Who led MLB in home runs in 1997?

Ken Griffey led the majors with 56 in 1997 (AL).

Who had the highest batting average in 1997?

Tony Gwynn hit ..372, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1997 (NL).

Who led MLB in wins in 1997?

Roger Clemens led the majors with 21 wins in 1997 (AL).

1997 MLB League Leaders

Source Lahman databaseSeason 19972 major leagues12 boards per league

Ken Griffey led the majors with 56 in 1997. The American League and National League leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1997 season, from the SABR/Lahman baseball database.

← 1996 leaders All seasons 1998 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Tony Gwynn	SDN	NL	.372
2	Larry Walker	COL	NL	.366
3	Mike Piazza	LAN	NL	.362
4	Frank Thomas	CHA	AL	.347
5	Kenny Lofton	ATL	NL	.333
6	Edgar Martinez	SEA	AL	.330
7	David Justice	CLE	AL	.329
8	Manny Ramirez	CLE	AL	.328
8	Bernie Williams	NYA	AL	.328
10	Wally Joyner	SDN	NL	.327

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Ken Griffey	SEA	AL	56
2	Larry Walker	COL	NL	49
3	Tino Martinez	NYA	AL	44
4	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	NL	43
5	Juan Gonzalez	TEX	AL	42
6	Andres Galarraga	COL	NL	41
7	Barry Bonds	SFN	NL	40
7	Jay Buhner	SEA	AL	40
7	Vinny Castilla	COL	NL	40
7	Mike Piazza	LAN	NL	40

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Ken Griffey	SEA	AL	147
2	Tino Martinez	NYA	AL	141
3	Andres Galarraga	COL	NL	140
4	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	NL	135
5	Juan Gonzalez	TEX	AL	131
6	Larry Walker	COL	NL	130
7	Tim Salmon	ANA	AL	129
8	Frank Thomas	CHA	AL	125
9	Mike Piazza	LAN	NL	124
10	Jeff Kent	SFN	NL	121

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Craig Biggio	HOU	NL	146
2	Larry Walker	COL	NL	143
3	Ken Griffey	SEA	AL	125
4	Barry Bonds	SFN	NL	123
5	Nomar Garciaparra	BOS	AL	122
6	Andres Galarraga	COL	NL	120
7	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	AL	117
8	Derek Jeter	NYA	AL	116
9	Rusty Greer	TEX	AL	112
9	Brian Hunter	DET	AL	112

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Tony Gwynn	SDN	NL	220
2	Nomar Garciaparra	BOS	AL	209
3	Larry Walker	COL	NL	208
4	Mike Piazza	LAN	NL	201
5	Rusty Greer	TEX	AL	193
6	Craig Biggio	HOU	NL	191
6	Andres Galarraga	COL	NL	191
6	Raul Mondesi	LAN	NL	191
9	Derek Jeter	NYA	AL	190
10	Garret Anderson	ANA	AL	189

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Brian Hunter	DET	AL	74
2	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	AL	62
3	Tony Womack	PIT	NL	60
4	Deion Sanders	CIN	NL	56
5	Delino DeShields	SLN	NL	55
6	Tom Goodwin	KCA/TEX	AL	50
7	Craig Biggio	HOU	NL	47
8	Eric Young	COL/LAN	NL	45
9	Omar Vizquel	CLE	AL	43
10	Barry Bonds	SFN	NL	37

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Larry Walker	COL	NL	211
2	Mike Piazza	LAN	NL	185
3	Frank Thomas	CHA	AL	177
4	Barry Bonds	SFN	NL	176
5	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	NL	172
6	Ray Lankford	SLN	NL	166
7	Ken Griffey	SEA	AL	163
7	Edgar Martinez	SEA	AL	163
9	David Justice	CLE	AL	162
10	Andres Galarraga	COL	NL	159

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Roger Clemens	TOR	AL	21
2	Randy Johnson	SEA	AL	20
2	Denny Neagle	ATL	NL	20
2	Brad Radke	MIN	AL	20
5	Shawn Estes	SFN	NL	19
5	Darryl Kile	HOU	NL	19
5	Greg Maddux	ATL	NL	19
8	Andy Pettitte	NYA	AL	18
9	Alex Fernandez	FLO	NL	17
9	Pedro Martinez	MON	NL	17

