Who led MLB in home runs in 1981?

Mike Schmidt led the majors with 31 in 1981 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1981?

Carney Lansford hit ..336, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1981 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1981?

Dennis Martinez led the majors with 14 wins in 1981 (AL).

1981 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19812 major leagues12 boards per league

Mike Schmidt led the majors with 31 in 1981. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1981 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

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League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Carney Lansford	BOS	AL	.336
2	Tom Paciorek	SEA	AL	.326
3	Pete Rose	PHI	NL	.325
4	Dusty Baker	LAN	NL	.320
4	Cecil Cooper	ML4	AL	.320
6	Rickey Henderson	OAK	AL	.319
7	Mike Hargrove	CLE	AL	.317
8	Mike Schmidt	PHI	NL	.316
9	George Brett	KCA	AL	.314
10	Bill Buckner	CHN	NL	.311

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Mike Schmidt	PHI	NL	31
2	Andre Dawson	MON	NL	24
3	Tony Armas	OAK	AL	22
3	Dwight Evans	BOS	AL	22
3	George Foster	CIN	NL	22
3	Bobby Grich	CAL	AL	22
3	Dave Kingman	NYN	NL	22
3	Eddie Murray	BAL	AL	22
9	Greg Luzinski	CHA	AL	21
9	Gorman Thomas	ML4	AL	21

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Mike Schmidt	PHI	NL	91
2	George Foster	CIN	NL	90
3	Eddie Murray	BAL	AL	78
4	Tony Armas	OAK	AL	76
5	Bill Buckner	CHN	NL	75
6	Ben Oglivie	ML4	AL	72
7	Dwight Evans	BOS	AL	71
8	Gary Carter	MON	NL	68
8	Dave Winfield	NYA	AL	68
10	Dave Concepcion	CIN	NL	67

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Rickey Henderson	OAK	AL	89
2	Dwight Evans	BOS	AL	84
3	Mike Schmidt	PHI	NL	78
4	Pete Rose	PHI	NL	73
5	Andre Dawson	MON	NL	71
6	Cecil Cooper	ML4	AL	70
7	George Hendrick	SLN	NL	67
8	Ken Griffey	CIN	NL	65
8	Keith Hernandez	SLN	NL	65
10	George Foster	CIN	NL	64

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Pete Rose	PHI	NL	140
2	Rickey Henderson	OAK	AL	135
3	Carney Lansford	BOS	AL	134
4	Cecil Cooper	ML4	AL	133
4	Willie Wilson	KCA	AL	133
6	Tom Paciorek	SEA	AL	132
7	Bill Buckner	CHN	NL	131
8	Al Oliver	TEX	AL	130
9	Dave Concepcion	CIN	NL	129
10	Dusty Baker	LAN	NL	128

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Tim Raines	MON	NL	71
2	Rickey Henderson	OAK	AL	56
3	Julio Cruz	SEA	AL	43
4	Omar Moreno	PIT	NL	39
5	Ron LeFlore	CHA	AL	36
6	Willie Wilson	KCA	AL	34
7	Rodney Scott	MON	NL	30
8	Dave Collins	CIN	NL	26
8	Andre Dawson	MON	NL	26
10	Leon Durham	CHN	NL	25

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Mike Schmidt	PHI	NL	213
2	Dwight Evans	BOS	AL	170
3	Andre Dawson	MON	NL	166
4	Bobby Grich	CAL	AL	164
5	George Foster	CIN	NL	159
6	Eddie Murray	BAL	AL	156
7	Tom Paciorek	SEA	AL	155
8	Keith Hernandez	SLN	NL	153
9	Chet Lemon	CHA	AL	151
10	Gary Matthews	PHI	NL	149

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Dennis Martinez	BAL	AL	14
1	Steve McCatty	OAK	AL	14
1	Jack Morris	DET	AL	14
1	Tom Seaver	CIN	NL	14
1	Pete Vuckovich	ML4	AL	14
6	Steve Carlton	PHI	NL	13
6	Dennis Leonard	KCA	AL	13
6	Scott McGregor	BAL	AL	13
6	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	NL	13
10	Rick Langford	OAK	AL	12

