Who led the Negro Leagues in home runs in 1939?

Josh Gibson led the era with 11 in 1939 (NN2).

Who had the highest batting average in the 1939 Negro Leagues?

David Whatley hit ..441, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1939 (NN2).

Who led the Negro Leagues in wins in 1939?

Henry McHenry led the era with 10 wins in 1939 (NN2).

1939 Negro Leagues Leaders

Season 19392 leagues11 boards per league

Josh Gibson led the era with 11 in 1939. The Negro American League and Negro National League II leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1939 season.

Negro Leagues season leaders · 1939

Recovery-aware era qualifiers2 leagues · 11 boards per league

11Josh Gibson · HR

← 1938 leaders All seasons 1940 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	David Whatley	HG	NN2	.441
2	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	.404
3	Bill Hoskins	BEG	NN2	.390
4	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	.373
5	Mule Suttles	NE	NN2	.367
6	Wild Bill Wright	BEG	NN2	.362
7	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	.358
7	Sammy Hughes	BEG	NN2	.358
9	Ed Stone	NE	NN2	.356
9	Fred Wilson	NE/PS	NN2	.356

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	11
1	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	11
3	Mule Suttles	NE	NN2	9
4	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	NAL	7
4	Ed Stone	NE	NN2	7
6	Gene Benson	PS	NN2	5
6	Lennie Pearson	NE	NN2	5
8	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	4
9	Monte Irvin	NE	NN2	3
9	Henry Kimbro	BEG	NN2	3

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	48
2	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	44
3	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	40
4	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	NAL	39
5	Mule Suttles	NE	NN2	37
6	Ted Strong	KCM	NAL	32
7	Ed Stone	NE	NN2	31
8	Pat Patterson	PS	NN2	29
8	Lennie Pearson	NE	NN2	29
10	Curtis Harris	PS	NN2	28

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	NAL	44
2	Mule Suttles	NE	NN2	38
3	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	36
3	Pat Patterson	PS	NN2	36
3	Ed Stone	NE	NN2	36
3	Ted Strong	KCM	NAL	36
7	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	35
7	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	35
9	Henry Milton	KCM	NAL	34
10	Rainey Bibbs	KCM	NAL	33

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	64
2	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	NAL	63
3	Chester Williams	PS	NN2	59
4	Pat Patterson	PS	NN2	56
5	Ted Strong	KCM	NAL	53
6	Mule Suttles	NE	NN2	51
7	Henry Milton	KCM	NAL	49
8	Rainey Bibbs	KCM	NAL	48
8	Ed Stone	NE	NN2	48
8	Fred Wilson	NE/PS	NN2	48

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Ted Strong	KCM	NAL	14
2	Henry Milton	KCM	NAL	11
2	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	NAL	11
4	Ed Young	CAG	NAL	10
5	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	9
5	Dan Wilson	SL3	NAL	9
7	Ernie Smith	CAG	NAL	7
7	Parnell Woods	CBR	NAL	7
9	Lloyd Davenport	MRS	NAL	6
9	Willie Simms	CAG	NAL	6

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	248
2	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	227
3	Mule Suttles	NE	NN2	203
4	David Whatley	HG	NN2	191
5	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	187
6	Ed Stone	NE	NN2	175
7	Bill Hoskins	BEG	NN2	173
8	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	NAL	167
9	Ted Strong	KCM	NAL	159
10	Jud Wilson	PS	NN2	157

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Henry McHenry	PS	NN2	10
2	Leon Day	NE	NN2	9
2	George Walker	KCM	NAL	9
4	Bill Byrd	BEG	NN2	8
4	Smoky Owens	CBR	NAL	8
6	Frank Bradley	KCM	NAL	7
6	Ted Radcliffe	MRS	NAL	7
8	Ray Brown	HG	NN2	6
8	Preacher Henry	CBR	NAL	6
8	Jimmy Hill	NE	NN2	6

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Smoky Owens	CBR	NAL	1.90
2	Willie Hubert	NE/BEG	NN2	2.09
3	George Walker	KCM	NAL	2.11
4	Lefty Bowe	CAG	NAL	2.42
5	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	2.65
6	Roy Partlow	HG	NN2	2.91
7	Roosevelt Davis	MRS	NAL	2.93
8	Lefty Calhoun	SL3	NAL	2.96
9	Preacher Henry	CBR	NAL	3.00
10	James Brown	NE	NN2	3.20

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	84
2	Frank Bradley	KCM	NAL	65
3	Ted Radcliffe	MRS	NAL	62
3	George Walker	KCM	NAL	62
5	Leon Day	NE	NN2	61
6	Preacher Henry	CBR	NAL	54
7	Jimmy Hill	NE	NN2	50
8	Willie Cornelius	CAG	NAL	47
9	Neck Stanley	NBY	NN2	46
10	Lefty Bowe	CAG	NAL	45

