1961 Season Leaders

Top performers from the 1961 baseball season. Click column headers to sort.

These are the 1961 Major League Baseball season leaders in batting and pitching. Roger Maris led with 61 home runs, Orlando Cepeda and Roger Maris tied for the lead with 142 RBI, and Vada Pinson led with 208 hits. Batting average, OBP, SLG and OPS list qualified hitters only — 3.1 plate appearances per team game, which is 489 plate appearances at 158 team games; ERA and WHIP require one inning per team game (158 innings). Lines below those thresholds are shown and marked unqualified.

AVG (Batting Average):
Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
HR (Home Runs):
Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
RBI (Runs Batted In):
Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
ERA (Earned Run Average):
Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.

Data updated

← Back to 1961 Season Overview

Batting Leaders

Qualified: 3.1 plate appearances per team game — 489 plate appearances at 158 team games. 84 of the 197 hitters listed qualify; the rest cleared 200+ plate appearances and are marked UNQ. Rate columns (AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS) rank qualified hitters first.

1961 OPS Distribution

Every qualified batter that season, plotted as a histogram. The highlighted bin contains the league leader.

Complete Statistics

1961 Season Leaders — Complete Statistics
Player Team G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
Norm Cash DET 159 672 535 119 193 22 8 41 132 11 124 85 .361 .487 .662 1.148
Roberto Clemente PIT 146 614 572 100 201 30 10 23 89 4 35 59 .351 .390 .559 .949
Vada Pinson CIN 154 659 607 101 208 34 8 16 87 23 39 63 .343 .379 .504 .883
Ken Boyer SLN 153 663 589 109 194 26 11 24 95 6 68 91 .329 .397 .533 .930
Wally Moon LAN 134 561 463 79 152 25 3 17 88 7 89 79 .328 .434 .505 .940
Hank Aaron ML1 155 671 603 115 197 39 10 34 120 21 56 64 .327 .381 .594 .974
Al Kaline DET 153 665 586 116 190 41 7 19 82 14 66 42 .324 .393 .515 .909
Frank Robinson CIN 153 636 545 117 176 32 7 37 124 22 71 64 .323 .404 .611 1.015
Jim Piersall CLE 121 536 484 81 156 26 7 6 40 8 43 46 .322 .378 .442 .820
Mickey Mantle NYA 153 646 514 132 163 16 6 54 128 12 126 112 .317 .448 .687 1.135
Orlando Cepeda SFN 152 636 585 105 182 28 4 46 142 12 39 91 .311 .362 .609 .970
Floyd Robinson CHA 132 492 432 69 134 20 7 11 59 7 52 32 .310 .389 .465 .854
Willie Mays SFN 154 659 572 129 176 32 3 40 123 18 81 77 .308 .393 .584 .977
Eddie Mathews ML1 152 672 572 103 175 23 6 32 91 12 93 95 .306 .402 .535 .937
George Altman CHN 138 573 518 77 157 28 12 27 96 6 40 92 .303 .353 .560 .913
Jim Gentile BAL 148 601 486 96 147 25 2 46 141 1 96 106 .302 .423 .646 1.069
Earl Battey MIN 133 522 460 70 139 24 1 17 55 3 53 66 .302 .377 .470 .847
Dick Stuart PIT 138 576 532 83 160 28 8 35 117 0 34 121 .301 .344 .581 .925
Tito Francona CLE 155 667 592 87 178 30 8 16 85 2 56 52 .301 .363 .459 .823
John Romano CLE 142 580 509 76 152 29 1 21 80 0 61 60 .299 .377 .483 .860
Don Hoak PIT 145 586 503 72 150 27 7 12 61 4 73 53 .298 .388 .451 .839
Jackie Brandt BAL 139 584 516 93 153 18 5 16 72 10 62 51 .297 .371 .444 .815
Norm Siebern KC1 153 649 560 68 166 36 5 18 98 2 82 91 .296 .384 .475 .859
Roy Sievers CHA 141 563 492 76 145 26 6 27 92 1 61 62 .295 .377 .537 .913
Jerry Lumpe KC1 148 627 569 81 167 29 9 3 54 1 48 39 .293 .348 .392 .740
Rocky Colavito DET 163 708 583 129 169 30 2 45 140 1 113 75 .290 .402 .580 .982
Harmon Killebrew MIN 150 656 541 94 156 20 7 46 122 1 107 109 .288 .405 .606 1.012
Albie Pearson LAA 144 535 427 92 123 21 3 7 41 11 96 40 .288 .420 .400 .821
Brooks Robinson BAL 163 736 668 89 192 38 7 7 61 1 47 57 .287 .334 .397 .730
Gordy Coleman CIN 150 578 520 63 149 27 4 26 87 1 45 67 .287 .341 .504 .845
Bill White SLN 153 663 591 89 169 28 11 20 90 8 64 84 .286 .354 .472 .826
Lee Thomas 2 teams 132 506 452 77 129 11 5 24 70 0 47 74 .285 .353 .491 .844
Lenny Green MIN 156 692 600 92 171 28 7 9 50 17 81 50 .285 .374 .400 .774
Joe Adcock ML1 152 629 562 77 160 20 0 35 108 2 59 94 .285 .354 .507 .861
Ron Santo CHN 154 655 578 84 164 32 6 23 83 2 73 77 .284 .362 .479 .842
