Who led MLB in home runs in 1944?

Bill Nicholson led the majors with 33 in 1944 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1944?

Dixie Walker hit ..357, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1944 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1944?

Hal Newhouser led the majors with 29 wins in 1944 (AL).

1944 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19442 major leagues12 boards per league

Bill Nicholson led the majors with 33 in 1944. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1944 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1943 leaders All seasons 1945 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Dixie Walker	BRO	NL	.357
2	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	.347
3	Joe Medwick	NY1	NL	.337
4	Johnny Hopp	SLN	NL	.336
5	Lou Boudreau	CLE	AL	.327
6	Bobby Doerr	BOS	AL	.325
7	Bob Johnson	BOS	AL	.324
8	Phil Cavarretta	CHN	NL	.321
9	Snuffy Stirnweiss	NYA	AL	.319
10	Augie Galan	BRO	NL	.318

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Bill Nicholson	CHN	NL	33
2	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	26
3	Nick Etten	NYA	AL	22
3	Ron Northey	PHI	NL	22
5	Whitey Kurowski	SLN	NL	20
5	Frank McCormick	CIN	NL	20
5	Vern Stephens	SLA	AL	20
8	Johnny Lindell	NYA	AL	18
8	Stan Spence	WS1	AL	18
8	Rudy York	DET	AL	18

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Bill Nicholson	CHN	NL	122
2	Vern Stephens	SLA	AL	109
3	Bob Elliott	PIT	NL	108
4	Bob Johnson	BOS	AL	106
5	Ron Northey	PHI	NL	104
6	Johnny Lindell	NYA	AL	103
7	Frank McCormick	CIN	NL	102
7	Ray Sanders	SLN	NL	102
9	Babe Dahlgren	PIT	NL	101
10	Stan Spence	WS1	AL	100

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Snuffy Stirnweiss	NYA	AL	125
2	Bill Nicholson	CHN	NL	116
3	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	112
4	Jim Russell	PIT	NL	109
5	Phil Cavarretta	CHN	NL	106
5	Johnny Hopp	SLN	NL	106
5	Bob Johnson	BOS	AL	106
8	Johnny Barrett	PIT	NL	99
9	Roy Cullenbine	CLE	AL	98
10	Augie Galan	BRO	NL	96

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Snuffy Stirnweiss	NYA	AL	205
2	Phil Cavarretta	CHN	NL	197
2	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	197
4	Tommy Holmes	BSN	NL	195
5	Lou Boudreau	CLE	AL	191
5	Dixie Walker	BRO	NL	191
7	Stan Spence	WS1	AL	187
8	Jim Russell	PIT	NL	181
9	Johnny Lindell	NYA	AL	178
10	Johnny Hopp	SLN	NL	177

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Snuffy Stirnweiss	NYA	AL	55
2	George Case	WS1	AL	49
3	Johnny Barrett	PIT	NL	28
4	George Myatt	WS1	AL	26
5	Wally Moses	CHA	AL	21
6	Don Gutteridge	SLA	AL	20
7	Tony Lupien	PHI	NL	18
8	Roy Hughes	CHN	NL	16
9	Johnny Hopp	SLN	NL	15
10	Buddy Kerr	NY1	NL	14

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	186
2	Bob Johnson	BOS	AL	182
3	Mel Ott	NY1	NL	179
3	Dixie Walker	BRO	NL	179
5	Bobby Doerr	BOS	AL	172
6	Bill Nicholson	CHN	NL	170
7	Augie Galan	BRO	NL	167
8	Johnny Hopp	SLN	NL	161
9	Stan Spence	WS1	AL	158
10	Nick Etten	NYA	AL	155

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	29
2	Dizzy Trout	DET	AL	27
3	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	23
4	Mort Cooper	SLN	NL	22
5	Rip Sewell	PIT	NL	21
5	Bill Voiselle	NY1	NL	21
7	Nels Potter	SLA	AL	19
8	Tex Hughson	BOS	AL	18
8	Jim Tobin	BSN	NL	18
10	Hank Borowy	NYA	AL	17

