Who led MLB in home runs in 1956?

Mickey Mantle led the majors with 52 in 1956 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1956?

Mickey Mantle hit ..353, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1956 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1956?

Don Newcombe led the majors with 27 wins in 1956 (NL).

1956 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19562 major leagues12 boards per league

Mickey Mantle led the majors with 52 in 1956. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1956 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1955 leaders All seasons 1957 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	.353
2	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	.345
3	Harvey Kuenn	DET	AL	.332
4	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	.328
5	Charlie Maxwell	DET	AL	.326
6	Bob Nieman	CHA/BAL	AL	.320
7	Bill Virdon	SLN/PIT	NL	.319
8	Minnie Miñoso	CHA	AL	.316
9	Jackie Jensen	BOS	AL	.315
10	Al Kaline	DET	AL	.314

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	52
2	Duke Snider	BRO	NL	43
3	Joe Adcock	ML1	NL	38
3	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	38
5	Eddie Mathews	ML1	NL	37
6	Willie Mays	NY1	NL	36
6	Wally Post	CIN	NL	36
8	Ted Kluszewski	CIN	NL	35
9	Gil Hodges	BRO	NL	32
9	Stan Lopata	PHI	NL	32

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	130
2	Al Kaline	DET	AL	128
3	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	109
4	Vic Wertz	CLE	AL	106
5	Yogi Berra	NYA	AL	105
5	Harry Simpson	KC1	AL	105
7	Joe Adcock	ML1	NL	103
8	Larry Doby	CHA	AL	102
8	Ted Kluszewski	CIN	NL	102
10	Duke Snider	BRO	NL	101

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	132
2	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	122
3	Duke Snider	BRO	NL	112
4	Nellie Fox	CHA	AL	109
5	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	106
5	Minnie Miñoso	CHA	AL	106
7	Eddie Mathews	ML1	NL	103
8	Jim Gilliam	BRO	NL	102
9	Willie Mays	NY1	NL	101
10	Hank Bauer	NYA	AL	96

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	200
2	Harvey Kuenn	DET	AL	196
3	Al Kaline	DET	AL	194
4	Nellie Fox	CHA	AL	192
5	Richie Ashburn	PHI	NL	190
6	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	188
7	Bill Virdon	SLN/PIT	NL	185
8	Stan Musial	SLN	NL	184
9	Ken Boyer	SLN	NL	182
9	Jackie Jensen	BOS	AL	182

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Willie Mays	NY1	NL	40
2	Luis Aparicio	CHA	AL	21
2	Jim Gilliam	BRO	NL	21
4	Jim Rivera	CHA	AL	20
5	Bobby Avila	CLE	AL	17
6	Bill White	NY1	NL	15
7	Johnny Temple	CIN	NL	14
8	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	NL	13
9	Minnie Miñoso	CHA	AL	12
9	Wally Moon	SLN	NL	12

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	214
2	Ted Williams	BOS	AL	193
3	Duke Snider	BRO	NL	173
4	Minnie Miñoso	CHA	AL	157
5	Charlie Maxwell	DET	AL	156
5	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	156
7	Joe Adcock	ML1	NL	153
7	Willie Mays	NY1	NL	153
7	Bob Nieman	CHA/BAL	AL	153
10	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	152

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Don Newcombe	BRO	NL	27
2	Frank Lary	DET	AL	21
3	Johnny Antonelli	NY1	NL	20
3	Billy Hoeft	DET	AL	20
3	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	20
3	Billy Pierce	CHA	AL	20
3	Herb Score	CLE	AL	20
3	Warren Spahn	ML1	NL	20
3	Early Wynn	CLE	AL	20
10	Tom Brewer	BOS	AL	19

