Who led MLB in home runs in 1948?

Ralph Kiner led the majors with 40 in 1948 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1948?

Stan Musial hit ..376, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1948 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1948?

Johnny Sain led the majors with 24 wins in 1948 (NL).

1948 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19482 major leagues12 boards per league

Ralph Kiner led the majors with 40 in 1948. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1948 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1947 leaders All seasons 1949 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	.376
2	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	.369
3	Lou Boudreau	CLE	AL	.355
4	Dale Mitchell	CLE	AL	.336
5	Richie Ashburn	PHI	NL	.333
6	Al Zarilla	SLA	AL	.329
7	Barney McCosky	PHA	AL	.326
8	Tommy Holmes	BSN	NL	.325
9	Al Dark	BSN	NL	.322
10	Bob Dillinger	SLA	AL	.321

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Ralph Kiner	PIT	NL	40
1	Johnny Mize	NY1	NL	40
3	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	39
3	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	39
5	Hank Sauer	CIN	NL	35
6	Joe Gordon	CLE	AL	32
7	Ken Keltner	CLE	AL	31
8	Del Ennis	PHI	NL	30
8	Sid Gordon	NY1	NL	30
10	Vern Stephens	BOS	AL	29

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	155
2	Vern Stephens	BOS	AL	137
3	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	131
4	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	127
5	Johnny Mize	NY1	NL	125
6	Joe Gordon	CLE	AL	124
7	Ralph Kiner	PIT	NL	123
8	Hank Majeski	PHA	AL	120
9	Ken Keltner	CLE	AL	119
10	Bobby Doerr	BOS	AL	111

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Tommy Henrich	NYA	AL	138
2	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	135
3	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	AL	127
4	Johnny Pesky	BOS	AL	124
4	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	124
6	Whitey Lockman	NY1	NL	117
7	Lou Boudreau	CLE	AL	116
8	Vern Stephens	BOS	AL	114
9	Bob Dillinger	SLA	AL	110
9	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	110

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	230
2	Bob Dillinger	SLA	AL	207
3	Dale Mitchell	CLE	AL	204
4	Lou Boudreau	CLE	AL	199
5	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	190
5	Tommy Holmes	BSN	NL	190
7	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	188
8	Stan Rojek	PIT	NL	186
9	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	AL	185
10	Hank Majeski	PHA	AL	183

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Richie Ashburn	PHI	NL	32
2	Bob Dillinger	SLA	AL	28
3	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	NL	25
4	Stan Rojek	PIT	NL	24
5	Gil Coan	WS1	AL	23
6	Jackie Robinson	BRO	NL	22
7	Earl Torgeson	BSN	NL	19
8	Mickey Vernon	WS1	AL	15
9	Dale Mitchell	CLE	AL	13
10	Tony Lupien	CHA	AL	11

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	219
2	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	203
3	Lou Boudreau	CLE	AL	170
3	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	AL	170
5	Johnny Mize	NY1	NL	166
6	Sid Gordon	NY1	NL	158
7	Tommy Henrich	NYA	AL	157
7	Ralph Kiner	PIT	NL	157
9	Bob Elliott	BSN	NL	151
10	Ken Keltner	CLE	AL	150

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Johnny Sain	BSN	NL	24
2	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	21
3	Gene Bearden	CLE	AL	20
3	Harry Brecheen	SLN	NL	20
3	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	20
6	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	19
6	Vic Raschi	NYA	AL	19
8	Larry Jansen	NY1	NL	18
8	Jack Kramer	BOS	AL	18
8	Johnny Schmitz	CHN	NL	18

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Harry Brecheen	SLN	NL	2.24
2	Gene Bearden	CLE	AL	2.43
3	Dutch Leonard	PHI	NL	2.51
4	Johnny Sain	BSN	NL	2.60
5	Preacher Roe	BRO	NL	2.63
6	Johnny Schmitz	CHN	NL	2.64
7	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	2.82
7	Ray Scarborough	WS1	AL	2.82
9	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	3.01
10	Rex Barney	BRO	NL	3.10

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Bob Feller	CLE	AL	164
2	Harry Brecheen	SLN	NL	149
3	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	147
4	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	143
5	Rex Barney	BRO	NL	138
6	Johnny Sain	BSN	NL	137
7	Lou Brissie	PHA	AL	127
8	Larry Jansen	NY1	NL	126
9	Vic Raschi	NYA	AL	124
10	Virgil Trucks	DET	AL	123

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Russ Christopher	CLE	AL	17
1	Harry Gumbert	CIN	NL	17
3	Joe Page	NYA	AL	16
4	Ted Wilks	SLN	NL	13
5	Tom Ferrick	WS1	AL	10
5	Kirby Higbe	PIT	NL	10
5	Art Houtteman	DET	AL	10
8	Howie Judson	CHA	AL	8
9	Hank Behrman	BRO	NL	7
9	Ken Trinkle	NY1	NL	7