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	NL	1.69
2	Bob Knepper	HOU	NL	2.18
3	Burt Hooton	LAN	NL	2.28
4	Jerry Reuss	LAN	NL	2.30
5	Sammy Stewart	BAL	AL	2.32
6	Steve McCatty	OAK	AL	2.33
7	Dennis Lamp	CHA	AL	2.41
8	Steve Carlton	PHI	NL	2.42
9	Vida Blue	SFN	NL	2.45
10	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	NL	2.48

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	NL	180
2	Steve Carlton	PHI	NL	179
3	Mario Soto	CIN	NL	151
4	Nolan Ryan	HOU	NL	140
5	Len Barker	CLE	AL	127
6	Bill Gullickson	MON	NL	115
7	Britt Burns	CHA	AL	108
8	Bert Blyleven	CLE	AL	107
8	Dennis Leonard	KCA	AL	107
10	Bruce Berenyi	CIN	NL	106

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Rollie Fingers	ML4	AL	28
2	Bruce Sutter	SLN	NL	25
3	Greg Minton	SFN	NL	21
4	Rich Gossage	NYA	AL	20
5	Neil Allen	NYN	NL	18
5	Dan Quisenberry	KCA	AL	18
7	Rick Camp	ATL	NL	17
7	Doug Corbett	MIN	AL	17
9	Tom Hume	CIN	NL	13
9	Gary Lucas	SDN	NL	13

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1981, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	NL	206
2	Bob Knepper	HOU	NL	160
3	Steve McCatty	OAK	AL	157
3	Sammy Stewart	BAL	AL	157
5	Burt Hooton	LAN	NL	153
6	Dennis Lamp	CHA	AL	152
6	Jerry Reuss	LAN	NL	152
8	Steve Carlton	PHI	NL	144
9	Vida Blue	SFN	NL	142
10	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	NL	141

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Carney Lansford	BOS	.336
2	Tom Paciorek	SEA	.326
3	Cecil Cooper	ML4	.320
4	Rickey Henderson	OAK	.319
5	Mike Hargrove	CLE	.317
6	George Brett	KCA	.314
7	Richie Zisk	SEA	.311
8	Al Oliver	TEX	.309
9	Jerry Mumphrey	NYA	.307
9	Jerry Remy	BOS	.307

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Tony Armas	OAK	22
1	Dwight Evans	BOS	22
1	Bobby Grich	CAL	22
1	Eddie Murray	BAL	22
5	Greg Luzinski	CHA	21
5	Gorman Thomas	ML4	21
7	Willie Aikens	KCA	17
7	Don Baylor	CAL	17
7	John Mayberry	TOR	17
7	Jim Rice	BOS	17

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Eddie Murray	BAL	78
2	Tony Armas	OAK	76
3	Ben Oglivie	ML4	72
4	Dwight Evans	BOS	71
5	Dave Winfield	NYA	68
6	Don Baylor	CAL	66
6	Tom Paciorek	SEA	66
8	Gorman Thomas	ML4	65
9	Buddy Bell	TEX	64
10	Greg Luzinski	CHA	62

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Rickey Henderson	OAK	89
2	Dwight Evans	BOS	84
3	Cecil Cooper	ML4	70
4	Toby Harrah	CLE	64
5	Mickey Rivers	TEX	62
6	Al Bumbry	BAL	61
6	Carney Lansford	BOS	61
8	Willie Randolph	NYA	59
9	Dwayne Murphy	OAK	58
10	Rod Carew	CAL	57

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Rickey Henderson	OAK	135
2	Carney Lansford	BOS	134
3	Cecil Cooper	ML4	133
3	Willie Wilson	KCA	133
5	Tom Paciorek	SEA	132
6	Al Oliver	TEX	130
7	Jim Rice	BOS	128
8	Rick Burleson	CAL	126
9	Dwight Evans	BOS	122
10	Tony Armas	OAK	115

