Who led the Negro Leagues in home runs in 1938?

Josh Gibson led the era with 13 in 1938 (NN2).

Who had the highest batting average in the 1938 Negro Leagues?

Buck Leonard hit ..418, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1938 (NN2).

Who led the Negro Leagues in wins in 1938?

Ray Brown led the era with 14 wins in 1938 (NN2).

1938 Negro Leagues Leaders

Season 19382 leagues11 boards per league

Josh Gibson led the era with 13 in 1938. The Negro American League and Negro National League II leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1938 season.

Negro Leagues season leaders · 1938

Recovery-aware era qualifiers2 leagues · 11 boards per league

13Josh Gibson · HR

← 1937 leaders All seasons 1939 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	.418
2	Harry Williams	PC	NN2	.383
3	Donald Reeves	BCA	NAL	.381
4	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	.363
5	Henry Spearman	SEN/NBY/HG	NN2	.352
6	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	.344
6	Red Moore	BCA	NAL	.344
8	Fats Jenkins	NBY/PC	NN2	.336
9	Henry Milton	KCM	NAL	.335
10	Jim Williams	HG	NN2	.326

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	13
2	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	9
3	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	7
3	Pat Patterson	PS	NN2	7
3	Bill Perkins	PS	NN2	7
6	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	6
6	Roy Parnell	PS	NN2	6
8	Jake Dunn	PS	NN2	5
8	Curtis Harris	PS	NN2	5
8	Donald Reeves	BCA	NAL	5

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	54
2	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	53
3	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	48
4	Bill Perkins	PS	NN2	44
5	Curtis Harris	PS	NN2	38
6	Pat Patterson	PS	NN2	36
7	Jake Dunn	PS	NN2	34
7	Donald Reeves	BCA	NAL	34
9	Harry Williams	PC	NN2	32
10	Wild Bill Wright	BEG	NN2	31

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	54
2	Henry Milton	KCM	NAL	51
3	Roy Parnell	PS	NN2	50
4	Vic Harris	HG	NN2	43
5	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	42
5	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	42
7	Clyde Spearman	PS	NN2	41
8	Jake Dunn	PS	NN2	37
9	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	36
9	Matt Carlisle	HG	NN2	36

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Clyde Spearman	PS	NN2	74
2	Roy Parnell	PS	NN2	65
3	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	64
4	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	62
4	Henry Milton	KCM	NAL	62
6	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	61
6	Bill Perkins	PS	NN2	61
8	Jake Dunn	PS	NN2	56
9	Curtis Harris	PS	NN2	54
9	Harry Williams	PC	NN2	54

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Henry Milton	KCM	NAL	25
2	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	20
3	Buck O'Neil	KCM	NAL	11
4	Rainey Bibbs	CAG/KCM	NAL	10
5	Cowan Hyde	MRS	NAL	9
6	Lloyd Davenport	MRS	NAL	7
6	Gabby Kemp	BCA/JRC	NAL	7
6	Donald Reeves	BCA	NAL	7
6	Turkey Stearnes	CAG/KCM	NAL	7
10	Sam Bankhead	PC	NN2	6

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	232
2	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	213
3	Donald Reeves	BCA	NAL	200
4	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	187
5	Harry Williams	PC	NN2	180
6	Henry Milton	KCM	NAL	164
7	Red Moore	BCA	NAL	153
8	Neil Robinson	MRS	NAL	151
8	Jim West	BEG	NN2	151
10	Pat Patterson	PS	NN2	148

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Ray Brown	HG	NN2	14
2	Edsall Walker	HG	NN2	10
3	Willie Cornelius	CAG	NAL	9
3	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	9
5	Bill Byrd	BEG	NN2	7
5	Spoon Carter	PS	NN2	7
5	Henry McHenry	PS	NN2	7
5	Johnny Taylor	PC	NN2	7
9	Felix Evans	BCA/JRC	NAL	6
9	Tommy Johnson	CAG	NAL	6