Jim Landis CHA 140 618 534 87 151 18 8 22 85 19 65 71 .283 .362 .470 .832
Maury Wills LAN 148 687 613 105 173 12 10 1 31 35 59 50 .282 .346 .339 .685
Frank Thomas 2 teams 139 516 473 65 133 15 3 27 73 2 31 78 .281 .331 .497 .828
Zoilo Versalles MIN 129 542 510 65 143 25 5 7 53 16 25 61 .280 .314 .390 .704
Leon Wagner LAA 133 511 453 74 127 19 2 28 79 5 48 65 .280 .348 .517 .865
Dick Howser KC1 158 719 611 108 171 29 6 3 45 37 92 38 .280 .377 .362 .739
Minnie Miñoso CHA 152 635 540 91 151 28 3 14 82 9 67 46 .280 .369 .420 .789
Tommy Davis LAN 132 508 460 60 128 13 2 15 58 10 32 53 .278 .325 .413 .738
Al Smith CHA 147 602 532 88 148 29 4 28 93 4 56 67 .278 .348 .506 .854
Ernie Banks CHN 138 573 511 75 142 22 4 29 80 1 54 75 .278 .346 .507 .852
Billy Williams CHN 146 584 529 75 147 20 7 25 86 6 45 70 .278 .338 .484 .822
Jim Davenport SFN 137 503 436 64 121 28 4 12 65 4 45 65 .278 .342 .443 .785
Gene Freese CIN 152 606 575 78 159 27 2 26 87 8 27 78 .277 .307 .466 .774
Johnny Temple CLE 129 588 518 73 143 22 3 3 30 9 61 36 .276 .351 .347 .699
Tony Kubek NYA 153 658 617 84 170 38 6 8 46 1 27 60 .276 .306 .395 .701
Dick Groat PIT 148 648 596 71 164 25 6 6 55 0 40 44 .275 .320 .367 .687
Luis Aparicio CHA 156 672 625 90 170 24 4 6 45 53 38 33 .272 .313 .352 .665
Eddie Kasko CIN 126 511 469 64 127 22 1 2 27 4 32 36 .271 .320 .335 .655
Roger Maris NYA 161 698 590 132 159 16 4 61 142 0 94 67 .269 .372 .620 .993
Vic Power CLE 147 622 563 64 151 34 4 5 63 4 38 16 .268 .309 .369 .679
Bill Skowron NYA 150 607 561 76 150 23 4 28 89 0 35 108 .267 .318 .472 .790
Woodie Held CLE 146 590 509 67 136 23 5 23 78 0 69 111 .267 .354 .468 .822
Frank Malzone BOS 151 644 590 74 157 21 4 14 87 1 44 49 .266 .314 .386 .700
Johnny Callison PHI 138 538 455 74 121 20 11 9 47 10 69 76 .266 .363 .418 .780
Carl Yastrzemski BOS 148 643 583 71 155 31 6 11 80 6 50 96 .266 .324 .396 .721
Harvey Kuenn SFN 131 529 471 60 125 22 4 5 46 5 47 34 .265 .329 .361 .690
Bill Mazeroski PIT 152 595 558 71 148 21 2 13 59 2 26 55 .265 .298 .380 .678
Bubba Phillips CLE 143 590 546 64 144 23 1 18 72 1 29 61 .264 .305 .408 .714
Jackie Jensen BOS 137 573 498 64 131 21 2 13 66 9 66 69 .263 .350 .392 .742
Frank Bolling ML1 148 658 585 86 153 16 4 15 56 7 57 62 .262 .329 .379 .708
Bobby Richardson NYA 162 706 662 80 173 17 5 3 49 9 30 23 .261 .295 .316 .610
Bill Virdon PIT 146 660 599 81 156 22 8 9 58 5 49 45 .260 .313 .369 .682
Danny O'Connell WS2 138 591 493 61 128 30 1 1 37 15 77 62 .260 .361 .331 .692
Willie Kirkland CLE 146 585 525 84 136 22 5 27 95 7 48 77 .259 .318 .474 .793
Chuck Schilling BOS 158 738 646 87 167 25 2 5 62 7 78 77 .259 .340 .327 .666
Jake Wood DET 162 731 663 96 171 17 14 11 69 30 58 141 .258 .320 .376 .695
Bill Bruton DET 160 668 596 99 153 15 5 17 63 22 61 66 .257 .327 .384 .712
Ken Hunt LAA 149 541 479 70 122 29 3 25 84 8 49 120 .255 .325 .484 .810
Don Zimmer CHN 128 512 477 57 120 25 4 13 40 5 25 70 .252 .291 .403 .694
Willie Tasby WS2 141 561 494 54 124 13 2 17 63 4 58 94 .251 .330 .389 .718
Nellie Fox CHA 159 696 606 67 152 11 5 2 51 2 59 12 .251 .323 .295 .618
Bill Tuttle 2 teams 138 520 454 53 113 14 5 5 46 1 52 50 .249 .323 .335 .658
Ron Hansen BAL 155 607 533 51 132 13 2 12 51 1 66 96 .248 .329 .347 .677
Bob Allison MIN 159 677 556 83 136 21 3 29 105 2 103 100 .245 .363 .450 .813
Jim Gilliam LAN 144 531 439 74 107 26 3 4 32 8 79 34 .244 .358 .344 .702
Gary Geiger BOS 140 599 499 82 116 21 6 18 64 16 87 91 .232 .349 .407 .756
Clete Boyer NYA 148 578 504 61 113 19 5 11 55 1 63 83 .224 .308 .347 .656
Don Blasingame 2 teams 126 505 451 60 100 18 4 1 21 4 41 39 .222 .288 .286 .574
Roy McMillan ML1 154 588 505 42 111 16 0 7 48 2 61 86 .220 .305 .293 .598
Elston Howard UNQ NYA 129 482 446 64 155 17 5 21 77 0 28 65 .348 .387 .549 .936
Ron Fairly UNQ LAN 111 301 245 42 79 15 2 10 48 0 48 22 .322 .434 .522 .956
Curt Flood UNQ SLN 132 380 335 53 108 15 5 2 21 6 35 33 .322 .391 .415 .806
Pete Runnels UNQ BOS 143 414 360 49 114 20 3 3 38 5 46 32 .317 .396 .414 .810
Jerry Lynch UNQ CIN 96 210 181 33 57 13 2 13 50 2 27 25 .315 .407 .624 1.031
Gene Woodling UNQ WS2 110 396 342 39 107 16 4 10 57 1 50 24 .313 .403 .471 .873