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Pedro Martinez	MON	NL	1.90
2	Roger Clemens	TOR	AL	2.05
3	Greg Maddux	ATL	NL	2.20
4	Randy Johnson	SEA	AL	2.28
5	Darryl Kile	HOU	NL	2.57
6	Ismael Valdez	LAN	NL	2.65
7	Kevin Brown	FLO	NL	2.69
8	David Cone	NYA	AL	2.82
9	Andy Pettitte	NYA	AL	2.88
10	Rick Reed	NYN	NL	2.89

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Curt Schilling	PHI	NL	319
2	Pedro Martinez	MON	NL	305
3	Roger Clemens	TOR	AL	292
4	Randy Johnson	SEA	AL	291
5	John Smoltz	ATL	NL	241
6	Hideo Nomo	LAN	NL	233
7	David Cone	NYA	AL	222
8	Mike Mussina	BAL	AL	218
9	Kevin Brown	FLO	NL	205
9	Darryl Kile	HOU	NL	205

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SV
1	Randy Myers	BAL	AL	45
2	Mariano Rivera	NYA	AL	43
3	Jeff Shaw	CIN	NL	42
4	Rod Beck	SFN	NL	37
4	Trevor Hoffman	SDN	NL	37
6	John Franco	NYN	NL	36
6	Doug Jones	ML4	AL	36
8	Robb Nen	FLO	NL	35
8	Todd Worrell	LAN	NL	35
10	Ricky Bottalico	PHI	NL	34

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1997, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Roger Clemens	TOR	AL	223
2	Pedro Martinez	MON	NL	221
3	Randy Johnson	SEA	AL	200
4	Greg Maddux	ATL	NL	190
5	Darryl Kile	HOU	NL	163
6	David Cone	NYA	AL	162
7	Andy Pettitte	NYA	AL	158
7	Ismael Valdez	LAN	NL	158
9	Kevin Brown	FLO	NL	156
10	Justin Thompson	DET	AL	151

Batting leaders, American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Frank Thomas	CHA	.347
2	Edgar Martinez	SEA	.330
3	David Justice	CLE	.329
4	Manny Ramirez	CLE	.328
4	Bernie Williams	NYA	.328
6	Paul O'Neill	NYA	.324
7	Rusty Greer	TEX	.321
8	Reggie Jefferson	BOS	.319
9	Mo Vaughn	BOS	.315
10	Ivan Rodriguez	TEX	.313

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Ken Griffey	SEA	56
2	Tino Martinez	NYA	44
3	Juan Gonzalez	TEX	42
4	Jay Buhner	SEA	40
4	Jim Thome	CLE	40
6	Rafael Palmeiro	BAL	38
7	Frank Thomas	CHA	35
7	Mo Vaughn	BOS	35
9	David Justice	CLE	33
9	Tim Salmon	ANA	33

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Ken Griffey	SEA	147
2	Tino Martinez	NYA	141
3	Juan Gonzalez	TEX	131
4	Tim Salmon	ANA	129
5	Frank Thomas	CHA	125
6	Tony Clark	DET	117
6	Paul O'Neill	NYA	117
8	Albert Belle	CHA	116
9	Jeff King	KCA	112
10	Rafael Palmeiro	BAL	110

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Ken Griffey	SEA	125
2	Nomar Garciaparra	BOS	122
3	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	117
4	Derek Jeter	NYA	116
5	Rusty Greer	TEX	112
5	Brian Hunter	DET	112
7	Frank Thomas	CHA	110
8	Bernie Williams	NYA	107
9	Ray Durham	CHA	106
10	Tony Clark	DET	105

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Nomar Garciaparra	BOS	209
2	Rusty Greer	TEX	193
3	Derek Jeter	NYA	190
4	Garret Anderson	ANA	189
5	Ivan Rodriguez	TEX	187
6	Ken Griffey	SEA	185
7	Manny Ramirez	CLE	184
7	Frank Thomas	CHA	184
9	Edgar Martinez	SEA	179
9	Paul O'Neill	NYA	179

