Who led MLB in home runs in 1972?

Johnny Bench led the majors with 40 in 1972 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1972?

Billy Williams hit ..333, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1972 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1972?

Steve Carlton led the majors with 27 wins in 1972 (NL).

1972 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19722 major leagues12 boards per league

Johnny Bench led the majors with 40 in 1972. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1972 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1971 leaders All seasons 1973 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	.333
2	Ralph Garr	ATL	NL	.325
3	Dusty Baker	ATL	NL	.321
4	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	NL	.320
5	Rod Carew	MIN	AL	.318
6	Al Oliver	PIT	NL	.312
6	Lou Piniella	KCA	AL	.312
6	Bob Watson	HOU	NL	.312
9	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	.311
10	Dick Allen	CHA	AL	.308

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Johnny Bench	CIN	NL	40
2	Nate Colbert	SDN	NL	38
3	Dick Allen	CHA	AL	37
3	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	37
5	Hank Aaron	ATL	NL	34
6	Bobby Murcer	NYA	AL	33
6	Willie Stargell	PIT	NL	33
8	Dave Kingman	SFN	NL	29
8	Lee May	HOU	NL	29
10	Earl Williams	ATL	NL	28

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Johnny Bench	CIN	NL	125
2	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	122
3	Dick Allen	CHA	AL	113
4	Willie Stargell	PIT	NL	112
5	Nate Colbert	SDN	NL	111
6	John Mayberry	KCA	AL	100
7	Lee May	HOU	NL	98
8	Bobby Murcer	NYA	AL	96
8	Ted Simmons	SLN	NL	96
10	Tony Perez	CIN	NL	90

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Joe Morgan	CIN	NL	122
2	Bobby Bonds	SFN	NL	118
3	Jim Wynn	HOU	NL	117
4	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	107
5	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	NL	103
6	Bobby Murcer	NYA	AL	102
7	Jose Cardenal	CHN	NL	96
8	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	95
9	Joe Rudi	OAK	AL	94
10	Tommy Harper	BOS	AL	92

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	198
2	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	193
3	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	191
4	Joe Rudi	OAK	AL	181
5	Ralph Garr	ATL	NL	180
5	Ted Simmons	SLN	NL	180
7	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	NL	179
7	Lou Piniella	KCA	AL	179
9	Willie Davis	LAN	NL	178
10	Al Oliver	PIT	NL	176

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Lou Brock	SLN	NL	63
2	Joe Morgan	CIN	NL	58
3	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	NL	55
4	Bert Campaneris	OAK	AL	52
5	Dave Nelson	TEX	AL	51
6	Bobby Bonds	SFN	NL	44
7	Bobby Tolan	CIN	NL	42
8	Freddie Patek	KCA	AL	33
9	Amos Otis	KCA	AL	28
10	Jose Cardenal	CHN	NL	25

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Dick Allen	CHA	AL	213
2	Billy Williams	CHN	NL	193
3	Carlton Fisk	BOS	AL	178
4	John Mayberry	KCA	AL	176
5	Bobby Murcer	NYA	AL	174
6	Willie Stargell	PIT	NL	171
7	Johnny Bench	CIN	NL	169
7	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	NL	169
9	Mike Epstein	OAK	AL	166
10	Hank Aaron	ATL	NL	165

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Steve Carlton	PHI	NL	27
2	Gaylord Perry	CLE	AL	24
2	Wilbur Wood	CHA	AL	24
4	Mickey Lolich	DET	AL	22
5	Stan Bahnsen	CHA	AL	21
5	Catfish Hunter	OAK	AL	21
5	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	21
5	Tom Seaver	NYN	NL	21
9	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	NL	20
9	Claude Osteen	LAN	NL	20