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Ray Brown	HG	NN2	1.95
2	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	2.08
3	Willie Cornelius	CAG	NAL	2.12
4	Telosh Howard	BCA	NAL	2.34
5	Tommy Johnson	CAG	NAL	2.94
6	Eddie Dixon	BCA	NAL	3.01
7	Andy Porter	BEG	NN2	3.05
8	Lefty Wilson	MRS	NAL	3.06
9	Bill Holland	NBY	NN2	3.14
10	Frank McAllister	AB3	NAL	3.40

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	88
2	Willie Cornelius	CAG	NAL	77
3	Ray Brown	HG	NN2	70
4	Vet Barnes	KCM	NAL	61
4	Henry McHenry	PS	NN2	61
6	Frank Bradley	KCM	NAL	60
7	Spoon Carter	PS	NN2	55
7	Eddie Dixon	BCA	NAL	55
7	Telosh Howard	BCA	NAL	55
7	Barney Morris	PC	NN2	55

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1938, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Ray Brown	HG	NN2	259
2	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	205
3	Willie Cornelius	CAG	NAL	201
4	Telosh Howard	BCA	NAL	183
5	Andy Porter	BEG	NN2	166
6	Bill Holland	NBY	NN2	161
7	Tommy Johnson	CAG	NAL	145
8	Eddie Dixon	BCA	NAL	142
9	Barney Morris	PC	NN2	141
10	Edsall Walker	HG	NN2	140

Batting leaders, Negro American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Donald Reeves	BCA	.381
2	Willard Brown	KCM	.344
2	Red Moore	BCA	.344
4	Henry Milton	KCM	.335
5	Lloyd Davenport	MRS	.325
6	Neil Robinson	MRS	.314
7	Rainey Bibbs	CAG/KCM	.299
8	Wilson Redus	CAG	.297
8	Jelly Taylor	MRS	.297
10	Babe Davis	BCA	.295

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Willard Brown	KCM	7
2	Donald Reeves	BCA	5
3	Henry Milton	KCM	3
3	Buck O'Neil	KCM	3
3	Wilson Redus	CAG	3
6	Frank Duncan	KCM/CAG	2
6	Red Moore	BCA	2
6	Turkey Stearnes	CAG/KCM	2
9	Newt Allen	KCM	1
9	Fred Bankhead	BBB/MRS	1

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Willard Brown	KCM	48
2	Donald Reeves	BCA	34
3	Henry Milton	KCM	27
3	Turkey Stearnes	CAG/KCM	27
5	Babe Davis	BCA	25
5	Red Moore	BCA	25
5	Don Pelham	BCA	25
8	Rainey Bibbs	CAG/KCM	24
9	Buck O'Neil	KCM	23
10	Newt Allen	KCM	21

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Henry Milton	KCM	51
2	Willard Brown	KCM	36
3	Buck O'Neil	KCM	29
4	Newt Allen	KCM	27
4	Rainey Bibbs	CAG/KCM	27
6	Gabby Kemp	BCA/JRC	26
6	Donald Reeves	BCA	26
8	Babe Davis	BCA	25
9	Mex Johnson	KCM	24
9	Alex Radcliff	CAG	24

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Willard Brown	KCM	62
1	Henry Milton	KCM	62
3	Rainey Bibbs	CAG/KCM	52
4	Donald Reeves	BCA	48
5	Babe Davis	BCA	44
6	Red Moore	BCA	43
7	Wilson Redus	CAG	41
8	Newt Allen	KCM	40
9	Cowan Hyde	MRS	39
10	Lloyd Davenport	MRS	38

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Henry Milton	KCM	25
2	Willard Brown	KCM	20
3	Buck O'Neil	KCM	11
4	Rainey Bibbs	CAG/KCM	10
5	Cowan Hyde	MRS	9
6	Lloyd Davenport	MRS	7
6	Gabby Kemp	BCA/JRC	7
6	Donald Reeves	BCA	7
6	Turkey Stearnes	CAG/KCM	7
10	Wilson Redus	CAG	6

