Who led MLB in home runs in 1978?

Jim Rice led the majors with 46 in 1978 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1978?

Dave Parker hit ..334, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1978 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1978?

Ron Guidry led the majors with 25 wins in 1978 (AL).

1978 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19782 major leagues12 boards per league

Jim Rice led the majors with 46 in 1978. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1978 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1977 leaders All seasons 1979 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Dave Parker	PIT	NL	.334
2	Rod Carew	MIN	AL	.333
3	Al Oliver	TEX	AL	.324
4	Steve Garvey	LAN	NL	.316
5	Jose Cruz	HOU	NL	.315
5	Jim Rice	BOS	AL	.315
7	Lou Piniella	NYA	AL	.314
8	Bill Madlock	SFN	NL	.309
9	Gene Richards	SDN	NL	.308
9	Dave Winfield	SDN	NL	.308

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Jim Rice	BOS	AL	46
2	George Foster	CIN	NL	40
3	Greg Luzinski	PHI	NL	35
4	Don Baylor	CAL	AL	34
4	Larry Hisle	ML4	AL	34
6	Andre Thornton	CLE	AL	33
7	Gorman Thomas	ML4	AL	32
8	Bobby Bonds	CHA/TEX	AL	31
8	Rico Carty	TOR/OAK	AL	31
10	Dave Parker	PIT	NL	30

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Jim Rice	BOS	AL	139
2	Rusty Staub	DET	AL	121
3	George Foster	CIN	NL	120
4	Dave Parker	PIT	NL	117
5	Larry Hisle	ML4	AL	115
6	Steve Garvey	LAN	NL	113
7	Andre Thornton	CLE	AL	105
8	Greg Luzinski	PHI	NL	101
9	Don Baylor	CAL	AL	99
9	Rico Carty	TOR/OAK	AL	99

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Ron LeFlore	DET	AL	126
2	Jim Rice	BOS	AL	121
3	Ivan de Jesus	CHN	NL	104
4	Don Baylor	CAL	AL	103
4	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	103
6	Dave Parker	PIT	NL	102
7	George Foster	CIN	NL	97
7	Andre Thornton	CLE	AL	97
9	Larry Hisle	ML4	AL	96
10	Omar Moreno	PIT	NL	95

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Jim Rice	BOS	AL	213
2	Steve Garvey	LAN	NL	202
3	Ron LeFlore	DET	AL	198
3	Pete Rose	CIN	NL	198
5	Enos Cabell	HOU	NL	195
6	Dave Parker	PIT	NL	194
7	Larry Bowa	PHI	NL	192
8	Rod Carew	MIN	AL	188
9	Thurman Munson	NYA	AL	183
10	Frank Taveras	PIT	NL	182

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Omar Moreno	PIT	NL	71
2	Ron LeFlore	DET	AL	68
3	Julio Cruz	SEA	AL	59
4	Bump Wills	TEX	AL	52
5	Frank Taveras	PIT	NL	46
6	Davey Lopes	LAN	NL	45
7	Bobby Bonds	CHA/TEX	AL	43
8	Ivan de Jesus	CHN	NL	41
9	Ozzie Smith	SDN	NL	40
10	Jose Cruz	HOU	NL	37

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Dave Parker	PIT	NL	181
2	Jeff Burroughs	ATL	NL	177
3	Reggie Smith	LAN	NL	170
4	Jim Rice	BOS	AL	169
5	Greg Luzinski	PHI	NL	163
6	George Foster	CIN	NL	159
7	Jack Clark	SFN	NL	156
7	Ted Simmons	SLN	NL	156
9	Larry Hisle	ML4	AL	153
9	Amos Otis	KCA	AL	153

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Ron Guidry	NYA	AL	25
2	Mike Caldwell	ML4	AL	22
3	Dennis Leonard	KCA	AL	21
3	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	21
3	Gaylord Perry	SDN	NL	21
6	Dennis Eckersley	BOS	AL	20
6	Ed Figueroa	NYA	AL	20
6	Ross Grimsley	MON	NL	20
9	Mike Flanagan	BAL	AL	19
9	Burt Hooton	LAN	NL	19