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Rickey Henderson	OAK	56
2	Julio Cruz	SEA	43
3	Ron LeFlore	CHA	36
4	Willie Wilson	KCA	34
5	Rick Manning	CLE	25
6	Al Bumbry	BAL	22
7	Bill Almon	CHA	16
7	Rod Carew	CAL	16
7	Amos Otis	KCA	16
10	Carney Lansford	BOS	15

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Dwight Evans	BOS	170
2	Bobby Grich	CAL	164
3	Eddie Murray	BAL	156
4	Tom Paciorek	SEA	155
5	Chet Lemon	CHA	151
6	Cecil Cooper	ML4	146
7	Rickey Henderson	OAK	145
8	Richie Zisk	SEA	144
9	George Brett	KCA	143
10	Greg Luzinski	CHA	142

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Dennis Martinez	BAL	14
1	Steve McCatty	OAK	14
1	Jack Morris	DET	14
1	Pete Vuckovich	ML4	14
5	Dennis Leonard	KCA	13
5	Scott McGregor	BAL	13
7	Rick Langford	OAK	12
7	Mike Norris	OAK	12
7	Milt Wilcox	DET	12
10	Bert Blyleven	CLE	11

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Sammy Stewart	BAL	2.32
2	Steve McCatty	OAK	2.33
3	Dennis Lamp	CHA	2.41
4	Tommy John	NYA	2.63
5	Britt Burns	CHA	2.64
6	Larry Gura	KCA	2.72
7	Ron Guidry	NYA	2.76
8	Bert Blyleven	CLE	2.88
8	Ken Forsch	CAL	2.88
10	Rick Langford	OAK	2.99

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Len Barker	CLE	127
2	Britt Burns	CHA	108
3	Bert Blyleven	CLE	107
3	Dennis Leonard	KCA	107
5	Ron Guidry	NYA	104
6	Danny Darwin	TEX	98
7	Jack Morris	DET	97
8	John Denny	CLE	94
9	Steve McCatty	OAK	91
10	Dave Stieb	TOR	89

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Rollie Fingers	ML4	28
2	Rich Gossage	NYA	20
3	Dan Quisenberry	KCA	18
4	Doug Corbett	MIN	17
5	Kevin Saucier	DET	13
6	Don Aase	CAL	11
6	Tippy Martinez	BAL	11
8	Ed Farmer	CHA	10
8	LaMarr Hoyt	CHA	10
8	Joey McLaughlin	TOR	10

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1981, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Steve McCatty	OAK	157
1	Sammy Stewart	BAL	157
3	Dennis Lamp	CHA	152
4	Tommy John	NYA	139
5	Britt Burns	CHA	138
6	Larry Gura	KCA	135
7	Ron Guidry	NYA	132
8	Bert Blyleven	CLE	127
8	Ken Forsch	CAL	127
10	Rick Langford	OAK	122

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Pete Rose	PHI	.325
2	Dusty Baker	LAN	.320
3	Mike Schmidt	PHI	.316
4	Bill Buckner	CHN	.311
4	Ken Griffey	CIN	.311
6	Milt May	SFN	.310
7	Hubie Brooks	NYN	.307
8	Dave Concepcion	CIN	.306
8	Keith Hernandez	SLN	.306
10	Warren Cromartie	MON	.304

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Mike Schmidt	PHI	31
2	Andre Dawson	MON	24
3	George Foster	CIN	22
3	Dave Kingman	NYN	22
5	George Hendrick	SLN	18
6	Jack Clark	SFN	17
7	Gary Carter	MON	16
8	Ron Cey	LAN	13
8	Jose Cruz	HOU	13
8	Dale Murphy	ATL	13