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Brian Hunter	DET	74
2	Chuck Knoblauch	MIN	62
3	Tom Goodwin	KCA/TEX	50
4	Omar Vizquel	CLE	43
5	Ray Durham	CHA	33
6	Alex Rodriguez	SEA	29
7	Damion Easley	DET	28
8	Darin Erstad	ANA	23
8	Derek Jeter	NYA	23
8	Gerald Williams	ML4	23

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Frank Thomas	CHA	177
2	Ken Griffey	SEA	163
2	Edgar Martinez	SEA	163
4	David Justice	CLE	162
5	Jim Thome	CLE	159
6	Mo Vaughn	BOS	154
7	Manny Ramirez	CLE	148
8	Bernie Williams	NYA	147
9	Tino Martinez	NYA	144
10	Rusty Greer	TEX	143

Pitching leaders, American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Roger Clemens	TOR	21
2	Randy Johnson	SEA	20
2	Brad Radke	MIN	20
4	Andy Pettitte	NYA	18
5	Jamie Moyer	SEA	17
6	Willie Blair	DET	16
6	Scott Erickson	BAL	16
6	Jeff Fassero	SEA	16
6	Jimmy Key	BAL	16
6	David Wells	NYA	16

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Roger Clemens	TOR	2.05
2	Randy Johnson	SEA	2.28
3	David Cone	NYA	2.82
4	Andy Pettitte	NYA	2.88
5	Justin Thompson	DET	3.02
6	Mike Mussina	BAL	3.20
7	Kevin Appier	KCA	3.40
8	Jimmy Key	BAL	3.43
9	Jeff Fassero	SEA	3.61
10	Pat Hentgen	TOR	3.68

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Roger Clemens	TOR	292
2	Randy Johnson	SEA	291
3	David Cone	NYA	222
4	Mike Mussina	BAL	218
5	Kevin Appier	KCA	196
6	Jeff Fassero	SEA	189
7	Brad Radke	MIN	174
8	Andy Pettitte	NYA	166
9	Pat Hentgen	TOR	160
10	Tom Gordon	BOS	159

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Randy Myers	BAL	45
2	Mariano Rivera	NYA	43
3	Doug Jones	ML4	36
4	Todd Jones	DET	31
4	John Wetteland	TEX	31
6	Heathcliff Slocumb	BOS/SEA	27
7	Rick Aguilera	MIN	26
8	Billy Taylor	OAK	23
9	Jose Mesa	CLE	16
10	Michael Jackson	CLE	15

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1997, American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Roger Clemens	TOR	223
2	Randy Johnson	SEA	200
3	David Cone	NYA	162
4	Andy Pettitte	NYA	158
5	Justin Thompson	DET	151
6	Mike Mussina	BAL	142
7	Kevin Appier	KCA	134
8	Jimmy Key	BAL	133
9	Jeff Fassero	SEA	126
10	Scott Erickson	BAL	124

Batting leaders, National League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Tony Gwynn	SDN	.372
2	Larry Walker	COL	.366
3	Mike Piazza	LAN	.362
4	Kenny Lofton	ATL	.333
5	Wally Joyner	SDN	.327
6	Mark Grace	CHN	.319
7	Andres Galarraga	COL	.318
8	Edgardo Alfonzo	NYN	.315
9	Raul Mondesi	LAN	.310
10	Craig Biggio	HOU	.309

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Larry Walker	COL	49
2	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	43
3	Andres Galarraga	COL	41
4	Barry Bonds	SFN	40
4	Vinny Castilla	COL	40
4	Mike Piazza	LAN	40
7	Sammy Sosa	CHN	36
8	Eric Karros	LAN	31
8	Ray Lankford	SLN	31
8	Todd Zeile	LAN	31

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Andres Galarraga	COL	140
2	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	135
3	Larry Walker	COL	130
4	Mike Piazza	LAN	124
5	Jeff Kent	SFN	121
6	Tony Gwynn	SDN	119
6	Sammy Sosa	CHN	119
8	Dante Bichette	COL	118
9	Moises Alou	FLO	115
10	Vinny Castilla	COL	113

