Who led MLB in home runs in 1987?

Andre Dawson led the majors with 49 in 1987 (NL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1987?

Tony Gwynn hit ..370, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1987 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1987?

Roger Clemens led the majors with 20 wins in 1987 (AL).

1987 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19872 major leagues12 boards per league

Andre Dawson led the majors with 49 in 1987. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1987 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1986 leaders All seasons 1988 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Tony Gwynn	SDN	NL	.370
2	Wade Boggs	BOS	AL	.363
3	Paul Molitor	ML4	AL	.353
4	Alan Trammell	DET	AL	.343
5	Pedro Guerrero	LAN	NL	.338
6	Kirby Puckett	MIN	AL	.332
7	Tim Raines	MON	NL	.330
8	Don Mattingly	NYA	AL	.327
9	Kevin Seitzer	KCA	AL	.323
10	Tony Fernandez	TOR	AL	.322

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Andre Dawson	CHN	NL	49
1	Mark McGwire	OAK	AL	49
3	George Bell	TOR	AL	47
4	Dale Murphy	ATL	NL	44
5	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	NL	39
6	Eric Davis	CIN	NL	37
7	Howard Johnson	NYN	NL	36
8	Jack Clark	SLN	NL	35
8	Will Clark	SFN	NL	35
8	Mike Schmidt	PHI	NL	35

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Andre Dawson	CHN	NL	137
2	George Bell	TOR	AL	134
3	Dwight Evans	BOS	AL	123
3	Tim Wallach	MON	NL	123
5	Mark McGwire	OAK	AL	118
6	Wally Joyner	CAL	AL	117
7	Don Mattingly	NYA	AL	115
8	Jose Canseco	OAK	AL	113
8	Mike Schmidt	PHI	NL	113
10	Gary Gaetti	MIN	AL	109

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Tim Raines	MON	NL	123
2	Vince Coleman	SLN	NL	121
3	Eric Davis	CIN	NL	120
4	Tony Gwynn	SDN	NL	119
5	Dale Murphy	ATL	NL	115
6	Paul Molitor	ML4	AL	114
7	Juan Samuel	PHI	NL	113
8	George Bell	TOR	AL	111
9	Brian Downing	CAL	AL	110
9	Lou Whitaker	DET	AL	110

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Tony Gwynn	SDN	NL	218
2	Kirby Puckett	MIN	AL	207
2	Kevin Seitzer	KCA	AL	207
4	Alan Trammell	DET	AL	205
5	Wade Boggs	BOS	AL	200
6	Robin Yount	ML4	AL	198
7	George Bell	TOR	AL	188
8	Tony Fernandez	TOR	AL	186
8	Don Mattingly	NYA	AL	186
10	Pedro Guerrero	LAN	NL	184

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Vince Coleman	SLN	NL	109
2	Harold Reynolds	SEA	AL	60
3	Willie Wilson	KCA	AL	59
4	Tony Gwynn	SDN	NL	56
5	Billy Hatcher	HOU	NL	53
6	Gary Redus	CHA	AL	52
7	Eric Davis	CIN	NL	50
7	Tim Raines	MON	NL	50
9	Milt Thompson	PHI	NL	46
10	Paul Molitor	ML4	AL	45

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Jack Clark	SLN	NL	188
2	Wade Boggs	BOS	AL	176
3	Dale Murphy	ATL	NL	171
4	Eric Davis	CIN	NL	168
5	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	NL	166
6	Paul Molitor	ML4	AL	164
7	Tony Gwynn	SDN	NL	163
8	Tim Raines	MON	NL	161
9	Pedro Guerrero	LAN	NL	160
10	Dwight Evans	BOS	AL	159

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Roger Clemens	BOS	AL	20
1	Dave Stewart	OAK	AL	20
3	Mark Langston	SEA	AL	19
4	Teddy Higuera	ML4	AL	18
4	Charlie Hough	TEX	AL	18
4	Jack Morris	DET	AL	18
4	Bret Saberhagen	KCA	AL	18
4	Rick Sutcliffe	CHN	NL	18
9	Jimmy Key	TOR	AL	17
9	Shane Rawley	PHI	NL	17