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Whitey Ford	NYA	AL	2.47
2	Herb Score	CLE	AL	2.53
3	Lew Burdette	ML1	NL	2.70
4	Early Wynn	CLE	AL	2.72
5	Warren Spahn	ML1	NL	2.78
6	Johnny Antonelli	NY1	NL	2.86
7	Sal Maglie	BRO	NL	2.87
8	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	3.03
9	Don Newcombe	BRO	NL	3.06
10	Jack Harshman	CHA	AL	3.10

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Herb Score	CLE	AL	263
2	Billy Pierce	CHA	AL	192
3	Paul Foytack	DET	AL	184
4	Sam Jones	CHN	NL	176
5	Billy Hoeft	DET	AL	172
6	Harvey Haddix	SLN/PHI	NL	170
7	Bob Friend	PIT	NL	166
8	Frank Lary	DET	AL	165
9	Camilo Pascual	WS1	AL	162
10	Early Wynn	CLE	AL	158

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Clem Labine	BRO	NL	19
2	Hersh Freeman	CIN	NL	18
3	George Zuverink	BAL	AL	16
4	Turk Lown	CHN	NL	13
5	Tom Morgan	NYA	AL	11
5	Don Mossi	CLE	AL	11
7	Don Bessent	BRO	NL	9
7	Ike Delock	BOS	AL	9
7	Larry Jackson	SLN	NL	9
7	Bobby Shantz	KC1	AL	9

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1956, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Whitey Ford	NYA	AL	168
2	Herb Score	CLE	AL	165
3	Early Wynn	CLE	AL	153
4	Lew Burdette	ML1	NL	140
5	Bob Lemon	CLE	AL	137
6	Warren Spahn	ML1	NL	136
7	Jack Harshman	CHA	AL	134
8	Johnny Antonelli	NY1	NL	132
8	Frank Lary	DET	AL	132
10	Sal Maglie	BRO	NL	131

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	.353
2	Ted Williams	BOS	.345
3	Harvey Kuenn	DET	.332
4	Charlie Maxwell	DET	.326
5	Bob Nieman	CHA/BAL	.320
6	Minnie Miñoso	CHA	.316
7	Jackie Jensen	BOS	.315
8	Al Kaline	DET	.314
9	Gil McDougald	NYA	.311
10	Pete Runnels	WS1	.310

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	52
2	Vic Wertz	CLE	32
3	Yogi Berra	NYA	30
4	Roy Sievers	WS1	29
5	Charlie Maxwell	DET	28
6	Al Kaline	DET	27
6	Jim Lemon	WS1	27
8	Hank Bauer	NYA	26
9	Ray Boone	DET	25
10	Larry Doby	CHA	24

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	130
2	Al Kaline	DET	128
3	Vic Wertz	CLE	106
4	Yogi Berra	NYA	105
4	Harry Simpson	KC1	105
6	Larry Doby	CHA	102
7	Jackie Jensen	BOS	97
8	Jim Lemon	WS1	96
9	Roy Sievers	WS1	95
10	Bill Skowron	NYA	90

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	132
2	Nellie Fox	CHA	109
3	Minnie Miñoso	CHA	106
4	Hank Bauer	NYA	96
4	Al Kaline	DET	96
4	Harvey Kuenn	DET	96
4	Charlie Maxwell	DET	96
8	Eddie Yost	WS1	94
9	Yogi Berra	NYA	93
10	Roy Sievers	WS1	92

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Harvey Kuenn	DET	196
2	Al Kaline	DET	194
3	Nellie Fox	CHA	192
4	Mickey Mantle	NYA	188
5	Jackie Jensen	BOS	182
6	Pete Runnels	WS1	179
7	Jim Piersall	BOS	176
8	Minnie Miñoso	CHA	172
9	Vic Power	KC1	164
10	Charlie Maxwell	DET	163

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Luis Aparicio	CHA	21
2	Jim Rivera	CHA	20
3	Bobby Avila	CLE	17
4	Minnie Miñoso	CHA	12
5	Tito Francona	BAL	11
5	Jackie Jensen	BOS	11
7	Mickey Mantle	NYA	10
8	Harvey Kuenn	DET	9
9	Jim Busby	CLE	8
9	Nellie Fox	CHA	8

