Who led MLB in home runs in 1968?

Frank Howard led the majors with 44 in 1968 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1968?

Pete Rose hit ..335, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1968 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1968?

Denny McLain led the majors with 31 wins in 1968 (AL).

1968 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19682 major leagues12 boards per league

Frank Howard led the majors with 44 in 1968. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1968 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1967 leaders All seasons 1969 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	.335
2	Matty Alou	PIT	NL	.332
3	Felipe Alou	ATL	NL	.317
4	Alex Johnson	CIN	NL	.312
5	Curt Flood	SLN	NL	.301
5	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	AL	.301
7	Cleon Jones	NYN	NL	.297
8	Glenn Beckert	CHN	NL	.294
9	Willie McCovey	SFN	NL	.293
10	Roberto Clemente	PIT	NL	.291

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Frank Howard	WS2	AL	44
2	Willie Horton	DET	AL	36
2	Willie McCovey	SFN	NL	36
4	Ken Harrelson	BOS	AL	35
5	Dick Allen	PHI	NL	33
6	Ernie Banks	CHN	NL	32
7	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	30
8	Hank Aaron	ATL	NL	29
8	Reggie Jackson	OAK	AL	29
10	Ron Santo	CHN	NL	26

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Ken Harrelson	BOS	AL	109
2	Frank Howard	WS2	AL	106
3	Willie McCovey	SFN	NL	105
4	Ron Santo	CHN	NL	98
4	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	98
6	Tony Perez	CIN	NL	92
7	Dick Allen	PHI	NL	90
7	Jim Northrup	DET	AL	90
9	Donn Clendenon	PIT	NL	87
10	Hank Aaron	ATL	NL	86

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Glenn Beckert	CHN	NL	98
2	Dick McAuliffe	DET	AL	95
3	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	94
4	Tony Perez	CIN	NL	93
5	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	92
6	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	91
7	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	AL	90
8	Cesar Tovar	MIN	AL	89
8	Roy White	NYA	AL	89
10	Mickey Stanley	DET	AL	88

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Felipe Alou	ATL	NL	210
1	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	210
3	Glenn Beckert	CHN	NL	189
4	Alex Johnson	CIN	NL	188
5	Curt Flood	SLN	NL	186
6	Matty Alou	PIT	NL	185
6	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	185
8	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	184
9	Bert Campaneris	OAK	AL	177
10	Tony Perez	CIN	NL	176

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	62
1	Bert Campaneris	OAK	AL	62
3	Maury Wills	PIT	NL	52
4	Jose Cardenal	CLE	AL	40
5	Willie Davis	LAN	NL	36
6	Cesar Tovar	MIN	AL	35
7	Hank Aaron	ATL	NL	28
8	Joe Foy	BOS	AL	26
9	Vic Davalillo	CLE/CAL	AL	25
10	Cleon Jones	NYN	NL	23

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	AL	188
2	Willie McCovey	SFN	NL	185
3	Willie Horton	DET	AL	178
4	Frank Howard	WS2	AL	176
5	Ken Harrelson	BOS	AL	172
6	Dick Allen	PHI	NL	169
7	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	167
8	Willie Mays	SFN	NL	166
9	Hank Aaron	ATL	NL	163
9	Jim Wynn	HOU	NL	163

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Denny McLain	DET	AL	31
2	Juan Marichal	SFN	NL	26
3	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	22
3	Dave McNally	BAL	AL	22
5	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	AL	21
5	Luis Tiant	CLE	AL	21
7	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	NL	20
8	Nelson Briles	SLN	NL	19
8	Jerry Koosman	NYN	NL	19
8	Chris Short	PHI	NL	19

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	1.12
2	Luis Tiant	CLE	AL	1.60
3	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	1.81
4	Dave McNally	BAL	AL	1.95
5	Denny McLain	DET	AL	1.96
6	Tommy John	CHA	AL	1.98
7	Bobby Bolin	SFN	NL	1.99
8	Stan Bahnsen	NYA	AL	2.05
8	Bob Veale	PIT	NL	2.05
10	Jerry Koosman	NYN	NL	2.08

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	283
2	Denny McLain	DET	AL	280
3	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	268
4	Luis Tiant	CLE	AL	264
5	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	NL	260
6	Dean Chance	MIN	AL	234
7	Bill Singer	LAN	NL	227
8	Juan Marichal	SFN	NL	218
9	Ray Sadecki	SFN	NL	206
10	Tom Seaver	NYN	NL	205

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Phil Regan	LAN/CHN	NL	25
2	Al Worthington	MIN	AL	18
3	Clay Carroll	ATL/CIN	NL	17
4	Wilbur Wood	CHA	AL	16
5	Jim Brewer	LAN	NL	14
6	Ted Abernathy	CIN	NL	13
6	Dennis Higgins	WS2	AL	13
6	Ron Taylor	NYN	NL	13
6	Cecil Upshaw	ATL	NL	13
10	Turk Farrell	PHI	NL	12