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Luis Tiant	BOS	AL	1.91
2	Gaylord Perry	CLE	AL	1.92
3	Steve Carlton	PHI	NL	1.97
4	Gary Nolan	CIN	NL	1.99
5	Catfish Hunter	OAK	AL	2.04
6	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	2.07
7	Roger Nelson	KCA	AL	2.08
7	Don Sutton	LAN	NL	2.08
9	Mike Paul	TEX	AL	2.17
10	Nolan Ryan	CAL	AL	2.28

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Nolan Ryan	CAL	AL	329
2	Steve Carlton	PHI	NL	310
3	Mickey Lolich	DET	AL	250
4	Tom Seaver	NYN	NL	249
5	Gaylord Perry	CLE	AL	234
6	Bert Blyleven	MIN	AL	228
7	Joe Coleman	DET	AL	222
8	Tom Bradley	CHA	AL	209
9	Bob Gibson	SLN	NL	208
10	Don Sutton	LAN	NL	207

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Clay Carroll	CIN	NL	37
2	Sparky Lyle	NYA	AL	35
3	Terry Forster	CHA	AL	29
4	Tug McGraw	NYN	NL	27
5	Dave Giusti	PIT	NL	22
6	Rollie Fingers	OAK	AL	21
7	Wayne Granger	MIN	AL	19
8	Mike Marshall	MON	NL	18
9	Jack Aker	CHN	NL	17
9	Jim Brewer	LAN	NL	17

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1972, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Steve Carlton	PHI	NL	175
2	Gary Nolan	CIN	NL	173
3	Don Sutton	LAN	NL	166
4	Gaylord Perry	CLE	AL	160
4	Luis Tiant	BOS	AL	160
6	Catfish Hunter	OAK	AL	150
7	Jon Matlack	NYN	NL	149
8	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	148
9	Roger Nelson	KCA	AL	147
10	Mike Paul	TEX	AL	141

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Rod Carew	MIN	.318
2	Lou Piniella	KCA	.312
3	Dick Allen	CHA	.308
3	Carlos May	CHA	.308
5	Joe Rudi	OAK	.305
6	Richie Scheinblum	KCA	.300
7	John Mayberry	KCA	.298
8	Carlton Fisk	BOS	.293
8	Amos Otis	KCA	.293
10	Chris Chambliss	CLE	.292

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Dick Allen	CHA	37
2	Bobby Murcer	NYA	33
3	Mike Epstein	OAK	26
3	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	26
5	Reggie Jackson	OAK	25
5	John Mayberry	KCA	25
7	Norm Cash	DET	22
7	Bobby Darwin	MIN	22
7	Carlton Fisk	BOS	22
10	Boog Powell	BAL	21

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Dick Allen	CHA	113
2	John Mayberry	KCA	100
3	Bobby Murcer	NYA	96
4	George Scott	ML4	88
5	Boog Powell	BAL	81
6	Bobby Darwin	MIN	80
7	Sal Bando	OAK	77
8	Bob Oliver	KCA/CAL	76
9	Reggie Jackson	OAK	75
9	Rico Petrocelli	BOS	75

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Bobby Murcer	NYA	102
2	Joe Rudi	OAK	94
3	Tommy Harper	BOS	92
4	Dick Allen	CHA	90
5	Cesar Tovar	MIN	86
6	Bert Campaneris	OAK	85
7	Carlos May	CHA	83
8	Roy White	NYA	76
9	Amos Otis	KCA	75
9	Reggie Smith	BOS	75

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Joe Rudi	OAK	181
2	Lou Piniella	KCA	179
3	Bobby Murcer	NYA	171
4	Rod Carew	MIN	170
5	Carlos May	CHA	161
6	Amos Otis	KCA	158
6	Danny Thompson	MIN	158
8	Dick Allen	CHA	156
9	Bob Oliver	KCA/CAL	154
9	George Scott	ML4	154

