Who led MLB in home runs in 1961?

Roger Maris led the majors with 61 in 1961 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1961?

Norm Cash hit ..361, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1961 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1961?

Whitey Ford led the majors with 25 wins in 1961 (AL).

1961 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19612 major leagues12 boards per league

Roger Maris led the majors with 61 in 1961. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1961 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1960 leaders All seasons 1962 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Norm Cash	DET	AL	.361
2	Roberto Clemente	PIT	NL	.351
3	Vada Pinson	CIN	NL	.343
4	Ken Boyer	SLN	NL	.329
5	Wally Moon	LAN	NL	.328
6	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	.327
7	Al Kaline	DET	AL	.324
8	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	.323
9	Jim Piersall	CLE	AL	.322
10	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	.317

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Roger Maris	NYA	AL	61
2	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	54
3	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	NL	46
3	Jim Gentile	BAL	AL	46
3	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	AL	46
6	Rocky Colavito	DET	AL	45
7	Norm Cash	DET	AL	41
8	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	40
9	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	37
10	Joe Adcock	ML1	NL	35

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	NL	142
1	Roger Maris	NYA	AL	142
3	Jim Gentile	BAL	AL	141
4	Rocky Colavito	DET	AL	140
5	Norm Cash	DET	AL	132
6	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	128
7	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	124
8	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	123
9	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	AL	122
10	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	120

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	132
1	Roger Maris	NYA	AL	132
3	Rocky Colavito	DET	AL	129
3	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	129
5	Norm Cash	DET	AL	119
6	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	117
7	Al Kaline	DET	AL	116
8	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	115
9	Ken Boyer	SLN	NL	109
10	Dick Howser	KC1	AL	108

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Vada Pinson	CIN	NL	208
2	Roberto Clemente	PIT	NL	201
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	197
4	Ken Boyer	SLN	NL	194
5	Norm Cash	DET	AL	193
6	Brooks Robinson	BAL	AL	192
7	Al Kaline	DET	AL	190
8	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	NL	182
9	Tito Francona	CLE	AL	178
10	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	176

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Luis Aparicio	CHA	AL	53
2	Dick Howser	KC1	AL	37
3	Maury Wills	LAN	NL	35
4	Jake Wood	DET	AL	30
5	Vada Pinson	CIN	NL	23
6	Bill Bruton	DET	AL	22
6	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	22
8	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	21
9	Jim Landis	CHA	AL	19
10	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	18

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Norm Cash	DET	AL	214
2	Mickey Mantle	NYA	AL	209
3	Jim Gentile	BAL	AL	191
4	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	AL	176
5	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	173
6	Roger Maris	NYA	AL	170
7	Rocky Colavito	DET	AL	168
8	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	163
9	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	162
10	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	NL	160

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Whitey Ford	NYA	AL	25
2	Frank Lary	DET	AL	23
3	Joey Jay	CIN	NL	21
3	Warren Spahn	ML1	NL	21
5	Jim O'Toole	CIN	NL	19
6	Steve Barber	BAL	AL	18
6	Lew Burdette	ML1	NL	18
6	Sandy Koufax	LAN	NL	18
6	Johnny Podres	LAN	NL	18
10	Jim Bunning	DET	AL	17

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Dick Donovan	WS2	AL	2.40
2	Bill Stafford	NYA	AL	2.68
3	Don Mossi	DET	AL	2.96
4	Warren Spahn	ML1	NL	3.02
5	Milt Pappas	BAL	AL	3.04
6	Juan Pizarro	CHA	AL	3.05
7	Jim O'Toole	CIN	NL	3.10
8	Curt Simmons	SLN	NL	3.13
9	Ralph Terry	NYA	AL	3.15
10	Hal Brown	BAL	AL	3.19

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	NL	269
2	Camilo Pascual	MIN	AL	221
3	Whitey Ford	NYA	AL	209
4	Stan Williams	LAN	NL	205
5	Jim Bunning	DET	AL	194
6	Juan Pizarro	CHA	AL	188
7	Don Drysdale	LAN	NL	182
8	Ken McBride	LAA	AL	180
9	Jim O'Toole	CIN	NL	178
10	Pedro Ramos	MIN	AL	174

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Luis Arroyo	NYA	AL	29
2	Hoyt Wilhelm	BAL	AL	18
3	Roy Face	PIT	NL	17
3	Stu Miller	SFN	NL	17
5	Jim Brosnan	CIN	NL	16
5	Bill Henry	CIN	NL	16
7	Mike Fornieles	BOS	AL	15
7	Larry Sherry	LAN	NL	15
9	Ray Moore	MIN	AL	14
10	Terry Fox	DET	AL	12

