Who led MLB in home runs in 1988?

Jose Canseco led the majors with 42 in 1988 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1988?

Wade Boggs hit ..366, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1988 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1988?

Frank Viola led the majors with 24 wins in 1988 (AL).

1988 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19882 major leagues12 boards per league

Jose Canseco led the majors with 42 in 1988. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1988 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1987 leaders All seasons 1989 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Wade Boggs	BOS	AL	.366
2	Kirby Puckett	MIN	AL	.356
3	Mike Greenwell	BOS	AL	.325
4	Dave Winfield	NYA	AL	.322
5	Tony Gwynn	SDN	NL	.313
6	Kent Hrbek	MIN	AL	.312
6	Paul Molitor	ML4	AL	.312
8	Don Mattingly	NYA	AL	.311
8	Alan Trammell	DET	AL	.311
10	Jose Canseco	OAK	AL	.307

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Jose Canseco	OAK	AL	42
2	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	NL	39
3	Fred McGriff	TOR	AL	34
4	Mark McGwire	OAK	AL	32
5	Glenn Davis	HOU	NL	30
6	Will Clark	SFN	NL	29
6	Andres Galarraga	MON	NL	29
8	Gary Gaetti	MIN	AL	28
8	Eddie Murray	BAL	AL	28
10	Joe Carter	CLE	AL	27

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Jose Canseco	OAK	AL	124
2	Kirby Puckett	MIN	AL	121
3	Mike Greenwell	BOS	AL	119
4	Dwight Evans	BOS	AL	111
5	Will Clark	SFN	NL	109
6	Dave Winfield	NYA	AL	107
7	George Brett	KCA	AL	103
8	Danny Tartabull	KCA	AL	102
9	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	NL	101
10	Bobby Bonilla	PIT	NL	100

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Wade Boggs	BOS	AL	128
2	Jose Canseco	OAK	AL	120
3	Rickey Henderson	NYA	AL	118
4	Paul Molitor	ML4	AL	115
5	Brett Butler	SFN	NL	109
5	Kirby Puckett	MIN	AL	109
7	Kirk Gibson	LAN	NL	106
8	Will Clark	SFN	NL	102
9	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	NL	101
9	Andy Van Slyke	PIT	NL	101

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Kirby Puckett	MIN	AL	234
2	Wade Boggs	BOS	AL	214
3	Mike Greenwell	BOS	AL	192
4	Paul Molitor	ML4	AL	190
4	Robin Yount	ML4	AL	190
6	Jose Canseco	OAK	AL	187
7	Tony Fernandez	TOR	AL	186
7	Julio Franco	CLE	AL	186
7	Don Mattingly	NYA	AL	186
10	Andres Galarraga	MON	NL	184

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Rickey Henderson	NYA	AL	93
2	Vince Coleman	SLN	NL	81
3	Gerald Young	HOU	NL	65
4	Ozzie Smith	SLN	NL	57
5	Chris Sabo	CIN	NL	46
6	Gary Pettis	DET	AL	44
7	Brett Butler	SFN	NL	43
8	Steve Sax	LAN	NL	42
9	Willie McGee	SLN	NL	41
9	Paul Molitor	ML4	AL	41

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Wade Boggs	BOS	AL	172
2	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	NL	168
3	Jose Canseco	OAK	AL	166
4	Will Clark	SFN	NL	164
4	Mike Greenwell	BOS	AL	164
6	Andres Galarraga	MON	NL	163
7	Dave Winfield	NYA	AL	158
8	Fred McGriff	TOR	AL	157
9	Kal Daniels	CIN	NL	156
10	Kirk Gibson	LAN	NL	155

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Frank Viola	MIN	AL	24
2	Orel Hershiser	LAN	NL	23
2	Danny Jackson	CIN	NL	23
4	Dave Stewart	OAK	AL	21
5	David Cone	NYN	NL	20
5	Mark Gubicza	KCA	AL	20
7	Rick Reuschel	SFN	NL	19
8	Tom Browning	CIN	NL	18
8	Roger Clemens	BOS	AL	18
8	Dwight Gooden	NYN	NL	18