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1968, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	266
2	Luis Tiant	CLE	AL	186
3	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	165
4	Dave McNally	BAL	AL	153
5	Denny McLain	DET	AL	152
6	Bobby Bolin	SFN	NL	150
6	Tommy John	CHA	AL	150
8	Stan Bahnsen	NYA	AL	145
8	Bob Veale	PIT	NL	145
10	Jerry Koosman	NYN	NL	143

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	.301
2	Danny Cater	OAK	.290
3	Tony Oliva	MIN	.289
4	Willie Horton	DET	.285
5	Ted Uhlaender	MIN	.283
6	Vic Davalillo	CLE/CAL	.277
7	Bert Campaneris	OAK	.276
8	Ken Harrelson	BOS	.275
9	Frank Howard	WS2	.274
9	Rick Monday	OAK	.274

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Frank Howard	WS2	44
2	Willie Horton	DET	36
3	Ken Harrelson	BOS	35
4	Reggie Jackson	OAK	29
5	Bill Freehan	DET	25
6	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	23
7	Bob Allison	MIN	22
7	Boog Powell	BAL	22
9	Jim Northrup	DET	21
9	Rick Reichardt	CAL	21

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Ken Harrelson	BOS	109
2	Frank Howard	WS2	106
3	Jim Northrup	DET	90
4	Willie Horton	DET	85
4	Boog Powell	BAL	85
6	Bill Freehan	DET	84
7	Brooks Robinson	BAL	75
8	Reggie Jackson	OAK	74
8	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	74
10	Rick Reichardt	CAL	73

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Dick McAuliffe	DET	95
2	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	90
3	Cesar Tovar	MIN	89
3	Roy White	NYA	89
5	Mickey Stanley	DET	88
6	Bert Campaneris	OAK	87
7	Reggie Jackson	OAK	82
8	Ken Harrelson	BOS	79
8	Frank Howard	WS2	79
10	Jose Cardenal	CLE	78

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Bert Campaneris	OAK	177
2	Cesar Tovar	MIN	167
3	Luis Aparicio	CHA	164
3	Frank Howard	WS2	164
5	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	162
6	Brooks Robinson	BAL	154
6	Roy White	NYA	154
8	Jim Northrup	DET	153
9	Sal Bando	OAK	152
10	Mickey Stanley	DET	151

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Bert Campaneris	OAK	62
2	Jose Cardenal	CLE	40
3	Cesar Tovar	MIN	35
4	Joe Foy	BOS	26
5	Vic Davalillo	CLE/CAL	25
6	Reggie Smith	BOS	22
7	Horace Clarke	NYA	20
7	Tommy McCraw	CHA	20
7	Roy White	NYA	20
10	Luis Aparicio	CHA	17

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	188
2	Willie Horton	DET	178
3	Frank Howard	WS2	176
4	Ken Harrelson	BOS	172
5	Tony Oliva	MIN	160
6	Bill Freehan	DET	156
7	Mickey Mantle	NYA	146
8	Bob Allison	MIN	143
9	Rick Monday	OAK	142
10	Reggie Smith	BOS	141

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Denny McLain	DET	31
2	Dave McNally	BAL	22
3	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	21
3	Luis Tiant	CLE	21
5	Jim Hardin	BAL	18
6	Stan Bahnsen	NYA	17
6	Mickey Lolich	DET	17
8	Dean Chance	MIN	16
8	Ray Culp	BOS	16
8	Dick Ellsworth	BOS	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Luis Tiant	CLE	1.60
2	Sam McDowell	CLE	1.81
3	Dave McNally	BAL	1.95
4	Denny McLain	DET	1.96
5	Tommy John	CHA	1.98
6	Stan Bahnsen	NYA	2.05
7	Jim Nash	OAK	2.28
8	Joe Horlen	CHA	2.37
9	Blue Moon Odom	OAK	2.45
9	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	2.45

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Sam McDowell	CLE	283
2	Denny McLain	DET	280
3	Luis Tiant	CLE	264
4	Dean Chance	MIN	234
5	Dave McNally	BAL	202
6	Mickey Lolich	DET	197
7	Tom Phoebus	BAL	193
8	Ray Culp	BOS	190
9	Jim Merritt	MIN	181
10	Catfish Hunter	OAK	172

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Al Worthington	MIN	18
2	Wilbur Wood	CHA	16
3	Dennis Higgins	WS2	13
4	Vicente Romo	CLE	12
4	Lee Stange	BOS	12
4	Hoyt Wilhelm	CHA	12
7	Jack Aker	OAK	11
7	Sparky Lyle	BOS	11
7	Eddie Watt	BAL	11
10	Bob Locker	CHA	10

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1968, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Luis Tiant	CLE	186
2	Sam McDowell	CLE	165
3	Dave McNally	BAL	153
4	Denny McLain	DET	152
5	Tommy John	CHA	150
6	Stan Bahnsen	NYA	145
7	Jim Nash	OAK	130
8	Joe Horlen	CHA	125
9	Blue Moon Odom	OAK	121
9	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	121