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1939, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Willie Hubert	NE/BEG	NN2	232
2	Smoky Owens	CBR	NAL	208
3	George Walker	KCM	NAL	188
4	Roy Partlow	HG	NN2	166
5	Lefty Bowe	CAG	NAL	164
6	James Brown	NE	NN2	151
7	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	149
8	Jimmy Hill	NE	NN2	147
9	Jimmy Johnson	TC2	NN2	145
10	Roosevelt Davis	MRS	NAL	135

Batting leaders, Negro American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Willard Brown	KCM	.358
2	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	.326
3	Ted Strong	KCM	.325
4	Willie Simms	CAG	.313
5	Rainey Bibbs	KCM	.291
6	Dan Wilson	SL3	.290
7	Alex Radcliff	CAG	.286
8	Ed Young	CAG	.279
9	Lloyd Davenport	MRS	.274
10	Ernie Smith	CAG	.271

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	7
2	Willard Brown	KCM	4
3	Willie Simms	CAG	3
3	Ted Strong	KCM	3
5	Subby Byas	CAG	2
5	Joe Greene	KCM	2
5	Henry Milton	KCM	2
5	Ed Young	CAG	2
9	Rainey Bibbs	KCM	1
9	Bill Bradford	SL3	1

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Willard Brown	KCM	44
2	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	39
3	Ted Strong	KCM	32
4	Buck O'Neil	KCM	24
5	Ed Young	CAG	19
6	Rainey Bibbs	KCM	18
7	Alex Radcliff	CAG	16
8	Henry Milton	KCM	15
8	Ernie Smith	CAG	15
10	Newt Allen	KCM	14

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	44
2	Willard Brown	KCM	36
2	Ted Strong	KCM	36
4	Henry Milton	KCM	34
5	Rainey Bibbs	KCM	33
6	Alex Radcliff	CAG	24
6	Dan Wilson	SL3	24
8	Newt Allen	KCM	20
8	Willie Simms	CAG	20
8	Ed Young	CAG	20

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Willard Brown	KCM	64
2	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	63
3	Ted Strong	KCM	53
4	Henry Milton	KCM	49
5	Rainey Bibbs	KCM	48
6	Alex Radcliff	CAG	44
7	Willie Simms	CAG	42
8	Newt Allen	KCM	39
9	Ernie Smith	CAG	38
10	Ed Young	CAG	34

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Ted Strong	KCM	14
2	Henry Milton	KCM	11
2	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	11
4	Ed Young	CAG	10
5	Willard Brown	KCM	9
5	Dan Wilson	SL3	9
7	Ernie Smith	CAG	7
7	Parnell Woods	CBR	7
9	Lloyd Davenport	MRS	6
9	Willie Simms	CAG	6

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Willard Brown	KCM	187
2	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	167
3	Ted Strong	KCM	159
4	Willie Simms	CAG	148
5	Ed Young	CAG	135
6	Dan Wilson	SL3	127
7	Alex Radcliff	CAG	122
8	Subby Byas	CAG	116
9	Rainey Bibbs	KCM	114
10	Parnell Woods	CBR	112

Pitching leaders, Negro American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	George Walker	KCM	9
2	Smoky Owens	CBR	8
3	Frank Bradley	KCM	7
3	Ted Radcliffe	MRS	7
5	Preacher Henry	CBR	6
5	Hilton Smith	KCM	6
7	Jesse Houston	CAG	5
8	Frank McAllister	SL3	4
9	Willie Cornelius	CAG	3
9	Eddie Dixon	IAB	3

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Smoky Owens	CBR	1.90
2	George Walker	KCM	2.11
3	Lefty Bowe	CAG	2.42
4	Hilton Smith	KCM	2.65
5	Roosevelt Davis	MRS	2.93
6	Lefty Calhoun	SL3	2.96
7	Preacher Henry	CBR	3.00
8	Felix Evans	IAB	3.23
9	Frank Bradley	KCM	3.25
10	Theolic Smith	SL3	3.39

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Hilton Smith	KCM	84
2	Frank Bradley	KCM	65
3	Ted Radcliffe	MRS	62
3	George Walker	KCM	62
5	Preacher Henry	CBR	54
6	Willie Cornelius	CAG	47
7	Lefty Bowe	CAG	45
8	Theolic Smith	SL3	37
9	Jesse Houston	CAG	36
10	Eddie Dixon	IAB	29

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1939, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Smoky Owens	CBR	208
2	George Walker	KCM	188
3	Lefty Bowe	CAG	164
4	Hilton Smith	KCM	149
5	Roosevelt Davis	MRS	135
6	Lefty Calhoun	SL3	134
7	Preacher Henry	CBR	132
8	Felix Evans	IAB	123
9	Frank Bradley	KCM	122
10	Theolic Smith	SL3	117

