Who led the Negro Leagues in home runs in 1940?

Bill Hoskins led the era with 8 in 1940 (NN2).

Who had the highest batting average in the 1940 Negro Leagues?

Buck Leonard hit ..378, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1940 (NN2).

Who led the Negro Leagues in wins in 1940?

Ray Brown led the era with 17 wins in 1940 (NN2).

1940 Negro Leagues Leaders

Season 19402 leagues11 boards per league

Bill Hoskins led the era with 8 in 1940. The Negro American League and Negro National League II leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1940 season.

Negro Leagues season leaders · 1940

Recovery-aware era qualifiers2 leagues · 11 boards per league

8Bill Hoskins · HR

← 1939 leaders All seasons 1941 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	.378
2	Monte Irvin	NE	NN2	.370
3	Jesse Williams	KCM	NAL	.368
4	Lennie Pearson	NE	NN2	.353
5	George Scales	BEG	NN2	.352
6	Bill Hoskins	BEG	NN2	.343
7	Howard Easterling	HG	NN2	.335
8	Duke Cleveland	CBR	NAL	.333
9	Buddy Armour	SNS	NAL	.327
9	Jim West	PS/BEG	NN2	.327

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Bill Hoskins	BEG	NN2	8
1	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	8
1	Lennie Pearson	NE	NN2	8
4	Sammy Hughes	BEG	NN2	6
5	Gene Benson	PS	NN2	5
5	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	NAL	5
5	Mule Suttles	NE	NN2	5
8	Monte Irvin	NE	NN2	4
8	Roy Parnell	PS	NN2	4
8	George Scales	BEG	NN2	4

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Howard Easterling	HG	NN2	45
2	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	42
3	Bill Hoskins	BEG	NN2	40
4	Matt Carlisle	HG	NN2	39
4	George Scales	BEG	NN2	39
6	Sammy Hughes	BEG	NN2	37
6	Red Moore	BEG	NN2	37
8	Monte Irvin	NE	NN2	36
9	Lennie Pearson	NE	NN2	35
9	Felton Snow	BEG	NN2	35

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Henry Kimbro	BEG	NN2	54
2	Sammy Hughes	BEG	NN2	53
3	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	49
4	Lennie Pearson	NE	NN2	46
5	Gene Benson	PS	NN2	45
6	Tommy Butts	BEG	NN2	44
6	Roy Parnell	PS	NN2	44
8	Howard Easterling	HG	NN2	42
8	David Whatley	HG	NN2	42
10	Fred Bankhead	MRS	NAL	40

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Jim West	PS/BEG	NN2	73
2	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	70
3	Howard Easterling	HG	NN2	68
4	Gene Benson	PS	NN2	66
5	Sammy Hughes	BEG	NN2	65
6	David Whatley	HG	NN2	64
7	Tommy Butts	BEG	NN2	62
8	Felton Snow	BEG	NN2	61
9	Bill Hoskins	BEG	NN2	60
9	Henry Kimbro	BEG	NN2	60

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	16
2	Leslie Green	SNS	NAL	13
3	Matt Carlisle	HG	NN2	10
4	Henry Milton	KCM	NAL	9
4	David Whatley	HG	NN2	9
6	Fred Bankhead	MRS	NAL	8
6	Bill Hoskins	BEG	NN2	8
6	Henry Kimbro	BEG	NN2	8
6	Buck O'Neil	KCM	NAL	8
6	Herb Souell	KCM	NAL	8

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	198
2	Jesse Williams	KCM	NAL	179
3	George Scales	BEG	NN2	176
4	Monte Irvin	NE	NN2	170
5	Lennie Pearson	NE	NN2	167
6	Goose Curry	NBY/BEG	NN2	163
6	Bill Hoskins	BEG	NN2	163
8	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	NAL	160
9	Buddy Armour	SNS	NAL	150
10	Duke Cleveland	CBR	NAL	149

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Ray Brown	HG	NN2	17
2	Edsall Walker	HG	NN2	13
3	Emery Adams	BEG	NN2	12
4	Henry McHenry	PS	NN2	11
5	Max Manning	NE	NN2	10
6	Bud Barbee	NBY/BEG	NN2	9
7	Jimmy Hill	NE	NN2	8
7	Willie Hubert	BEG	NN2	8
9	Jack Matchett	KCM	NAL	7
10	Frank Bradley	KCM	NAL	6

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	George Walker	KCM	NAL	1.21
2	Ray Brown	HG	NN2	2.07
3	Johnny Wright	TIC	NAL	2.56
4	Frank Bradley	KCM	NAL	2.57
5	Willie Hutchinson	MRS	NAL	2.65
6	Lefty Calhoun	SNS	NAL	2.89
7	Eugene Bremer	MRS	NAL	3.07
8	Emery Adams	BEG	NN2	3.17
9	Lefty Wilson	MRS/TIC	NAL	3.18
10	Jack Matchett	KCM	NAL	3.23