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Joe Magrane	SLN	NL	2.18
2	David Cone	NYN	NL	2.22
3	Orel Hershiser	LAN	NL	2.26
4	John Tudor	SLN/LAN	NL	2.32
5	Pascual Perez	MON	NL	2.44
6	Allan Anderson	MIN	AL	2.45
6	Teddy Higuera	ML4	AL	2.45
6	Don Robinson	SFN	NL	2.45
9	Frank Viola	MIN	AL	2.64
10	Mark Gubicza	KCA	AL	2.70

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Roger Clemens	BOS	AL	291
2	Mark Langston	SEA	AL	235
3	Nolan Ryan	HOU	NL	228
4	David Cone	NYN	NL	213
5	Jose DeLeon	SLN	NL	208
6	Frank Viola	MIN	AL	193
7	Teddy Higuera	ML4	AL	192
7	Dave Stewart	OAK	AL	192
9	Mike Scott	HOU	NL	190
10	Sid Fernandez	NYN	NL	189

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Dennis Eckersley	OAK	AL	45
2	Jeff Reardon	MIN	AL	42
3	John Franco	CIN	NL	39
4	Doug Jones	CLE	AL	37
5	Jim Gott	PIT	NL	34
5	Bobby Thigpen	CHA	AL	34
7	Todd Worrell	SLN	NL	32
8	Lee Smith	BOS	AL	29
9	Steve Bedrosian	PHI	NL	28
9	Mark Davis	SDN	NL	28

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1988, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Allan Anderson	MIN	AL	162
1	Teddy Higuera	ML4	AL	162
3	Joe Magrane	SLN	NL	158
4	David Cone	NYN	NL	155
5	Orel Hershiser	LAN	NL	153
6	Frank Viola	MIN	AL	150
7	John Tudor	SLN/LAN	NL	148
8	Mark Gubicza	KCA	AL	147
9	Pascual Perez	MON	NL	141
9	Don Robinson	SFN	NL	141

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Wade Boggs	BOS	.366
2	Kirby Puckett	MIN	.356
3	Mike Greenwell	BOS	.325
4	Dave Winfield	NYA	.322
5	Kent Hrbek	MIN	.312
5	Paul Molitor	ML4	.312
7	Don Mattingly	NYA	.311
7	Alan Trammell	DET	.311
9	Jose Canseco	OAK	.307
10	George Brett	KCA	.306

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Jose Canseco	OAK	42
2	Fred McGriff	TOR	34
3	Mark McGwire	OAK	32
4	Gary Gaetti	MIN	28
4	Eddie Murray	BAL	28
6	Joe Carter	CLE	27
6	Jack Clark	NYA	27
8	Cory Snyder	CLE	26
8	Danny Tartabull	KCA	26
10	Brian Downing	CAL	25

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Jose Canseco	OAK	124
2	Kirby Puckett	MIN	121
3	Mike Greenwell	BOS	119
4	Dwight Evans	BOS	111
5	Dave Winfield	NYA	107
6	George Brett	KCA	103
7	Danny Tartabull	KCA	102
8	Mark McGwire	OAK	99
9	Joe Carter	CLE	98
10	George Bell	TOR	97

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Wade Boggs	BOS	128
2	Jose Canseco	OAK	120
3	Rickey Henderson	NYA	118
4	Paul Molitor	ML4	115
5	Kirby Puckett	MIN	109
6	Dave Henderson	OAK	100
6	Fred McGriff	TOR	100
8	Dwight Evans	BOS	96
8	Dave Winfield	NYA	96
10	Don Mattingly	NYA	94

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Kirby Puckett	MIN	234
2	Wade Boggs	BOS	214
3	Mike Greenwell	BOS	192
4	Paul Molitor	ML4	190
4	Robin Yount	ML4	190
6	Jose Canseco	OAK	187
7	Tony Fernandez	TOR	186
7	Julio Franco	CLE	186
7	Don Mattingly	NYA	186
10	Johnny Ray	CAL	184