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Dizzy Trout	DET	AL	2.12
2	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	2.22
3	Tex Hughson	BOS	AL	2.26
4	Johnny Niggeling	WS1	AL	2.32
5	Ed Heusser	CIN	NL	2.38
6	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	2.40
7	Mort Cooper	SLN	NL	2.46
8	Jack Kramer	SLA	AL	2.49
9	Steve Gromek	CLE	AL	2.56
10	Hank Borowy	NYA	AL	2.64

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	187
2	Bill Voiselle	NY1	NL	161
3	Dizzy Trout	DET	AL	144
4	Bobo Newsom	PHA	AL	142
5	Max Lanier	SLN	NL	141
6	Al Javery	BSN	NL	137
7	Ken Raffensberger	PHI	NL	136
8	Jack Kramer	SLA	AL	124
9	Johnny Niggeling	WS1	AL	121
10	Steve Gromek	CLE	AL	115

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Ace Adams	NY1	NL	13
2	Joe Berry	PHA	AL	12
2	George Caster	SLA	AL	12
2	Gordon Maltzberger	CHA	AL	12
5	Joe Heving	CLE	AL	10
6	Frank Barrett	BOS	AL	8
7	Tex Hughson	BOS	AL	5
7	Ed Klieman	CLE	AL	5
7	Xavier Rescigno	PIT	NL	5
7	Freddy Schmidt	SLN	NL	5

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1944, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Dizzy Trout	DET	AL	162
2	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	155
3	Ed Heusser	CIN	NL	152
3	Tex Hughson	BOS	AL	152
5	Bucky Walters	CIN	NL	150
6	Johnny Niggeling	WS1	AL	148
7	Mort Cooper	SLN	NL	147
8	Jack Kramer	SLA	AL	138
9	Ted Wilks	SLN	NL	137
10	Max Lanier	SLN	NL	136

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Lou Boudreau	CLE	.327
2	Bobby Doerr	BOS	.325
3	Bob Johnson	BOS	.324
4	Snuffy Stirnweiss	NYA	.319
5	Stan Spence	WS1	.316
6	Pete Fox	BOS	.315
7	Dick Siebert	PHA	.306
8	Johnny Lindell	NYA	.300
9	Bobby Estalella	PHA	.298
10	Pinky Higgins	DET	.297

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Nick Etten	NYA	22
2	Vern Stephens	SLA	20
3	Johnny Lindell	NYA	18
3	Stan Spence	WS1	18
3	Rudy York	DET	18
6	Bob Johnson	BOS	17
7	Roy Cullenbine	CLE	16
8	Bobby Doerr	BOS	15
9	Bud Metheny	NYA	14
10	Frankie Hayes	PHA	13

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Vern Stephens	SLA	109
2	Bob Johnson	BOS	106
3	Johnny Lindell	NYA	103
4	Stan Spence	WS1	100
5	Rudy York	DET	98
6	Nick Etten	NYA	91
6	Ken Keltner	CLE	91
8	Mark Christman	SLA	83
9	Bobby Doerr	BOS	81
10	Roy Cullenbine	CLE	80

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Snuffy Stirnweiss	NYA	125
2	Bob Johnson	BOS	106
3	Roy Cullenbine	CLE	98
4	Bobby Doerr	BOS	95
5	George Metkovich	BOS	94
6	Lou Boudreau	CLE	91
6	Johnny Lindell	NYA	91
6	Vern Stephens	SLA	91
9	Joe Kuhel	WS1	90
10	Don Gutteridge	SLA	89

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Snuffy Stirnweiss	NYA	205
2	Lou Boudreau	CLE	191
3	Stan Spence	WS1	187
4	Johnny Lindell	NYA	178
5	Mickey Rocco	CLE	174
6	Bob Johnson	BOS	170
7	Doc Cramer	DET	169
7	Ken Keltner	CLE	169
9	Nick Etten	NYA	168
10	Vern Stephens	SLA	164

