Who led MLB in home runs in 1996?

Mark McGwire led the majors with 52 in 1996 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1996?

Alex Rodriguez hit ..358, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1996 (AL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1996?

John Smoltz led the majors with 24 wins in 1996 (NL).

1996 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19962 major leagues12 boards per league

Mark McGwire led the majors with 52 in 1996. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1996 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1995 leaders All seasons 1997 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Alex Rodriguez	SEA	AL	.358
2	Frank Thomas	CHA	AL	.349
3	Ellis Burks	COL	NL	.344
4	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	AL	.341
4	Paul Molitor	MIN	AL	.341
6	Mike Piazza	LAN	NL	.336
7	Lance Johnson	NYN	NL	.333
8	Rusty Greer	TEX	AL	.332
9	Mark Grace	CHN	NL	.331
9	Dave Nilsson	ML4	AL	.331

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Mark McGwire	OAK	AL	52
2	Brady Anderson	BAL	AL	50
3	Ken Griffey	SEA	AL	49
4	Albert Belle	CLE	AL	48
5	Andres Galarraga	COL	NL	47
5	Juan Gonzalez	TEX	AL	47
7	Jay Buhner	SEA	AL	44
7	Mo Vaughn	BOS	AL	44
9	Barry Bonds	SFN	NL	42
9	Gary Sheffield	FLO	NL	42

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Andres Galarraga	COL	NL	150
2	Albert Belle	CLE	AL	148
3	Juan Gonzalez	TEX	AL	144
4	Mo Vaughn	BOS	AL	143
5	Rafael Palmeiro	BAL	AL	142
6	Dante Bichette	COL	NL	141
7	Ken Griffey	SEA	AL	140
8	Jay Buhner	SEA	AL	138
9	Frank Thomas	CHA	AL	134
10	Ken Caminiti	SDN	NL	130

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Ellis Burks	COL	NL	142
2	Alex Rodriguez	SEA	AL	141
3	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	AL	140
4	Roberto Alomar	BAL	AL	132
4	Kenny Lofton	CLE	AL	132
6	Steve Finley	SDN	NL	126
7	Ken Griffey	SEA	AL	125
8	Albert Belle	CLE	AL	124
9	Barry Bonds	SFN	NL	122
9	Jim Thome	CLE	AL	122

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Lance Johnson	NYN	NL	227
2	Paul Molitor	MIN	AL	225
3	Alex Rodriguez	SEA	AL	215
4	Ellis Burks	COL	NL	211
5	Kenny Lofton	CLE	AL	210
6	Marquis Grissom	ATL	NL	207
6	Mo Vaughn	BOS	AL	207
8	Mark Grudzielanek	MON	NL	201
9	Dante Bichette	COL	NL	198
10	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	AL	197

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Kenny Lofton	CLE	AL	75
2	Tom Goodwin	KCA	AL	66
3	Otis Nixon	TOR	AL	54
4	Eric Young	COL	NL	53
5	Lance Johnson	NYN	NL	50
6	Delino DeShields	LAN	NL	48
7	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	AL	45
8	Barry Bonds	SFN	NL	40
9	Al Martin	PIT	NL	38
10	Rickey Henderson	SDN	NL	37

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Mark McGwire	OAK	AL	197
2	Gary Sheffield	FLO	NL	194
3	Barry Bonds	SFN	NL	190
4	Ellis Burks	COL	NL	180
5	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	NL	176
5	Ken Caminiti	SDN	NL	176
7	Frank Thomas	CHA	AL	172
8	Edgar Martinez	SEA	AL	166
8	Mike Piazza	LAN	NL	166
8	Jim Thome	CLE	AL	166

