Who led MLB in home runs in 1949?

Ralph Kiner led the majors with 54 in 1949 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1949?

George Kell hit ..343, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1949 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1949?

Mel Parnell led the majors with 25 wins in 1949 (AL).

1949 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19492 major leagues12 boards per league

Ralph Kiner led the majors with 54 in 1949. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1949 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1948 leaders All seasons 1950 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	George Kell	DET	AL	.343
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	.343
3	Jackie Robinson	BRO	NL	.342
4	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	.338
5	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	.336
6	Bob Dillinger	SLA	AL	.324
7	Carl Furillo	BRO	NL	.322
8	Dale Mitchell	CLE	AL	.317
9	Ralph Kiner	PIT	NL	.310
10	Bobby Doerr	BOS	AL	.309

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Ralph Kiner	PIT	NL	54
2	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	43
3	Vern Stephens	BOS	AL	39
4	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	36
5	Hank Sauer	CIN/CHN	NL	31
6	Bobby Thomson	NY1	NL	27
7	Sid Gordon	NY1	NL	26
8	Del Ennis	PHI	NL	25
9	Sam Chapman	PHA	AL	24
9	Larry Doby	CLE	AL	24

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Vern Stephens	BOS	AL	159
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	159
3	Vic Wertz	DET	AL	133
4	Ralph Kiner	PIT	NL	127
5	Jackie Robinson	BRO	NL	124
6	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	123
7	Gil Hodges	BRO	NL	115
8	Del Ennis	PHI	NL	110
9	Bobby Doerr	BOS	AL	109
9	Bobby Thomson	NY1	NL	109

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	150
2	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	NL	132
3	Eddie Joost	PHA	AL	128
3	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	128
5	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	AL	126
6	Jackie Robinson	BRO	NL	122
7	Ralph Kiner	PIT	NL	116
8	Vern Stephens	BOS	AL	113
9	Johnny Pesky	BOS	AL	111
10	Phil Rizzuto	NYA	AL	110

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	207
2	Dale Mitchell	CLE	AL	203
2	Jackie Robinson	BRO	NL	203
4	Bobby Thomson	NY1	NL	198
5	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	194
6	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	191
7	Red Schoendienst	SLN	NL	190
8	Richie Ashburn	PHI	NL	188
9	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	AL	186
9	Whitey Lockman	NY1	NL	186

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Jackie Robinson	BRO	NL	37
2	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	NL	26
3	Bob Dillinger	SLA	AL	20
4	Phil Rizzuto	NYA	AL	18
5	Elmer Valo	PHA	AL	14
6	Dave Philley	CHA	AL	13
7	Whitey Lockman	NY1	NL	12
7	Duke Snider	BRO	NL	12
9	Larry Doby	CLE	AL	10
9	Gil Hodges	BRO	NL	10

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	210
2	Ralph Kiner	PIT	NL	198
3	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	192
4	Jackie Robinson	BRO	NL	165
5	Tommy Henrich	NYA	AL	157
6	Enos Slaughter	SLN	NL	156
7	Vern Stephens	BOS	AL	153
8	Sid Gordon	NY1	NL	151
9	Del Ennis	PHI	NL	145
10	George Kell	DET	AL	144

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Mel Parnell	BOS	AL	25
2	Ellis Kinder	BOS	AL	23
3	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	22
4	Vic Raschi	NYA	AL	21
4	Warren Spahn	BSN	NL	21
6	Alex Kellner	PHA	AL	20
6	Howie Pollet	SLN	NL	20
8	Virgil Trucks	DET	AL	19
9	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	18
9	Ken Raffensberger	CIN	NL	18

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Mike Garcia	CLE	AL	2.36
2	Dave Koslo	NY1	NL	2.50
3	Gerry Staley	SLN	NL	2.73
4	Mel Parnell	BOS	AL	2.77
4	Howie Pollet	SLN	NL	2.77
6	Preacher Roe	BRO	NL	2.79
7	Virgil Trucks	DET	AL	2.81
8	Fred Hutchinson	DET	AL	2.96
9	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	2.99
10	Ken Heintzelman	PHI	NL	3.02