Matty Alou UNQ SFN 81 217 200 38 62 7 2 6 24 3 15 18 .310 .356 .455 .811
Leo Cardenas UNQ CIN 74 216 198 23 61 18 1 5 24 1 15 39 .308 .353 .485 .838
Johnny Blanchard UNQ NYA 93 275 243 38 74 10 1 21 54 1 27 28 .305 .382 .613 .995
Smoky Burgess UNQ PIT 100 356 323 37 98 17 3 12 52 1 30 16 .303 .365 .486 .851
Carl Sawatski UNQ SLN 86 200 174 23 52 8 0 10 33 0 25 17 .299 .385 .517 .902
Duke Snider UNQ LAN 85 266 233 35 69 8 3 16 56 1 29 43 .296 .375 .562 .937
Frank Howard UNQ LAN 92 292 267 36 79 10 2 15 45 0 21 50 .296 .347 .517 .864
Bob Johnson UNQ WS2 61 248 224 27 66 13 1 6 28 4 19 26 .295 .350 .442 .792
Wally Post UNQ CIN 99 306 282 44 83 16 3 20 57 0 22 61 .294 .346 .585 .932
Russ Snyder UNQ BAL 115 341 312 46 91 13 5 1 13 5 20 32 .292 .333 .375 .708
Whitey Herzog UNQ BAL 113 377 323 39 94 11 6 5 35 1 50 41 .291 .387 .409 .795
Russ Nixon UNQ BOS 87 262 242 24 70 12 2 1 19 0 13 19 .289 .327 .368 .695
Felipe Alou UNQ SFN 132 447 415 59 120 19 0 18 52 11 26 41 .289 .333 .465 .798
Stan Musial UNQ SLN 123 431 372 46 107 22 4 15 70 0 52 35 .288 .371 .489 .860
Don Taussig UNQ SLN 98 210 188 27 54 14 5 2 25 2 16 34 .287 .338 .447 .785
Joe Cunningham UNQ SLN 113 390 322 60 92 11 2 7 40 1 53 32 .286 .403 .398 .801
Sherm Lollar UNQ CHA 116 384 337 38 95 10 1 7 41 0 37 22 .282 .360 .380 .740
Gene Green UNQ WS2 110 405 364 52 102 16 3 18 62 0 35 65 .280 .341 .489 .830
Lee Walls UNQ PHI 91 285 261 32 73 6 4 8 30 2 19 48 .280 .329 .425 .754
Steve Bilko UNQ LAA 114 354 294 49 82 16 1 20 59 1 58 81 .279 .395 .544 .940
Julian Javier UNQ SLN 113 484 445 58 124 14 3 2 41 11 30 51 .279 .326 .337 .663
Joe Torre UNQ ML1 113 441 406 40 113 21 4 10 42 3 28 60 .278 .330 .424 .754
Tony Gonzalez UNQ PHI 126 485 426 58 118 16 8 12 58 15 49 66 .277 .358 .437 .795
Wayne Causey UNQ KC1 104 361 312 37 86 14 1 8 49 0 37 28 .276 .348 .404 .752
George Thomas UNQ 2 teams 96 317 288 41 79 12 1 13 59 3 21 70 .274 .328 .458 .786
Dick Bertell UNQ CHN 92 287 267 20 73 7 1 2 33 0 15 33 .273 .308 .330 .637
Willie McCovey UNQ SFN 106 374 328 59 89 12 3 18 50 1 37 60 .271 .350 .491 .841
Yogi Berra UNQ NYA 119 437 395 62 107 11 0 22 61 2 35 28 .271 .330 .466 .795
Lee Maye UNQ ML1 110 417 373 68 101 11 5 14 41 10 36 50 .271 .337 .440 .777
Cam Carreon UNQ CHA 78 253 229 32 62 5 1 4 27 0 21 24 .271 .331 .354 .684
Steve Boros UNQ DET 116 485 396 51 107 18 2 5 62 4 68 42 .270 .382 .364 .746
Jim King UNQ WS2 110 306 263 43 71 12 1 11 46 4 38 45 .270 .363 .449 .811
Wes Covington UNQ 2 teams 105 321 289 34 78 11 0 12 47 0 25 33 .270 .329 .433 .762
Norm Larker UNQ LAN 97 312 282 29 76 16 1 5 38 0 24 22 .270 .326 .387 .712
Bob Skinner UNQ PIT 119 442 381 61 102 20 3 3 42 3 51 49 .268 .358 .360 .718
Andre Rodgers UNQ CHN 73 243 214 27 57 17 0 6 23 1 25 54 .266 .343 .430 .773
Earl Averill UNQ LAA 115 392 323 56 86 9 0 21 59 1 62 70 .266 .384 .489 .873
Dick Brown UNQ DET 93 336 308 32 82 12 2 16 45 0 22 57 .266 .312 .474 .786
Earl Robinson UNQ BAL 96 256 222 37 59 12 3 8 30 4 31 54 .266 .354 .455 .809
Jerry Adair UNQ BAL 133 428 386 41 102 21 1 9 37 5 35 51 .264 .326 .394 .719
Joe Christopher UNQ PIT 76 206 186 25 49 7 3 0 14 6 18 24 .263 .327 .333 .660
Carroll Hardy UNQ BOS 85 312 281 46 74 20 2 3 36 4 26 53 .263 .330 .381 .711
Don Buddin UNQ BOS 115 420 339 58 89 22 3 6 42 2 72 45 .263 .394 .398 .792
Pumpsie Green UNQ BOS 88 264 219 33 57 12 3 6 27 4 42 32 .260 .376 .425 .801
Vic Wertz UNQ 2 teams 107 369 323 33 84 16 2 11 61 0 38 44 .260 .336 .424 .760
Chuck Hinton UNQ WS2 106 383 339 51 88 13 5 6 34 22 40 81 .260 .337 .381 .717
Jim Lemon UNQ MIN 129 479 423 57 109 26 1 14 52 1 44 98 .258 .329 .423 .752
Pancho Herrera UNQ PHI 126 461 400 56 103 17 2 13 51 5 55 120 .258 .351 .407 .759
Richie Ashburn UNQ CHN 109 368 307 49 79 7 4 0 19 7 55 27 .257 .373 .306 .679
Ruben Amaro UNQ PHI 135 447 381 34 98 14 9 1 32 1 53 59 .257 .351 .349 .700
Dick McAuliffe UNQ DET 80 315 285 36 73 12 4 6 33 2 24 39 .256 .322 .389 .711
Andy Carey UNQ 2 teams 95 304 266 41 68 18 5 3 25 0 26 47 .256 .329 .395 .724
Al Heist UNQ CHN 109 366 321 48 82 14 3 7 37 3 39 51 .255 .337 .383 .720
Gus Bell UNQ CIN 103 262 235 27 60 10 1 3 33 1 18 21 .255 .298 .345 .642