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1961, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Dick Donovan	WS2	AL	168
2	Bill Stafford	NYA	AL	150
3	Don Mossi	DET	AL	136
4	Warren Spahn	ML1	NL	134
5	Milt Pappas	BAL	AL	132
5	Juan Pizarro	CHA	AL	132
7	Jim O'Toole	CIN	NL	130
8	Curt Simmons	SLN	NL	129
9	Ralph Terry	NYA	AL	128
10	Jim Archer	KC1	AL	126

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Norm Cash	DET	.361
2	Al Kaline	DET	.324
3	Jim Piersall	CLE	.322
4	Mickey Mantle	NYA	.317
5	Earl Battey	MIN	.302
5	Jim Gentile	BAL	.302
7	Tito Francona	CLE	.301
8	John Romano	CLE	.299
9	Jackie Brandt	BAL	.297
10	Norm Siebern	KC1	.296

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Roger Maris	NYA	61
2	Mickey Mantle	NYA	54
3	Jim Gentile	BAL	46
3	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	46
5	Rocky Colavito	DET	45
6	Norm Cash	DET	41
7	Bob Allison	MIN	29
8	Bill Skowron	NYA	28
8	Al Smith	CHA	28
8	Leon Wagner	LAA	28

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Roger Maris	NYA	142
2	Jim Gentile	BAL	141
3	Rocky Colavito	DET	140
4	Norm Cash	DET	132
5	Mickey Mantle	NYA	128
6	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	122
7	Bob Allison	MIN	105
8	Norm Siebern	KC1	98
9	Willie Kirkland	CLE	95
10	Al Smith	CHA	93

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Mickey Mantle	NYA	132
1	Roger Maris	NYA	132
3	Rocky Colavito	DET	129
4	Norm Cash	DET	119
5	Al Kaline	DET	116
6	Dick Howser	KC1	108
7	Bill Bruton	DET	99
8	Jim Gentile	BAL	96
8	Jake Wood	DET	96
10	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	94

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Norm Cash	DET	193
2	Brooks Robinson	BAL	192
3	Al Kaline	DET	190
4	Tito Francona	CLE	178
5	Bobby Richardson	NYA	173
6	Lenny Green	MIN	171
6	Dick Howser	KC1	171
6	Jake Wood	DET	171
9	Luis Aparicio	CHA	170
9	Tony Kubek	NYA	170

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Luis Aparicio	CHA	53
2	Dick Howser	KC1	37
3	Jake Wood	DET	30
4	Bill Bruton	DET	22
5	Jim Landis	CHA	19
6	Lenny Green	MIN	17
7	Gary Geiger	BOS	16
7	Zoilo Versalles	MIN	16
9	Danny O'Connell	WS2	15
10	Al Kaline	DET	14

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Norm Cash	DET	214
2	Mickey Mantle	NYA	209
3	Jim Gentile	BAL	191
4	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	176
5	Roger Maris	NYA	170
6	Rocky Colavito	DET	168
7	Roy Sievers	CHA	150
8	Al Kaline	DET	149
9	John Romano	CLE	136
9	Norm Siebern	KC1	136

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Whitey Ford	NYA	25
2	Frank Lary	DET	23
3	Steve Barber	BAL	18
4	Jim Bunning	DET	17
5	Ralph Terry	NYA	16
6	Chuck Estrada	BAL	15
6	Mudcat Grant	CLE	15
6	Don Mossi	DET	15
6	Camilo Pascual	MIN	15
6	Don Schwall	BOS	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Dick Donovan	WS2	2.40
2	Bill Stafford	NYA	2.68
3	Don Mossi	DET	2.96
4	Milt Pappas	BAL	3.04
5	Juan Pizarro	CHA	3.05
6	Ralph Terry	NYA	3.15
7	Hal Brown	BAL	3.19
7	Jim Bunning	DET	3.19
9	Jim Archer	KC1	3.20
10	Whitey Ford	NYA	3.21

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Camilo Pascual	MIN	221
2	Whitey Ford	NYA	209
3	Jim Bunning	DET	194
4	Juan Pizarro	CHA	188
5	Ken McBride	LAA	180
6	Pedro Ramos	MIN	174
7	Gary Bell	CLE	163
8	Bill Monbouquette	BOS	161
9	Chuck Estrada	BAL	160
10	Steve Barber	BAL	150

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Luis Arroyo	NYA	29
2	Hoyt Wilhelm	BAL	18
3	Mike Fornieles	BOS	15
4	Ray Moore	MIN	14
5	Terry Fox	DET	12
6	Art Fowler	LAA	11
6	Frank Funk	CLE	11
6	Turk Lown	CHA	11
6	Dave Sisler	WS2	11
10	Tom Morgan	LAA	10

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1961, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Dick Donovan	WS2	168
2	Bill Stafford	NYA	150
3	Don Mossi	DET	136
4	Milt Pappas	BAL	132
4	Juan Pizarro	CHA	132
6	Ralph Terry	NYA	128
7	Jim Archer	KC1	126
7	Hal Brown	BAL	126
7	Jim Bunning	DET	126
10	Whitey Ford	NYA	125

