Who led MLB in home runs in 1942?

Ted Williams led the majors with 36 in 1942 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1942?

Ted Williams hit ..356, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1942 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1942?

Mort Cooper led the majors with 22 wins in 1942 (NL).

1942 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19422 major leagues12 boards per league

Ted Williams led the majors with 36 in 1942. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1942 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1941 leaders All seasons 1943 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	.356
2	Johnny Pesky	BOS	AL	.331
3	Stan Spence	WS1	AL	.323
4	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	.322
5	George Case	WS1	AL	.320
6	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	.318
7	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	.315
8	Wally Judnich	SLA	AL	.313
9	Pete Reiser	BRO	NL	.310
10	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	.305

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	36
2	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	30
3	Chet Laabs	SLA	AL	27
4	Dolph Camilli	BRO	NL	26
4	Charlie Keller	NYA	AL	26
4	Johnny Mize	NY1	NL	26
7	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	21
7	Bill Nicholson	CHN	NL	21
7	Rudy York	DET	AL	21
10	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	18

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	137
2	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	114
3	Johnny Mize	NY1	NL	110
4	Dolph Camilli	BRO	NL	109
5	Charlie Keller	NYA	AL	108
6	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	103
7	Bobby Doerr	BOS	AL	102
8	Chet Laabs	SLA	AL	99
9	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	98
10	Joe Medwick	BRO	NL	96

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	141
2	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	123
3	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	118
4	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	AL	110
5	Harlond Clift	SLA	AL	108
6	Charlie Keller	NYA	AL	106
7	Johnny Pesky	BOS	AL	105
8	George Case	WS1	AL	101
9	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	100
10	Johnny Mize	NY1	NL	97

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Johnny Pesky	BOS	AL	205
2	Stan Spence	WS1	AL	203
3	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	188
4	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	186
4	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	186
6	Ken Keltner	CLE	AL	179
7	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	AL	178
8	Barney McCosky	DET	AL	176
9	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	173
9	Bill Nicholson	CHN	NL	173

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	George Case	WS1	AL	44
2	Mickey Vernon	WS1	AL	25
3	Phil Rizzuto	NYA	AL	22
4	Pete Reiser	BRO	NL	20
5	Luke Appling	CHA	AL	17
6	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	AL	16
6	Don Gutteridge	SLA	AL	16
6	Don Kolloway	CHA	AL	16
6	Wally Moses	CHA	AL	16
10	Nanny Fernandez	BSN	NL	15

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	233
2	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	175
3	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	173
4	Johnny Mize	NY1	NL	171
5	Charlie Keller	NYA	AL	170
6	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	168
7	Wally Judnich	SLA	AL	165
8	Joe Gordon	NYA	AL	162
9	Bill Nicholson	CHN	NL	159
10	Chet Laabs	SLA	AL	155

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Mort Cooper	SLN	NL	22
1	Tex Hughson	BOS	AL	22
3	Johnny Beazley	SLN	NL	21
3	Tiny Bonham	NYA	AL	21
5	Claude Passeau	CHN	NL	19
5	Whit Wyatt	BRO	NL	19
7	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	NL	18
8	Jim Bagby	CLE	AL	17
8	Phil Marchildon	PHA	AL	17
8	Rip Sewell	PIT	NL	17

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Mort Cooper	SLN	NL	1.78
2	Ted Lyons	CHA	AL	2.10
3	Johnny Beazley	SLN	NL	2.13
4	Tiny Bonham	NYA	AL	2.27
5	Curt Davis	BRO	NL	2.36
6	Spud Chandler	NYA	AL	2.38
7	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	NL	2.43
8	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	2.45
9	Bill Lohrman	SLN/NY1	NL	2.48
10	Hank Borowy	NYA	AL	2.52

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	NL	186
2	Mort Cooper	SLN	NL	152
3	Kirby Higbe	BRO	NL	115
4	Tex Hughson	BOS	AL	113
4	Bobo Newsom	WS1	AL	113
6	Al Benton	DET	AL	110
6	Phil Marchildon	PHA	AL	110
8	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	109
9	Rube Melton	PHI	NL	107
9	Johnny Niggeling	SLA	AL	107

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Hugh Casey	BRO	NL	13
2	Ace Adams	NY1	NL	11
2	Johnny Murphy	NYA	AL	11
4	Joe Beggs	CIN	NL	8
5	Mace Brown	BOS	AL	6
5	Joe Haynes	CHA	AL	6
5	Johnny Sain	BSN	NL	6
8	George Caster	SLA	AL	5
8	Harry Gumbert	SLN	NL	5
8	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	5

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1942, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Mort Cooper	SLN	NL	186
2	Ted Lyons	CHA	AL	174
3	Tiny Bonham	NYA	AL	161
4	Johnny Beazley	SLN	NL	155
5	Spud Chandler	NYA	AL	154
6	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	149
7	Hank Borowy	NYA	AL	145
8	Tex Hughson	BOS	AL	141
9	Curt Davis	BRO	NL	140
10	Johnny Niggeling	SLA	AL	137

