Who led MLB in home runs in 1959?

Eddie Mathews led the majors with 46 in 1959 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1959?

Hank Aaron hit ..355, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1959 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1959?

Early Wynn led the majors with 22 wins in 1959 (AL).

1959 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19592 major leagues12 boards per league

Eddie Mathews led the majors with 46 in 1959. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1959 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1958 leaders All seasons 1960 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	.355
2	Harvey Kuenn	DET	AL	.353
3	Joe Cunningham	SLN	NL	.345
4	Al Kaline	DET	AL	.327
5	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	NL	.317
6	Vada Pinson	CIN	NL	.316
7	Pete Runnels	BOS	AL	.314
8	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	.313
9	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	.311
9	Johnny Temple	CIN	NL	.311

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Eddie Mathews	ML1	NL	46
2	Ernie Banks	CHN	NL	45
3	Rocky Colavito	CLE	AL	42
3	Harmon Killebrew	WS1	AL	42
5	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	39
6	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	36
7	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	34
8	Jim Lemon	WS1	AL	33
9	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	31
9	Charlie Maxwell	DET	AL	31

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Ernie Banks	CHN	NL	143
2	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	125
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	123
4	Gus Bell	CIN	NL	115
5	Eddie Mathews	ML1	NL	114
6	Jackie Jensen	BOS	AL	112
7	Rocky Colavito	CLE	AL	111
8	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	NL	105
8	Harmon Killebrew	WS1	AL	105
10	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	104

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Vada Pinson	CIN	NL	131
2	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	125
3	Eddie Mathews	ML1	NL	118
4	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	116
5	Eddie Yost	DET	AL	115
6	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	106
7	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	104
8	Charlie Neal	LAN	NL	103
9	Vic Power	CLE	AL	102
9	Johnny Temple	CIN	NL	102

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	223
2	Vada Pinson	CIN	NL	205
3	Harvey Kuenn	DET	AL	198
4	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	NL	192
5	Nellie Fox	CHA	AL	191
6	Johnny Temple	CIN	NL	186
7	Eddie Mathews	ML1	NL	182
8	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	180
9	Ernie Banks	CHN	NL	179
10	Don Blasingame	SLN	NL	178

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Luis Aparicio	CHA	AL	56
2	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	27
3	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	NL	23
3	Jim Gilliam	LAN	NL	23
3	Tony Taylor	CHN	NL	23
6	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	21
6	Vada Pinson	CIN	NL	21
8	Jackie Jensen	BOS	AL	20
8	Jim Landis	CHA	AL	20
10	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	18

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	182
2	Eddie Mathews	ML1	NL	168
3	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	166
4	Al Kaline	DET	AL	164
5	Ernie Banks	CHN	NL	163
6	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	162
7	Joe Cunningham	SLN	NL	158
8	Harvey Kuenn	DET	AL	154
8	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	154
10	Eddie Yost	DET	AL	147

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Early Wynn	CHA	AL	22
2	Lew Burdette	ML1	NL	21
2	Sam Jones	SFN	NL	21
2	Warren Spahn	ML1	NL	21
5	Johnny Antonelli	SFN	NL	19
5	Cal McLish	CLE	AL	19
7	Vern Law	PIT	NL	18
7	Bob Shaw	CHA	AL	18
9	Jim Bunning	DET	AL	17
9	Don Drysdale	LAN	NL	17

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Hoyt Wilhelm	BAL	AL	2.19
2	Camilo Pascual	WS1	AL	2.64
3	Bob Shaw	CHA	AL	2.69
4	Sam Jones	SFN	NL	2.83
5	Stu Miller	SFN	NL	2.84
6	Bob Buhl	ML1	NL	2.86
7	Art Ditmar	NYA	AL	2.90
8	Jerry Walker	BAL	AL	2.92
9	Billy O'Dell	BAL	AL	2.93
10	Warren Spahn	ML1	NL	2.96

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Don Drysdale	LAN	NL	242
2	Sam Jones	SFN	NL	209
3	Jim Bunning	DET	AL	201
4	Camilo Pascual	WS1	AL	185
5	Early Wynn	CHA	AL	179
6	Johnny Antonelli	SFN	NL	165
7	Mike McCormick	SFN	NL	151
8	Harvey Haddix	PIT	NL	149
9	Herb Score	CLE	AL	147
10	Larry Jackson	SLN	NL	145

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Turk Lown	CHA	AL	15
1	Lindy McDaniel	SLN	NL	15
1	Don McMahon	ML1	NL	15
4	Ryne Duren	NYA	AL	14
4	Billy Loes	BAL	AL	14
4	Gerry Staley	CHA	AL	14
7	Don Elston	CHN	NL	13
8	Bill Henry	CHN	NL	12
9	Mike Fornieles	BOS	AL	11
10	Roy Face	PIT	NL	10