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Snuffy Stirnweiss	NYA	55
2	George Case	WS1	49
3	George Myatt	WS1	26
4	Wally Moses	CHA	21
5	Don Gutteridge	SLA	20
6	George Metkovich	BOS	13
6	Thurman Tucker	CHA	13
8	Lou Boudreau	CLE	11
8	Joe Kuhel	WS1	11
10	Pete Fox	BOS	10

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Bob Johnson	BOS	182
2	Bobby Doerr	BOS	172
3	Stan Spence	WS1	158
4	Nick Etten	NYA	155
5	Johnny Lindell	NYA	150
5	Snuffy Stirnweiss	NYA	150
7	Lou Boudreau	CLE	149
8	Roy Cullenbine	CLE	143
8	Vern Stephens	SLA	143
10	Ken Keltner	CLE	141

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Hal Newhouser	DET	29
2	Dizzy Trout	DET	27
3	Nels Potter	SLA	19
4	Tex Hughson	BOS	18
5	Hank Borowy	NYA	17
5	Jack Kramer	SLA	17
7	Bill Dietrich	CHA	16
8	Russ Christopher	PHA	14
8	Orval Grove	CHA	14
8	Dutch Leonard	WS1	14

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Dizzy Trout	DET	2.12
2	Hal Newhouser	DET	2.22
3	Tex Hughson	BOS	2.26
4	Johnny Niggeling	WS1	2.32
5	Jack Kramer	SLA	2.49
6	Steve Gromek	CLE	2.56
7	Hank Borowy	NYA	2.64
8	Bobo Newsom	PHA	2.82
9	Nels Potter	SLA	2.83
10	Russ Christopher	PHA	2.97

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Hal Newhouser	DET	187
2	Dizzy Trout	DET	144
3	Bobo Newsom	PHA	142
4	Jack Kramer	SLA	124
5	Johnny Niggeling	WS1	121
6	Steve Gromek	CLE	115
7	Tex Hughson	BOS	112
8	Hank Borowy	NYA	107
9	Orval Grove	CHA	105
10	Nels Potter	SLA	91

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Joe Berry	PHA	12
1	George Caster	SLA	12
1	Gordon Maltzberger	CHA	12
4	Joe Heving	CLE	10
5	Frank Barrett	BOS	8
6	Tex Hughson	BOS	5
6	Ed Klieman	CLE	5
8	Johnny Gorsica	DET	4
9	Sig Jakucki	SLA	3
9	Bill LeFebvre	WS1	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1944, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Dizzy Trout	DET	162
2	Hal Newhouser	DET	155
3	Tex Hughson	BOS	152
4	Johnny Niggeling	WS1	148
5	Jack Kramer	SLA	138
6	Steve Gromek	CLE	134
7	Hank Borowy	NYA	130
8	Bobo Newsom	PHA	122
9	Nels Potter	SLA	121
10	Russ Christopher	PHA	116

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Dixie Walker	BRO	.357
2	Stan Musial	SLN	.347
3	Joe Medwick	NY1	.337
4	Johnny Hopp	SLN	.336
5	Phil Cavarretta	CHN	.321
6	Augie Galan	BRO	.318
7	Jim Russell	PIT	.312
8	Tommy Holmes	BSN	.309
9	Frank McCormick	CIN	.305
10	Eric Tipton	CIN	.301

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Bill Nicholson	CHN	33
2	Mel Ott	NY1	26
3	Ron Northey	PHI	22
4	Whitey Kurowski	SLN	20
4	Frank McCormick	CIN	20
6	Buster Adams	PHI	17
7	Butch Nieman	BSN	16
8	Danny Litwhiler	SLN	15
9	Tommy Holmes	BSN	13
9	Dixie Walker	BRO	13

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Bill Nicholson	CHN	122
2	Bob Elliott	PIT	108
3	Ron Northey	PHI	104
4	Frank McCormick	CIN	102
4	Ray Sanders	SLN	102
6	Babe Dahlgren	PIT	101
7	Stan Musial	SLN	94
8	Augie Galan	BRO	93
9	Dixie Walker	BRO	91
10	Whitey Kurowski	SLN	87