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Jimmy Key	TOR	AL	2.76
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	NL	2.76
3	Frank Viola	MIN	AL	2.90
4	Roger Clemens	BOS	AL	2.97
5	Mike Dunne	PIT	NL	3.03
6	Orel Hershiser	LAN	NL	3.06
7	Rick Reuschel	PIT/SFN	NL	3.09
8	Dwight Gooden	NYN	NL	3.21
9	Bob Welch	LAN	NL	3.22
10	Mike Scott	HOU	NL	3.23

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	NL	270
2	Mark Langston	SEA	AL	262
3	Roger Clemens	BOS	AL	256
4	Teddy Higuera	ML4	AL	240
5	Mike Scott	HOU	NL	233
6	Charlie Hough	TEX	AL	223
7	Jack Morris	DET	AL	208
8	Dave Stewart	OAK	AL	205
9	Frank Viola	MIN	AL	197
10	Bert Blyleven	MIN	AL	196

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Steve Bedrosian	PHI	NL	40
2	Lee Smith	CHN	NL	36
3	Tom Henke	TOR	AL	34
4	Todd Worrell	SLN	NL	33
5	John Franco	CIN	NL	32
6	Jeff Reardon	MIN	AL	31
6	Dave Righetti	NYA	AL	31
8	Roger McDowell	NYN	NL	25
9	Dave Smith	HOU	NL	24
10	Dan Plesac	ML4	AL	23

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1987, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Jimmy Key	TOR	AL	162
2	Frank Viola	MIN	AL	154
3	Roger Clemens	BOS	AL	150
4	Nolan Ryan	HOU	NL	148
5	Mike Dunne	PIT	NL	135
6	Orel Hershiser	LAN	NL	133
6	Bret Saberhagen	KCA	AL	133
8	Jack Morris	DET	AL	132
8	Rick Reuschel	PIT/SFN	NL	132
10	Charlie Leibrandt	KCA	AL	131

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Wade Boggs	BOS	.363
2	Paul Molitor	ML4	.353
3	Alan Trammell	DET	.343
4	Kirby Puckett	MIN	.332
5	Don Mattingly	NYA	.327
6	Kevin Seitzer	KCA	.323
7	Tony Fernandez	TOR	.322
8	Julio Franco	CLE	.319
9	Larry Sheets	BAL	.316
10	Robin Yount	ML4	.312

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Mark McGwire	OAK	49
2	George Bell	TOR	47
3	Darrell Evans	DET	34
3	Dwight Evans	BOS	34
3	Kent Hrbek	MIN	34
3	Wally Joyner	CAL	34
3	Danny Tartabull	KCA	34
8	Cory Snyder	CLE	33
9	Tom Brunansky	MIN	32
9	Joe Carter	CLE	32

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	George Bell	TOR	134
2	Dwight Evans	BOS	123
3	Mark McGwire	OAK	118
4	Wally Joyner	CAL	117
5	Don Mattingly	NYA	115
6	Jose Canseco	OAK	113
7	Gary Gaetti	MIN	109
7	Ruben Sierra	TEX	109
9	Joe Carter	CLE	106
10	Alan Trammell	DET	105

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Paul Molitor	ML4	114
2	George Bell	TOR	111
3	Brian Downing	CAL	110
3	Lou Whitaker	DET	110
5	Dwight Evans	BOS	109
5	Alan Trammell	DET	109
7	Wade Boggs	BOS	108
8	Lloyd Moseby	TOR	106
9	Kevin Seitzer	KCA	105
10	Devon White	CAL	103

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Kirby Puckett	MIN	207
1	Kevin Seitzer	KCA	207
3	Alan Trammell	DET	205
4	Wade Boggs	BOS	200
5	Robin Yount	ML4	198
6	George Bell	TOR	188
7	Tony Fernandez	TOR	186
7	Don Mattingly	NYA	186
9	Danny Tartabull	KCA	180
10	Phil Bradley	SEA	179