Joey Amalfitano UNQ SFN 109 433 384 64 98 11 4 2 23 7 44 59 .255 .331 .320 .651
Charlie James UNQ SLN 108 371 349 43 89 19 2 4 44 2 15 59 .255 .288 .355 .644
Willie Davis UNQ LAN 128 380 339 56 86 19 6 12 45 12 27 46 .254 .316 .451 .767
Jose Pagan UNQ SFN 134 474 434 38 110 15 2 5 46 8 31 45 .253 .306 .332 .638
Leo Posada UNQ KC1 116 400 344 37 87 10 4 7 53 0 36 84 .253 .321 .366 .687
John Roseboro UNQ LAN 128 462 394 59 99 16 6 18 59 6 56 62 .251 .346 .459 .805
Don Demeter UNQ 2 teams 121 444 411 57 103 18 4 21 70 2 22 80 .251 .297 .467 .764
Tony Taylor UNQ PHI 106 437 400 47 100 17 3 2 26 11 29 59 .250 .304 .323 .626
Dale Long UNQ WS2 123 423 377 52 94 20 4 17 49 0 39 41 .249 .317 .459 .776
Joe Koppe UNQ 2 teams 97 395 341 47 85 12 2 5 40 3 45 77 .249 .337 .340 .677
Marty Keough UNQ WS2 135 431 390 57 97 18 9 9 34 12 32 60 .249 .307 .410 .717
Chico Fernandez UNQ DET 133 476 435 41 108 15 4 3 40 8 36 45 .248 .305 .322 .627
Charley Smith UNQ 2 teams 121 477 435 47 108 14 4 11 50 3 24 82 .248 .293 .375 .668
Ed Bouchee UNQ CHN 112 387 319 49 79 12 3 12 38 1 58 77 .248 .371 .417 .788
Daryl Spencer UNQ 2 teams 97 370 319 46 79 11 0 12 48 1 43 52 .248 .343 .395 .738
Ed Bailey UNQ 2 teams 119 439 383 43 94 13 1 13 53 1 45 46 .245 .326 .386 .713
Gus Triandos UNQ BAL 115 445 397 35 97 21 0 17 63 0 44 60 .244 .320 .426 .746
Ted Kluszewski UNQ LAA 107 290 263 32 64 12 0 15 39 0 24 23 .243 .303 .460 .764
Joe Pignatano UNQ KC1 92 292 243 31 59 10 3 4 22 2 36 42 .243 .347 .358 .705
Billy Martin UNQ 2 teams 114 404 380 45 92 15 5 6 36 3 13 43 .242 .271 .355 .626
Jim Pagliaroni UNQ BOS 120 440 376 50 91 17 0 16 58 1 55 74 .242 .342 .415 .757
Jerry Kindall UNQ CHN 96 333 310 37 75 22 3 9 44 2 18 89 .242 .288 .419 .707
Gil Hodges UNQ LAN 109 245 215 25 52 4 0 8 31 3 24 43 .242 .313 .372 .685
Haywood Sullivan UNQ KC1 117 379 331 42 80 16 2 6 40 1 46 45 .242 .333 .356 .690
Harry Bright UNQ WS2 72 204 183 20 44 6 0 4 21 0 19 23 .240 .310 .339 .649
Rocky Bridges UNQ LAA 84 260 229 20 55 5 1 2 15 1 26 37 .240 .320 .297 .617
Bobby Del Greco UNQ 2 teams 115 405 351 48 84 19 1 7 32 1 42 48 .239 .326 .359 .685
Sammy Taylor UNQ CHN 89 264 235 26 56 8 2 8 23 0 23 39 .238 .316 .391 .707
Chuck Hiller UNQ SFN 70 280 240 38 57 12 1 2 12 4 32 30 .237 .328 .321 .649
Chuck Cottier UNQ 2 teams 111 387 344 39 81 14 4 2 35 9 31 52 .235 .297 .317 .614
Charlie Neal UNQ LAN 108 377 341 40 80 6 1 10 48 3 30 49 .235 .297 .346 .643
Gino Cimoli UNQ 2 teams 58 200 184 16 43 8 1 3 10 1 13 28 .234 .284 .337 .621
Bobby Malkmus UNQ PHI 121 374 342 39 79 8 2 7 31 1 20 43 .231 .276 .327 .603
J. C. Martin UNQ CHA 110 300 274 26 63 8 3 5 32 1 21 31 .230 .290 .336 .625
Billy Klaus UNQ WS2 91 287 251 26 57 8 2 7 30 2 30 34 .227 .311 .359 .670
Gene Leek UNQ LAA 57 211 199 16 45 9 1 5 20 0 7 54 .226 .260 .357 .616
Reno Bertoia UNQ 2 teams 98 316 270 35 61 5 0 2 25 3 32 35 .226 .302 .267 .569
Marv Throneberry UNQ 2 teams 96 258 226 26 51 5 1 11 35 0 31 50 .226 .319 .403 .722
Billy Gardner UNQ 2 teams 86 280 253 24 57 14 0 2 13 0 16 32 .225 .279 .304 .584
Ken Aspromonte UNQ 2 teams 88 354 308 34 69 16 1 2 19 0 39 24 .224 .314 .302 .616
Hal Smith UNQ PIT 67 208 193 12 43 10 0 3 26 0 11 38 .223 .267 .321 .588
Mike Roarke UNQ DET 86 253 229 21 51 6 1 2 22 0 20 31 .223 .283 .284 .567
Hector Lopez UNQ NYA 93 273 243 27 54 7 2 3 22 1 24 38 .222 .292 .305 .596
Clay Dalrymple UNQ PHI 129 423 378 23 83 11 1 5 42 0 30 30 .220 .281 .294 .575
Bob Lillis UNQ 2 teams 105 256 239 24 51 4 0 0 22 3 8 14 .213 .243 .230 .473
Marv Breeding UNQ BAL 90 261 244 32 51 8 0 1 16 5 14 33 .209 .250 .254 .504
Deron Johnson UNQ 2 teams 96 325 302 32 63 11 3 8 44 0 16 49 .209 .247 .344 .591
Dick Williams UNQ BAL 103 340 310 37 64 15 2 8 24 0 20 38 .206 .251 .345 .596
Jerry Zimmerman UNQ CIN 76 222 204 8 42 5 0 0 10 1 11 21 .206 .252 .230 .483
Gene Stephens UNQ 2 teams 94 275 241 26 49 8 1 4 28 4 30 34 .203 .297 .295 .591
Eddie Yost UNQ LAA 76 267 213 29 43 4 0 3 15 0 50 48 .202 .358 .263 .621
Coot Veal UNQ WS2 69 252 218 21 44 10 0 0 8 1 19 29 .202 .273 .248 .520
Pete Daley UNQ WS2 72 219 203 12 39 7 1 2 17 0 14 37 .192 .244 .266 .510
Showing 1-50 of 197 batters listed (84 qualified)