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Bill Nicholson	CHN	116
2	Stan Musial	SLN	112
3	Jim Russell	PIT	109
4	Phil Cavarretta	CHN	106
4	Johnny Hopp	SLN	106
6	Johnny Barrett	PIT	99
7	Augie Galan	BRO	96
8	Whitey Kurowski	SLN	95
9	Tommy Holmes	BSN	93
10	Mel Ott	NY1	91

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Phil Cavarretta	CHN	197
1	Stan Musial	SLN	197
3	Tommy Holmes	BSN	195
4	Dixie Walker	BRO	191
5	Jim Russell	PIT	181
6	Johnny Hopp	SLN	177
6	Frank McCormick	CIN	177
6	Ray Sanders	SLN	177
9	Augie Galan	BRO	174
10	Babe Dahlgren	PIT	173

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Johnny Barrett	PIT	28
2	Tony Lupien	PHI	18
3	Roy Hughes	CHN	16
4	Johnny Hopp	SLN	15
5	Buddy Kerr	NY1	14
6	Pete Coscarart	PIT	10
6	Luis Olmo	BRO	10
8	Bob Elliott	PIT	9
8	Eddie Miller	CIN	9
10	Don Johnson	CHN	8

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Stan Musial	SLN	186
2	Mel Ott	NY1	179
2	Dixie Walker	BRO	179
4	Bill Nicholson	CHN	170
5	Augie Galan	BRO	167
6	Johnny Hopp	SLN	161
7	Ron Northey	PHI	149
7	Jim Russell	PIT	149
9	Bob Elliott	PIT	146
9	Frank McCormick	CIN	146

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Bucky Walters	CIN	23
2	Mort Cooper	SLN	22
3	Rip Sewell	PIT	21
3	Bill Voiselle	NY1	21
5	Jim Tobin	BSN	18
6	Max Lanier	SLN	17
6	Ted Wilks	SLN	17
8	Nate Andrews	BSN	16
8	Harry Brecheen	SLN	16
8	Hank Wyse	CHN	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Ed Heusser	CIN	2.38
2	Bucky Walters	CIN	2.40
3	Mort Cooper	SLN	2.46
4	Ted Wilks	SLN	2.64
5	Max Lanier	SLN	2.65
6	Fritz Ostermueller	BRO/PIT	2.81
7	Harry Brecheen	SLN	2.85
8	Claude Passeau	CHN	2.89
9	Jim Tobin	BSN	3.01
10	Clyde Shoun	CIN	3.02

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Bill Voiselle	NY1	161
2	Max Lanier	SLN	141
3	Al Javery	BSN	137
4	Ken Raffensberger	PHI	136
5	Mort Cooper	SLN	97
5	Fritz Ostermueller	BRO/PIT	97
7	Hal Gregg	BRO	92
8	Rube Melton	BRO	91
9	Claude Passeau	CHN	89
10	Harry Brecheen	SLN	88

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Ace Adams	NY1	13
2	Xavier Rescigno	PIT	5
2	Freddy Schmidt	SLN	5
4	Arthur Cuccurullo	PIT	4
4	Curt Davis	BRO	4
6	Arnold Carter	CIN	3
6	Paul Derringer	CHN	3
6	Harry Gumbert	SLN/CIN	3
6	Al Javery	BSN	3
6	Claude Passeau	CHN	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1944, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Ed Heusser	CIN	152
2	Bucky Walters	CIN	150
3	Mort Cooper	SLN	147
4	Ted Wilks	SLN	137
5	Max Lanier	SLN	136
6	Fritz Ostermueller	BRO/PIT	128
7	Harry Brecheen	SLN	127
8	Claude Passeau	CHN	125
9	Clyde Shoun	CIN	120
9	Jim Tobin	BSN	120

How the 1944 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

1938 league leaders 1939 league leaders 1940 league leaders 1941 league leaders 1942 league leaders 1943 league leaders 1945 league leaders 1946 league leaders 1947 league leaders 1948 league leaders 1949 league leaders 1950 league leaders

All seasons, 1871-2025 Statcast leaderboards