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Ron Guidry	NYA	AL	1.74
2	Jon Matlack	TEX	AL	2.27
3	Mike Caldwell	ML4	AL	2.36
4	Craig Swan	NYN	NL	2.43
5	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	2.46
6	Steve Rogers	MON	NL	2.47
7	Dave Goltz	MIN	AL	2.49
8	Pete Vuckovich	SLN	NL	2.54
9	Bob Knepper	SFN	NL	2.63
10	Burt Hooton	LAN	NL	2.71

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	J. R. Richard	HOU	NL	303
2	Nolan Ryan	CAL	AL	260
3	Ron Guidry	NYA	AL	248
3	Phil Niekro	ATL	NL	248
5	Tom Seaver	CIN	NL	226
6	Dennis Leonard	KCA	AL	183
7	Bert Blyleven	PIT	NL	182
8	John Montefusco	SFN	NL	177
9	Vida Blue	SFN	NL	171
10	Mike Flanagan	BAL	AL	167

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Rollie Fingers	SDN	NL	37
2	Kent Tekulve	PIT	NL	31
3	Doug Bair	CIN	NL	28
4	Rich Gossage	NYA	AL	27
4	Bruce Sutter	CHN	NL	27
6	Gene Garber	PHI/ATL	NL	25
6	Dave LaRoche	CAL	AL	25
8	Don Stanhouse	BAL	AL	24
9	Terry Forster	LAN	NL	22
10	Mike Marshall	MIN	AL	21

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1978, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Ron Guidry	NYA	AL	216
2	Jon Matlack	TEX	AL	166
3	Mike Caldwell	ML4	AL	159
4	Jim Palmer	BAL	AL	153
5	Dave Goltz	MIN	AL	151
6	Craig Swan	NYN	NL	147
7	Steve Rogers	MON	NL	145
8	Pete Vuckovich	SLN	NL	141
9	Larry Gura	KCA	AL	138
10	Bob Knepper	SFN	NL	136

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Rod Carew	MIN	.333
2	Al Oliver	TEX	.324
3	Jim Rice	BOS	.315
4	Lou Piniella	NYA	.314
5	Ben Oglivie	ML4	.303
6	Leon Roberts	SEA	.301
7	Fred Lynn	BOS	.298
7	Amos Otis	KCA	.298
9	Ron LeFlore	DET	.297
9	Thurman Munson	NYA	.297

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Jim Rice	BOS	46
2	Don Baylor	CAL	34
2	Larry Hisle	ML4	34
4	Andre Thornton	CLE	33
5	Gorman Thomas	ML4	32
6	Bobby Bonds	CHA/TEX	31
6	Rico Carty	TOR/OAK	31
8	Doug DeCinces	BAL	28
9	Gary Alexander	OAK/CLE	27
9	Reggie Jackson	NYA	27

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Jim Rice	BOS	139
2	Rusty Staub	DET	121
3	Larry Hisle	ML4	115
4	Andre Thornton	CLE	105
5	Don Baylor	CAL	99
5	Rico Carty	TOR/OAK	99
7	Reggie Jackson	NYA	97
8	Amos Otis	KCA	96
8	Jason Thompson	DET	96
10	Eddie Murray	BAL	95

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Ron LeFlore	DET	126
2	Jim Rice	BOS	121
3	Don Baylor	CAL	103
4	Andre Thornton	CLE	97
5	Larry Hisle	ML4	96
6	Carlton Fisk	BOS	94
7	Bobby Bonds	CHA/TEX	93
8	Hal McRae	KCA	90
9	Don Money	ML4	88
10	Willie Randolph	NYA	87

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Jim Rice	BOS	213
2	Ron LeFlore	DET	198
3	Rod Carew	MIN	188
4	Thurman Munson	NYA	183
5	Rusty Staub	DET	175
6	Eddie Murray	BAL	174
7	Chris Chambliss	NYA	171
8	Hal McRae	KCA	170
8	Al Oliver	TEX	170
10	Jason Thompson	DET	169