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Virgil Trucks	DET	AL	153
2	Warren Spahn	BSN	NL	151
3	Don Newcombe	BRO	NL	149
4	Hal Newhouser	DET	AL	144
5	Ellis Kinder	BOS	AL	138
5	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	138
7	Tommy Byrne	NYA	AL	129
8	Vic Raschi	NYA	AL	124
9	Mel Parnell	BOS	AL	122
10	Lou Brissie	PHA	AL	118

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Joe Page	NYA	AL	27
2	Al Benton	CLE	AL	10
3	Ted Wilks	SLN	NL	9
4	Jim Konstanty	PHI	NL	7
4	Nels Potter	BSN	NL	7
6	Tom Ferrick	SLA	AL	6
6	Erv Palica	BRO	NL	6
6	Gerry Staley	SLN	NL	6
9	Harry Gumbert	CIN/PIT	NL	5
9	Bob Muncrief	PIT/CHN	NL	5

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1949, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Mike Garcia	CLE	AL	178
2	Dave Koslo	NY1	NL	161
3	Mel Parnell	BOS	AL	151
4	Virgil Trucks	DET	AL	149
5	Gerry Staley	SLN	NL	148
6	Howie Pollet	SLN	NL	146
7	Preacher Roe	BRO	NL	145
8	Fred Hutchinson	DET	AL	142
9	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	140
10	Ken Heintzelman	PHI	NL	134

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	George Kell	DET	.343
1	Ted Williams	BOS	.343
3	Bob Dillinger	SLA	.324
4	Dale Mitchell	CLE	.317
5	Bobby Doerr	BOS	.309
6	Cass Michaels	CHA	.308
7	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	.307
8	Johnny Pesky	BOS	.306
8	Roy Sievers	SLA	.306
10	Vic Wertz	DET	.304

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Ted Williams	BOS	43
2	Vern Stephens	BOS	39
3	Sam Chapman	PHA	24
3	Larry Doby	CLE	24
3	Jack Graham	SLA	24
3	Tommy Henrich	NYA	24
7	Eddie Joost	PHA	23
7	Dick Kokos	SLA	23
9	Joe Gordon	CLE	20
9	Vic Wertz	DET	20

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Vern Stephens	BOS	159
1	Ted Williams	BOS	159
3	Vic Wertz	DET	133
4	Bobby Doerr	BOS	109
5	Sam Chapman	PHA	108
6	Roy Sievers	SLA	91
7	Larry Doby	CLE	85
7	Tommy Henrich	NYA	85
7	Elmer Valo	PHA	85
10	Joe Gordon	CLE	84

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Ted Williams	BOS	150
2	Eddie Joost	PHA	128
3	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	126
4	Vern Stephens	BOS	113
5	Johnny Pesky	BOS	111
6	Phil Rizzuto	NYA	110
7	Larry Doby	CLE	106
8	George Kell	DET	97
9	Vic Wertz	DET	96
10	Bobby Doerr	BOS	91

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Dale Mitchell	CLE	203
2	Ted Williams	BOS	194
3	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	186
4	Johnny Pesky	BOS	185
4	Vic Wertz	DET	185
6	George Kell	DET	179
7	Vern Stephens	BOS	177
8	Bob Dillinger	SLA	176
9	Cass Michaels	CHA	173
10	Dave Philley	CHA	171

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Bob Dillinger	SLA	20
2	Phil Rizzuto	NYA	18
3	Elmer Valo	PHA	14
4	Dave Philley	CHA	13
5	Larry Doby	CLE	10
5	Dale Mitchell	CLE	10
7	Dom DiMaggio	BOS	9
7	Mickey Vernon	CLE	9
9	Jerry Coleman	NYA	8
9	Ferris Fain	PHA	8