Pitching Leaders

Qualified: 1 inning pitched per team game — 158 innings at 158 team games. 69 of the 168 pitchers listed qualify; the rest cleared 50+ innings and are marked UNQ. ERA and WHIP rank qualified pitchers first.

Complete Statistics

1961 Season Leaders — Complete Statistics
Player Team W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA WHIP
Dick Donovan WS2 10 10 23 22 11 2 0 168.2 138 45 35 62 2.40 1.03
Bill Stafford NYA 14 9 36 25 8 3 2 195.0 168 58 59 101 2.68 1.16
Don Mossi DET 15 7 35 34 12 1 1 240.1 237 79 47 137 2.96 1.18
Warren Spahn ML1 21 13 38 34 21 4 0 262.2 236 88 64 115 3.02 1.14
Milt Pappas BAL 13 9 26 23 11 4 1 177.2 134 60 78 89 3.04 1.19
Juan Pizarro CHA 14 7 39 25 12 1 2 194.2 164 66 89 188 3.05 1.30
Jim O'Toole CIN 19 9 39 35 11 3 2 252.2 229 87 93 178 3.10 1.27
Curt Simmons SLN 9 10 30 29 6 2 0 195.2 203 68 64 99 3.13 1.36
Ralph Terry NYA 16 3 31 27 9 2 0 188.1 162 66 42 86 3.15 1.08
Hal Brown BAL 10 6 27 23 6 3 1 166.2 153 59 33 61 3.19 1.12
Jim Bunning DET 17 11 38 37 12 4 1 268.0 232 95 71 194 3.19 1.13
Jim Archer KC1 9 15 39 27 9 2 5 205.1 204 73 60 110 3.20 1.29
Mike McCormick SFN 13 16 40 35 13 3 0 250.0 235 89 75 163 3.20 1.24
Whitey Ford NYA 25 4 39 39 11 3 0 283.0 242 101 92 209 3.21 1.18
Don Schwall BOS 15 7 25 25 10 2 0 178.2 167 64 110 91 3.22 1.55
Frank Lary DET 23 9 36 36 22 4 0 275.1 252 99 66 146 3.24 1.15
Bob Gibson SLN 13 12 35 27 10 2 1 211.1 186 76 119 166 3.24 1.44
Joe Gibbon PIT 13 10 30 29 7 3 0 195.1 185 72 57 145 3.32 1.24
Steve Barber BAL 18 12 37 34 14 8 1 248.1 194 92 130 150 3.33 1.30
Bill Monbouquette BOS 14 14 32 32 12 1 0 236.1 233 89 100 161 3.39 1.41
Bennie Daniels WS2 12 11 32 28 12 1 0 212.0 184 81 80 110 3.44 1.25
Camilo Pascual MIN 15 16 35 33 15 8 0 252.1 205 97 100 221 3.46 1.21
Sandy Koufax LAN 18 13 42 35 15 2 1 255.2 212 100 96 269 3.52 1.20
Joey Jay CIN 21 10 34 34 14 4 0 247.1 217 97 92 157 3.53 1.25
Rollie Sheldon NYA 11 5 35 21 6 2 0 162.2 149 65 55 84 3.60 1.25
Jack Kralick MIN 13 11 33 33 11 2 0 242.0 257 97 64 137 3.61 1.33
Ken McBride LAA 12 15 38 36 11 1 1 241.2 229 98 102 180 3.65 1.37
Don Drysdale LAN 13 10 40 37 10 3 0 244.0 236 100 83 182 3.69 1.31
Chuck Estrada BAL 15 9 33 31 6 1 0 212.0 159 87 132 160 3.69 1.37
Tom Sturdivant 2 teams 7 8 28 21 7 2 1 165.2 148 68 57 84 3.69 1.24
Ray Sadecki SLN 14 10 31 31 13 0 0 222.2 196 92 102 114 3.72 1.34
Bob Purkey CIN 16 12 36 34 13 1 1 246.1 245 102 51 116 3.73 1.20
Johnny Podres LAN 18 5 32 29 6 1 0 182.2 192 76 51 124 3.74 1.33
Larry Jackson SLN 14 11 33 28 12 3 0 211.0 203 88 56 113 3.75 1.23
Billy Pierce CHA 10 9 39 28 5 1 3 180.0 190 76 54 106 3.80 1.36
Don Cardwell CHN 15 14 39 38 13 3 0 259.1 243 110 88 156 3.82 1.28
Carl Willey ML1 6 12 35 22 4 0 0 159.2 147 68 65 91 3.83 1.33
Bob Friend PIT 14 19 41 35 10 1 1 236.0 271 101 45 108 3.85 1.34
Dick Ellsworth CHN 10 11 37 31 7 1 0 186.2 213 80 48 91 3.86 1.40
Mudcat Grant CLE 15 9 35 35 11 3 0 244.2 207 105 109 146 3.86 1.29
Joe McClain WS2 8 18 33 29 7 2 1 212.0 221 91 48 76 3.86 1.27
Juan Marichal SFN 13 10 29 27 9 3 0 185.0 183 80 48 124 3.89 1.25
Stan Williams LAN 15 12 41 35 6 2 0 235.1 213 102 108 205 3.90 1.36
Jim Kaat MIN 9 17 36 29 8 1 0 200.2 188 87 82 122 3.90 1.35
Jack Fisher BAL 10 13 36 25 10 1 1 196.0 205 85 75 118 3.90 1.43
Paul Foytack DET 11 10 32 20 6 0 0 169.2 152 74 56 89 3.93 1.23
Pedro Ramos MIN 11 20 42 34 9 3 2 264.1 265 116 79 174 3.95 1.30
Lew Burdette ML1 18 11 40 36 14 3 0 272.1 295 121 33 92 4.00 1.20
Barry Latman CLE 13 5 45 18 4 2 5 176.2 163 79 54 108 4.02 1.23
Gary Bell CLE 12 16 34 34 11 2 0 228.1 214 104 100 163 4.10 1.38
Art Mahaffey PHI 11 19 36 32 12 3 0 219.1 205 100 70 158 4.10 1.25
Bob Buhl ML1 9 10 32 28 9 1 0 188.1 180 86 98 77 4.11 1.48
