Who led the Negro Leagues in home runs in 1943?

Josh Gibson led the era with 20 in 1943 (NN2).

Who had the highest batting average in the 1943 Negro Leagues?

Tetelo Vargas hit ..472, the best average among qualifying hitters in 1943 (NN2).

Who led the Negro Leagues in wins in 1943?

Johnny Wright led the era with 18 wins in 1943 (NN2).

1943 Negro Leagues Leaders

Season 19432 leagues11 boards per league

Josh Gibson led the era with 20 in 1943. The Negro American League and Negro National League II leaderboards below rank every qualifying hitter and pitcher of the 1943 season.

Negro Leagues season leaders · 1943

Recovery-aware era qualifiers2 leagues · 11 boards per league

20Josh Gibson · HR

← 1942 leaders All seasons 1944 leaders →

League

Showing all major leagues combined leader boards

Batting leaders, all major leagues

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	AVG
1	Tetelo Vargas	NYC	NN2	.472
2	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	.466
3	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	.374
4	Pancho Coimbre	NYC	NN2	.362
4	Vic Harris	HG	NN2	.362
6	Cool Papa Bell	HG	NN2	.350
7	Howard Easterling	HG	NN2	.348
8	Gene Benson	PS	NN2	.337
9	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	.333
10	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	.329

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	HR
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	20
2	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	7
3	Johnny Davis	NE	NN2	4
3	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	4
3	Lennie Pearson	NE/HG/PS	NN2	4
6	George Scales	BEG	NN2	3
7	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	2
7	Goose Curry	PS	NN2	2
7	Piper Davis	BBB	NAL	2
7	Lester Lockett	BBB/CC	NAL	2

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	RBI
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	112
2	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	61
3	Jud Wilson	HG	NN2	57
4	Howard Easterling	HG	NN2	52
5	Jim West	PS	NN2	44
6	Sam Bankhead	HG	NN2	42
7	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	38
7	Gene Benson	PS	NN2	38
9	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	33
10	Henry Spearman	PS	NN2	30

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	R
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	93
2	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	83
3	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	71
4	Cool Papa Bell	HG	NN2	63
5	Sam Bankhead	HG	NN2	53
6	Goose Curry	PS	NN2	47
6	Howard Easterling	HG	NN2	47
8	Jim West	PS	NN2	37
9	Henry Spearman	PS	NN2	35
9	Tetelo Vargas	NYC	NN2	35

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	H
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	116
2	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	110
3	Cool Papa Bell	HG	NN2	92
4	Howard Easterling	HG	NN2	87
5	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	84
6	Sam Bankhead	HG	NN2	69
7	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	68
8	Jud Wilson	HG	NN2	66
9	Gene Benson	PS	NN2	64
10	Bonnie Serrell	KCM	NAL	59

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SB
1	Sam Bankhead	HG	NN2	17
2	Cool Papa Bell	HG	NN2	12
2	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	12
4	Howard Easterling	HG	NN2	8
5	Henry Kimbro	BEG	NN2	7
5	Tommy Sampson	BBB	NAL	7
5	Herb Souell	KCM	NAL	7
5	Clyde Spearman	BBB	NAL	7
9	Felix McLaurin	BBB	NAL	6
9	Frank Russell	BEG	NN2	6

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	OPS+
1	Josh Gibson	HG	NN2	289
2	Tetelo Vargas	NYC	NN2	210
3	Willard Brown	KCM	NAL	182
4	Piper Davis	BBB	NAL	166
5	Buck Leonard	HG	NN2	160
6	Sam Jethroe	CBE	NAL	150
7	Jerry Benjamin	HG	NN2	147
8	Johnny Davis	NE	NN2	146
9	Felix McLaurin	BBB	NAL	144
9	Bonnie Serrell	KCM	NAL	144

Pitching leaders, all major leagues

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	W
1	Johnny Wright	HG	NN2	18
2	Spoon Carter	HG	NN2	14
3	Dave Barnhill	NYC	NN2	10
3	Bill Byrd	BEG/PS	NN2	10
5	Booker McDaniel	KCM	NAL	9
5	Satchel Paige	KCM/MRS	NAL	9
5	Edsall Walker	HG	NN2	9
8	Bill Anderson	NYC/HG	NN2	7
8	Leniel Hooker	NE/PS	NN2	7
8	Gentry Jessup	CAG/BBB	NAL	7