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Donald Reeves	BCA	200
2	Willard Brown	KCM	187
3	Henry Milton	KCM	164
4	Red Moore	BCA	153
5	Neil Robinson	MRS	151
6	Lloyd Davenport	MRS	140
7	Wilson Redus	CAG	134
8	Babe Davis	BCA	128
9	Frank Duncan	KCM/CAG	117
9	Turkey Stearnes	CAG/KCM	117

Pitching leaders, Negro American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Willie Cornelius	CAG	9
1	Hilton Smith	KCM	9
3	Felix Evans	BCA/JRC	6
3	Tommy Johnson	CAG	6
3	Bo Mitchell	BCA/BBB	6
6	Vet Barnes	KCM	5
6	Eddie Dixon	BCA	5
8	Frank Bradley	KCM	4
8	Telosh Howard	BCA	4
8	Floyd Kranson	KCM	4

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Hilton Smith	KCM	2.08
2	Willie Cornelius	CAG	2.12
3	Telosh Howard	BCA	2.34
4	Tommy Johnson	CAG	2.94
5	Eddie Dixon	BCA	3.01
6	Lefty Wilson	MRS	3.06
7	Frank McAllister	AB3	3.40
8	Felix Evans	BCA/JRC	3.45
9	Johnny Markham	KCM	3.51
10	Frank Bradley	KCM	3.57

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Hilton Smith	KCM	88
2	Willie Cornelius	CAG	77
3	Vet Barnes	KCM	61
4	Frank Bradley	KCM	60
5	Eddie Dixon	BCA	55
5	Telosh Howard	BCA	55
7	Bo Mitchell	BCA/BBB	49
8	Cliff Blackmon	BBB	42
8	Willie Jefferson	MRS	42
8	Ted Trent	CAG	42

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1938, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Hilton Smith	KCM	205
2	Willie Cornelius	CAG	201
3	Telosh Howard	BCA	183
4	Tommy Johnson	CAG	145
5	Eddie Dixon	BCA	142
6	Lefty Wilson	MRS	139
7	Frank McAllister	AB3	125
8	Felix Evans	BCA/JRC	124
9	Johnny Markham	KCM	121
10	Frank Bradley	KCM	120

Batting leaders, Negro National League II

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Buck Leonard	HG	.418
2	Harry Williams	PC	.383
3	Josh Gibson	HG	.363
4	Henry Spearman	SEN/NBY/HG	.352
5	Fats Jenkins	NBY/PC	.336
6	Jim Williams	HG	.326
7	Jim West	BEG	.318
8	Bill Perkins	PS	.310
9	Jerry Benjamin	HG	.309
10	Marvin Barker	NBY	.306

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Josh Gibson	HG	13
2	Buck Leonard	HG	9
3	Pat Patterson	PS	7
3	Bill Perkins	PS	7
5	Jerry Benjamin	HG	6
5	Roy Parnell	PS	6
7	Jake Dunn	PS	5
7	Curtis Harris	PS	5
7	Jim West	BEG	5
10	Matt Carlisle	HG	4

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Josh Gibson	HG	54
2	Buck Leonard	HG	53
3	Bill Perkins	PS	44
4	Curtis Harris	PS	38
5	Pat Patterson	PS	36
6	Jake Dunn	PS	34
7	Harry Williams	PC	32
8	Wild Bill Wright	BEG	31
9	Jim West	BEG	30
9	Jim Williams	HG	30

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	R
1	Josh Gibson	HG	54
2	Roy Parnell	PS	50
3	Vic Harris	HG	43
4	Jerry Benjamin	HG	42
4	Buck Leonard	HG	42
6	Clyde Spearman	PS	41
7	Jake Dunn	PS	37
8	Matt Carlisle	HG	36
8	Bill Perkins	PS	36
10	Harry Williams	PC	35

