Who led MLB in home runs in 1970?

Johnny Bench led the majors with 45 in 1970 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1970?

Rico Carty hit ..366, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1970 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1970?

Mike Cuellar led the majors with 24 wins in 1970 (AL).

1970 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19702 major leagues12 boards per league

Johnny Bench led the majors with 45 in 1970. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1970 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1969 leaders All seasons 1971 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Rico Carty	ATL	NL	.366
2	Alex Johnson	CAL	AL	.329
2	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	AL	.329
4	Tony Oliva	MIN	AL	.325
4	Manny Sanguillen	PIT	NL	.325
4	Joe Torre	SLN	NL	.325
7	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	.322
8	Wes Parker	LAN	NL	.319
9	Cito Gaston	SDN	NL	.318
10	Tony Perez	CIN	NL	.317

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Johnny Bench	CIN	NL	45
2	Frank Howard	WS2	AL	44
3	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	42
4	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	AL	41
5	Tony Perez	CIN	NL	40
5	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	AL	40
7	Willie McCovey	SFN	NL	39
8	Hank Aaron	ATL	NL	38
8	Nate Colbert	SDN	NL	38
10	Tony Conigliaro	BOS	AL	36

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Johnny Bench	CIN	NL	148
2	Tony Perez	CIN	NL	129
2	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	129
4	Frank Howard	WS2	AL	126
4	Willie McCovey	SFN	NL	126
6	Hank Aaron	ATL	NL	118
7	Tony Conigliaro	BOS	AL	116
8	Jim Hickman	CHN	NL	115
9	Boog Powell	BAL	AL	114
9	Ron Santo	CHN	NL	114

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	137
2	Bobby Bonds	SFN	NL	134
3	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	AL	125
4	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	120
4	Cesar Tovar	MIN	AL	120
6	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	114
7	Bobby Tolan	CIN	NL	112
8	Reggie Smith	BOS	AL	109
8	Roy White	NYA	AL	109
10	Tommie Agee	NYN	NL	107

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	205
1	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	205
3	Tony Oliva	MIN	AL	204
4	Joe Torre	SLN	NL	203
5	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	202
5	Alex Johnson	CAL	AL	202
7	Matty Alou	PIT	NL	201
8	Bobby Bonds	SFN	NL	200
9	Wes Parker	LAN	NL	196
10	Cesar Tovar	MIN	AL	195

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Bobby Tolan	CIN	NL	57
2	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	51
3	Bobby Bonds	SFN	NL	48
4	Bert Campaneris	OAK	AL	42
4	Joe Morgan	HOU	NL	42
6	Willie Davis	LAN	NL	38
6	Tommy Harper	ML4	AL	38
8	Sandy Alomar	CAL	AL	35
9	Pat Kelly	KCA	AL	34
10	Amos Otis	KCA	AL	33

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	AL	197
2	Willie McCovey	SFN	NL	191
3	Rico Carty	ATL	NL	187
4	Jim Hickman	CHN	NL	176
5	Frank Howard	WS2	AL	173
5	Boog Powell	BAL	AL	173
7	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	AL	172
7	Tony Perez	CIN	NL	172
9	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	168
10	Hank Aaron	ATL	NL	163

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Mike Cuellar	BAL	AL	24
1	Dave McNally	BAL	AL	24
1	Jim Perry	MIN	AL	24
4	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	23
4	Gaylord Perry	SFN	NL	23
6	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	NL	22
6	Clyde Wright	CAL	AL	22
8	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	20
8	Jim Merritt	CIN	NL	20
8	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	20

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	2.71
2	Tom Seaver	NYN	NL	2.82
3	Clyde Wright	CAL	AL	2.83
4	Fritz Peterson	NYA	AL	2.90
5	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	2.92
6	Dick Bosman	WS2	AL	3.00
7	Andy Messersmith	CAL	AL	3.01
8	Wayne Simpson	CIN	NL	3.02
9	Ray Culp	BOS	AL	3.04
9	Jim Perry	MIN	AL	3.04

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	304
2	Tom Seaver	NYN	NL	283
3	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	274
3	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	NL	274
5	Mickey Lolich	DET	AL	230
6	Gaylord Perry	SFN	NL	214
7	Bob Johnson	KCA	AL	206
8	Ken Holtzman	CHN	NL	202
9	Don Sutton	LAN	NL	201
10	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	199

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Wayne Granger	CIN	NL	35
2	Ron Perranoski	MIN	AL	34
3	Lindy McDaniel	NYA	AL	29
4	Darold Knowles	WS2	AL	27
4	Tom Timmermann	DET	AL	27
6	Dave Giusti	PIT	NL	26
7	Jim Brewer	LAN	NL	24
7	Mudcat Grant	OAK	AL	24
9	Claude Raymond	MON	NL	23
10	Dick Selma	PHI	NL	22