Batting leaders, Negro National League II

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	David Whatley	HG	.441
2	Josh Gibson	HG	.404
3	Bill Hoskins	BEG	.390
4	Buck Leonard	HG	.373
5	Mule Suttles	NE	.367
6	Wild Bill Wright	BEG	.362
7	Sammy Hughes	BEG	.358
8	Ed Stone	NE	.356
8	Fred Wilson	NE/PS	.356
10	Pat Patterson	PS	.348

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Josh Gibson	HG	11
1	Buck Leonard	HG	11
3	Mule Suttles	NE	9
4	Ed Stone	NE	7
5	Gene Benson	PS	5
5	Lennie Pearson	NE	5
7	Monte Irvin	NE	3
7	Henry Kimbro	BEG	3
7	Henry Spearman	HG	3
7	Willie Wells	NE	3

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Buck Leonard	HG	48
2	Josh Gibson	HG	40
3	Mule Suttles	NE	37
4	Ed Stone	NE	31
5	Pat Patterson	PS	29
5	Lennie Pearson	NE	29
7	Curtis Harris	PS	28
7	Fred Wilson	NE/PS	28
9	Jake Dunn	PS	26
10	Gene Benson	PS	25

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	R
1	Mule Suttles	NE	38
2	Pat Patterson	PS	36
2	Ed Stone	NE	36
4	Josh Gibson	HG	35
4	Buck Leonard	HG	35
6	Chester Williams	PS	32
7	Sam Bankhead	HG	31
7	Willie Wells	NE	31
9	Roy Parnell	PS	28
10	Fred Wilson	NE/PS	27

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	H
1	Chester Williams	PS	59
2	Pat Patterson	PS	56
3	Mule Suttles	NE	51
4	Ed Stone	NE	48
4	Fred Wilson	NE/PS	48
6	Gene Benson	PS	46
7	David Whatley	HG	45
8	Buck Leonard	HG	44
9	Jake Dunn	PS	43
10	Josh Gibson	HG	42

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Sam Bankhead	HG	5
1	Wild Bill Wright	BEG	5
3	Willie Wells	NE	4
4	Josh Gibson	HG	3
4	Henry Kimbro	BEG	3
4	Dick Seay	NE	3
4	Ed Stone	NE	3
4	Mule Suttles	NE	3
9	Monte Irvin	NE	2
9	Buck Leonard	HG	2

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Josh Gibson	HG	248
2	Buck Leonard	HG	227
3	Mule Suttles	NE	203
4	David Whatley	HG	191
5	Ed Stone	NE	175
6	Bill Hoskins	BEG	173
7	Jud Wilson	PS	157
8	Sammy Hughes	BEG	156
9	Fred Wilson	NE/PS	146
10	Wild Bill Wright	BEG	139

Pitching leaders, Negro National League II

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	W
1	Henry McHenry	PS	10
2	Leon Day	NE	9
3	Bill Byrd	BEG	8
4	Ray Brown	HG	6
4	Jimmy Hill	NE	6
6	Willie Hubert	NE/BEG	5
6	Specs Roberts	HG	5
6	Silvino Ruíz	NYC	5
6	Edsall Walker	HG	5
10	James Brown	NE	4

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Willie Hubert	NE/BEG	2.09
2	Roy Partlow	HG	2.91
3	James Brown	NE	3.20
4	Jimmy Hill	NE	3.30
5	Jimmy Johnson	TC2	3.34
6	Specs Roberts	HG	3.83
7	Bill Byrd	BEG	3.86
8	Edsall Walker	HG	3.88
9	Silvino Ruíz	NYC	3.91
10	Terris McDuffie	NBY	4.22

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Leon Day	NE	61
2	Jimmy Hill	NE	50
3	Neck Stanley	NBY	46
4	Luis Tiant	NYC	42
5	Bill Byrd	BEG	40
5	Edsall Walker	HG	40
7	Henry McHenry	PS	39
8	Terris McDuffie	NBY	34
8	Roy Partlow	HG	34
10	Roy Welmaker	HG/PS	33

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1939, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Willie Hubert	NE/BEG	232
2	Roy Partlow	HG	166
3	James Brown	NE	151
4	Jimmy Hill	NE	147
5	Jimmy Johnson	TC2	145
6	Bill Byrd	BEG	126
6	Specs Roberts	HG	126
8	Edsall Walker	HG	125
9	Silvino Ruíz	NYC	124
10	Terris McDuffie	NBY	115

How the 1939 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

1933 Negro Leagues leaders 1934 Negro Leagues leaders 1935 Negro Leagues leaders 1936 Negro Leagues leaders 1937 Negro Leagues leaders 1938 Negro Leagues leaders 1940 Negro Leagues leaders 1941 Negro Leagues leaders 1942 Negro Leagues leaders 1943 Negro Leagues leaders 1944 Negro Leagues leaders 1945 Negro Leagues leaders

All Negro Leagues seasons Sources and data credits