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1948, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Gene Bearden	CLE	AL	177
1	Harry Brecheen	SLN	NL	177
3	Dutch Leonard	PHI	NL	157
4	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	152
4	Johnny Sain	BSN	NL	152
4	Ray Scarborough	WS1	AL	152
7	Preacher Roe	BRO	NL	150
7	Johnny Schmitz	CHN	NL	150
9	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	143
10	Mel Parnell	BOS	AL	137

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Ted Williams	BOS	.369
2	Lou Boudreau	CLE	.355
3	Dale Mitchell	CLE	.336
4	Al Zarilla	SLA	.329
5	Barney McCosky	PHA	.326
6	Bob Dillinger	SLA	.321
7	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	.320
8	Luke Appling	CHA	.314
8	Hoot Evers	DET	.314
10	Billy Goodman	BOS	.310

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	39
2	Joe Gordon	CLE	32
3	Ken Keltner	CLE	31
4	Vern Stephens	BOS	29
5	Bobby Doerr	BOS	27
6	Tommy Henrich	NYA	25
6	Ted Williams	BOS	25
8	Pat Mullin	DET	23
9	Lou Boudreau	CLE	18
10	Eddie Joost	PHA	16

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	155
2	Vern Stephens	BOS	137
3	Ted Williams	BOS	127
4	Joe Gordon	CLE	124
5	Hank Majeski	PHA	120
6	Ken Keltner	CLE	119
7	Bobby Doerr	BOS	111
8	Lou Boudreau	CLE	106
9	Hoot Evers	DET	103
10	Tommy Henrich	NYA	100

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Tommy Henrich	NYA	138
2	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	127
3	Johnny Pesky	BOS	124
3	Ted Williams	BOS	124
5	Lou Boudreau	CLE	116
6	Vern Stephens	BOS	114
7	Bob Dillinger	SLA	110
7	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	110
9	Eddie Joost	PHA	99
10	Joe Gordon	CLE	96

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Bob Dillinger	SLA	207
2	Dale Mitchell	CLE	204
3	Lou Boudreau	CLE	199
4	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	190
5	Ted Williams	BOS	188
6	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	185
7	Hank Majeski	PHA	183
8	Tommy Henrich	NYA	181
9	Al Zarilla	SLA	174
10	Vern Stephens	BOS	171

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Bob Dillinger	SLA	28
2	Gil Coan	WS1	23
3	Mickey Vernon	WS1	15
4	Dale Mitchell	CLE	13
5	Tony Lupien	CHA	11
5	Al Zarilla	SLA	11
7	Luke Appling	CHA	10
7	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	10
7	Ferris Fain	PHA	10
10	Larry Doby	CLE	9

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Ted Williams	BOS	203
2	Lou Boudreau	CLE	170
2	Joe DiMaggio	NYA	170
4	Tommy Henrich	NYA	157
5	Ken Keltner	CLE	150
6	Bobby Doerr	BOS	143
7	Pat Mullin	DET	142
8	Joe Gordon	CLE	139
9	Larry Doby	CLE	138
9	Al Zarilla	SLA	138

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Hal Newhouser	DET	21
2	Gene Bearden	CLE	20
2	Bob Lemon	CLE	20
4	Bob Feller	CLE	19
4	Vic Raschi	NYA	19
6	Jack Kramer	BOS	18
7	Eddie Lopat	NYA	17
8	Joe Dobson	BOS	16
8	Allie Reynolds	NYA	16
10	Dick Fowler	PHA	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Gene Bearden	CLE	2.43
2	Bob Lemon	CLE	2.82
2	Ray Scarborough	WS1	2.82
4	Hal Newhouser	DET	3.01
5	Mel Parnell	BOS	3.14
6	Ned Garver	SLA	3.41
7	Dizzy Trout	DET	3.43
8	Sam Zoldak	SLA/CLE	3.44
9	Joe Dobson	BOS	3.56
9	Bob Feller	CLE	3.56

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Bob Feller	CLE	164
2	Bob Lemon	CLE	147
3	Hal Newhouser	DET	143
4	Lou Brissie	PHA	127
5	Vic Raschi	NYA	124
6	Virgil Trucks	DET	123
7	Joe Dobson	BOS	116
8	Cliff Fannin	SLA	102
9	Allie Reynolds	NYA	101
10	Fred Hutchinson	DET	92

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Russ Christopher	CLE	17
2	Joe Page	NYA	16
3	Tom Ferrick	WS1	10
3	Art Houtteman	DET	10
5	Howie Judson	CHA	8
6	Lou Brissie	PHA	5
6	Ned Garver	SLA	5
6	Bubba Harris	PHA	5
6	Earl Johnson	BOS	5
6	Bob Savage	PHA	5

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1948, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Gene Bearden	CLE	177
2	Bob Lemon	CLE	152
2	Ray Scarborough	WS1	152
4	Hal Newhouser	DET	143
5	Mel Parnell	BOS	137
6	Ned Garver	SLA	126
7	Dizzy Trout	DET	125
7	Sam Zoldak	SLA/CLE	125
9	Joe Dobson	BOS	121
10	Bob Feller	CLE	120