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Rickey Henderson	NYA	93
2	Gary Pettis	DET	44
3	Paul Molitor	ML4	41
4	Jose Canseco	OAK	40
5	Harold Reynolds	SEA	35
5	Willie Wilson	KCA	35
7	Lloyd Moseby	TOR	31
8	Carney Lansford	OAK	29
9	Dan Gladden	MIN	28
10	Joe Carter	CLE	27

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Wade Boggs	BOS	172
2	Jose Canseco	OAK	166
3	Mike Greenwell	BOS	164
4	Dave Winfield	NYA	158
5	Fred McGriff	TOR	157
6	Kirby Puckett	MIN	155
7	Kent Hrbek	MIN	152
8	George Brett	KCA	150
8	Gary Gaetti	MIN	150
10	Dave Henderson	OAK	146

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Frank Viola	MIN	24
2	Dave Stewart	OAK	21
3	Mark Gubicza	KCA	20
4	Roger Clemens	BOS	18
4	Bruce Hurst	BOS	18
4	Greg Swindell	CLE	18
7	Bob Welch	OAK	17
8	Allan Anderson	MIN	16
8	Storm Davis	OAK	16
8	Teddy Higuera	ML4	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Allan Anderson	MIN	2.45
1	Teddy Higuera	ML4	2.45
3	Frank Viola	MIN	2.64
4	Mark Gubicza	KCA	2.70
5	Roger Clemens	BOS	2.93
6	Jeff Robinson	DET	2.98
7	Dave Stieb	TOR	3.04
8	Charlie Leibrandt	KCA	3.19
9	Greg Swindell	CLE	3.20
10	Dave Stewart	OAK	3.23

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Roger Clemens	BOS	291
2	Mark Langston	SEA	235
3	Frank Viola	MIN	193
4	Teddy Higuera	ML4	192
4	Dave Stewart	OAK	192
6	Mark Gubicza	KCA	183
7	Mike Moore	SEA	182
8	Greg Swindell	CLE	180
9	Charlie Hough	TEX	174
10	Bret Saberhagen	KCA	171

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Dennis Eckersley	OAK	45
2	Jeff Reardon	MIN	42
3	Doug Jones	CLE	37
4	Bobby Thigpen	CHA	34
5	Lee Smith	BOS	29
6	Tom Henke	TOR	25
6	Dave Righetti	NYA	25
8	Mike Henneman	DET	22
9	Steve Farr	KCA	20
10	Tom Niedenfuer	BAL	18

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1988, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Allan Anderson	MIN	162
1	Teddy Higuera	ML4	162
3	Frank Viola	MIN	150
4	Mark Gubicza	KCA	147
5	Roger Clemens	BOS	135
6	Jeff Robinson	DET	133
7	Dave Stieb	TOR	130
8	Charlie Leibrandt	KCA	124
8	Greg Swindell	CLE	124
10	Dave Stewart	OAK	123

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Tony Gwynn	SDN	.313
2	Rafael Palmeiro	CHN	.307
3	Andre Dawson	CHN	.303
4	Andres Galarraga	MON	.302
5	Gerald Perry	ATL	.300
6	Mark Grace	CHN	.296
6	Barry Larkin	CIN	.296
8	Vance Law	CHN	.293
9	Willie McGee	SLN	.292
10	Kal Daniels	CIN	.291

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	39
2	Glenn Davis	HOU	30
3	Will Clark	SFN	29
3	Andres Galarraga	MON	29
5	Kevin McReynolds	NYN	27
6	Eric Davis	CIN	26
7	Kirk Gibson	LAN	25
7	Andy Van Slyke	PIT	25
9	Barry Bonds	PIT	24
9	Bobby Bonilla	PIT	24