Ernie Broglio SLN 9 12 29 26 7 2 0 174.2 166 80 75 113 4.12 1.38
Ron Kline 2 teams 8 9 36 20 3 1 1 161.0 172 74 61 97 4.14 1.45
Bob Shaw 2 teams 12 14 40 34 9 0 0 221.2 250 102 78 91 4.14 1.48
Jack Sanford SFN 13 9 38 33 6 0 0 217.1 203 102 87 112 4.22 1.33
Eli Grba LAA 11 13 40 30 8 0 2 211.2 197 100 114 105 4.25 1.47
Glen Hobbie CHN 7 13 36 29 7 2 2 198.2 207 94 54 103 4.26 1.31
Bud Daley 2 teams 12 17 39 27 9 0 1 193.1 211 92 73 119 4.28 1.47
Frank Sullivan PHI 3 16 49 18 1 1 6 159.1 161 76 55 114 4.29 1.36
Cal McLish CHA 10 13 31 27 4 0 1 162.1 178 79 47 80 4.38 1.39
John Buzhardt PHI 6 18 41 27 6 1 0 202.1 200 101 65 92 4.49 1.31
Ray Herbert 2 teams 12 12 34 32 5 0 0 221.1 245 112 66 84 4.55 1.41
Norm Bass KC1 11 11 40 23 6 2 0 170.2 164 89 82 74 4.69 1.44
Jim Perry CLE 10 17 35 35 6 1 0 223.2 238 117 87 90 4.71 1.45
Jerry Walker KC1 8 14 36 24 4 0 2 168.0 161 90 96 56 4.82 1.53
Jack Curtis CHN 10 13 31 27 6 0 0 180.1 220 98 51 57 4.89 1.50
Gene Conley BOS 11 14 33 30 6 2 1 199.2 229 109 65 113 4.91 1.47
Frank Baumann CHA 10 13 53 23 5 1 3 187.2 249 117 59 75 5.61 1.64
Terry Fox UNQ DET 5 2 39 0 0 0 12 57.1 42 9 16 32 1.41 1.01
Billy Hoeft UNQ BAL 7 4 35 12 3 1 3 138.0 106 31 55 100 2.02 1.17
Chet Nichols UNQ BOS 3 2 26 2 0 0 3 51.2 40 12 26 20 2.09 1.28
Luis Arroyo UNQ NYA 15 5 65 0 0 0 29 119.0 83 29 49 87 2.19 1.11
Bill Henry UNQ CIN 2 1 47 0 0 0 16 53.1 50 13 15 53 2.19 1.22
Hoyt Wilhelm UNQ BAL 9 7 51 1 0 0 18 109.2 89 28 41 87 2.30 1.19
Tom Morgan UNQ LAA 8 2 59 0 0 0 10 91.2 74 24 17 39 2.36 0.99
Ron Perranoski UNQ LAN 7 5 53 1 0 0 6 91.2 82 27 41 56 2.65 1.34
Stu Miller UNQ SFN 14 5 63 0 0 0 17 122.0 95 36 37 89 2.66 1.08
Barney Schultz UNQ CHN 7 6 41 0 0 0 7 66.2 57 20 25 59 2.70 1.23
Turk Lown UNQ CHA 7 5 59 0 0 0 11 101.0 87 31 35 50 2.76 1.21
Dave Hillman UNQ BOS 3 2 28 1 0 0 0 78.0 70 24 23 39 2.77 1.19
Don McMahon UNQ ML1 6 4 53 0 0 0 8 92.0 84 29 51 55 2.84 1.47
Wes Stock UNQ BAL 5 0 35 1 0 0 3 71.2 58 24 27 47 3.01 1.19
Jim Brosnan UNQ CIN 10 4 53 0 0 0 16 80.0 77 27 18 40 3.04 1.19
Dick Hall UNQ BAL 7 5 29 13 4 2 4 122.1 102 42 30 92 3.09 1.08
Hank Aguirre UNQ DET 4 4 45 0 0 0 8 55.1 44 20 38 32 3.25 1.48
Frank Funk UNQ CLE 11 11 56 0 0 0 11 92.1 79 34 31 64 3.31 1.19
Bobby Shantz UNQ PIT 6 3 43 6 2 1 2 89.1 91 33 26 61 3.32 1.31
Jim Coates UNQ NYA 11 5 43 11 4 1 5 141.1 128 54 53 80 3.44 1.28
Early Wynn UNQ CHA 8 2 17 16 5 0 0 110.1 88 43 47 64 3.51 1.22
Don Lee UNQ MIN 3 6 37 10 4 0 3 115.0 93 45 35 65 3.52 1.11
Dick LeMay UNQ SFN 3 6 27 5 1 0 3 83.1 65 33 36 54 3.56 1.21
Billy O'Dell UNQ SFN 7 5 46 14 4 1 2 130.1 132 52 33 110 3.59 1.27
Art Fowler UNQ LAA 5 8 53 3 0 0 11 89.0 68 36 29 78 3.64 1.09
Ray Moore UNQ MIN 4 4 46 0 0 0 14 56.1 49 23 38 45 3.67 1.54
Clem Labine UNQ PIT 4 1 56 1 0 0 8 92.2 102 38 31 49 3.69 1.44
Ted Bowsfield UNQ LAA 11 8 41 21 4 1 0 157.0 154 65 63 88 3.73 1.38
Bob Allen UNQ CLE 3 2 48 0 0 0 3 81.2 96 34 40 42 3.75 1.67
Al McBean UNQ PIT 3 2 27 2 0 0 0 74.1 72 31 42 49 3.75 1.53
Don Ferrarese UNQ PHI 5 12 42 14 3 1 1 138.2 120 58 68 89 3.76 1.36
Warren Hacker UNQ CHA 3 3 42 0 0 0 8 57.1 62 24 8 40 3.77 1.22
Roy Face UNQ PIT 6 12 62 0 0 0 17 92.0 94 39 10 55 3.82 1.13
Jack Baldschun UNQ PHI 5 3 65 0 0 0 3 99.2 90 43 49 59 3.88 1.39
Bob Hendley UNQ ML1 5 7 19 13 3 0 0 97.0 96 42 39 44 3.90 1.39
Larry Sherry UNQ LAN 4 4 53 1 0 0 15 94.2 90 41 39 79 3.90 1.36
Ken Hunt UNQ CIN 9 10 29 22 4 0 0 136.1 130 60 66 75 3.96 1.44
Gerry Staley UNQ 2 teams 2 5 52 0 0 0 4 61.1 64 27 21 32 3.96 1.39
Marty Kutyna UNQ WS2 6 8 50 6 0 0 3 143.0 147 63 48 64 3.97 1.36
Ken Johnson UNQ 2 teams 6 6 21 12 3 1 1 92.1 82 41 29 46 4.00 1.20
Wynn Hawkins UNQ CLE 7 9 30 21 3 1 1 133.0 139 60 59 51 4.06 1.49
Don Nottebart UNQ ML1 6 7 38 11 2 0 3 126.1 117 57 48 66 4.06 1.31