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1959, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Hoyt Wilhelm	BAL	AL	176
2	Camilo Pascual	WS1	AL	146
3	Bob Shaw	CHA	AL	143
4	Sam Jones	SFN	NL	140
5	Stu Miller	SFN	NL	139
6	Bob Buhl	ML1	NL	138
7	Art Ditmar	NYA	AL	133
7	Vern Law	PIT	NL	133
7	Warren Spahn	ML1	NL	133
10	Gene Conley	PHI	NL	132

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Harvey Kuenn	DET	.353
2	Al Kaline	DET	.327
3	Pete Runnels	BOS	.314
4	Nellie Fox	CHA	.306
5	Minnie Miñoso	CLE	.302
6	Bobby Richardson	NYA	.301
7	Bill Tuttle	KC1	.300
7	Gene Woodling	BAL	.300
9	Vic Power	CLE	.289
10	Bob Cerv	KC1	.285

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Rocky Colavito	CLE	42
1	Harmon Killebrew	WS1	42
3	Jim Lemon	WS1	33
4	Mickey Mantle	NYA	31
4	Charlie Maxwell	DET	31
6	Bob Allison	WS1	30
7	Woodie Held	CLE	29
8	Jackie Jensen	BOS	28
9	Al Kaline	DET	27
10	Sherm Lollar	CHA	22

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Jackie Jensen	BOS	112
2	Rocky Colavito	CLE	111
3	Harmon Killebrew	WS1	105
4	Jim Lemon	WS1	100
5	Charlie Maxwell	DET	95
6	Al Kaline	DET	94
7	Hector Lopez	KC1/NYA	93
8	Frank Malzone	BOS	92
8	Minnie Miñoso	CLE	92
10	Bob Cerv	KC1	87

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Eddie Yost	DET	115
2	Mickey Mantle	NYA	104
3	Vic Power	CLE	102
4	Jackie Jensen	BOS	101
5	Harvey Kuenn	DET	99
6	Luis Aparicio	CHA	98
6	Harmon Killebrew	WS1	98
8	Pete Runnels	BOS	95
9	Minnie Miñoso	CLE	92
10	Rocky Colavito	CLE	90

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Harvey Kuenn	DET	198
2	Nellie Fox	CHA	191
3	Pete Runnels	BOS	176
4	Minnie Miñoso	CLE	172
4	Vic Power	CLE	172
6	Frank Malzone	BOS	169
7	Al Kaline	DET	167
8	Luis Aparicio	CHA	157
9	Mickey Mantle	NYA	154
10	Hector Lopez	KC1/NYA	153

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Luis Aparicio	CHA	56
2	Mickey Mantle	NYA	21
3	Jackie Jensen	BOS	20
3	Jim Landis	CHA	20
5	Bob Allison	WS1	13
6	Al Kaline	DET	10
6	Bill Tuttle	KC1	10
8	Vic Power	CLE	9
8	Eddie Yost	DET	9
10	Minnie Miñoso	CLE	8

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Al Kaline	DET	164
2	Harvey Kuenn	DET	154
2	Mickey Mantle	NYA	154
4	Eddie Yost	DET	147
5	Harmon Killebrew	WS1	143
6	Jackie Jensen	BOS	142
6	Gene Woodling	BAL	142
8	Pete Runnels	BOS	139
9	Minnie Miñoso	CLE	138
10	Rocky Colavito	CLE	137

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Early Wynn	CHA	22
2	Cal McLish	CLE	19
3	Bob Shaw	CHA	18
4	Jim Bunning	DET	17
4	Frank Lary	DET	17
4	Don Mossi	DET	17
4	Camilo Pascual	WS1	17
8	Gary Bell	CLE	16
8	Bud Daley	KC1	16
8	Whitey Ford	NYA	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Hoyt Wilhelm	BAL	2.19
2	Camilo Pascual	WS1	2.64
3	Bob Shaw	CHA	2.69
4	Art Ditmar	NYA	2.90
5	Jerry Walker	BAL	2.92
6	Billy O'Dell	BAL	2.93
7	Whitey Ford	NYA	3.04
8	Bud Daley	KC1	3.16
9	Early Wynn	CHA	3.17
10	Milt Pappas	BAL	3.27

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Jim Bunning	DET	201
2	Camilo Pascual	WS1	185
3	Early Wynn	CHA	179
4	Herb Score	CLE	147
5	Hoyt Wilhelm	BAL	139
6	Frank Lary	DET	137
7	Gary Bell	CLE	136
8	Bud Daley	KC1	125
8	Don Mossi	DET	125
10	Tom Brewer	BOS	121

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Turk Lown	CHA	15
2	Ryne Duren	NYA	14
2	Billy Loes	BAL	14
2	Gerry Staley	CHA	14
5	Mike Fornieles	BOS	11
6	Tom Morgan	DET	9
7	Tex Clevenger	WS1	8
8	Leo Kiely	BOS	7
8	Dave Sisler	BOS/DET	7
8	Chuck Stobbs	WS1	7

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1959, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Hoyt Wilhelm	BAL	176
2	Camilo Pascual	WS1	146
3	Bob Shaw	CHA	143
4	Art Ditmar	NYA	133
5	Billy O'Dell	BAL	132
5	Jerry Walker	BAL	132
7	Whitey Ford	NYA	127
8	Bud Daley	KC1	122
8	Early Wynn	CHA	122
10	Milt Pappas	BAL	118