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Roberto Clemente	PIT	.351
2	Vada Pinson	CIN	.343
3	Ken Boyer	SLN	.329
4	Wally Moon	LAN	.328
5	Hank Aaron	ML1	.327
6	Frank Robinson	CIN	.323
7	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	.311
8	Willie Mays	SFN	.308
9	Eddie Mathews	ML1	.306
10	George Altman	CHN	.303

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	46
2	Willie Mays	SFN	40
3	Frank Robinson	CIN	37
4	Joe Adcock	ML1	35
4	Dick Stuart	PIT	35
6	Hank Aaron	ML1	34
7	Eddie Mathews	ML1	32
8	Ernie Banks	CHN	29
9	George Altman	CHN	27
9	Frank Thomas	CHN/ML1	27

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	142
2	Frank Robinson	CIN	124
3	Willie Mays	SFN	123
4	Hank Aaron	ML1	120
5	Dick Stuart	PIT	117
6	Joe Adcock	ML1	108
7	George Altman	CHN	96
8	Ken Boyer	SLN	95
9	Eddie Mathews	ML1	91
10	Bill White	SLN	90

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Willie Mays	SFN	129
2	Frank Robinson	CIN	117
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	115
4	Ken Boyer	SLN	109
5	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	105
5	Maury Wills	LAN	105
7	Eddie Mathews	ML1	103
8	Vada Pinson	CIN	101
9	Roberto Clemente	PIT	100
10	Bill White	SLN	89

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Vada Pinson	CIN	208
2	Roberto Clemente	PIT	201
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	197
4	Ken Boyer	SLN	194
5	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	182
6	Willie Mays	SFN	176
6	Frank Robinson	CIN	176
8	Eddie Mathews	ML1	175
9	Maury Wills	LAN	173
10	Bill White	SLN	169

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Maury Wills	LAN	35
2	Vada Pinson	CIN	23
3	Frank Robinson	CIN	22
4	Hank Aaron	ML1	21
5	Willie Mays	SFN	18
6	Tony Gonzalez	PHI	15
7	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	12
7	Eddie Mathews	ML1	12
9	Julian Javier	SLN	11
10	Johnny Callison	PHI	10

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Frank Robinson	CIN	173
2	Willie Mays	SFN	163
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	162
4	Orlando Cepeda	SFN	160
5	Wally Moon	LAN	157
6	Roberto Clemente	PIT	156
7	Eddie Mathews	ML1	154
8	Ken Boyer	SLN	152
9	Dick Stuart	PIT	148
10	George Altman	CHN	145

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Joey Jay	CIN	21
1	Warren Spahn	ML1	21
3	Jim O'Toole	CIN	19
4	Lew Burdette	ML1	18
4	Sandy Koufax	LAN	18
4	Johnny Podres	LAN	18
7	Bob Purkey	CIN	16
8	Don Cardwell	CHN	15
8	Stan Williams	LAN	15
10	Bob Friend	PIT	14

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Warren Spahn	ML1	3.02
2	Jim O'Toole	CIN	3.10
3	Curt Simmons	SLN	3.13
4	Mike McCormick	SFN	3.20
5	Bob Gibson	SLN	3.24
6	Joe Gibbon	PIT	3.32
7	Sandy Koufax	LAN	3.52
8	Joey Jay	CIN	3.53
9	Don Drysdale	LAN	3.69
10	Ray Sadecki	SLN	3.72

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	269
2	Stan Williams	LAN	205
3	Don Drysdale	LAN	182
4	Jim O'Toole	CIN	178
5	Bob Gibson	SLN	166
6	Mike McCormick	SFN	163
7	Art Mahaffey	PHI	158
8	Joey Jay	CIN	157
9	Don Cardwell	CHN	156
10	Joe Gibbon	PIT	145

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Roy Face	PIT	17
1	Stu Miller	SFN	17
3	Jim Brosnan	CIN	16
3	Bill Henry	CIN	16
5	Larry Sherry	LAN	15
6	Turk Farrell	PHI/LAN	10
7	Lindy McDaniel	SLN	9
8	Bob Anderson	CHN	8
8	Don Elston	CHN	8
8	Clem Labine	PIT	8

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1961, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Warren Spahn	ML1	134
2	Jim O'Toole	CIN	130
3	Curt Simmons	SLN	129
4	Mike McCormick	SFN	126
5	Bob Gibson	SLN	124
6	Joe Gibbon	PIT	121
7	Joey Jay	CIN	114
7	Sandy Koufax	LAN	114
9	Don Drysdale	LAN	109
10	Johnny Podres	LAN	108

How the 1961 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

1955 league leaders 1956 league leaders 1957 league leaders 1958 league leaders 1959 league leaders 1960 league leaders 1962 league leaders 1963 league leaders 1964 league leaders 1965 league leaders 1966 league leaders 1967 league leaders

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