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Henry McHenry	PS	NN2	86
2	Edsall Walker	HG	NN2	81
3	Ray Brown	HG	NN2	75
4	Emery Adams	BEG	NN2	71
5	Max Manning	NE	NN2	68
6	Willie Hubert	BEG	NN2	67
7	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	64
8	Preacher Henry	CBR	NAL	63
9	Jack Matchett	KCM	NAL	61
10	Eugene Smith	SNS	NAL	60

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1940, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	George Walker	KCM	NAL	341
2	Ray Brown	HG	NN2	252
3	Emery Adams	BEG	NN2	165
4	Frank Bradley	KCM	NAL	161
4	Johnny Wright	TIC	NAL	161
6	Willie Hutchinson	MRS	NAL	156
7	Silvino Ruíz	NYC	NN2	153
8	Lefty Calhoun	SNS	NAL	143
9	Jimmy Hill	NE	NN2	141
10	Eugene Bremer	MRS	NAL	134

Batting leaders, Negro American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Jesse Williams	KCM	.368
2	Duke Cleveland	CBR	.333
3	Buddy Armour	SNS	.327
4	Herb Souell	KCM	.311
5	Jimmy Ford	SNS	.295
6	Buck O'Neil	KCM	.276
7	John Lyles	SNS	.275
8	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	.271
9	Marlin Carter	MRS	.268
10	Larry Brown	MRS	.265

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	5
2	Fred Bankhead	MRS	1
2	Leslie Green	SNS	1
2	Verdell Mathis	MRS	1
2	Henry Milton	KCM	1
2	Buck O'Neil	KCM	1
2	Jelly Taylor	MRS	1
2	Jesse Williams	KCM	1
2	Parnell Woods	CBR/BBB	1
10	Buddy Armour	SNS	0

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	34
2	Jesse Williams	KCM	28
3	Buck O'Neil	KCM	26
4	Buddy Armour	SNS	18
5	Larry Brown	MRS	17
5	Marlin Carter	MRS	17
7	T. J. Brown	MRS	16
8	Red Longley	MRS	15
8	Herb Souell	KCM	15
10	Duke Cleveland	CBR	14

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Fred Bankhead	MRS	40
2	Leslie Green	SNS	27
3	Duke Cleveland	CBR	24
3	Buck O'Neil	KCM	24
3	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	24
3	Jesse Williams	KCM	24
7	Henry Milton	KCM	23
7	Jelly Taylor	MRS	23
9	Buddy Armour	SNS	21
9	John Lyles	SNS	21

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Jesse Williams	KCM	50
2	T. J. Brown	MRS	41
2	Marlin Carter	MRS	41
4	Fred Bankhead	MRS	40
4	Buck O'Neil	KCM	40
6	Jelly Taylor	MRS	39
7	Herb Souell	KCM	38
8	Buddy Armour	SNS	36
8	Larry Brown	MRS	36
8	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	36

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Leslie Green	SNS	13
2	Henry Milton	KCM	9
3	Fred Bankhead	MRS	8
3	Buck O'Neil	KCM	8
3	Herb Souell	KCM	8
6	Duke Cleveland	CBR	7
6	Jelly Taylor	MRS	7
8	John Lyles	SNS	6
9	Buddy Armour	SNS	5
9	Jesse Williams	KCM	5

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Jesse Williams	KCM	179
2	Turkey Stearnes	KCM	160
3	Buddy Armour	SNS	150
4	Duke Cleveland	CBR	149
5	Herb Souell	KCM	136
6	Leslie Green	SNS	127
7	Jimmy Ford	SNS	116
8	Buck O'Neil	KCM	114
9	Larry Brown	MRS	109
9	Marlin Carter	MRS	109

Pitching leaders, Negro American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Jack Matchett	KCM	7
2	Frank Bradley	KCM	6
2	Lefty Calhoun	SNS	6
4	Preacher Henry	CBR	5
4	Andy Sarvis	CBR	5
4	Eugene Smith	SNS	5
4	George Walker	KCM	5
8	Dan Bankhead	BBB	4
8	Willie Hutchinson	MRS	4
8	Floyd Kranson	KCM	4

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	George Walker	KCM	1.21
2	Johnny Wright	TIC	2.56
3	Frank Bradley	KCM	2.57
4	Willie Hutchinson	MRS	2.65
5	Lefty Calhoun	SNS	2.89
6	Eugene Bremer	MRS	3.07
7	Lefty Wilson	MRS/TIC	3.18
8	Jack Matchett	KCM	3.23
9	Eugene Smith	SNS	3.26
10	Dan Bankhead	BBB	3.57

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Hilton Smith	KCM	64
2	Preacher Henry	CBR	63
3	Jack Matchett	KCM	61
4	Eugene Smith	SNS	60
5	Frank Bradley	KCM	55
6	Eugene Bremer	MRS	44
7	Andy Sarvis	CBR	42
8	George Walker	KCM	40
9	Lefty Bowe	CAG	36
10	Junius Savage	MRS	34

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1940, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	George Walker	KCM	341
2	Frank Bradley	KCM	161
2	Johnny Wright	TIC	161
4	Willie Hutchinson	MRS	156
5	Lefty Calhoun	SNS	143
6	Eugene Bremer	MRS	134
7	Lefty Wilson	MRS/TIC	130
8	Jack Matchett	KCM	128
9	Eugene Smith	SNS	127
10	Dan Bankhead	BBB	116