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Hank Aaron	ML1	.355
2	Joe Cunningham	SLN	.345
3	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	.317
4	Vada Pinson	CIN	.316
5	Willie Mays	SFN	.313
6	Frank Robinson	CIN	.311
6	Johnny Temple	CIN	.311
8	Ken Boyer	SLN	.309
9	Eddie Mathews	ML1	.306
10	Ernie Banks	CHN	.304

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Eddie Mathews	ML1	46
2	Ernie Banks	CHN	45
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	39
4	Frank Robinson	CIN	36
5	Willie Mays	SFN	34
6	Ken Boyer	SLN	28
7	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	27
8	Willie Kirkland	SFN	22
8	Wally Post	PHI	22
10	Del Crandall	ML1	21

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Ernie Banks	CHN	143
2	Frank Robinson	CIN	125
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	123
4	Gus Bell	CIN	115
5	Eddie Mathews	ML1	114
6	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	105
7	Willie Mays	SFN	104
8	Ken Boyer	SLN	94
8	Wally Post	PHI	94
10	Vada Pinson	CIN	84

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Vada Pinson	CIN	131
2	Willie Mays	SFN	125
3	Eddie Mathews	ML1	118
4	Hank Aaron	ML1	116
5	Frank Robinson	CIN	106
6	Charlie Neal	LAN	103
7	Johnny Temple	CIN	102
8	Ernie Banks	CHN	97
9	Tony Taylor	CHN	96
10	Wally Moon	LAN	93

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Hank Aaron	ML1	223
2	Vada Pinson	CIN	205
3	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	192
4	Johnny Temple	CIN	186
5	Eddie Mathews	ML1	182
6	Willie Mays	SFN	180
7	Ernie Banks	CHN	179
8	Don Blasingame	SLN	178
9	Charlie Neal	LAN	177
10	Tony Taylor	CHN	175

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Willie Mays	SFN	27
2	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	23
2	Jim Gilliam	LAN	23
2	Tony Taylor	CHN	23
5	Vada Pinson	CIN	21
6	Frank Robinson	CIN	18
7	Charlie Neal	LAN	17
8	Don Blasingame	SLN	15
8	Wally Moon	LAN	15
8	Bill White	SLN	15

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Hank Aaron	ML1	182
2	Eddie Mathews	ML1	168
3	Frank Robinson	CIN	166
4	Ernie Banks	CHN	163
5	Willie Mays	SFN	162
6	Joe Cunningham	SLN	158
7	Ken Boyer	SLN	144
7	Wally Moon	LAN	144
9	Vada Pinson	CIN	141
10	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	139

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Lew Burdette	ML1	21
1	Sam Jones	SFN	21
1	Warren Spahn	ML1	21
4	Johnny Antonelli	SFN	19
5	Vern Law	PIT	18
6	Don Drysdale	LAN	17
7	Glen Hobbie	CHN	16
8	Bob Buhl	ML1	15
8	Robin Roberts	PHI	15
8	Jack Sanford	SFN	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Sam Jones	SFN	2.83
2	Stu Miller	SFN	2.84
3	Bob Buhl	ML1	2.86
4	Warren Spahn	ML1	2.96
5	Vern Law	PIT	2.98
6	Gene Conley	PHI	3.00
7	Johnny Antonelli	SFN	3.10
8	Harvey Haddix	PIT	3.13
9	Don Newcombe	CIN	3.16
9	Jack Sanford	SFN	3.16

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Don Drysdale	LAN	242
2	Sam Jones	SFN	209
3	Johnny Antonelli	SFN	165
4	Mike McCormick	SFN	151
5	Harvey Haddix	PIT	149
6	Larry Jackson	SLN	145
6	Johnny Podres	LAN	145
8	Warren Spahn	ML1	143
9	Glen Hobbie	CHN	138
10	Robin Roberts	PHI	137

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Lindy McDaniel	SLN	15
1	Don McMahon	ML1	15
3	Don Elston	CHN	13
4	Bill Henry	CHN	12
5	Roy Face	PIT	10
5	Brooks Lawrence	CIN	10
7	Clem Labine	LAN	9
8	Stu Miller	SFN	8
9	Turk Farrell	PHI	6
10	Orlando Peña	CIN	5

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1959, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Sam Jones	SFN	140
2	Stu Miller	SFN	139
3	Bob Buhl	ML1	138
4	Vern Law	PIT	133
4	Warren Spahn	ML1	133
6	Gene Conley	PHI	132
7	Johnny Antonelli	SFN	128
8	Harvey Haddix	PIT	126
9	Don Newcombe	CIN	125
9	Jack Sanford	SFN	125

How the 1959 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

1953 league leaders 1954 league leaders 1955 league leaders 1956 league leaders 1957 league leaders 1958 league leaders 1960 league leaders 1961 league leaders 1962 league leaders 1963 league leaders 1964 league leaders 1965 league leaders

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