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA
1	Johnny Markham	BBB	NAL	2.20
2	Roosevelt Davis	CC	NAL	2.35
3	Booker McDaniel	KCM	NAL	2.42
4	Johnny Wright	HG	NN2	2.52
5	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	2.55
6	Alfred Saylor	BBB	NAL	2.66
7	Leroy Sutton	CAG	NAL	2.69
8	Theolic Smith	CBE	NAL	2.76
9	Satchel Paige	KCM/MRS	NAL	2.79
10	Dave Barnhill	NYC	NN2	2.86

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	SO
1	Johnny Wright	HG	NN2	99
2	Satchel Paige	KCM/MRS	NAL	98
3	Bill Byrd	BEG/PS	NN2	94
4	Dave Barnhill	NYC	NN2	88
5	Booker McDaniel	KCM	NAL	63
6	Alvin Gipson	BBB	NAL	62
7	Tom Glover	BEG	NN2	61
8	Lefty Boone	HSS	NN2	51
8	Gready McKinnis	BBB/KCM	NAL	51
10	Barney Brown	PS	NN2	50

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1943, all major leagues
#	Player	Team	Lg	ERA+
1	Johnny Wright	HG	NN2	191
2	Johnny Markham	BBB	NAL	171
3	Dave Barnhill	NYC	NN2	168
4	Bill Byrd	BEG/PS	NN2	163
5	Roosevelt Davis	CC	NAL	160
6	Booker McDaniel	KCM	NAL	155
7	Hilton Smith	KCM	NAL	148
8	Alfred Saylor	BBB	NAL	142
9	Leroy Sutton	CAG	NAL	140
10	Theolic Smith	CBE	NAL	137

Batting leaders, Negro American League

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Willard Brown	KCM	.333
2	Lloyd Davenport	CAG/KCM	.321
3	Hank Thompson	KCM	.313
4	Felix McLaurin	BBB	.308
5	Sam Jethroe	CBE	.303
6	Piper Davis	BBB	.302
7	Clyde Spearman	BBB	.300
8	Bonnie Serrell	KCM	.295
9	Tommy Sampson	BBB	.292
10	Buck O'Neil	KCM	.284

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Willard Brown	KCM	7
2	Piper Davis	BBB	2
2	Lester Lockett	BBB/CC	2
4	Lloyd Davenport	CAG/KCM	1
4	Sam Jethroe	CBE	1
4	Felix McLaurin	BBB	1
4	Buck O'Neil	KCM	1
4	Bonnie Serrell	KCM	1
4	Sylvester Snead	CC	1
4	Hank Thompson	KCM	1

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Willard Brown	KCM	33
2	Lester Lockett	BBB/CC	29
3	Piper Davis	BBB	26
4	Bonnie Serrell	KCM	25
5	Archie Ware	CBE	20
6	Lloyd Davenport	CAG/KCM	18
6	Sylvester Snead	CC	18
6	Clyde Spearman	BBB	18
9	Buck O'Neil	KCM	16
9	Tommy Sampson	BBB	16

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	R
1	Willard Brown	KCM	33
2	Piper Davis	BBB	32
3	Bonnie Serrell	KCM	31
3	Herb Souell	KCM	31
5	Sam Jethroe	CBE	29
6	Felix McLaurin	BBB	28
7	Clyde Spearman	BBB	27
8	Tommy Sampson	BBB	25
9	Lloyd Davenport	CAG/KCM	24
9	Sylvester Snead	CC	24

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	H
1	Willard Brown	KCM	68
2	Bonnie Serrell	KCM	59
3	Herb Souell	KCM	52
4	Lloyd Davenport	CAG/KCM	50
5	Tommy Sampson	BBB	49
6	Clyde Spearman	BBB	48
7	Sam Jethroe	CBE	46
8	Piper Davis	BBB	45
9	Buck O'Neil	KCM	44
10	Lester Lockett	BBB/CC	42