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	214
2	Ted Williams	BOS	193
3	Minnie Miñoso	CHA	157
4	Charlie Maxwell	DET	156
5	Bob Nieman	CHA/BAL	153
6	Ray Boone	DET	149
7	Al Kaline	DET	146
8	Yogi Berra	NYA	145
8	Bill Skowron	NYA	145
10	Jackie Jensen	BOS	144

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Frank Lary	DET	21
2	Billy Hoeft	DET	20
2	Bob Lemon	CLE	20
2	Billy Pierce	CHA	20
2	Herb Score	CLE	20
2	Early Wynn	CLE	20
7	Tom Brewer	BOS	19
7	Whitey Ford	NYA	19
9	Johnny Kucks	NYA	18
10	Tom Sturdivant	NYA	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Whitey Ford	NYA	2.47
2	Herb Score	CLE	2.53
3	Early Wynn	CLE	2.72
4	Bob Lemon	CLE	3.03
5	Jack Harshman	CHA	3.10
6	Frank Lary	DET	3.15
7	Don Larsen	NYA	3.26
8	Tom Sturdivant	NYA	3.30
9	Billy Pierce	CHA	3.32
10	Frank Sullivan	BOS	3.42

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Herb Score	CLE	263
2	Billy Pierce	CHA	192
3	Paul Foytack	DET	184
4	Billy Hoeft	DET	172
5	Frank Lary	DET	165
6	Camilo Pascual	WS1	162
7	Early Wynn	CLE	158
8	Jack Harshman	CHA	143
9	Whitey Ford	NYA	141
10	Connie Johnson	CHA/BAL	136

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	George Zuverink	BAL	16
2	Tom Morgan	NYA	11
2	Don Mossi	CLE	11
4	Ike Delock	BOS	9
4	Bobby Shantz	KC1	9
6	Al Aber	DET	7
7	Tommy Byrne	NYA	6
8	Bob Grim	NYA	5
8	Tom Hurd	BOS	5
8	Tom Sturdivant	NYA	5

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1956, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Whitey Ford	NYA	168
2	Herb Score	CLE	165
3	Early Wynn	CLE	153
4	Bob Lemon	CLE	137
5	Jack Harshman	CHA	134
6	Frank Lary	DET	132
7	Don Larsen	NYA	128
8	Tom Sturdivant	NYA	126
9	Billy Pierce	CHA	125
10	Frank Sullivan	BOS	122

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Hank Aaron	ML1	.328
2	Bill Virdon	SLN/PIT	.319
3	Roberto Clemente	PIT	.311
4	Stan Musial	SLN	.310
5	Ken Boyer	SLN	.306
6	Richie Ashburn	PHI	.303
7	Ted Kluszewski	CIN	.302
7	Red Schoendienst	SLN/NY1	.302
9	Jim Gilliam	BRO	.300
10	Wally Moon	SLN	.298

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Duke Snider	BRO	43
2	Joe Adcock	ML1	38
2	Frank Robinson	CIN	38
4	Eddie Mathews	ML1	37
5	Willie Mays	NY1	36
5	Wally Post	CIN	36
7	Ted Kluszewski	CIN	35
8	Gil Hodges	BRO	32
8	Stan Lopata	PHI	32
10	Gus Bell	CIN	29

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Stan Musial	SLN	109
2	Joe Adcock	ML1	103
3	Ted Kluszewski	CIN	102
4	Duke Snider	BRO	101
5	Ken Boyer	SLN	98
6	Del Ennis	PHI	95
6	Stan Lopata	PHI	95
6	Eddie Mathews	ML1	95
9	Hank Aaron	ML1	92
10	Dale Long	PIT	91