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Ted Williams	BOS	210
2	Tommy Henrich	NYA	157
3	Vern Stephens	BOS	153
4	George Kell	DET	144
5	Bobby Doerr	BOS	142
6	Eddie Joost	PHA	141
7	Roy Sievers	SLA	137
8	Larry Doby	CLE	134
9	Vic Wertz	DET	132
10	Cass Michaels	CHA	129

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Mel Parnell	BOS	25
2	Ellis Kinder	BOS	23
3	Bob Lemon	CLE	22
4	Vic Raschi	NYA	21
5	Alex Kellner	PHA	20
6	Virgil Trucks	DET	19
7	Hal Newhouser	DET	18
8	Allie Reynolds	NYA	17
9	Lou Brissie	PHA	16
10	Tommy Byrne	NYA	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Mike Garcia	CLE	2.36
2	Mel Parnell	BOS	2.77
3	Virgil Trucks	DET	2.81
4	Fred Hutchinson	DET	2.96
5	Bob Lemon	CLE	2.99
6	Eddie Lopat	NYA	3.26
7	Bill Wight	CHA	3.31
8	Vic Raschi	NYA	3.34
9	Ellis Kinder	BOS	3.36
9	Hal Newhouser	DET	3.36

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Virgil Trucks	DET	153
2	Hal Newhouser	DET	144
3	Ellis Kinder	BOS	138
3	Bob Lemon	CLE	138
5	Tommy Byrne	NYA	129
6	Vic Raschi	NYA	124
7	Mel Parnell	BOS	122
8	Lou Brissie	PHA	118
9	Joe Coleman	PHA	109
10	Bob Feller	CLE	108

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Joe Page	NYA	27
2	Al Benton	CLE	10
3	Tom Ferrick	SLA	6
4	Satchel Paige	CLE	5
5	Ellis Kinder	BOS	4
5	Walt Masterson	WS1/BOS	4
5	Marino Pieretti	CHA	4
5	Max Surkont	CHA	4
5	Virgil Trucks	DET	4
10	Lou Brissie	PHA	3

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1949, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Mike Garcia	CLE	178
2	Mel Parnell	BOS	151
3	Virgil Trucks	DET	149
4	Fred Hutchinson	DET	142
5	Bob Lemon	CLE	140
6	Eddie Lopat	NYA	129
7	Bill Wight	CHA	127
8	Vic Raschi	NYA	126
9	Ellis Kinder	BOS	125
9	Hal Newhouser	DET	125

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Jackie Robinson	BRO	.342
2	Stan Musial	SLN	.338
3	Enos Slaughter	SLN	.336
4	Carl Furillo	BRO	.322
5	Ralph Kiner	PIT	.310
6	Ted Kluszewski	CIN	.309
6	Bobby Thomson	NY1	.309
8	Willard Marshall	NY1	.307
9	Del Ennis	PHI	.302
10	Whitey Lockman	NY1	.301

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Ralph Kiner	PIT	54
2	Stan Musial	SLN	36
3	Hank Sauer	CIN/CHN	31
4	Bobby Thomson	NY1	27
5	Sid Gordon	NY1	26
6	Del Ennis	PHI	25
7	Gil Hodges	BRO	23
7	Duke Snider	BRO	23
7	Wally Westlake	PIT	23
10	Roy Campanella	BRO	22

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Ralph Kiner	PIT	127
2	Jackie Robinson	BRO	124
3	Stan Musial	SLN	123
4	Gil Hodges	BRO	115
5	Del Ennis	PHI	110
6	Bobby Thomson	NY1	109
7	Carl Furillo	BRO	106
8	Wally Westlake	PIT	104
9	Hank Sauer	CIN/CHN	99
10	Enos Slaughter	SLN	96