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	H
1	Clyde Spearman	PS	74
2	Roy Parnell	PS	65
3	Buck Leonard	HG	64
4	Josh Gibson	HG	61
4	Bill Perkins	PS	61
6	Jake Dunn	PS	56
7	Curtis Harris	PS	54
7	Harry Williams	PC	54
9	Vic Harris	HG	53
10	Jerry Benjamin	HG	51

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Sam Bankhead	PC	6
2	Wild Bill Wright	BEG	5
3	Jerry Benjamin	HG	4
3	Roy Parnell	PS	4
5	Josh Gibson	HG	3
5	George Giles	PS/PC	3
5	Fats Jenkins	NBY/PC	3
5	Pat Patterson	PS	3
5	Bill Perkins	PS	3
5	Harry Williams	PC	3

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Buck Leonard	HG	232
2	Josh Gibson	HG	213
3	Harry Williams	PC	180
4	Jim West	BEG	151
5	Pat Patterson	PS	148
6	Jerry Benjamin	HG	141
7	Henry Spearman	SEN/NBY/HG	136
8	Bill Perkins	PS	135
9	Wild Bill Wright	BEG	127
10	Fats Jenkins	NBY/PC	119

Pitching leaders, Negro National League II

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	W
1	Ray Brown	HG	14
2	Edsall Walker	HG	10
3	Bill Byrd	BEG	7
3	Spoon Carter	PS	7
3	Henry McHenry	PS	7
3	Johnny Taylor	PC	7
7	Andy Porter	BEG	6
8	Webster McDonald	PS	5
8	Terris McDuffie	NE/NBY	5
8	Henry Miller	PS	5

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Ray Brown	HG	1.95
2	Andy Porter	BEG	3.05
3	Bill Holland	NBY	3.14
4	Barney Morris	PC	3.59
5	Edsall Walker	HG	3.62
6	Henry McHenry	PS	3.72
7	Specs Roberts	SEN/HG	3.73
8	Bill Byrd	BEG	3.89
9	Bob Griffith	BEG	3.95
10	Johnny Taylor	PC	4.08

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Ray Brown	HG	70
2	Henry McHenry	PS	61
3	Spoon Carter	PS	55
3	Barney Morris	PC	55
5	Barney Brown	NBY	52
6	Johnny Taylor	PC	51
7	Roy Partlow	HG	42
7	Edsall Walker	HG	42
9	Webster McDonald	PS	38
10	Bob Griffith	BEG	36

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1938, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Ray Brown	HG	259
2	Andy Porter	BEG	166
3	Bill Holland	NBY	161
4	Barney Morris	PC	141
5	Edsall Walker	HG	140
6	Henry McHenry	PS	136
6	Specs Roberts	SEN/HG	136
8	Bill Byrd	BEG	130
9	Bob Griffith	BEG	128
10	Johnny Taylor	PC	124

How the 1938 Negro Leagues leaderboards are built

Batters qualify at PA >= 3.1 x their league-season's qualifying team games: the league's scheduled games where the player-level record is complete, or the recorded player-level equivalent (the league-season's player games sum over 9 lineup slots per team) where recovery is partial, per the source's Negro League data notes. The per-league base is receipted on every season page. Pitchers qualify on the W, ERA, SO and ERA+ boards at IP >= the same qualifying-team-games base as the batters (1 inning per qualifying team game, recovery-aware).

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 view, adjusted values keep their own-league normalization. Player-level records of the era are a partial recovery, so rows can lag the full season; values the source never recorded are absent, never invented.

Nearby seasons

1932 Negro Leagues leaders 1933 Negro Leagues leaders 1934 Negro Leagues leaders 1935 Negro Leagues leaders 1936 Negro Leagues leaders 1937 Negro Leagues leaders 1939 Negro Leagues leaders 1940 Negro Leagues leaders 1941 Negro Leagues leaders 1942 Negro Leagues leaders 1943 Negro Leagues leaders 1944 Negro Leagues leaders

All Negro Leagues seasons Sources and data credits