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Ron LeFlore	DET	68
2	Julio Cruz	SEA	59
3	Bump Wills	TEX	52
4	Bobby Bonds	CHA/TEX	43
5	Willie Randolph	NYA	36
6	Amos Otis	KCA	32
7	Toby Harrah	TEX	31
8	Paul Molitor	ML4	30
8	Jerry Remy	BOS	30
10	Rod Carew	MIN	27

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Jim Rice	BOS	169
2	Larry Hisle	ML4	153
2	Amos Otis	KCA	153
4	Andre Thornton	CLE	150
5	Leon Roberts	SEA	145
5	Ken Singleton	BAL	145
7	Fred Lynn	BOS	144
8	Doug DeCinces	BAL	143
8	Ben Oglivie	ML4	143
10	Gorman Thomas	ML4	142

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Ron Guidry	NYA	25
2	Mike Caldwell	ML4	22
3	Dennis Leonard	KCA	21
3	Jim Palmer	BAL	21
5	Dennis Eckersley	BOS	20
5	Ed Figueroa	NYA	20
7	Mike Flanagan	BAL	19
7	Paul Splittorff	KCA	19
9	Fergie Jenkins	TEX	18
9	Lary Sorensen	ML4	18

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Ron Guidry	NYA	1.74
2	Jon Matlack	TEX	2.27
3	Mike Caldwell	ML4	2.36
4	Jim Palmer	BAL	2.46
5	Dave Goltz	MIN	2.49
6	Larry Gura	KCA	2.72
7	Dennis Eckersley	BOS	2.99
7	Ed Figueroa	NYA	2.99
9	Geoff Zahn	MIN	3.03
10	Fergie Jenkins	TEX	3.04

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Nolan Ryan	CAL	260
2	Ron Guidry	NYA	248
3	Dennis Leonard	KCA	183
4	Mike Flanagan	BAL	167
5	Dennis Eckersley	BOS	162
6	Fergie Jenkins	TEX	157
6	Jon Matlack	TEX	157
8	Ken Kravec	CHA	154
9	Dennis Martinez	BAL	142
10	Tom Underwood	TOR	139

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Rich Gossage	NYA	27
2	Dave LaRoche	CAL	25
3	Don Stanhouse	BAL	24
4	Mike Marshall	MIN	21
5	Al Hrabosky	KCA	20
6	Lerrin LaGrow	CHA	16
7	John Hiller	DET	15
8	Elias Sosa	OAK	14
9	Jim Kern	CLE	13
9	Jim Willoughby	CHA	13

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1978, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Ron Guidry	NYA	216
2	Jon Matlack	TEX	166
3	Mike Caldwell	ML4	159
4	Jim Palmer	BAL	153
5	Dave Goltz	MIN	151
6	Larry Gura	KCA	138
7	Dennis Eckersley	BOS	126
7	Ed Figueroa	NYA	126
9	Fergie Jenkins	TEX	124
9	Geoff Zahn	MIN	124

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Dave Parker	PIT	.334
2	Steve Garvey	LAN	.316
3	Jose Cruz	HOU	.315
4	Bill Madlock	SFN	.309
5	Gene Richards	SDN	.308
5	Dave Winfield	SDN	.308
7	Jack Clark	SFN	.306
8	Pete Rose	CIN	.302
9	Jeff Burroughs	ATL	.301
9	Dave Concepcion	CIN	.301

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	George Foster	CIN	40
2	Greg Luzinski	PHI	35
3	Dave Parker	PIT	30
4	Reggie Smith	LAN	29
5	Jack Clark	SFN	25
5	Andre Dawson	MON	25
5	Ellis Valentine	MON	25
8	Dave Winfield	SDN	24
9	Jeff Burroughs	ATL	23
9	Ron Cey	LAN	23

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	George Foster	CIN	120
2	Dave Parker	PIT	117
3	Steve Garvey	LAN	113
4	Greg Luzinski	PHI	101
5	Jack Clark	SFN	98
6	Dave Winfield	SDN	97
7	Willie Montanez	NYN	96
8	Reggie Smith	LAN	93
9	Ron Cey	LAN	84
10	Jose Cruz	HOU	83