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Pete Rose	CIN	.335
2	Matty Alou	PIT	.332
3	Felipe Alou	ATL	.317
4	Alex Johnson	CIN	.312
5	Curt Flood	SLN	.301
6	Cleon Jones	NYN	.297
7	Glenn Beckert	CHN	.294
8	Willie McCovey	SFN	.293
9	Roberto Clemente	PIT	.291
9	Rusty Staub	HOU	.291

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Willie McCovey	SFN	36
2	Dick Allen	PHI	33
3	Ernie Banks	CHN	32
4	Billy Williams	CHN	30
5	Hank Aaron	ATL	29
6	Ron Santo	CHN	26
6	Jim Wynn	HOU	26
8	Jim Ray Hart	SFN	23
8	Willie Mays	SFN	23
10	Lee May	CIN	22

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Willie McCovey	SFN	105
2	Ron Santo	CHN	98
2	Billy Williams	CHN	98
4	Tony Perez	CIN	92
5	Dick Allen	PHI	90
6	Donn Clendenon	PIT	87
7	Hank Aaron	ATL	86
8	Ernie Banks	CHN	83
9	Johnny Bench	CIN	82
10	Lee May	CIN	80

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Glenn Beckert	CHN	98
2	Pete Rose	CIN	94
3	Tony Perez	CIN	93
4	Lou Brock	SLN	92
5	Billy Williams	CHN	91
6	Dick Allen	PHI	87
7	Willie Davis	LAN	86
7	Ron Santo	CHN	86
9	Jim Wynn	HOU	85
10	Hank Aaron	ATL	84

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Felipe Alou	ATL	210
1	Pete Rose	CIN	210
3	Glenn Beckert	CHN	189
4	Alex Johnson	CIN	188
5	Curt Flood	SLN	186
6	Matty Alou	PIT	185
6	Billy Williams	CHN	185
8	Lou Brock	SLN	184
9	Tony Perez	CIN	176
10	Hank Aaron	ATL	174

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Lou Brock	SLN	62
2	Maury Wills	PIT	52
3	Willie Davis	LAN	36
4	Hank Aaron	ATL	28
5	Cleon Jones	NYN	23
6	Tony Taylor	PHI	22
7	Matty Alou	PIT	18
8	Vada Pinson	CIN	17
9	Alex Johnson	CIN	16
10	Gene Alley	PIT	13

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Willie McCovey	SFN	185
2	Dick Allen	PHI	169
3	Pete Rose	CIN	167
4	Willie Mays	SFN	166
5	Hank Aaron	ATL	163
5	Jim Wynn	HOU	163
7	Roberto Clemente	PIT	159
8	Billy Williams	CHN	158
9	Felipe Alou	ATL	149
9	Lee May	CIN	149

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Juan Marichal	SFN	26
2	Bob Gibson	SLN	22
3	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	20
4	Nelson Briles	SLN	19
4	Jerry Koosman	NYN	19
4	Chris Short	PHI	19
7	Steve Blass	PIT	18
8	Bill Hands	CHN	16
8	Pat Jarvis	ATL	16
8	Jim Maloney	CIN	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Bob Gibson	SLN	1.12
2	Bobby Bolin	SFN	1.99
3	Bob Veale	PIT	2.05
4	Jerry Koosman	NYN	2.08
5	Steve Blass	PIT	2.12
6	Don Drysdale	LAN	2.15
7	Tom Seaver	NYN	2.20
8	Ray Washburn	SLN	2.26
9	Juan Marichal	SFN	2.43
10	Gaylord Perry	SFN	2.44

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Bob Gibson	SLN	268
2	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	260
3	Bill Singer	LAN	227
4	Juan Marichal	SFN	218
5	Ray Sadecki	SFN	206
6	Tom Seaver	NYN	205
7	Chris Short	PHI	202
8	Dave Giusti	HOU	186
9	Jim Maloney	CIN	181
10	Jerry Koosman	NYN	178

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Phil Regan	LAN/CHN	25
2	Clay Carroll	ATL/CIN	17
3	Jim Brewer	LAN	14
4	Ted Abernathy	CIN	13
4	Ron Taylor	NYN	13
4	Cecil Upshaw	ATL	13
7	Turk Farrell	PHI	12
7	Frank Linzy	SFN	12
9	Cal Koonce	NYN	11
10	Claude Raymond	ATL	10

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1968, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Bob Gibson	SLN	266
2	Bobby Bolin	SFN	150
3	Bob Veale	PIT	145
4	Jerry Koosman	NYN	143
5	Steve Blass	PIT	141
6	Don Drysdale	LAN	139
7	Tom Seaver	NYN	135
8	Ray Washburn	SLN	132
9	Juan Marichal	SFN	123
10	Gaylord Perry	SFN	122

How the 1968 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

1962 league leaders 1963 league leaders 1964 league leaders 1965 league leaders 1966 league leaders 1967 league leaders 1969 league leaders 1970 league leaders 1971 league leaders 1972 league leaders 1973 league leaders 1974 league leaders

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