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Bert Campaneris	OAK	52
2	Dave Nelson	TEX	51
3	Freddie Patek	KCA	33
4	Amos Otis	KCA	28
5	Tommy Harper	BOS	25
6	Rick Auerbach	ML4	24
7	Carlos May	CHA	23
7	Roy White	NYA	23
9	Cesar Tovar	MIN	21
10	Sandy Alomar	CAL	20

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Dick Allen	CHA	213
2	Carlton Fisk	BOS	178
3	John Mayberry	KCA	176
4	Bobby Murcer	NYA	174
5	Mike Epstein	OAK	166
6	Carlos May	CHA	160
7	Reggie Smith	BOS	158
8	Joe Rudi	OAK	154
9	Reggie Jackson	OAK	152
10	Harmon Killebrew	MIN	151

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Gaylord Perry	CLE	24
1	Wilbur Wood	CHA	24
3	Mickey Lolich	DET	22
4	Stan Bahnsen	CHA	21
4	Catfish Hunter	OAK	21
4	Jim Palmer	BAL	21
7	Joe Coleman	DET	19
7	Ken Holtzman	OAK	19
7	Nolan Ryan	CAL	19
10	Mike Cuellar	BAL	18

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Luis Tiant	BOS	1.91
2	Gaylord Perry	CLE	1.92
3	Catfish Hunter	OAK	2.04
4	Jim Palmer	BAL	2.07
5	Roger Nelson	KCA	2.08
6	Mike Paul	TEX	2.17
7	Nolan Ryan	CAL	2.28
8	Steve Kline	NYA	2.40
9	Mickey Lolich	DET	2.50
9	Blue Moon Odom	OAK	2.50

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Nolan Ryan	CAL	329
2	Mickey Lolich	DET	250
3	Gaylord Perry	CLE	234
4	Bert Blyleven	MIN	228
5	Joe Coleman	DET	222
6	Tom Bradley	CHA	209
7	Wilbur Wood	CHA	193
8	Catfish Hunter	OAK	191
9	Jim Palmer	BAL	184
10	Rudy May	CAL	169

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Sparky Lyle	NYA	35
2	Terry Forster	CHA	29
3	Rollie Fingers	OAK	21
4	Wayne Granger	MIN	19
5	Ken Sanders	ML4	17
6	Horacio Pina	TEX	15
7	Chuck Seelbach	DET	14
8	Frank Linzy	ML4	12
8	Fred Scherman	DET	12
10	Darold Knowles	OAK	11

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1972, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Gaylord Perry	CLE	160
1	Luis Tiant	BOS	160
3	Catfish Hunter	OAK	150
4	Jim Palmer	BAL	148
5	Roger Nelson	KCA	147
6	Mike Paul	TEX	141
7	Nolan Ryan	CAL	134
8	Steve Kline	NYA	128
9	Ken Holtzman	OAK	122
9	Mickey Lolich	DET	122

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Billy Williams	CHN	.333
2	Ralph Garr	ATL	.325
3	Dusty Baker	ATL	.321
4	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	.320
5	Al Oliver	PIT	.312
5	Bob Watson	HOU	.312
7	Lou Brock	SLN	.311
8	Pete Rose	CIN	.307
9	Ted Simmons	SLN	.303
10	Ron Santo	CHN	.302

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Johnny Bench	CIN	40
2	Nate Colbert	SDN	38
3	Billy Williams	CHN	37
4	Hank Aaron	ATL	34
5	Willie Stargell	PIT	33
6	Dave Kingman	SFN	29
6	Lee May	HOU	29
8	Earl Williams	ATL	28
9	Bobby Bonds	SFN	26
10	Jim Wynn	HOU	24

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Johnny Bench	CIN	125
2	Billy Williams	CHN	122
3	Willie Stargell	PIT	112
4	Nate Colbert	SDN	111
5	Lee May	HOU	98
6	Ted Simmons	SLN	96
7	Tony Perez	CIN	90
7	Doug Rader	HOU	90
7	Jim Wynn	HOU	90
10	Al Oliver	PIT	89

