Who led MLB in home runs in 1965?

Willie Mays led the majors with 52 in 1965 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1965?

Roberto Clemente hit ..329, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1965 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1965?

Sandy Koufax led the majors with 26 wins in 1965 (NL).

1965 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19652 major leagues12 boards per league

Willie Mays led the majors with 52 in 1965. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1965 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1964 leaders All seasons 1966 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Roberto Clemente	PIT	NL	.329
2	Tony Oliva	MIN	AL	.321
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	.318
4	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	.317
5	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	.315
6	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	.312
6	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	AL	.312
8	Curt Flood	SLN	NL	.310
9	Vada Pinson	CIN	NL	.305
10	Cookie Rojas	PHI	NL	.303

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	52
2	Willie McCovey	SFN	NL	39
3	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	34
4	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	33
4	Ron Santo	CHN	NL	33
6	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	32
6	Johnny Callison	PHI	NL	32
6	Tony Conigliaro	BOS	AL	32
6	Deron Johnson	CIN	NL	32
6	Eddie Mathews	ML1	NL	32

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Deron Johnson	CIN	NL	130
2	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	113
3	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	112
4	Rocky Colavito	CLE	AL	108
4	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	108
6	Willie Stargell	PIT	NL	107
7	Ernie Banks	CHN	NL	106
8	Willie Horton	DET	AL	104
9	Johnny Callison	PHI	NL	101
9	Ron Santo	CHN	NL	101

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Tommy Harper	CIN	NL	126
1	Zoilo Versalles	MIN	AL	126
3	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	118
4	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	117
5	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	115
6	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	109
6	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	109
8	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	107
8	Tony Oliva	MIN	AL	107
10	Joe Morgan	HOU	NL	100

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	209
2	Vada Pinson	CIN	NL	204
3	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	203
4	Roberto Clemente	PIT	NL	194
5	Curt Flood	SLN	NL	191
6	Dick Allen	PHI	NL	187
7	Maury Wills	LAN	NL	186
8	Tony Oliva	MIN	AL	185
9	Donn Clendenon	PIT	NL	184
10	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	182

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Maury Wills	LAN	NL	94
2	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	63
3	Bert Campaneris	KC1	AL	51
4	Jim Wynn	HOU	NL	43
5	Jose Cardenal	CAL	AL	37
6	Tommy Harper	CIN	NL	35
7	Zoilo Versalles	MIN	AL	27
8	Luis Aparicio	BAL	AL	26
8	Vic Davalillo	CLE	AL	26
10	Willie Davis	LAN	NL	25

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	200
2	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	AL	172
3	Hank Aaron	ML1	NL	171
4	Frank Robinson	CIN	NL	168
4	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	168
6	Willie McCovey	SFN	NL	166
7	Norm Cash	DET	AL	157
7	Ron Santo	CHN	NL	157
9	Tony Oliva	MIN	AL	154
10	Dick Allen	PHI	NL	152

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	NL	26
2	Tony Cloninger	ML1	NL	24
3	Don Drysdale	LAN	NL	23
4	Sammy Ellis	CIN	NL	22
4	Juan Marichal	SFN	NL	22
6	Mudcat Grant	MIN	AL	21
7	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	20
7	Jim Maloney	CIN	NL	20
7	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	AL	20
10	Jim Bunning	PHI	NL	19

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	NL	2.04
2	Juan Marichal	SFN	NL	2.13
3	Vern Law	PIT	NL	2.15
4	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	2.18
5	Eddie Fisher	CHA	AL	2.40
6	Sonny Siebert	CLE	AL	2.43
7	Jim Maloney	CIN	NL	2.54
8	George Brunet	CAL	AL	2.56
9	Jim Bunning	PHI	NL	2.60
9	Milt Pappas	BAL	AL	2.60

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	NL	382
2	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	325
3	Bob Veale	PIT	NL	276
4	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	270
5	Jim Bunning	PHI	NL	268
6	Jim Maloney	CIN	NL	244
7	Juan Marichal	SFN	NL	240
8	Chris Short	PHI	NL	237
9	Mickey Lolich	DET	AL	226
10	Tony Cloninger	ML1	NL	211

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Ted Abernathy	CHN	NL	31
2	Ron Kline	WS2	AL	29
3	Eddie Fisher	CHA	AL	24
3	Stu Miller	BAL	AL	24
5	Bob Lee	CAL	AL	23
6	Dick Radatz	BOS	AL	22
7	Frank Linzy	SFN	NL	21
7	Billy McCool	CIN	NL	21
7	Al Worthington	MIN	AL	21
10	Hoyt Wilhelm	CHA	AL	20

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1965, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	NL	174
2	Juan Marichal	SFN	NL	166
3	Vern Law	PIT	NL	164
4	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	159
5	Eddie Fisher	CHA	AL	144
6	Sonny Siebert	CLE	AL	142
7	Jim Maloney	CIN	NL	139
8	Jim Bunning	PHI	NL	136
9	George Brunet	CAL	AL	135
10	Bob Shaw	SFN	NL	134