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Ted Williams	BOS	.356
2	Johnny Pesky	BOS	.331
3	Stan Spence	WS1	.323
4	Joe Gordon	NYA	.322
5	George Case	WS1	.320
6	Wally Judnich	SLA	.313
7	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	.305
8	Vern Stephens	SLA	.294
9	Barney McCosky	DET	.293
10	Les Fleming	CLE	.292

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Ted Williams	BOS	36
2	Chet Laabs	SLA	27
3	Charlie Keller	NYA	26
4	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	21
4	Rudy York	DET	21
6	Joe Gordon	NYA	18
7	Wally Judnich	SLA	17
8	Bobby Doerr	BOS	15
9	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	14
9	Les Fleming	CLE	14

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Ted Williams	BOS	137
2	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	114
3	Charlie Keller	NYA	108
4	Joe Gordon	NYA	103
5	Bobby Doerr	BOS	102
6	Chet Laabs	SLA	99
7	Vern Stephens	SLA	92
8	Rudy York	DET	90
9	Mickey Vernon	WS1	86
10	Les Fleming	CLE	82

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Ted Williams	BOS	141
2	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	123
3	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	110
4	Harlond Clift	SLA	108
5	Charlie Keller	NYA	106
6	Johnny Pesky	BOS	105
7	George Case	WS1	101
8	Stan Spence	WS1	94
9	Don Gutteridge	SLA	90
9	Chet Laabs	SLA	90

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Johnny Pesky	BOS	205
2	Stan Spence	WS1	203
3	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	186
3	Ted Williams	BOS	186
5	Ken Keltner	CLE	179
6	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	178
7	Barney McCosky	DET	176
8	Joe Gordon	NYA	173
9	Vern Stephens	SLA	169
10	Mickey Vernon	WS1	168

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	George Case	WS1	44
2	Mickey Vernon	WS1	25
3	Phil Rizzuto	NYA	22
4	Luke Appling	CHA	17
5	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	16
5	Don Gutteridge	SLA	16
5	Don Kolloway	CHA	16
5	Wally Moses	CHA	16
9	Charlie Keller	NYA	14
10	Elmer Valo	PHA	13

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Ted Williams	BOS	233
2	Charlie Keller	NYA	170
3	Wally Judnich	SLA	165
4	Joe Gordon	NYA	162
5	Chet Laabs	SLA	155
6	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	154
7	Les Fleming	CLE	146
8	Bob Johnson	PHA	143
9	Bobby Doerr	BOS	140
10	Stan Spence	WS1	138

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Tex Hughson	BOS	22
2	Tiny Bonham	NYA	21
3	Jim Bagby	CLE	17
3	Phil Marchildon	PHA	17
5	Spud Chandler	NYA	16
6	Hank Borowy	NYA	15
6	Johnny Niggeling	SLA	15
8	Elden Auker	SLA	14
8	Ted Lyons	CHA	14
8	Red Ruffing	NYA	14

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Ted Lyons	CHA	2.10
2	Tiny Bonham	NYA	2.27
3	Spud Chandler	NYA	2.38
4	Hal Newhouser	DET	2.45
5	Hank Borowy	NYA	2.52
6	Tex Hughson	BOS	2.59
7	Johnny Niggeling	SLA	2.66
8	Johnny Humphries	CHA	2.68
9	Tommy Bridges	DET	2.74
9	Virgil Trucks	DET	2.74

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Tex Hughson	BOS	113
1	Bobo Newsom	WS1	113
3	Al Benton	DET	110
3	Phil Marchildon	PHA	110
5	Johnny Niggeling	SLA	107
6	Hal Newhouser	DET	103
7	Tommy Bridges	DET	97
8	Roger Wolff	PHA	94
9	Hal White	DET	93
10	Dizzy Trout	DET	91

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Johnny Murphy	NYA	11
2	Mace Brown	BOS	6
2	Joe Haynes	CHA	6
4	George Caster	SLA	5
4	Hal Newhouser	DET	5
6	Alex Carrasquel	WS1	4
6	Johnny Gorsica	DET	4
6	Al Hollingsworth	SLA	4
6	Tex Hughson	BOS	4
10	Tom Ferrick	CLE	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1942, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Ted Lyons	CHA	174
2	Tiny Bonham	NYA	161
3	Spud Chandler	NYA	154
4	Hal Newhouser	DET	149
5	Hank Borowy	NYA	145
6	Tex Hughson	BOS	141
7	Johnny Niggeling	SLA	137
8	Johnny Humphries	CHA	136
9	Virgil Trucks	DET	134
10	Tommy Bridges	DET	133