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Stan Musial	SLN	.376
2	Richie Ashburn	PHI	.333
3	Tommy Holmes	BSN	.325
4	Al Dark	BSN	.322
5	Enos Slaughter	SLN	.321
6	Andy Pafko	CHN	.312
7	Sid Gordon	NY1	.299
8	Jackie Robinson	BRO	.296
9	Eddie Waitkus	CHN	.295
10	Del Ennis	PHI	.290

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Ralph Kiner	PIT	40
1	Johnny Mize	NY1	40
3	Stan Musial	SLN	39
4	Hank Sauer	CIN	35
5	Del Ennis	PHI	30
5	Sid Gordon	NY1	30
7	Andy Pafko	CHN	26
8	Bob Elliott	BSN	23
9	Bill Nicholson	CHN	19
10	Whitey Lockman	NY1	18

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Stan Musial	SLN	131
2	Johnny Mize	NY1	125
3	Ralph Kiner	PIT	123
4	Sid Gordon	NY1	107
5	Andy Pafko	CHN	101
6	Bob Elliott	BSN	100
7	Hank Sauer	CIN	97
8	Del Ennis	PHI	95
9	Enos Slaughter	SLN	90
10	Willard Marshall	NY1	86

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Stan Musial	SLN	135
2	Whitey Lockman	NY1	117
3	Johnny Mize	NY1	110
4	Jackie Robinson	BRO	108
5	Ralph Kiner	PIT	104
6	Sid Gordon	NY1	100
7	Bob Elliott	BSN	99
8	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	96
9	Enos Slaughter	SLN	91
10	Eddie Waitkus	CHN	87

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Stan Musial	SLN	230
2	Tommy Holmes	BSN	190
3	Stan Rojek	PIT	186
4	Enos Slaughter	SLN	176
5	Al Dark	BSN	175
6	Del Ennis	PHI	171
6	Andy Pafko	CHN	171
8	Jackie Robinson	BRO	170
9	Whitey Lockman	NY1	167
10	Eddie Waitkus	CHN	166

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Richie Ashburn	PHI	32
2	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	25
3	Stan Rojek	PIT	24
4	Jackie Robinson	BRO	22
5	Earl Torgeson	BSN	19
6	Eddie Waitkus	CHN	11
7	Danny Murtaugh	PIT	10
8	Buddy Kerr	NY1	9
9	Sid Gordon	NY1	8
9	Hal Jeffcoat	CHN	8

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Stan Musial	SLN	219
2	Johnny Mize	NY1	166
3	Sid Gordon	NY1	158
4	Ralph Kiner	PIT	157
5	Bob Elliott	BSN	151
6	Andy Pafko	CHN	148
7	Enos Slaughter	SLN	146
8	Del Ennis	PHI	141
9	Hank Sauer	CIN	134
10	Jackie Robinson	BRO	129

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Johnny Sain	BSN	24
2	Harry Brecheen	SLN	20
3	Larry Jansen	NY1	18
3	Johnny Schmitz	CHN	18
5	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	17
6	Sheldon Jones	NY1	16
7	Rex Barney	BRO	15
7	Warren Spahn	BSN	15
9	Ralph Branca	BRO	14
9	Bob Chesnes	PIT	14

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Harry Brecheen	SLN	2.24
2	Dutch Leonard	PHI	2.51
3	Johnny Sain	BSN	2.60
4	Preacher Roe	BRO	2.63
5	Johnny Schmitz	CHN	2.64
6	Rex Barney	BRO	3.10
7	Sheldon Jones	NY1	3.35
8	Kirby Higbe	PIT	3.36
9	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	3.41
10	Elmer Riddle	PIT	3.49

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Harry Brecheen	SLN	149
2	Rex Barney	BRO	138
3	Johnny Sain	BSN	137
4	Larry Jansen	NY1	126
5	Ralph Branca	BRO	122
6	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	120
7	Warren Spahn	BSN	114
8	Murry Dickson	SLN	113
9	Johnny Schmitz	CHN	100
10	Dutch Leonard	PHI	92

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Harry Gumbert	CIN	17
2	Ted Wilks	SLN	13
3	Kirby Higbe	PIT	10
4	Hank Behrman	BRO	7
4	Ken Trinkle	NY1	7
6	Sheldon Jones	NY1	5
7	Bob Chipman	CHN	4
7	Monk Dubiel	PHI	4
7	Vic Lombardi	PIT	4
7	Clyde Shoun	BSN	4

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1948, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Harry Brecheen	SLN	177
2	Dutch Leonard	PHI	157
3	Johnny Sain	BSN	152
4	Preacher Roe	BRO	150
4	Johnny Schmitz	CHN	150
6	Rex Barney	BRO	127
7	Kirby Higbe	PIT	118
7	Sheldon Jones	NY1	118
9	Johnny Vander Meer	CIN	116
10	Ralph Branca	BRO	113

How the 1948 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

1942 league leaders 1943 league leaders 1944 league leaders 1945 league leaders 1946 league leaders 1947 league leaders 1949 league leaders 1950 league leaders 1951 league leaders 1952 league leaders 1953 league leaders 1954 league leaders

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