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Tony Oliva	MIN	.321
2	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	.312
3	Vic Davalillo	CLE	.301
4	Brooks Robinson	BAL	.297
5	Leon Wagner	CLE	.294
6	Frank Howard	WS2	.289
7	Rocky Colavito	CLE	.287
8	Jimmie Hall	MIN	.285
9	Don Buford	CHA	.283
10	Tom Tresh	NYA	.279

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Tony Conigliaro	BOS	32
2	Norm Cash	DET	30
3	Willie Horton	DET	29
4	Leon Wagner	CLE	28
5	Rocky Colavito	CLE	26
5	Tom Tresh	NYA	26
7	Bob Allison	MIN	23
7	Ken Harrelson	KC1	23
9	Curt Blefary	BAL	22
9	Lee Thomas	BOS	22

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Rocky Colavito	CLE	108
2	Willie Horton	DET	104
3	Tony Oliva	MIN	98
4	Felix Mantilla	BOS	92
5	Jimmie Hall	MIN	86
6	Frank Howard	WS2	84
7	Norm Cash	DET	82
7	Tony Conigliaro	BOS	82
9	Brooks Robinson	BAL	80
10	Leon Wagner	CLE	79

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Zoilo Versalles	MIN	126
2	Tony Oliva	MIN	107
3	Tom Tresh	NYA	94
4	Don Buford	CHA	93
5	Rocky Colavito	CLE	92
6	Leon Wagner	CLE	91
7	Max Alvis	CLE	88
8	Tony Conigliaro	BOS	82
9	Jimmie Hall	MIN	81
9	Brooks Robinson	BAL	81

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Tony Oliva	MIN	185
2	Zoilo Versalles	MIN	182
3	Rocky Colavito	CLE	170
4	Tom Tresh	NYA	168
5	Jim Fregosi	CAL	167
6	Don Buford	CHA	166
6	Brooks Robinson	BAL	166
8	Bobby Richardson	NYA	164
9	Don Wert	DET	159
10	Bert Campaneris	KC1	156

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Bert Campaneris	KC1	51
2	Jose Cardenal	CAL	37
3	Zoilo Versalles	MIN	27
4	Luis Aparicio	BAL	26
4	Vic Davalillo	CLE	26
6	Tony Oliva	MIN	19
7	Don Buford	CHA	17
8	Jimmie Hall	MIN	14
9	Ed Charles	KC1	13
9	Jim Fregosi	CAL	13

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	172
2	Norm Cash	DET	157
3	Tony Oliva	MIN	154
4	Leon Wagner	CLE	152
5	Curt Blefary	BAL	149
5	Rocky Colavito	CLE	149
7	Tony Conigliaro	BOS	147
8	Frank Howard	WS2	144
9	Willie Horton	DET	141
9	Lee Thomas	BOS	141

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Mudcat Grant	MIN	21
2	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	20
3	Jim Kaat	MIN	18
4	Sam McDowell	CLE	17
5	Whitey Ford	NYA	16
5	Denny McLain	DET	16
5	Sonny Siebert	CLE	16
8	Steve Barber	BAL	15
8	Dean Chance	CAL	15
8	Eddie Fisher	CHA	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Sam McDowell	CLE	2.18
2	Eddie Fisher	CHA	2.40
3	Sonny Siebert	CLE	2.43
4	George Brunet	CAL	2.56
5	Milt Pappas	BAL	2.60
5	Pete Richert	WS2	2.60
7	Denny McLain	DET	2.61
8	Jim Perry	MIN	2.63
8	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	2.63
10	Steve Barber	BAL	2.69

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Sam McDowell	CLE	325
2	Mickey Lolich	DET	226
3	Denny McLain	DET	192
4	Sonny Siebert	CLE	191
5	Al Downing	NYA	179
6	Dean Chance	CAL	164
6	Earl Wilson	BOS	164
8	Dave Morehead	BOS	163
9	Whitey Ford	NYA	162
10	Pete Richert	WS2	161

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Ron Kline	WS2	29
2	Eddie Fisher	CHA	24
2	Stu Miller	BAL	24
4	Bob Lee	CAL	23
5	Dick Radatz	BOS	22
6	Al Worthington	MIN	21
7	Hoyt Wilhelm	CHA	20
8	Pedro Ramos	NYA	19
9	John Wyatt	KC1	18
10	Gary Bell	CLE	17

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1965, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Sam McDowell	CLE	159
2	Eddie Fisher	CHA	144
3	Sonny Siebert	CLE	142
4	George Brunet	CAL	135
5	Milt Pappas	BAL	133
5	Pete Richert	WS2	133
7	Denny McLain	DET	132
7	Jim Perry	MIN	132
7	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	132
10	Steve Barber	BAL	128