Batting leaders, Negro National League II

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Buck Leonard	HG	.378
2	Monte Irvin	NE	.370
3	Lennie Pearson	NE	.353
4	George Scales	BEG	.352
5	Bill Hoskins	BEG	.343
6	Howard Easterling	HG	.335
7	Jim West	PS/BEG	.327
8	Fran Matthews	NE	.320
9	Goose Curry	NBY/BEG	.319
9	Felton Snow	BEG	.319

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Bill Hoskins	BEG	8
1	Buck Leonard	HG	8
1	Lennie Pearson	NE	8
4	Sammy Hughes	BEG	6
5	Gene Benson	PS	5
5	Mule Suttles	NE	5
7	Monte Irvin	NE	4
7	Roy Parnell	PS	4
7	George Scales	BEG	4
10	Matt Carlisle	HG	3

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Howard Easterling	HG	45
2	Buck Leonard	HG	42
3	Bill Hoskins	BEG	40
4	Matt Carlisle	HG	39
4	George Scales	BEG	39
6	Sammy Hughes	BEG	37
6	Red Moore	BEG	37
8	Monte Irvin	NE	36
9	Lennie Pearson	NE	35
9	Felton Snow	BEG	35

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	R
1	Henry Kimbro	BEG	54
2	Sammy Hughes	BEG	53
3	Buck Leonard	HG	49
4	Lennie Pearson	NE	46
5	Gene Benson	PS	45
6	Tommy Butts	BEG	44
6	Roy Parnell	PS	44
8	Howard Easterling	HG	42
8	David Whatley	HG	42
10	Jerry Benjamin	HG	38

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	H
1	Jim West	PS/BEG	73
2	Buck Leonard	HG	70
3	Howard Easterling	HG	68
4	Gene Benson	PS	66
5	Sammy Hughes	BEG	65
6	David Whatley	HG	64
7	Tommy Butts	BEG	62
8	Felton Snow	BEG	61
9	Bill Hoskins	BEG	60
9	Henry Kimbro	BEG	60

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Jerry Benjamin	HG	16
2	Matt Carlisle	HG	10
3	David Whatley	HG	9
4	Bill Hoskins	BEG	8
4	Henry Kimbro	BEG	8
6	Gene Benson	PS	5
6	Goose Curry	NBY/BEG	5
6	Jelly Jackson	HG	5
9	Sammy Hughes	BEG	4
9	Larnie Jordan	PS	4

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Buck Leonard	HG	198
2	George Scales	BEG	176
3	Monte Irvin	NE	170
4	Lennie Pearson	NE	167
5	Goose Curry	NBY/BEG	163
5	Bill Hoskins	BEG	163
7	Howard Easterling	HG	143
8	Fran Matthews	NE	137
9	Roy Parnell	PS	131
10	Mule Suttles	NE	126

Pitching leaders, Negro National League II

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	W
1	Ray Brown	HG	17
2	Edsall Walker	HG	13
3	Emery Adams	BEG	12
4	Henry McHenry	PS	11
5	Max Manning	NE	10
6	Bud Barbee	NBY/BEG	9
7	Jimmy Hill	NE	8
7	Willie Hubert	BEG	8
9	Nate Moreland	BEG	6
9	Silvino Ruíz	NYC	6

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Ray Brown	HG	2.07
2	Emery Adams	BEG	3.17
3	Silvino Ruíz	NYC	3.40
4	Jimmy Hill	NE	3.70
5	Ches Buchanan	PS	3.89
6	Henry McHenry	PS	4.12
7	Edsall Walker	HG	4.15
8	Max Manning	NE	4.60
9	Nate Moreland	BEG	4.99
10	Johnny Taylor	NE/NYC	5.12

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Henry McHenry	PS	86
2	Edsall Walker	HG	81
3	Ray Brown	HG	75
4	Emery Adams	BEG	71
5	Max Manning	NE	68
6	Willie Hubert	BEG	67
7	Jimmy Hill	NE	58
8	Bud Barbee	NBY/BEG	56
8	Nate Moreland	BEG	56
10	Johnny Taylor	NE/NYC	53

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1940, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Ray Brown	HG	252
2	Emery Adams	BEG	165
3	Silvino Ruíz	NYC	153
4	Jimmy Hill	NE	141
5	Ches Buchanan	PS	134
6	Henry McHenry	PS	127
7	Edsall Walker	HG	126
8	Max Manning	NE	114
9	Nate Moreland	BEG	105
10	Johnny Taylor	NE/NYC	102

How the 1940 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

1934 Negro Leagues leaders 1935 Negro Leagues leaders 1936 Negro Leagues leaders 1937 Negro Leagues leaders 1938 Negro Leagues leaders 1939 Negro Leagues leaders 1941 Negro Leagues leaders 1942 Negro Leagues leaders 1943 Negro Leagues leaders 1944 Negro Leagues leaders 1945 Negro Leagues leaders 1946 Negro Leagues leaders

All Negro Leagues seasons Sources and data credits