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	John Smoltz	ATL	NL	24
2	Andy Pettitte	NYA	AL	21
3	Pat Hentgen	TOR	AL	20
4	Mike Mussina	BAL	AL	19
5	Andy Benes	SLN	NL	18
6	Kevin Brown	FLO	NL	17
6	Charles Nagy	CLE	AL	17
6	Kevin Ritz	COL	NL	17
9	Alex Fernandez	CHA	AL	16
9	Ken Hill	TEX	AL	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Kevin Brown	FLO	NL	1.89
2	Greg Maddux	ATL	NL	2.72
3	Juan Guzman	TOR	AL	2.93
3	Al Leiter	FLO	NL	2.93
5	John Smoltz	ATL	NL	2.94
6	Tom Glavine	ATL	NL	2.98
7	Steve Trachsel	CHN	NL	3.03
8	Hideo Nomo	LAN	NL	3.19
8	Curt Schilling	PHI	NL	3.19
10	Pat Hentgen	TOR	AL	3.22

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	John Smoltz	ATL	NL	276
2	Roger Clemens	BOS	AL	257
3	Hideo Nomo	LAN	NL	234
4	Jeff Fassero	MON	NL	222
4	Pedro Martinez	MON	NL	222
6	Darryl Kile	HOU	NL	219
7	Chuck Finley	CAL	AL	215
8	Kevin Appier	KCA	AL	207
9	Mike Mussina	BAL	AL	204
9	Shane Reynolds	HOU	NL	204

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Jeff Brantley	CIN	NL	44
1	Todd Worrell	LAN	NL	44
3	John Wetteland	NYA	AL	43
4	Trevor Hoffman	SDN	NL	42
5	Jose Mesa	CLE	AL	39
5	Mark Wohlers	ATL	NL	39
7	Roberto Hernandez	CHA	AL	38
8	Troy Percival	CAL	AL	36
8	Mel Rojas	MON	NL	36
10	Rod Beck	SFN	NL	35

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1996, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Kevin Brown	FLO	NL	223
2	Juan Guzman	TOR	AL	171
3	Pat Hentgen	TOR	AL	155
3	Greg Maddux	ATL	NL	155
5	Charles Nagy	CLE	AL	147
6	Alex Fernandez	CHA	AL	145
7	Al Leiter	FLO	NL	144
8	John Smoltz	ATL	NL	143
9	Tom Glavine	ATL	NL	141
10	Steve Trachsel	CHN	NL	139

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Alex Rodriguez	SEA	.358
2	Frank Thomas	CHA	.349
3	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	.341
3	Paul Molitor	MIN	.341
5	Rusty Greer	TEX	.332
6	Dave Nilsson	ML4	.331
7	Roberto Alomar	BAL	.328
8	Edgar Martinez	SEA	.327
9	Kevin Seitzer	ML4/CLE	.326
9	Mo Vaughn	BOS	.326

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Mark McGwire	OAK	52
2	Brady Anderson	BAL	50
3	Ken Griffey	SEA	49
4	Albert Belle	CLE	48
5	Juan Gonzalez	TEX	47
6	Jay Buhner	SEA	44
6	Mo Vaughn	BOS	44
8	Frank Thomas	CHA	40
9	Cecil Fielder	DET/NYA	39
9	Rafael Palmeiro	BAL	39

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Albert Belle	CLE	148
2	Juan Gonzalez	TEX	144
3	Mo Vaughn	BOS	143
4	Rafael Palmeiro	BAL	142
5	Ken Griffey	SEA	140
6	Jay Buhner	SEA	138
7	Frank Thomas	CHA	134
8	Alex Rodriguez	SEA	123
9	John Jaha	ML4	118
10	Cecil Fielder	DET/NYA	117

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Alex Rodriguez	SEA	141
2	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	140
3	Roberto Alomar	BAL	132
3	Kenny Lofton	CLE	132
5	Ken Griffey	SEA	125
6	Albert Belle	CLE	124
7	Jim Thome	CLE	122
8	Edgar Martinez	SEA	121
9	Tony Phillips	CHA	119
10	Mo Vaughn	BOS	118

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Paul Molitor	MIN	225
2	Alex Rodriguez	SEA	215
3	Kenny Lofton	CLE	210
4	Mo Vaughn	BOS	207
5	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	197
6	Roberto Alomar	BAL	193
7	Ivan Rodriguez	TEX	192
8	Albert Belle	CLE	187
8	Kevin Seitzer	ML4/CLE	187
10	Jeff Cirillo	ML4	184