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Roberto Clemente	PIT	.329
2	Hank Aaron	ML1	.318
3	Willie Mays	SFN	.317
4	Billy Williams	CHN	.315
5	Pete Rose	CIN	.312
6	Curt Flood	SLN	.310
7	Vada Pinson	CIN	.305
8	Cookie Rojas	PHI	.303
9	Dick Allen	PHI	.302
10	Donn Clendenon	PIT	.301

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Willie Mays	SFN	52
2	Willie McCovey	SFN	39
3	Billy Williams	CHN	34
4	Frank Robinson	CIN	33
4	Ron Santo	CHN	33
6	Hank Aaron	ML1	32
6	Johnny Callison	PHI	32
6	Deron Johnson	CIN	32
6	Eddie Mathews	ML1	32
10	Mack Jones	ML1	31

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Deron Johnson	CIN	130
2	Frank Robinson	CIN	113
3	Willie Mays	SFN	112
4	Billy Williams	CHN	108
5	Willie Stargell	PIT	107
6	Ernie Banks	CHN	106
7	Johnny Callison	PHI	101
7	Ron Santo	CHN	101
9	Donn Clendenon	PIT	96
9	Jim Ray Hart	SFN	96

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Tommy Harper	CIN	126
2	Willie Mays	SFN	118
3	Pete Rose	CIN	117
4	Billy Williams	CHN	115
5	Hank Aaron	ML1	109
5	Frank Robinson	CIN	109
7	Lou Brock	SLN	107
8	Joe Morgan	HOU	100
9	Vada Pinson	CIN	97
10	Dick Allen	PHI	93

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Pete Rose	CIN	209
2	Vada Pinson	CIN	204
3	Billy Williams	CHN	203
4	Roberto Clemente	PIT	194
5	Curt Flood	SLN	191
6	Dick Allen	PHI	187
7	Maury Wills	LAN	186
8	Donn Clendenon	PIT	184
9	Lou Brock	SLN	182
10	Hank Aaron	ML1	181

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Maury Wills	LAN	94
2	Lou Brock	SLN	63
3	Jim Wynn	HOU	43
4	Tommy Harper	CIN	35
5	Willie Davis	LAN	25
6	Hank Aaron	ML1	24
7	Vada Pinson	CIN	21
8	Joe Morgan	HOU	20
9	Dick Allen	PHI	15
9	Lou Johnson	LAN	15

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Willie Mays	SFN	200
2	Hank Aaron	ML1	171
3	Frank Robinson	CIN	168
3	Billy Williams	CHN	168
5	Willie McCovey	SFN	166
6	Ron Santo	CHN	157
7	Dick Allen	PHI	152
8	Joe Torre	ML1	150
9	Deron Johnson	CIN	146
10	Roberto Clemente	PIT	145

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	26
2	Tony Cloninger	ML1	24
3	Don Drysdale	LAN	23
4	Sammy Ellis	CIN	22
4	Juan Marichal	SFN	22
6	Bob Gibson	SLN	20
6	Jim Maloney	CIN	20
8	Jim Bunning	PHI	19
9	Chris Short	PHI	18
10	Vern Law	PIT	17

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	2.04
2	Juan Marichal	SFN	2.13
3	Vern Law	PIT	2.15
4	Jim Maloney	CIN	2.54
5	Jim Bunning	PHI	2.60
6	Bob Shaw	SFN	2.64
7	Don Drysdale	LAN	2.77
8	Claude Osteen	LAN	2.79
9	Chris Short	PHI	2.82
10	Bob Veale	PIT	2.84

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	382
2	Bob Veale	PIT	276
3	Bob Gibson	SLN	270
4	Jim Bunning	PHI	268
5	Jim Maloney	CIN	244
6	Juan Marichal	SFN	240
7	Chris Short	PHI	237
8	Tony Cloninger	ML1	211
9	Don Drysdale	LAN	210
10	Sammy Ellis	CIN	183

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Ted Abernathy	CHN	31
2	Frank Linzy	SFN	21
2	Billy McCool	CIN	21
4	Al McBean	PIT	18
4	Billy O'Dell	ML1	18
4	Hal Woodeshick	HOU/SLN	18
7	Ron Perranoski	LAN	17
8	Bob Miller	LAN	9
9	Masanori Murakami	SFN	8
9	Jim Owens	HOU	8

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1965, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Sandy Koufax	LAN	174
2	Juan Marichal	SFN	166
3	Vern Law	PIT	164
4	Jim Maloney	CIN	139
5	Jim Bunning	PHI	136
6	Bob Shaw	SFN	134
7	Don Drysdale	LAN	128
8	Claude Osteen	LAN	127
9	Chris Short	PHI	126
10	Bob Veale	PIT	125

How the 1965 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

1959 league leaders 1960 league leaders 1961 league leaders 1962 league leaders 1963 league leaders 1964 league leaders 1966 league leaders 1967 league leaders 1968 league leaders 1969 league leaders 1970 league leaders 1971 league leaders

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