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1970, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Tom Seaver	NYN	NL	144
2	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	137
3	Wayne Simpson	CIN	NL	134
4	Luke Walker	PIT	NL	133
5	Clyde Wright	CAL	AL	131
6	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	130
7	Jerry Koosman	NYN	NL	129
8	Fritz Peterson	NYA	AL	128
9	Sam McDowell	CLE	AL	127
10	Dock Ellis	PIT	NL	126

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Alex Johnson	CAL	.329
1	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	.329
3	Tony Oliva	MIN	.325
4	Luis Aparicio	CHA	.313
5	Frank Robinson	BAL	.306
6	Reggie Smith	BOS	.303
7	Thurman Munson	NYA	.302
8	Danny Cater	NYA	.301
8	Lou Piniella	KCA	.301
10	Cesar Tovar	MIN	.300

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Frank Howard	WS2	44
2	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	41
3	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	40
4	Tony Conigliaro	BOS	36
5	Boog Powell	BAL	35
6	Bill Melton	CHA	33
7	Tommy Harper	ML4	31
8	Rico Petrocelli	BOS	29
9	Don Mincher	OAK	27
9	Bob Oliver	KCA	27

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Frank Howard	WS2	126
2	Tony Conigliaro	BOS	116
3	Boog Powell	BAL	114
4	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	113
5	Tony Oliva	MIN	107
6	Rico Petrocelli	BOS	103
7	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	102
8	Bob Oliver	KCA	99
9	Bill Melton	CHA	96
10	Brooks Robinson	BAL	94

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	125
2	Cesar Tovar	MIN	120
3	Reggie Smith	BOS	109
3	Roy White	NYA	109
5	Tommy Harper	ML4	104
6	Don Buford	BAL	99
7	Bert Campaneris	OAK	97
8	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	96
8	Tony Oliva	MIN	96
10	Jim Fregosi	CAL	95

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Tony Oliva	MIN	204
2	Alex Johnson	CAL	202
3	Cesar Tovar	MIN	195
4	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	186
5	Roy White	NYA	180
6	Tommy Harper	ML4	179
7	Amos Otis	KCA	176
7	Reggie Smith	BOS	176
9	Danny Cater	NYA	175
10	Luis Aparicio	CHA	173

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Bert Campaneris	OAK	42
2	Tommy Harper	ML4	38
3	Sandy Alomar	CAL	35
4	Pat Kelly	KCA	34
5	Amos Otis	KCA	33
6	Cesar Tovar	MIN	30
7	Reggie Jackson	OAK	26
8	Paul Blair	BAL	24
8	Roy White	NYA	24
10	Horace Clarke	NYA	23

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Carl Yastrzemski	BOS	197
2	Frank Howard	WS2	173
2	Boog Powell	BAL	173
4	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	172
5	Frank Robinson	BAL	161
6	Tommy Harper	ML4	155
7	Tony Oliva	MIN	149
8	Roy White	NYA	145
9	Reggie Smith	BOS	143
10	Sal Bando	OAK	140

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Mike Cuellar	BAL	24
1	Dave McNally	BAL	24
1	Jim Perry	MIN	24
4	Clyde Wright	CAL	22
5	Sam McDowell	CLE	20
5	Jim Palmer	BAL	20
5	Fritz Peterson	NYA	20
8	Catfish Hunter	OAK	18
9	Ray Culp	BOS	17
10	Dick Bosman	WS2	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Jim Palmer	BAL	2.71
2	Clyde Wright	CAL	2.83
3	Fritz Peterson	NYA	2.90
4	Sam McDowell	CLE	2.92
5	Dick Bosman	WS2	3.00
6	Andy Messersmith	CAL	3.01
7	Ray Culp	BOS	3.04
7	Jim Perry	MIN	3.04
9	Bob Johnson	KCA	3.07
10	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	3.09

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Sam McDowell	CLE	304
2	Mickey Lolich	DET	230
3	Bob Johnson	KCA	206
4	Jim Palmer	BAL	199
5	Ray Culp	BOS	197
6	Mike Cuellar	BAL	190
7	Dave McNally	BAL	185
8	Catfish Hunter	OAK	178
9	Jim Perry	MIN	168
10	Rudy May	CAL	164

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Ron Perranoski	MIN	34
2	Lindy McDaniel	NYA	29
3	Darold Knowles	WS2	27
3	Tom Timmermann	DET	27
5	Mudcat Grant	OAK	24
6	Wilbur Wood	CHA	21
7	Sparky Lyle	BOS	20
8	Ken Tatum	CAL	17
9	Jack Aker	NYA	16
10	Stan Williams	MIN	15

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1970, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Jim Palmer	BAL	137
2	Clyde Wright	CAL	131
3	Fritz Peterson	NYA	128
4	Sam McDowell	CLE	127
5	Dick Bosman	WS2	124
5	Andy Messersmith	CAL	124
7	Ray Culp	BOS	122
7	Jim Perry	MIN	122
9	Bob Johnson	KCA	121
10	Mel Stottlemyre	NYA	120