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Harold Reynolds	SEA	60
2	Willie Wilson	KCA	59
3	Gary Redus	CHA	52
4	Paul Molitor	ML4	45
5	Phil Bradley	SEA	40
6	Lloyd Moseby	TOR	39
7	Brett Butler	CLE	33
8	Tony Fernandez	TOR	32
8	Julio Franco	CLE	32
8	Devon White	CAL	32

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Wade Boggs	BOS	176
2	Paul Molitor	ML4	164
3	Dwight Evans	BOS	159
4	Mark McGwire	OAK	156
5	Alan Trammell	DET	150
6	George Bell	TOR	148
7	Kent Hrbek	MIN	145
7	Don Mattingly	NYA	145
9	Danny Tartabull	KCA	144
10	Brook Jacoby	CLE	143

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Roger Clemens	BOS	20
1	Dave Stewart	OAK	20
3	Mark Langston	SEA	19
4	Teddy Higuera	ML4	18
4	Charlie Hough	TEX	18
4	Jack Morris	DET	18
4	Bret Saberhagen	KCA	18
8	Jimmy Key	TOR	17
8	Walt Terrell	DET	17
8	Frank Viola	MIN	17

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Jimmy Key	TOR	2.76
2	Frank Viola	MIN	2.90
3	Roger Clemens	BOS	2.97
4	Bret Saberhagen	KCA	3.36
5	Jack Morris	DET	3.38
6	Charlie Leibrandt	KCA	3.41
7	Jim Clancy	TOR	3.54
8	Floyd Bannister	CHA	3.58
9	Dave Stewart	OAK	3.68
10	Charlie Hough	TEX	3.79

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Mark Langston	SEA	262
2	Roger Clemens	BOS	256
3	Teddy Higuera	ML4	240
4	Charlie Hough	TEX	223
5	Jack Morris	DET	208
6	Dave Stewart	OAK	205
7	Frank Viola	MIN	197
8	Bert Blyleven	MIN	196
9	Mike Witt	CAL	192
10	Bruce Hurst	BOS	190

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Tom Henke	TOR	34
2	Jeff Reardon	MIN	31
2	Dave Righetti	NYA	31
4	Dan Plesac	ML4	23
5	DeWayne Buice	CAL	17
6	Dennis Eckersley	OAK	16
6	Dale Mohorcic	TEX	16
6	Bobby Thigpen	CHA	16
9	Chuck Crim	ML4	12
10	Wes Gardner	BOS	10

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1987, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Jimmy Key	TOR	162
2	Frank Viola	MIN	154
3	Roger Clemens	BOS	150
4	Bret Saberhagen	KCA	133
5	Jack Morris	DET	132
6	Charlie Leibrandt	KCA	131
7	Jim Clancy	TOR	126
8	Floyd Bannister	CHA	124
9	Dave Stewart	OAK	121
10	Charlie Hough	TEX	118

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Tony Gwynn	SDN	.370
2	Pedro Guerrero	LAN	.338
3	Tim Raines	MON	.330
4	John Kruk	SDN	.313
5	Dion James	ATL	.312
6	Will Clark	SFN	.308
7	Andres Galarraga	MON	.305
8	Ozzie Smith	SLN	.303
9	Milt Thompson	PHI	.302
10	Bobby Bonilla	PIT	.300

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Andre Dawson	CHN	49
2	Dale Murphy	ATL	44
3	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	39
4	Eric Davis	CIN	37
5	Howard Johnson	NYN	36
6	Jack Clark	SLN	35
6	Will Clark	SFN	35
6	Mike Schmidt	PHI	35
9	Kevin McReynolds	NYN	29
10	Juan Samuel	PHI	28

