2	Clint Brown	CHA	AL	10
3	Johnny Murphy	NYA	AL	9
4	Joe Beggs	CIN	NL	7
4	Jumbo Brown	NY1	NL	7
4	Mace Brown	PIT	NL	7
7	Johnny Allen	CLE	AL	5
7	Pete Appleton	CHA	AL	5
7	Ed Heusser	PHA	AL	5
7	Claude Passeau	CHN	NL	5

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	168
2	Bobo Newsom	DET	AL	155
2	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	155
4	Claude Passeau	CHN	NL	154
5	Johnny Rigney	CHA	AL	141
6	Rip Sewell	PIT	NL	137
7	Ken Chase	WS1	AL	136
7	Eddie Smith	CHA	AL	136
9	Ted Lyons	CHA	AL	135
10	Al Milnar	CLE	AL	134

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	.352
2	Luke Appling	CHA	.348
3	Ted Williams	BOS	.344
4	Rip Radcliff	SLA	.342
5	Hank Greenberg	DET	.340
5	Barney McCosky	DET	.340
7	Taffy Wright	CHA	.337
8	Cecil Travis	WS1	.322
9	Lou Finney	BOS	.320
10	Buddy Lewis	WS1	.317

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Hank Greenberg	DET	41
2	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	36
3	Rudy York	DET	33
4	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	31
4	Bob Johnson	PHA	31
6	Joe Gordon	NYA	30
7	Joe Kuhel	CHA	27
8	Hal Trosky	CLE	25
9	Joe Cronin	BOS	24
9	Wally Judnich	SLA	24

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Hank Greenberg	DET	150
2	Rudy York	DET	134
3	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	133
4	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	119
5	Ted Williams	BOS	113
6	Joe Cronin	BOS	111
7	Bobby Doerr	BOS	105
8	Joe Gordon	NYA	103
8	Bob Johnson	PHA	103
10	Lou Boudreau	CLE	101

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Ted Williams	BOS	134
2	Hank Greenberg	DET	129
3	Barney McCosky	DET	123
4	Joe Gordon	NYA	112
5	Joe Kuhel	CHA	111
6	George Case	WS1	109
7	Charlie Gehringer	DET	108
8	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	106
9	Rudy York	DET	105
10	Joe Cronin	BOS	104

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Doc Cramer	BOS	200
1	Barney McCosky	DET	200
1	Rip Radcliff	SLA	200
4	Luke Appling	CHA	197
5	Taffy Wright	CHA	196
6	Hank Greenberg	DET	195
7	Ted Williams	BOS	193
8	George Case	WS1	192
9	Buddy Lewis	WS1	190
10	Rudy York	DET	186

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	George Case	WS1	35
2	Gee Walker	WS1	21
3	Joe Gordon	NYA	18
4	Mike Kreevich	CHA	15
4	Buddy Lewis	WS1	15
6	Frankie Crosetti	NYA	14
6	Jim Tabor	BOS	14
8	Ben Chapman	CLE	13
8	Barney McCosky	DET	13
10	Dick Bartell	DET	12

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Hank Greenberg	DET	191
2	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	178
3	Ted Williams	BOS	175
4	Jimmie Foxx	BOS	163
4	Rudy York	DET	163
6	Charlie Keller	NYA	145
7	Hal Trosky	CLE	144
8	Barney McCosky	DET	140
9	Charlie Gehringer	DET	135
9	Bob Johnson	PHA	135

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Bob Feller	CLE	27
2	Bobo Newsom	DET	21
3	Al Milnar	CLE	18
4	Sid Hudson	WS1	17
5	Elden Auker	SLA	16
5	Schoolboy Rowe	DET	16
7	Ken Chase	WS1	15
7	Red Ruffing	NYA	15
7	Al Smith	CLE	15
10	Johnny Babich	PHA	14

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Bob Feller	CLE	2.61
2	Bobo Newsom	DET	2.83
3	Johnny Rigney	CHA	3.11
4	Eddie Smith	CHA	3.21
5	Ken Chase	WS1	3.23
6	Ted Lyons	CHA	3.24
7	Al Milnar	CLE	3.27
8	Marius Russo	NYA	3.28
9	Tommy Bridges	DET	3.37
10	Red Ruffing	NYA	3.38

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Bob Feller	CLE	261
2	Bobo Newsom	DET	164
3	Johnny Rigney	CHA	141
4	Tommy Bridges	DET	133
5	Ken Chase	WS1	129
6	Dutch Leonard	WS1	124
7	Eddie Smith	CHA	119
8	Jack Wilson	BOS	102
9	Al Milnar	CLE	99
10	Red Ruffing	NYA	97

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Al Benton	DET	17
2	Clint Brown	CHA	10
3	Johnny Murphy	NYA	9
4	Johnny Allen	CLE	5
4	Pete Appleton	CHA	5
4	Ed Heusser	PHA	5
4	Jack Wilson	BOS	5
8	Harry Eisenstat	CLE	4
8	Bob Feller	CLE	4
8	Roxie Lawson	SLA	4

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1940, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Bob Feller	CLE	168
2	Bobo Newsom	DET	155
3	Johnny Rigney	CHA	141
4	Ken Chase	WS1	136
4	Eddie Smith	CHA	136
6	Ted Lyons	CHA	135
7	Al Milnar	CLE	134
7	Marius Russo	NYA	134
9	Tommy Bridges	DET	130
10	Red Ruffing	NYA	129