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Craig Biggio	HOU	146
2	Larry Walker	COL	143
3	Barry Bonds	SFN	123
4	Andres Galarraga	COL	120
5	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	109
6	Eric Young	COL/LAN	106
7	Mike Piazza	LAN	104
8	Steve Finley	SDN	101
9	Chipper Jones	ATL	100
10	Tony Gwynn	SDN	97

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Tony Gwynn	SDN	220
2	Larry Walker	COL	208
3	Mike Piazza	LAN	201
4	Craig Biggio	HOU	191
4	Andres Galarraga	COL	191
4	Raul Mondesi	LAN	191
7	Vinny Castilla	COL	186
8	Tony Womack	PIT	178
9	Mark Grace	CHN	177
9	Mark Grudzielanek	MON	177

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Tony Womack	PIT	60
2	Deion Sanders	CIN	56
3	Delino DeShields	SLN	55
4	Craig Biggio	HOU	47
5	Eric Young	COL/LAN	45
6	Barry Bonds	SFN	37
7	Quilvio Veras	SDN	33
7	Larry Walker	COL	33
9	Shawon Dunston	CHN/PIT	32
9	Raul Mondesi	LAN	32

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Larry Walker	COL	211
2	Mike Piazza	LAN	185
3	Barry Bonds	SFN	176
4	Jeff Bagwell	HOU	172
5	Ray Lankford	SLN	166
6	Andres Galarraga	COL	159
7	Tony Gwynn	SDN	156
8	Todd Hundley	NYN	152
9	Craig Biggio	HOU	147
10	Ken Caminiti	SDN	141

Pitching leaders, National League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Denny Neagle	ATL	20
2	Shawn Estes	SFN	19
2	Darryl Kile	HOU	19
2	Greg Maddux	ATL	19
5	Alex Fernandez	FLO	17
5	Pedro Martinez	MON	17
5	Curt Schilling	PHI	17
8	Kevin Brown	FLO	16
9	Mike Hampton	HOU	15
9	Bobby Jones	NYN	15

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Pedro Martinez	MON	1.90
2	Greg Maddux	ATL	2.20
3	Darryl Kile	HOU	2.57
4	Ismael Valdez	LAN	2.65
5	Kevin Brown	FLO	2.69
6	Rick Reed	NYN	2.89
7	Tom Glavine	ATL	2.96
8	Denny Neagle	ATL	2.97
8	Curt Schilling	PHI	2.97
10	John Smoltz	ATL	3.02

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Curt Schilling	PHI	319
2	Pedro Martinez	MON	305
3	John Smoltz	ATL	241
4	Hideo Nomo	LAN	233
5	Kevin Brown	FLO	205
5	Darryl Kile	HOU	205
7	Alex Fernandez	FLO	183
8	Shawn Estes	SFN	181
9	Greg Maddux	ATL	177
10	Andy Benes	SLN	175

SV leaders

Saves leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	SV
1	Jeff Shaw	CIN	42
2	Rod Beck	SFN	37
2	Trevor Hoffman	SDN	37
4	John Franco	NYN	36
5	Robb Nen	FLO	35
5	Todd Worrell	LAN	35
7	Ricky Bottalico	PHI	34
8	Mark Wohlers	ATL	33
9	Rich Loiselle	PIT	29
10	Ugueth Urbina	MON	27

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1997, National League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Pedro Martinez	MON	221
2	Greg Maddux	ATL	190
3	Darryl Kile	HOU	163
4	Ismael Valdez	LAN	158
5	Kevin Brown	FLO	156
6	Rick Reed	NYN	145
7	Tom Glavine	ATL	142
8	Denny Neagle	ATL	141
8	Curt Schilling	PHI	141
10	John Smoltz	ATL	139

How the 1997 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

1991 league leaders 1992 league leaders 1993 league leaders 1994 league leaders 1995 league leaders 1996 league leaders 1998 league leaders 1999 league leaders 2000 league leaders 2001 league leaders 2002 league leaders 2003 league leaders

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