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Will Clark	SFN	109
2	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	101
3	Bobby Bonilla	PIT	100
3	Andy Van Slyke	PIT	100
5	Glenn Davis	HOU	99
5	Kevin McReynolds	NYN	99
7	Eric Davis	CIN	93
8	Andres Galarraga	MON	92
9	Hubie Brooks	MON	90
10	Mike Marshall	LAN	82

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Brett Butler	SFN	109
2	Kirk Gibson	LAN	106
3	Will Clark	SFN	102
4	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	101
4	Andy Van Slyke	PIT	101
6	Andres Galarraga	MON	99
7	Barry Bonds	PIT	97
8	Kal Daniels	CIN	95
9	Barry Larkin	CIN	91
10	Bobby Bonilla	PIT	87

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Andres Galarraga	MON	184
2	Andre Dawson	CHN	179
3	Rafael Palmeiro	CHN	178
4	Steve Sax	LAN	175
5	Barry Larkin	CIN	174
6	Andy Van Slyke	PIT	169
7	Hubie Brooks	MON	164
7	Willie McGee	SLN	164
7	Gerald Perry	ATL	164
10	Brett Butler	SFN	163

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Vince Coleman	SLN	81
2	Gerald Young	HOU	65
3	Ozzie Smith	SLN	57
4	Chris Sabo	CIN	46
5	Brett Butler	SFN	43
6	Steve Sax	LAN	42
7	Willie McGee	SLN	41
8	Barry Larkin	CIN	40
9	Eric Davis	CIN	35
10	Juan Samuel	PHI	33

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Darryl Strawberry	NYN	168
2	Will Clark	SFN	164
3	Andres Galarraga	MON	163
4	Kal Daniels	CIN	156
5	Kirk Gibson	LAN	155
6	Barry Bonds	PIT	154
7	Eric Davis	CIN	152
8	Andy Van Slyke	PIT	151
9	Andre Dawson	CHN	150
10	Bobby Bonilla	PIT	149

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Orel Hershiser	LAN	23
1	Danny Jackson	CIN	23
3	David Cone	NYN	20
4	Rick Reuschel	SFN	19
5	Tom Browning	CIN	18
5	Dwight Gooden	NYN	18
5	Greg Maddux	CHN	18
8	Ron Darling	NYN	17
8	Tim Leary	LAN	17
10	Dennis Rasmussen	CIN/SDN	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Joe Magrane	SLN	2.18
2	David Cone	NYN	2.22
3	Orel Hershiser	LAN	2.26
4	John Tudor	SLN/LAN	2.32
5	Pascual Perez	MON	2.44
6	Don Robinson	SFN	2.45
7	Bob Walk	PIT	2.71
8	Dennis Martinez	MON	2.72
9	Danny Jackson	CIN	2.73
10	Bob Ojeda	NYN	2.88

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Nolan Ryan	HOU	228
2	David Cone	NYN	213
3	Jose DeLeon	SLN	208
4	Mike Scott	HOU	190
5	Sid Fernandez	NYN	189
6	Tim Leary	LAN	180
7	Orel Hershiser	LAN	178
8	Dwight Gooden	NYN	175
9	Kevin Gross	PHI	162
10	Ron Darling	NYN	161

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	John Franco	CIN	39
2	Jim Gott	PIT	34
3	Todd Worrell	SLN	32
4	Steve Bedrosian	PHI	28
4	Mark Davis	SDN	28
6	Dave Smith	HOU	27
7	Randy Myers	NYN	26
8	Jay Howell	LAN	21
9	Tim Burke	MON	18
10	Roger McDowell	NYN	16

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1988, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Joe Magrane	SLN	158
2	David Cone	NYN	155
3	Orel Hershiser	LAN	153
4	John Tudor	SLN/LAN	148
5	Pascual Perez	MON	141
5	Don Robinson	SFN	141
7	Dennis Martinez	MON	127
7	Bob Walk	PIT	127
9	Danny Jackson	CIN	126
10	Bob Ojeda	NYN	120

How the 1988 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

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