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Stan Hack	CHN	.317
2	Johnny Mize	SLN	.314
3	Jim Gleeson	CHN	.313
4	Frank McCormick	CIN	.309
5	Dixie Walker	BRO	.308
6	Enos Slaughter	SLN	.306
7	Bama Rowell	BSN	.305
8	Terry Moore	SLN	.304
9	Frank Demaree	NY1	.302
9	Hank Leiber	CHN	.302

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Johnny Mize	SLN	43
2	Bill Nicholson	CHN	25
3	Johnny Rizzo	PIT/CIN/PHI	24
4	Dolph Camilli	BRO	23
5	Frank McCormick	CIN	19
5	Mel Ott	NY1	19
7	Hank Leiber	CHN	17
7	Joe Medwick	SLN/BRO	17
7	Terry Moore	SLN	17
7	Chet Ross	BSN	17

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Johnny Mize	SLN	137
2	Frank McCormick	CIN	127
3	Maurice Van Robays	PIT	116
4	Elbie Fletcher	PIT	104
5	Babe Young	NY1	101
6	Bill Nicholson	CHN	98
7	Dolph Camilli	BRO	96
8	Arky Vaughan	PIT	95
9	Harry Danning	NY1	91
10	Chet Ross	BSN	89

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Arky Vaughan	PIT	113
2	Johnny Mize	SLN	111
3	Billy Werber	CIN	105
4	Lonny Frey	CIN	102
5	Stan Hack	CHN	101
6	Enos Slaughter	SLN	96
7	Elbie Fletcher	PIT	94
8	Frank McCormick	CIN	93
9	Dolph Camilli	BRO	92
9	Terry Moore	SLN	92

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Stan Hack	CHN	191
1	Frank McCormick	CIN	191
3	Johnny Mize	SLN	182
4	Arky Vaughan	PIT	178
5	Joe Medwick	SLN/BRO	175
6	Dixie Walker	BRO	171
7	Billy Herman	CHN	163
7	Terry Moore	SLN	163
9	Billy Werber	CIN	162
10	Bob Elliott	PIT	161

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Lonny Frey	CIN	22
2	Stan Hack	CHN	21
3	Terry Moore	SLN	18
4	Billy Werber	CIN	16
5	Bob Elliott	PIT	13
6	Bama Rowell	BSN	12
6	Arky Vaughan	PIT	12
8	Jimmy Brown	SLN	9
8	Dolph Camilli	BRO	9
8	Ival Goodman	CIN	9

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Johnny Mize	SLN	193
2	Dolph Camilli	BRO	162
3	Bill Nicholson	CHN	154
4	Enos Slaughter	SLN	147
5	Mel Ott	NY1	146
6	Elbie Fletcher	PIT	145
7	Jim Gleeson	CHN	144
8	Hank Leiber	CHN	142
9	Frank McCormick	CIN	141
9	Arky Vaughan	PIT	141

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	22
2	Paul Derringer	CIN	20
2	Claude Passeau	CHN	20
4	Bill McGee	SLN	16
4	Rip Sewell	PIT	16
4	Gene Thompson	CIN	16
4	Lon Warneke	SLN	16
8	Whit Wyatt	BRO	15
9	Larry French	CHN	14
9	Kirby Higbe	PHI	14

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	2.48
2	Claude Passeau	CHN	2.50
3	Rip Sewell	PIT	2.80
4	Jim Turner	CIN	2.89
5	Vern Olsen	CHN	2.97
6	Paul Derringer	CIN	3.06
6	Luke Hamlin	BRO	3.06
8	Manny Salvo	BSN	3.08
9	Lon Warneke	SLN	3.14
10	Dick Errickson	BSN	3.16

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Kirby Higbe	PHI	137
2	Claude Passeau	CHN	124
2	Whit Wyatt	BRO	124
4	Hal Schumacher	NY1	123
5	Paul Derringer	CIN	115
5	Bucky Walters	CIN	115
7	Larry French	CHN	107
8	Gene Thompson	CIN	103
9	Mort Cooper	SLN	95
10	Luke Hamlin	BRO	91

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Joe Beggs	CIN	7
1	Jumbo Brown	NY1	7
1	Mace Brown	PIT	7
4	Claude Passeau	CHN	5
4	Clyde Shoun	SLN	5
6	Mort Cooper	SLN	3
6	Curt Davis	SLN/BRO	3
6	Dick Errickson	BSN	3
6	Ken Heintzelman	PIT	3
6	Bob Klinger	PIT	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1940, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	155
2	Claude Passeau	CHN	154
3	Rip Sewell	PIT	137
4	Jim Turner	CIN	133
5	Vern Olsen	CHN	130
6	Paul Derringer	CIN	126
6	Luke Hamlin	BRO	126
8	Manny Salvo	BSN	125
9	Dick Errickson	BSN	122
9	Lon Warneke	SLN	122

How the 1940 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

1934 league leaders 1935 league leaders 1936 league leaders 1937 league leaders 1938 league leaders 1939 league leaders 1941 league leaders 1942 league leaders 1943 league leaders 1944 league leaders 1945 league leaders 1946 league leaders

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