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Mike Schmidt	PHI	91
2	George Foster	CIN	90
3	Bill Buckner	CHN	75
4	Gary Carter	MON	68
5	Dave Concepcion	CIN	67
5	Gary Matthews	PHI	67
7	Andre Dawson	MON	64
7	Steve Garvey	LAN	64
9	George Hendrick	SLN	61
10	Dave Kingman	NYN	59

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Mike Schmidt	PHI	78
2	Pete Rose	PHI	73
3	Andre Dawson	MON	71
4	George Hendrick	SLN	67
5	Ken Griffey	CIN	65
5	Keith Hernandez	SLN	65
7	George Foster	CIN	64
8	Dave Collins	CIN	63
8	Steve Garvey	LAN	63
10	Gary Matthews	PHI	62

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Pete Rose	PHI	140
2	Bill Buckner	CHN	131
3	Dave Concepcion	CIN	129
4	Dusty Baker	LAN	128
5	Ken Griffey	CIN	123
6	George Foster	CIN	122
6	Steve Garvey	LAN	122
8	Luis Salazar	SDN	121
9	Omar Moreno	PIT	120
10	Andre Dawson	MON	119

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Tim Raines	MON	71
2	Omar Moreno	PIT	39
3	Rodney Scott	MON	30
4	Dave Collins	CIN	26
4	Andre Dawson	MON	26
6	Leon Durham	CHN	25
7	Mookie Wilson	NYN	24
8	Tom Herr	SLN	23
9	Terry Puhl	HOU	22
9	Ozzie Smith	SDN	22

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Mike Schmidt	PHI	213
2	Andre Dawson	MON	166
3	George Foster	CIN	159
4	Keith Hernandez	SLN	153
5	Gary Matthews	PHI	149
6	Ron Cey	LAN	147
7	George Hendrick	SLN	145
8	Tim Raines	MON	143
9	Pedro Guerrero	LAN	142
10	Bill Buckner	CHN	141

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Tom Seaver	CIN	14
2	Steve Carlton	PHI	13
2	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	13
4	Steve Rogers	MON	12
4	Dick Ruthven	PHI	12
4	Mario Soto	CIN	12
7	Doyle Alexander	SFN	11
7	Burt Hooton	LAN	11
7	Nolan Ryan	HOU	11
7	Don Sutton	HOU	11

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	1.69
2	Bob Knepper	HOU	2.18
3	Burt Hooton	LAN	2.28
4	Jerry Reuss	LAN	2.30
5	Steve Carlton	PHI	2.42
6	Vida Blue	SFN	2.45
7	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	2.48
8	Tom Seaver	CIN	2.54
9	Don Sutton	HOU	2.61
10	Bill Gullickson	MON	2.80

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	180
2	Steve Carlton	PHI	179
3	Mario Soto	CIN	151
4	Nolan Ryan	HOU	140
5	Bill Gullickson	MON	115
6	Bruce Berenyi	CIN	106
7	Don Sutton	HOU	104
8	Mike Krukow	CHN	101
9	Bob Welch	LAN	88
10	Steve Rogers	MON	87

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Bruce Sutter	SLN	25
2	Greg Minton	SFN	21
3	Neil Allen	NYN	18
4	Rick Camp	ATL	17
5	Tom Hume	CIN	13
5	Gary Lucas	SDN	13
7	Tug McGraw	PHI	10
7	Joe Sambito	HOU	10
9	Enrique Romo	PIT	9
9	Dick Tidrow	CHN	9

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1981, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	206
2	Bob Knepper	HOU	160
3	Burt Hooton	LAN	153
4	Jerry Reuss	LAN	152
5	Steve Carlton	PHI	144
6	Vida Blue	SFN	142
7	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	141
8	Tom Seaver	CIN	137
9	Don Sutton	HOU	134
10	Bill Gullickson	MON	125

How the 1981 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

1975 league leaders 1976 league leaders 1977 league leaders 1978 league leaders 1979 league leaders 1980 league leaders 1982 league leaders 1983 league leaders 1984 league leaders 1985 league leaders 1986 league leaders 1987 league leaders

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