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Rico Carty	ATL	.366
2	Manny Sanguillen	PIT	.325
2	Joe Torre	SLN	.325
4	Billy Williams	CHN	.322
5	Wes Parker	LAN	.319
6	Cito Gaston	SDN	.318
7	Tony Perez	CIN	.317
8	Pete Rose	CIN	.316
8	Bobby Tolan	CIN	.316
10	Jim Hickman	CHN	.315

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Johnny Bench	CIN	45
2	Billy Williams	CHN	42
3	Tony Perez	CIN	40
4	Willie McCovey	SFN	39
5	Hank Aaron	ATL	38
5	Nate Colbert	SDN	38
7	Dick Allen	SLN	34
7	Orlando Cepeda	ATL	34
7	Lee May	CIN	34
10	Jim Hickman	CHN	32

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Johnny Bench	CIN	148
2	Tony Perez	CIN	129
2	Billy Williams	CHN	129
4	Willie McCovey	SFN	126
5	Hank Aaron	ATL	118
6	Jim Hickman	CHN	115
7	Ron Santo	CHN	114
8	Orlando Cepeda	ATL	111
8	Wes Parker	LAN	111
10	Dick Dietz	SFN	107

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Billy Williams	CHN	137
2	Bobby Bonds	SFN	134
3	Pete Rose	CIN	120
4	Lou Brock	SLN	114
5	Bobby Tolan	CIN	112
6	Tommie Agee	NYN	107
6	Tony Perez	CIN	107
8	Ken Henderson	SFN	104
9	Hank Aaron	ATL	103
10	Jim Hickman	CHN	102

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Pete Rose	CIN	205
1	Billy Williams	CHN	205
3	Joe Torre	SLN	203
4	Lou Brock	SLN	202
5	Matty Alou	PIT	201
6	Bobby Bonds	SFN	200
7	Wes Parker	LAN	196
8	Cito Gaston	SDN	186
8	Tony Perez	CIN	186
8	Bobby Tolan	CIN	186

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Bobby Tolan	CIN	57
2	Lou Brock	SLN	51
3	Bobby Bonds	SFN	48
4	Joe Morgan	HOU	42
5	Willie Davis	LAN	38
6	Tommie Agee	NYN	31
7	Maury Wills	LAN	28
8	Jose Cardenal	SLN	26
9	Larry Bowa	PHI	24
9	Jim Wynn	HOU	24

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Willie McCovey	SFN	191
2	Rico Carty	ATL	187
3	Jim Hickman	CHN	176
4	Tony Perez	CIN	172
5	Billy Williams	CHN	168
6	Hank Aaron	ATL	163
7	Dick Dietz	SFN	161
8	Dick Allen	SLN	157
9	Johnny Bench	CIN	154
10	Orlando Cepeda	ATL	149

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Bob Gibson	SLN	23
1	Gaylord Perry	SFN	23
3	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	22
4	Jim Merritt	CIN	20
5	Bill Hands	CHN	18
5	Carl Morton	MON	18
5	Gary Nolan	CIN	18
5	Tom Seaver	NYN	18
9	Ken Holtzman	CHN	17
10	Larry Dierker	HOU	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Tom Seaver	NYN	2.82
2	Wayne Simpson	CIN	3.02
3	Luke Walker	PIT	3.04
4	Bob Gibson	SLN	3.12
5	Jerry Koosman	NYN	3.14
6	Gaylord Perry	SFN	3.20
7	Dock Ellis	PIT	3.21
8	Gary Nolan	CIN	3.27
9	Danny Coombs	SDN	3.30
10	Milt Pappas	ATL/CHN	3.34

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Tom Seaver	NYN	283
2	Bob Gibson	SLN	274
2	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	274
4	Gaylord Perry	SFN	214
5	Ken Holtzman	CHN	202
6	Don Sutton	LAN	201
7	Steve Carlton	SLN	193
8	Larry Dierker	HOU	191
9	Pat Dobson	SDN	185
10	Gary Nolan	CIN	181

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Wayne Granger	CIN	35
2	Dave Giusti	PIT	26
3	Jim Brewer	LAN	24
4	Claude Raymond	MON	23
5	Dick Selma	PHI	22
6	Don McMahon	SFN	19
7	Fred Gladding	HOU	18
8	Clay Carroll	CIN	16
9	Ron Taylor	NYN	13
9	Hoyt Wilhelm	ATL/CHN	13

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1970, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Tom Seaver	NYN	144
2	Wayne Simpson	CIN	134
3	Luke Walker	PIT	133
4	Bob Gibson	SLN	130
5	Jerry Koosman	NYN	129
6	Dock Ellis	PIT	126
6	Gaylord Perry	SFN	126
8	Gary Nolan	CIN	124
9	Danny Coombs	SDN	123
10	Milt Pappas	ATL/CHN	121

How the 1970 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

1964 league leaders 1965 league leaders 1966 league leaders 1967 league leaders 1968 league leaders 1969 league leaders 1971 league leaders 1972 league leaders 1973 league leaders 1974 league leaders 1975 league leaders 1976 league leaders

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