Harvey Haddix UNQ PIT 10 6 29 22 5 2 0 156.0 159 71 41 99 4.10 1.28
Don Larsen UNQ 2 teams 8 2 33 4 0 0 2 89.1 85 41 40 66 4.13 1.40
Jim Donohue UNQ 2 teams 5 7 52 7 0 0 6 120.2 116 56 65 99 4.18 1.50
Dave Sisler UNQ WS2 2 8 45 1 0 0 11 60.1 55 28 48 30 4.18 1.71
Earl Francis UNQ PIT 2 8 23 15 0 0 0 102.2 110 48 47 53 4.21 1.53
Dick Drott UNQ CHN 1 4 35 8 0 0 0 98.0 75 46 51 48 4.22 1.29
Jim Duffalo UNQ SFN 5 1 24 4 1 0 1 61.2 59 29 32 37 4.23 1.48
Bob Miller UNQ SLN 1 3 34 5 0 0 3 74.1 82 35 46 39 4.24 1.72
Billy Loes UNQ SFN 6 5 26 18 3 1 0 114.2 114 54 39 55 4.24 1.33
Ken Lehman UNQ PHI 1 1 41 2 0 0 1 63.1 61 30 25 27 4.26 1.36
Bob Anderson UNQ CHN 7 10 57 12 1 0 8 152.0 162 72 56 96 4.26 1.43
Jim Maloney UNQ CIN 6 7 27 11 1 0 2 94.2 86 46 59 57 4.37 1.53
Russ Kemmerer UNQ CHA 3 3 47 2 0 0 2 96.2 102 47 26 35 4.38 1.32
Ed Hobaugh UNQ WS2 7 9 26 18 3 0 0 126.1 142 62 64 67 4.42 1.63
Sherman Jones UNQ CIN 1 1 24 2 0 0 2 55.0 51 27 27 32 4.42 1.42
Jim Owens UNQ PHI 5 10 20 17 3 0 0 106.2 119 53 32 38 4.47 1.42
Sam Jones UNQ SFN 8 8 37 17 2 0 1 128.1 134 64 57 105 4.49 1.49
Pete Burnside UNQ WS2 4 9 33 16 4 2 2 113.1 106 57 51 56 4.53 1.39
Bobby Locke UNQ CLE 4 4 37 4 0 0 2 95.1 112 48 40 37 4.53 1.59
Dick Stigman UNQ CLE 2 5 22 6 0 0 0 64.1 65 33 25 48 4.62 1.40
Bill Fischer UNQ 2 teams 4 2 41 1 0 0 5 67.2 80 35 23 30 4.66 1.52
Mike Fornieles UNQ BOS 9 8 57 2 1 0 15 119.1 121 62 54 70 4.68 1.47
Vern Law UNQ PIT 3 4 11 10 1 0 0 59.1 72 31 18 20 4.70 1.52
Ed Rakow UNQ KC1 2 8 45 11 1 0 1 124.2 131 66 49 81 4.76 1.44
Lew Krausse UNQ KC1 2 5 12 8 2 1 0 55.2 49 30 46 32 4.85 1.71
Dallas Green UNQ PHI 2 4 42 10 1 1 1 128.0 160 69 47 51 4.85 1.62
John Gabler UNQ WS2 3 8 29 9 0 0 4 92.2 104 50 37 33 4.86 1.52
Lindy McDaniel UNQ SLN 10 6 55 0 0 0 9 94.1 117 51 31 65 4.87 1.57
Tracy Stallard UNQ BOS 2 7 43 14 1 0 2 132.2 110 72 96 109 4.88 1.55
Ike Delock UNQ BOS 6 9 28 28 3 1 0 156.0 185 85 52 80 4.90 1.52
Bill Pleis UNQ MIN 4 2 37 0 0 0 2 56.1 59 31 34 32 4.95 1.65
Vinegar Bend Mizell UNQ PIT 7 10 25 17 2 1 0 100.0 120 56 31 37 5.04 1.51
Art Ditmar UNQ 2 teams 2 8 32 13 1 0 1 108.1 119 62 37 43 5.15 1.44
Bill Kunkel UNQ KC1 3 4 58 2 0 0 4 88.2 103 51 32 46 5.18 1.52
Ryne Duren UNQ 2 teams 6 13 44 14 1 1 2 104.0 89 60 79 115 5.19 1.62
Turk Farrell UNQ 2 teams 8 7 55 0 0 0 10 98.2 117 57 49 90 5.20 1.68
Johnny James UNQ 2 teams 0 2 37 3 0 0 0 72.2 67 42 54 43 5.20 1.67
Hal Woodeshick UNQ 2 teams 4 3 19 8 1 0 0 58.2 63 34 41 37 5.22 1.77
Al Schroll UNQ MIN 4 4 11 8 2 0 0 50.0 53 29 27 24 5.22 1.60
Tony Cloninger UNQ ML1 7 2 19 10 3 0 0 84.0 84 49 33 51 5.25 1.39
Phil Regan UNQ DET 10 7 32 16 6 0 2 120.0 134 70 41 46 5.25 1.46
Al Cicotte UNQ SLN 2 6 29 7 0 0 1 75.0 83 44 34 51 5.28 1.56
Joe Nuxhall UNQ KC1 5 8 37 13 1 0 1 128.0 135 76 65 81 5.34 1.56
Don Elston UNQ CHN 6 7 58 0 0 0 8 93.1 108 58 45 59 5.59 1.64
Billy Muffett UNQ BOS 3 11 38 11 2 0 2 112.2 130 71 36 47 5.67 1.47
Bob Turley UNQ NYA 3 5 15 12 1 0 0 72.0 74 46 51 48 5.75 1.74
Jim Brewer UNQ CHN 1 7 36 11 0 0 0 86.2 116 56 21 57 5.82 1.58
Ron Moeller UNQ LAA 4 8 33 18 1 1 0 112.2 122 73 83 87 5.83 1.82
Robin Roberts UNQ PHI 1 10 26 18 2 0 0 117.0 154 76 23 54 5.85 1.51
Joe Schaffernoth UNQ 2 teams 0 5 36 0 0 0 0 55.1 59 36 32 32 5.86 1.64
Chris Short UNQ PHI 6 12 39 16 1 0 1 127.1 157 84 71 80 5.94 1.79
Roger Craig UNQ LAN 5 6 40 14 2 0 2 112.2 130 77 52 63 6.15 1.62
Jerry Casale UNQ 2 teams 1 5 16 8 0 0 1 54.2 67 38 28 41 6.26 1.74
Galen Cisco UNQ BOS 2 4 17 8 0 0 0 52.1 67 39 28 26 6.71 1.82
Johnny Antonelli UNQ 2 teams 1 4 20 7 0 0 0 58.2 84 44 21 31 6.75 1.79
Johnny Klippstein UNQ WS2 2 2 42 1 0 0 0 71.2 83 54 43 41 6.78 1.76
Jay Hook UNQ CIN 1 3 22 5 0 0 0 62.2 83 54 22 36 7.76 1.68
Showing 1-50 of 168 pitchers listed (69 qualified)