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Andre Dawson	CHN	137
2	Tim Wallach	MON	123
3	Mike Schmidt	PHI	113
4	Jack Clark	SLN	106
5	Willie McGee	SLN	105
5	Dale Murphy	ATL	105
7	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	104
8	Eric Davis	CIN	100
8	Juan Samuel	PHI	100
10	Howard Johnson	NYN	99

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Tim Raines	MON	123
2	Vince Coleman	SLN	121
3	Eric Davis	CIN	120
4	Tony Gwynn	SDN	119
5	Dale Murphy	ATL	115
6	Juan Samuel	PHI	113
7	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	108
8	Ozzie Smith	SLN	104
9	Mitch Webster	MON	101
10	Barry Bonds	PIT	99

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Tony Gwynn	SDN	218
2	Pedro Guerrero	LAN	184
3	Ozzie Smith	SLN	182
4	Vince Coleman	SLN	180
5	Andre Dawson	CHN	178
5	Juan Samuel	PHI	178
7	Bill Doran	HOU	177
7	Willie McGee	SLN	177
7	Tim Wallach	MON	177
10	Tim Raines	MON	175

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Vince Coleman	SLN	109
2	Tony Gwynn	SDN	56
3	Billy Hatcher	HOU	53
4	Eric Davis	CIN	50
4	Tim Raines	MON	50
6	Milt Thompson	PHI	46
7	Ozzie Smith	SLN	43
8	Gerald Perry	ATL	42
9	Steve Sax	LAN	37
10	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	36

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Jack Clark	SLN	188
2	Dale Murphy	ATL	171
3	Eric Davis	CIN	168
4	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	166
5	Tony Gwynn	SDN	163
6	Tim Raines	MON	161
7	Pedro Guerrero	LAN	160
8	Will Clark	SFN	157
9	Mike Schmidt	PHI	154
10	John Kruk	SDN	145

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Rick Sutcliffe	CHN	18
2	Shane Rawley	PHI	17
3	Orel Hershiser	LAN	16
3	Mike Scott	HOU	16
5	Dwight Gooden	NYN	15
5	Zane Smith	ATL	15
5	Bob Welch	LAN	15
8	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	14
9	Don Carman	PHI	13
9	Mike Dunne	PIT	13

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	2.76
2	Mike Dunne	PIT	3.03
3	Orel Hershiser	LAN	3.06
4	Rick Reuschel	PIT/SFN	3.09
5	Dwight Gooden	NYN	3.21
6	Bob Welch	LAN	3.22
7	Mike Scott	HOU	3.23
8	Dave Dravecky	SDN/SFN	3.43
9	Joe Magrane	SLN	3.54
10	Atlee Hammaker	SFN	3.58

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	270
2	Mike Scott	HOU	233
3	Bob Welch	LAN	196
4	Orel Hershiser	LAN	190
4	Fernando Valenzuela	LAN	190
6	Rick Sutcliffe	CHN	174
7	Ron Darling	NYN	167
8	Bob Sebra	MON	156
9	Dwight Gooden	NYN	148
10	Jamie Moyer	CHN	147

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Steve Bedrosian	PHI	40
2	Lee Smith	CHN	36
3	Todd Worrell	SLN	33
4	John Franco	CIN	32
5	Roger McDowell	NYN	25
6	Dave Smith	HOU	24
7	Don Robinson	PIT/SFN	19
8	Tim Burke	MON	18
9	Lance McCullers	SDN	16
9	Jesse Orosco	NYN	16

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1987, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	148
2	Mike Dunne	PIT	135
3	Orel Hershiser	LAN	133
4	Rick Reuschel	PIT/SFN	132
5	Dwight Gooden	NYN	127
5	Bob Welch	LAN	127
7	Mike Scott	HOU	126
8	Dave Dravecky	SDN/SFN	119
9	Joe Magrane	SLN	115
10	Danny Darwin	HOU	114

How the 1987 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

1981 league leaders 1982 league leaders 1983 league leaders 1984 league leaders 1985 league leaders 1986 league leaders 1988 league leaders 1989 league leaders 1990 league leaders 1991 league leaders 1992 league leaders 1993 league leaders

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