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Kenny Lofton	CLE	75
2	Tom Goodwin	KCA	66
3	Otis Nixon	TOR	54
4	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	45
5	Omar Vizquel	CLE	35
6	Ray Durham	CHA	30
7	Mark McLemore	TEX	27
8	Johnny Damon	KCA	25
9	Jose Offerman	KCA	24
10	Brady Anderson	BAL	21

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Mark McGwire	OAK	197
2	Frank Thomas	CHA	172
3	Edgar Martinez	SEA	166
3	Jim Thome	CLE	166
5	Alex Rodriguez	SEA	160
6	Albert Belle	CLE	157
7	Brady Anderson	BAL	156
8	Ken Griffey	SEA	153
9	Mo Vaughn	BOS	151
10	Juan Gonzalez	TEX	150

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Andy Pettitte	NYA	21
2	Pat Hentgen	TOR	20
3	Mike Mussina	BAL	19
4	Charles Nagy	CLE	17
5	Alex Fernandez	CHA	16
5	Ken Hill	TEX	16
5	Bobby Witt	TEX	16
8	Wilson Alvarez	CHA	15
8	Tim Belcher	KCA	15
8	Chuck Finley	CAL	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Juan Guzman	TOR	2.93
2	Pat Hentgen	TOR	3.22
3	Charles Nagy	CLE	3.41
4	Alex Fernandez	CHA	3.45
5	Kevin Appier	KCA	3.62
6	Roger Clemens	BOS	3.63
6	Ken Hill	TEX	3.63
8	Andy Pettitte	NYA	3.87
9	Ben McDonald	ML4	3.90
10	Tim Belcher	KCA	3.92

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Roger Clemens	BOS	257
2	Chuck Finley	CAL	215
3	Kevin Appier	KCA	207
4	Mike Mussina	BAL	204
5	Alex Fernandez	CHA	200
6	Wilson Alvarez	CHA	181
7	Pat Hentgen	TOR	177
8	Tom Gordon	BOS	171
9	Ken Hill	TEX	170
10	Charles Nagy	CLE	167

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	John Wetteland	NYA	43
2	Jose Mesa	CLE	39
3	Roberto Hernandez	CHA	38
4	Troy Percival	CAL	36
5	Mike Fetters	ML4	32
6	Randy Myers	BAL	31
6	Heathcliff Slocumb	BOS	31
6	Mike Timlin	TOR	31
9	Jeff Montgomery	KCA	24
10	Norm Charlton	SEA	20

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1996, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Juan Guzman	TOR	171
2	Pat Hentgen	TOR	155
3	Charles Nagy	CLE	147
4	Alex Fernandez	CHA	145
5	Kevin Appier	KCA	138
5	Ken Hill	TEX	138
7	Roger Clemens	BOS	137
8	Andy Pettitte	NYA	129
9	Ben McDonald	ML4	128
10	Tim Belcher	KCA	127

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Ellis Burks	COL	.344
2	Mike Piazza	LAN	.336
3	Lance Johnson	NYN	.333
4	Mark Grace	CHN	.331
5	Ken Caminiti	SDN	.326
6	Eric Young	COL	.324
7	Bernard Gilkey	NYN	.317
8	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	.315
9	Gary Sheffield	FLO	.314
10	Dante Bichette	COL	.313

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Andres Galarraga	COL	47
2	Barry Bonds	SFN	42
2	Gary Sheffield	FLO	42
4	Todd Hundley	NYN	41
5	Ellis Burks	COL	40
5	Ken Caminiti	SDN	40
5	Vinny Castilla	COL	40
5	Sammy Sosa	CHN	40
9	Mike Piazza	LAN	36
9	Henry Rodriguez	MON	36

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Andres Galarraga	COL	150
2	Dante Bichette	COL	141
3	Ken Caminiti	SDN	130
4	Barry Bonds	SFN	129
5	Ellis Burks	COL	128
6	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	120
6	Gary Sheffield	FLO	120
8	Bernard Gilkey	NYN	117
9	Derek Bell	HOU	113
9	Vinny Castilla	COL	113