Reading the 1961 leader tables

84 of the 197 hitters in the 1961 table reach the qualification line. Norm Cash tops the qualified hitters in batting average (.361); Roberto Clemente is second at .351. Roger Maris has the most home runs in the table, 61, while Orlando Cepeda leads the RBI column with 142. Luis Aparicio's 53 steals are the most listed. 69 pitchers qualify out of the 168 in the 1961 table. The qualified ERA race is led by Dick Donovan at 2.40. Sorted by the counting stats, the leaders are Whitey Ford in wins (25), Sandy Koufax in strikeouts (269), and Luis Arroyo in saves (29).

1961 Season Leaders: Frequently Asked Questions

Who led MLB in home runs in 1961?
Roger Maris led with 61 home runs in 1961.
Who led MLB in RBI in 1961?
Orlando Cepeda and Roger Maris tied for the lead with 142 RBI in 1961.
Who led MLB in hits in 1961?
Vada Pinson led with 208 hits in 1961.
Who led MLB in batting average in 1961?
Norm Cash led at .361 in 1961, among qualified hitters (3.1 plate appearances per team game).
Who led MLB in wins in 1961?
Whitey Ford led with 25 wins in 1961.
Who led MLB in strikeouts in 1961?
Sandy Koufax led with 269 strikeouts in 1961.