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Tommy Sampson	BBB	7
1	Herb Souell	KCM	7
1	Clyde Spearman	BBB	7
4	Felix McLaurin	BBB	6
5	Sam Jethroe	CBE	5
5	Jesse Williams	KCM	5
7	Willard Brown	KCM	4
7	Buck O'Neil	KCM	4
9	Lloyd Davenport	CAG/KCM	3
9	Piper Davis	BBB	3

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Willard Brown	KCM	182
2	Piper Davis	BBB	166
3	Sam Jethroe	CBE	150
4	Felix McLaurin	BBB	144
4	Bonnie Serrell	KCM	144
4	Hank Thompson	KCM	144
7	Lloyd Davenport	CAG/KCM	143
8	Sylvester Snead	CC	139
9	Clyde Spearman	BBB	134
10	Tommy Sampson	BBB	112

Pitching leaders, Negro American League

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	W
1	Booker McDaniel	KCM	9
1	Satchel Paige	KCM/MRS	9
3	Gentry Jessup	CAG/BBB	7
4	Roosevelt Davis	CC	5
4	Johnny Markham	BBB	5
4	Theolic Smith	CBE	5
4	Leroy Sutton	CAG	5
8	Eugene Bremer	CBE	4
8	Willie Cornelius	CAG	4
8	John Huber	BBB	4

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Johnny Markham	BBB	2.20
2	Roosevelt Davis	CC	2.35
3	Booker McDaniel	KCM	2.42
4	Hilton Smith	KCM	2.55
5	Alfred Saylor	BBB	2.66
6	Leroy Sutton	CAG	2.69
7	Theolic Smith	CBE	2.76
8	Satchel Paige	KCM/MRS	2.79
9	Verdell Mathis	MRS	2.87
10	Porter Moss	MRS	3.04

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Satchel Paige	KCM/MRS	98
2	Booker McDaniel	KCM	63
3	Alvin Gipson	BBB	62
4	Gready McKinnis	BBB/KCM	51
5	Gentry Jessup	CAG/BBB	50
6	Willie Hutchinson	MRS	44
7	Theolic Smith	CBE	43
8	Jack Matchett	KCM	39
9	Roosevelt Davis	CC	37
10	Willie Jefferson	CBE	35

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1943, Negro American League
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Johnny Markham	BBB	171
2	Roosevelt Davis	CC	160
3	Booker McDaniel	KCM	155
4	Hilton Smith	KCM	148
5	Alfred Saylor	BBB	142
6	Leroy Sutton	CAG	140
7	Theolic Smith	CBE	137
8	Satchel Paige	KCM/MRS	135
9	Verdell Mathis	MRS	131
10	Porter Moss	MRS	124

Batting leaders, Negro National League II

AVG leaders

Batting Average leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	AVG
1	Tetelo Vargas	NYC	.472
2	Josh Gibson	HG	.466
3	Jerry Benjamin	HG	.374
4	Pancho Coimbre	NYC	.362
4	Vic Harris	HG	.362
6	Cool Papa Bell	HG	.350
7	Howard Easterling	HG	.348
8	Gene Benson	PS	.337
9	Buck Leonard	HG	.329
10	Johnny Davis	NE	.326

HR leaders

Home Runs leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	HR
1	Josh Gibson	HG	20
2	Johnny Davis	NE	4
2	Buck Leonard	HG	4
2	Lennie Pearson	NE/HG/PS	4
5	George Scales	BEG	3
6	Jerry Benjamin	HG	2
6	Goose Curry	PS	2
6	Jim West	PS	2
9	Sam Bankhead	HG	1
9	Bud Barbee	BEG	1

RBI leaders

Runs Batted In leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	RBI
1	Josh Gibson	HG	112
2	Buck Leonard	HG	61
3	Jud Wilson	HG	57
4	Howard Easterling	HG	52
5	Jim West	PS	44
6	Sam Bankhead	HG	42
7	Jerry Benjamin	HG	38
7	Gene Benson	PS	38
9	Henry Spearman	PS	30
10	Cool Papa Bell	HG	29