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Enos Slaughter	SLN	.318
2	Stan Musial	SLN	.315
3	Pete Reiser	BRO	.310
4	Johnny Mize	NY1	.305
5	Stan Hack	CHN	.300
5	Joe Medwick	BRO	.300
5	Lou Novikoff	CHN	.300
8	Bob Elliott	PIT	.296
9	Mel Ott	NY1	.295
10	Bill Nicholson	CHN	.294

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Mel Ott	NY1	30
2	Dolph Camilli	BRO	26
2	Johnny Mize	NY1	26
4	Bill Nicholson	CHN	21
5	Max West	BSN	16
6	Vince DiMaggio	PIT	15
7	Frank McCormick	CIN	13
7	Enos Slaughter	SLN	13
9	Stan Musial	SLN	10
9	Pete Reiser	BRO	10

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Johnny Mize	NY1	110
2	Dolph Camilli	BRO	109
3	Enos Slaughter	SLN	98
4	Joe Medwick	BRO	96
5	Mel Ott	NY1	93
6	Bob Elliott	PIT	89
6	Frank McCormick	CIN	89
8	Bill Nicholson	CHN	78
9	Vince DiMaggio	PIT	75
10	Stan Musial	SLN	72

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Mel Ott	NY1	118
2	Enos Slaughter	SLN	100
3	Johnny Mize	NY1	97
4	Stan Hack	CHN	91
5	Dolph Camilli	BRO	89
5	Pete Reiser	BRO	89
7	Stan Musial	SLN	87
7	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	87
9	Elbie Fletcher	PIT	86
10	Bill Nicholson	CHN	83

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Enos Slaughter	SLN	188
2	Bill Nicholson	CHN	173
3	Bob Elliott	PIT	166
3	Stan Hack	CHN	166
3	Joe Medwick	BRO	166
6	Johnny Mize	NY1	165
7	Mel Ott	NY1	162
8	Danny Litwhiler	PHI	160
9	Frank McCormick	CIN	156
10	Jimmy Brown	SLN	155

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Pete Reiser	BRO	20
2	Nanny Fernandez	BSN	15
2	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	15
4	Lennie Merullo	CHN	14
5	Danny Murtaugh	PHI	13
6	Eddie Miller	BSN	11
7	Dolph Camilli	BRO	10
7	Vince DiMaggio	PIT	10
7	Terry Moore	SLN	10
7	Mickey Owen	BRO	10

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Mel Ott	NY1	175
2	Enos Slaughter	SLN	173
3	Johnny Mize	NY1	171
4	Stan Musial	SLN	168
5	Bill Nicholson	CHN	159
6	Dolph Camilli	BRO	154
7	Pete Reiser	BRO	153
8	Elbie Fletcher	PIT	146
9	Stan Hack	CHN	145
10	Bob Elliott	PIT	134

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Mort Cooper	SLN	22
2	Johnny Beazley	SLN	21
3	Claude Passeau	CHN	19
3	Whit Wyatt	BRO	19
5	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	18
6	Rip Sewell	PIT	17
7	Kirby Higbe	BRO	16
8	Curt Davis	BRO	15
8	Ray Starr	CIN	15
8	Bucky Walters	CIN	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Mort Cooper	SLN	1.78
2	Johnny Beazley	SLN	2.13
3	Curt Davis	BRO	2.36
4	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	2.43
5	Bill Lohrman	SLN/NY1	2.48
6	Bucky Walters	CIN	2.66
7	Ray Starr	CIN	2.67
8	Claude Passeau	CHN	2.68
9	Lon Warneke	SLN/CHN	2.73
9	Whit Wyatt	BRO	2.73

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	186
2	Mort Cooper	SLN	152
3	Kirby Higbe	BRO	115
4	Bucky Walters	CIN	109
5	Rube Melton	PHI	107
6	Whit Wyatt	BRO	104
7	Max Lanier	SLN	93
8	Johnny Beazley	SLN	91
9	Claude Passeau	CHN	89
10	Al Javery	BSN	85

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Hugh Casey	BRO	13
2	Ace Adams	NY1	11
3	Joe Beggs	CIN	8
4	Johnny Sain	BSN	6
5	Harry Gumbert	SLN	5
6	Ed Head	BRO	4
6	Rube Melton	PHI	4
8	Johnny Allen	BRO	3
8	Johnny Beazley	SLN	3
8	Lloyd Dietz	PIT	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1942, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Mort Cooper	SLN	186
2	Johnny Beazley	SLN	155
3	Curt Davis	BRO	140
4	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	136
5	Bill Lohrman	SLN/NY1	134
6	Ray Starr	CIN	124
6	Bucky Walters	CIN	124
8	Claude Passeau	CHN	123
9	Lon Warneke	SLN/CHN	121
9	Whit Wyatt	BRO	121

How the 1942 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

1936 league leaders 1937 league leaders 1938 league leaders 1939 league leaders 1940 league leaders 1941 league leaders 1943 league leaders 1944 league leaders 1945 league leaders 1946 league leaders 1947 league leaders 1948 league leaders

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