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Frank Robinson	CIN	122
2	Duke Snider	BRO	112
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	106
4	Eddie Mathews	ML1	103
5	Jim Gilliam	BRO	102
6	Willie Mays	NY1	101
7	Stan Lopata	PHI	96
8	Richie Ashburn	PHI	94
8	Don Blasingame	SLN	94
8	Wally Post	CIN	94

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Hank Aaron	ML1	200
2	Richie Ashburn	PHI	190
3	Bill Virdon	SLN/PIT	185
4	Stan Musial	SLN	184
5	Ken Boyer	SLN	182
6	Johnny Temple	CIN	180
7	Jim Gilliam	BRO	178
8	Gus Bell	CIN	176
9	Willie Mays	NY1	171
10	Al Dark	NY1/SLN	170

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Willie Mays	NY1	40
2	Jim Gilliam	BRO	21
3	Bill White	NY1	15
4	Johnny Temple	CIN	14
5	Pee Wee Reese	BRO	13
6	Wally Moon	SLN	12
7	Richie Ashburn	PHI	10
8	Dee Fondy	CHN	9
9	Don Blasingame	SLN	8
9	Ken Boyer	SLN	8

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Duke Snider	BRO	173
2	Frank Robinson	CIN	156
3	Joe Adcock	ML1	153
3	Willie Mays	NY1	153
5	Hank Aaron	ML1	152
6	Stan Musial	SLN	149
7	Ted Kluszewski	CIN	146
8	Eddie Mathews	ML1	145
9	Ernie Banks	CHN	143
10	Stan Lopata	PHI	142

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Don Newcombe	BRO	27
2	Johnny Antonelli	NY1	20
2	Warren Spahn	ML1	20
4	Lew Burdette	ML1	19
4	Brooks Lawrence	CIN	19
4	Robin Roberts	PHI	19
7	Bob Buhl	ML1	18
8	Bob Friend	PIT	17
9	Curt Simmons	PHI	15
10	Ron Kline	PIT	14

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Lew Burdette	ML1	2.70
2	Warren Spahn	ML1	2.78
3	Johnny Antonelli	NY1	2.86
4	Sal Maglie	BRO	2.87
5	Don Newcombe	BRO	3.06
6	Gene Conley	ML1	3.13
7	Bob Rush	CHN	3.19
8	Murry Dickson	PHI/SLN	3.28
9	Bob Buhl	ML1	3.32
10	Curt Simmons	PHI	3.36

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Sam Jones	CHN	176
2	Harvey Haddix	SLN/PHI	170
3	Bob Friend	PIT	166
4	Robin Roberts	PHI	157
5	Vinegar Bend Mizell	SLN	153
6	Johnny Antonelli	NY1	145
7	Don Newcombe	BRO	139
8	Warren Spahn	ML1	128
9	Ron Kline	PIT	125
10	Joe Nuxhall	CIN	120

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Clem Labine	BRO	19
2	Hersh Freeman	CIN	18
3	Turk Lown	CHN	13
4	Don Bessent	BRO	9
4	Larry Jackson	SLN	9
6	Hoyt Wilhelm	NY1	8
7	Jackie Collum	SLN	7
7	Marv Grissom	NY1	7
7	Windy McCall	NY1	7
10	Roy Face	PIT	6

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1956, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Lew Burdette	ML1	140
2	Warren Spahn	ML1	136
3	Johnny Antonelli	NY1	132
4	Sal Maglie	BRO	131
5	Don Newcombe	BRO	123
6	Gene Conley	ML1	121
7	Bob Rush	CHN	118
8	Murry Dickson	PHI/SLN	115
9	Bob Buhl	ML1	114
10	Ron Kline	PIT	112

How the 1956 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

1950 league leaders 1951 league leaders 1952 league leaders 1953 league leaders 1954 league leaders 1955 league leaders 1957 league leaders 1958 league leaders 1959 league leaders 1960 league leaders 1961 league leaders 1962 league leaders

All seasons, 1871-2025 Statcast leaderboards