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Ellis Burks	COL	142
2	Steve Finley	SDN	126
3	Barry Bonds	SFN	122
4	Andres Galarraga	COL	119
5	Gary Sheffield	FLO	118
6	Lance Johnson	NYN	117
6	Barry Larkin	CIN	117
8	Dante Bichette	COL	114
8	Chipper Jones	ATL	114
10	Craig Biggio	HOU	113

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Lance Johnson	NYN	227
2	Ellis Burks	COL	211
3	Marquis Grissom	ATL	207
4	Mark Grudzielanek	MON	201
5	Dante Bichette	COL	198
6	Steve Finley	SDN	195
7	Vinny Castilla	COL	191
8	Andres Galarraga	COL	190
9	Al Martin	PIT	189
10	Raul Mondesi	LAN	188

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Eric Young	COL	53
2	Lance Johnson	NYN	50
3	Delino DeShields	LAN	48
4	Barry Bonds	SFN	40
5	Al Martin	PIT	38
6	Rickey Henderson	SDN	37
6	Brian McRae	CHN	37
8	Barry Larkin	CIN	36
9	Brian Hunter	HOU	35
9	Ray Lankford	SLN	35

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Gary Sheffield	FLO	194
2	Barry Bonds	SFN	190
3	Ellis Burks	COL	180
4	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	176
4	Ken Caminiti	SDN	176
6	Mike Piazza	LAN	166
7	Barry Larkin	CIN	163
8	Bernard Gilkey	NYN	157
9	Andres Galarraga	COL	155
10	Chipper Jones	ATL	149

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	John Smoltz	ATL	24
2	Andy Benes	SLN	18
3	Kevin Brown	FLO	17
3	Kevin Ritz	COL	17
5	Al Leiter	FLO	16
5	Denny Neagle	PIT/ATL	16
5	Hideo Nomo	LAN	16
5	Shane Reynolds	HOU	16
9	Jeff Fassero	MON	15
9	Tom Glavine	ATL	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Kevin Brown	FLO	1.89
2	Greg Maddux	ATL	2.72
3	Al Leiter	FLO	2.93
4	John Smoltz	ATL	2.94
5	Tom Glavine	ATL	2.98
6	Steve Trachsel	CHN	3.03
7	Hideo Nomo	LAN	3.19
7	Curt Schilling	PHI	3.19
9	Jeff Fassero	MON	3.30
10	Ismael Valdez	LAN	3.32

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	John Smoltz	ATL	276
2	Hideo Nomo	LAN	234
3	Jeff Fassero	MON	222
3	Pedro Martinez	MON	222
5	Darryl Kile	HOU	219
6	Shane Reynolds	HOU	204
7	Al Leiter	FLO	200
8	Todd Stottlemyre	SLN	194
9	Joey Hamilton	SDN	184
10	Curt Schilling	PHI	182

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Jeff Brantley	CIN	44
1	Todd Worrell	LAN	44
3	Trevor Hoffman	SDN	42
4	Mark Wohlers	ATL	39
5	Mel Rojas	MON	36
6	Rod Beck	SFN	35
6	Robb Nen	FLO	35
8	Ricky Bottalico	PHI	34
9	Dennis Eckersley	SLN	30
10	John Franco	NYN	28

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1996, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Kevin Brown	FLO	223
2	Greg Maddux	ATL	155
3	Al Leiter	FLO	144
4	John Smoltz	ATL	143
5	Tom Glavine	ATL	141
6	Steve Trachsel	CHN	139
7	Hideo Nomo	LAN	132
7	Curt Schilling	PHI	132
9	Jeff Fassero	MON	128
10	Ismael Valdez	LAN	127

How the 1996 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

1990 league leaders 1991 league leaders 1992 league leaders 1993 league leaders 1994 league leaders 1995 league leaders 1997 league leaders 1998 league leaders 1999 league leaders 2000 league leaders 2001 league leaders 2002 league leaders

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