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Joe Morgan	CIN	122
2	Bobby Bonds	SFN	118
3	Jim Wynn	HOU	117
4	Pete Rose	CIN	107
5	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	103
6	Jose Cardenal	CHN	96
7	Billy Williams	CHN	95
8	Al Oliver	PIT	88
8	Bobby Tolan	CIN	88
10	Johnny Bench	CIN	87

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Pete Rose	CIN	198
2	Lou Brock	SLN	193
3	Billy Williams	CHN	191
4	Ralph Garr	ATL	180
4	Ted Simmons	SLN	180
6	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	179
7	Willie Davis	LAN	178
8	Al Oliver	PIT	176
9	Bobby Tolan	CIN	171
9	Bob Watson	HOU	171

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Lou Brock	SLN	63
2	Joe Morgan	CIN	58
3	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	55
4	Bobby Bonds	SFN	44
5	Bobby Tolan	CIN	42
6	Jose Cardenal	CHN	25
6	Ralph Garr	ATL	25
8	Roger Metzger	HOU	23
9	Willie Davis	LAN	20
10	Larry Bowa	PHI	17

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Billy Williams	CHN	193
2	Willie Stargell	PIT	171
3	Johnny Bench	CIN	169
3	Cesar Cedeno	HOU	169
5	Hank Aaron	ATL	165
6	Dusty Baker	ATL	160
7	Richie Hebner	PIT	159
8	Ron Santo	CHN	158
9	Jim Wynn	HOU	153
10	Joe Morgan	CIN	152

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Steve Carlton	PHI	27
2	Tom Seaver	NYN	21
3	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	20
3	Claude Osteen	LAN	20
5	Steve Blass	PIT	19
5	Bob Gibson	SLN	19
5	Don Sutton	LAN	19
8	Milt Pappas	CHN	17
9	Phil Niekro	ATL	16
9	Mike Torrez	MON	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Steve Carlton	PHI	1.97
2	Gary Nolan	CIN	1.99
3	Don Sutton	LAN	2.08
4	Jon Matlack	NYN	2.32
5	Bob Gibson	SLN	2.46
6	Steve Blass	PIT	2.49
7	Claude Osteen	LAN	2.64
8	Don Wilson	HOU	2.68
9	Dock Ellis	PIT	2.70
10	Milt Pappas	CHN	2.77

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Steve Carlton	PHI	310
2	Tom Seaver	NYN	249
3	Bob Gibson	SLN	208
4	Don Sutton	LAN	207
5	Fergie Jenkins	CHN	184
6	Clay Kirby	SDN	175
7	Jerry Reuss	HOU	174
8	Don Wilson	HOU	172
9	Bill Stoneman	MON	171
10	Jon Matlack	NYN	169

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Clay Carroll	CIN	37
2	Tug McGraw	NYN	27
3	Dave Giusti	PIT	22
4	Mike Marshall	MON	18
5	Jack Aker	CHN	17
5	Jim Brewer	LAN	17
7	Ramon Hernandez	PIT	14
8	Cecil Upshaw	ATL	13
9	Pedro Borbon	CIN	11
10	Danny Frisella	NYN	9

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1972, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Steve Carlton	PHI	175
2	Gary Nolan	CIN	173
3	Don Sutton	LAN	166
4	Jon Matlack	NYN	149
5	Bob Gibson	SLN	140
6	Steve Blass	PIT	139
7	Claude Osteen	LAN	131
8	Don Wilson	HOU	129
9	Dock Ellis	PIT	128
10	Milt Pappas	CHN	125

How the 1972 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

1966 league leaders 1967 league leaders 1968 league leaders 1969 league leaders 1970 league leaders 1971 league leaders 1973 league leaders 1974 league leaders 1975 league leaders 1976 league leaders 1977 league leaders 1978 league leaders

All seasons, 1871-2025 Statcast leaderboards