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	132
2	Stan Musial	SLN	128
3	Jackie Robinson	BRO	122
4	Ralph Kiner	PIT	116
5	Red Schoendienst	SLN	102
6	Duke Snider	BRO	100
7	Bobby Thomson	NY1	99
8	Whitey Lockman	NY1	97
9	Carl Furillo	BRO	95
10	Gil Hodges	BRO	94

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Stan Musial	SLN	207
2	Jackie Robinson	BRO	203
3	Bobby Thomson	NY1	198
4	Enos Slaughter	SLN	191
5	Red Schoendienst	SLN	190
6	Richie Ashburn	PHI	188
7	Whitey Lockman	NY1	186
8	Del Ennis	PHI	184
9	Carl Furillo	BRO	177
10	Granny Hamner	PHI	174

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Jackie Robinson	BRO	37
2	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	26
3	Whitey Lockman	NY1	12
3	Duke Snider	BRO	12
5	Gil Hodges	BRO	10
5	Bobby Thomson	NY1	10
7	Richie Ashburn	PHI	9
8	Red Schoendienst	SLN	8
9	Johnny Wyrostek	CIN	7
10	Granny Hamner	PHI	6

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Ralph Kiner	PIT	198
2	Stan Musial	SLN	192
3	Jackie Robinson	BRO	165
4	Enos Slaughter	SLN	156
5	Sid Gordon	NY1	151
6	Del Ennis	PHI	145
7	Roy Campanella	BRO	143
8	Carl Furillo	BRO	140
9	Bobby Thomson	NY1	139
10	Bob Elliott	BSN	138

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Warren Spahn	BSN	21
2	Howie Pollet	SLN	20
3	Ken Raffensberger	CIN	18
4	Ken Heintzelman	PHI	17
4	Russ Meyer	PHI	17
4	Don Newcombe	BRO	17
7	Vern Bickford	BSN	16
8	Larry Jansen	NY1	15
8	Sheldon Jones	NY1	15
8	Red Munger	SLN	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Dave Koslo	NY1	2.50
2	Gerry Staley	SLN	2.73
3	Howie Pollet	SLN	2.77
4	Preacher Roe	BRO	2.79
5	Ken Heintzelman	PHI	3.02
6	Warren Spahn	BSN	3.07
7	Russ Meyer	PHI	3.08
8	Don Newcombe	BRO	3.17
9	Al Brazle	SLN	3.18
10	Murry Dickson	PIT	3.29

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Warren Spahn	BSN	151
2	Don Newcombe	BRO	149
3	Larry Jansen	NY1	113
4	Ralph Branca	BRO	109
4	Preacher Roe	BRO	109
6	Howie Pollet	SLN	108
7	Bill Werle	PIT	106
8	Ken Raffensberger	CIN	103
9	Vern Bickford	BSN	101
10	Monty Kennedy	NY1	95

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Ted Wilks	SLN	9
2	Jim Konstanty	PHI	7
2	Nels Potter	BSN	7
4	Erv Palica	BRO	6
4	Gerry Staley	SLN	6
6	Harry Gumbert	CIN/PIT	5
6	Bob Muncrief	PIT/CHN	5
8	Monk Dubiel	CHN	4
8	Dave Koslo	NY1	4
8	Robin Roberts	PHI	4

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1949, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Dave Koslo	NY1	161
2	Gerry Staley	SLN	148
3	Howie Pollet	SLN	146
4	Preacher Roe	BRO	145
5	Ken Heintzelman	PHI	134
6	Warren Spahn	BSN	132
7	Russ Meyer	PHI	131
8	Don Newcombe	BRO	128
9	Al Brazle	SLN	127
10	Murry Dickson	PIT	123

How the 1949 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

1943 league leaders 1944 league leaders 1945 league leaders 1946 league leaders 1947 league leaders 1948 league leaders 1950 league leaders 1951 league leaders 1952 league leaders 1953 league leaders 1954 league leaders 1955 league leaders

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