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Ivan de Jesus	CHN	104
2	Pete Rose	CIN	103
3	Dave Parker	PIT	102
4	George Foster	CIN	97
5	Omar Moreno	PIT	95
6	Davey Lopes	LAN	93
6	Mike Schmidt	PHI	93
8	Enos Cabell	HOU	92
9	Jack Clark	SFN	90
9	Ken Griffey	CIN	90

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Steve Garvey	LAN	202
2	Pete Rose	CIN	198
3	Enos Cabell	HOU	195
4	Dave Parker	PIT	194
5	Larry Bowa	PHI	192
6	Frank Taveras	PIT	182
7	Jack Clark	SFN	181
7	Garry Templeton	SLN	181
7	Dave Winfield	SDN	181
10	Warren Cromartie	MON	180

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Omar Moreno	PIT	71
2	Frank Taveras	PIT	46
3	Davey Lopes	LAN	45
4	Ivan de Jesus	CHN	41
5	Ozzie Smith	SDN	40
6	Jose Cruz	HOU	37
6	Gene Richards	SDN	37
8	Garry Templeton	SLN	34
9	Enos Cabell	HOU	33
9	Garry Maddox	PHI	33

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Dave Parker	PIT	181
2	Jeff Burroughs	ATL	177
3	Reggie Smith	LAN	170
4	Greg Luzinski	PHI	163
5	George Foster	CIN	159
6	Jack Clark	SFN	156
6	Ted Simmons	SLN	156
8	Dave Winfield	SDN	149
9	Bill Madlock	SFN	147
10	Steve Garvey	LAN	145

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Gaylord Perry	SDN	21
2	Ross Grimsley	MON	20
3	Burt Hooton	LAN	19
3	Phil Niekro	ATL	19
5	Vida Blue	SFN	18
5	J. R. Richard	HOU	18
7	Tommy John	LAN	17
7	Bob Knepper	SFN	17
9	Steve Carlton	PHI	16
9	Tom Seaver	CIN	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Craig Swan	NYN	2.43
2	Steve Rogers	MON	2.47
3	Pete Vuckovich	SLN	2.54
4	Bob Knepper	SFN	2.63
5	Burt Hooton	LAN	2.71
6	Gaylord Perry	SDN	2.73
7	Vida Blue	SFN	2.79
8	Steve Carlton	PHI	2.84
9	Ed Halicki	SFN	2.85
10	Randy Jones	SDN	2.88

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	J. R. Richard	HOU	303
2	Phil Niekro	ATL	248
3	Tom Seaver	CIN	226
4	Bert Blyleven	PIT	182
5	John Montefusco	SFN	177
6	Vida Blue	SFN	171
7	Steve Carlton	PHI	161
8	Jerry Koosman	NYN	160
9	Gaylord Perry	SDN	154
9	Don Sutton	LAN	154

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Rollie Fingers	SDN	37
2	Kent Tekulve	PIT	31
3	Doug Bair	CIN	28
4	Bruce Sutter	CHN	27
5	Gene Garber	PHI/ATL	25
6	Terry Forster	LAN	22
7	Ron Reed	PHI	17
8	Skip Lockwood	NYN	15
9	Gary Lavelle	SFN	14
10	Mike Garman	LAN/MON	13

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1978, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Craig Swan	NYN	147
2	Steve Rogers	MON	145
3	Pete Vuckovich	SLN	141
4	Bob Knepper	SFN	136
5	Burt Hooton	LAN	132
6	Gaylord Perry	SDN	131
7	Vida Blue	SFN	128
8	Steve Carlton	PHI	126
9	Ed Halicki	SFN	125
10	Randy Jones	SDN	124

How the 1978 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

1972 league leaders 1973 league leaders 1974 league leaders 1975 league leaders 1976 league leaders 1977 league leaders 1979 league leaders 1980 league leaders 1981 league leaders 1982 league leaders 1983 league leaders 1984 league leaders

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