R leaders

Runs Scored leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	R
1	Josh Gibson	HG	93
2	Jerry Benjamin	HG	83
3	Buck Leonard	HG	71
4	Cool Papa Bell	HG	63
5	Sam Bankhead	HG	53
6	Goose Curry	PS	47
6	Howard Easterling	HG	47
8	Jim West	PS	37
9	Henry Spearman	PS	35
9	Tetelo Vargas	NYC	35

H leaders

Hits leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	H
1	Josh Gibson	HG	116
2	Jerry Benjamin	HG	110
3	Cool Papa Bell	HG	92
4	Howard Easterling	HG	87
5	Buck Leonard	HG	84
6	Sam Bankhead	HG	69
7	Jud Wilson	HG	66
8	Gene Benson	PS	64
9	Tetelo Vargas	NYC	58
9	Jim West	PS	58

SB leaders

Stolen Bases leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	SB
1	Sam Bankhead	HG	17
2	Cool Papa Bell	HG	12
2	Jerry Benjamin	HG	12
4	Howard Easterling	HG	8
5	Henry Kimbro	BEG	7
6	Frank Russell	BEG	6
6	Murray Watkins	NE	6
8	Goose Curry	PS	5
8	Lennie Pearson	NE/HG/PS	5
10	Josh Gibson	HG	4

OPS+ leaders

OPS+ leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	OPS+
1	Josh Gibson	HG	289
2	Tetelo Vargas	NYC	210
3	Buck Leonard	HG	160
4	Jerry Benjamin	HG	147
5	Johnny Davis	NE	146
6	Howard Easterling	HG	139
7	Cool Papa Bell	HG	137
7	Jim West	PS	137
9	George Scales	BEG	136
10	Goose Curry	PS	135

Pitching leaders, Negro National League II

W leaders

Wins leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	W
1	Johnny Wright	HG	18
2	Spoon Carter	HG	14
3	Dave Barnhill	NYC	10
3	Bill Byrd	BEG/PS	10
5	Edsall Walker	HG	9
6	Bill Anderson	NYC/HG	7
6	Leniel Hooker	NE/PS	7
8	Ray Brown	HG	6
8	Ches Buchanan	PS	6
10	Barney Brown	PS	5

ERA leaders

Earned Run Average leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	ERA
1	Johnny Wright	HG	2.52
2	Dave Barnhill	NYC	2.86
3	Bill Byrd	BEG/PS	2.95
4	Lefty Boone	HSS	3.57
5	Edsall Walker	HG	3.63
6	Spoon Carter	HG	3.77
7	Bill Anderson	NYC/HG	4.01
8	Ray Brown	HG	4.09
9	Leon Day	NE	4.27
10	Leniel Hooker	NE/PS	4.38

SO leaders

Strikeouts leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	SO
1	Johnny Wright	HG	99
2	Bill Byrd	BEG/PS	94
3	Dave Barnhill	NYC	88
4	Tom Glover	BEG	61
5	Lefty Boone	HSS	51
6	Barney Brown	PS	50
6	Edsall Walker	HG	50
8	Spoon Carter	HG	45
9	Leniel Hooker	NE/PS	43
10	Leon Day	NE	39

ERA+ leaders

ERA+ leaders, 1943, Negro National League II
#	Player	Team	ERA+
1	Johnny Wright	HG	191
2	Dave Barnhill	NYC	168
3	Bill Byrd	BEG/PS	163
4	Lefty Boone	HSS	135
5	Edsall Walker	HG	133
6	Spoon Carter	HG	128
7	Bill Anderson	NYC/HG	120
8	Ray Brown	HG	118
9	Leon Day	NE	113
10	Leniel Hooker	NE/PS	110

How the 1943 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

1937 Negro Leagues leaders 1938 Negro Leagues leaders 1939 Negro Leagues leaders 1940 Negro Leagues leaders 1941 Negro Leagues leaders 1942 Negro Leagues leaders 1944 Negro Leagues leaders 1945 Negro Leagues leaders 1946 Negro Leagues leaders 1947 Negro Leagues leaders 1948 Negro Leagues leaders

All Negro Leagues seasons Sources and data credits