Slugging Average : 1949 American League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"Over 162 games, if my big guys are hitting and we get even halfway decent pitching, we'll beat their (our opponents) brains out." - Cincinnati Reds' Manager Sparky Anderson
 

1949 Slugging Average Leaders

Top 25 in the American League

Ted Williams .650 (.65018) Boston Red Sox 1
Vern Stephens .539 (.53934) Boston Red Sox 2
Tommy Henrich .526 (.52555) New York Yankees 3
Bobby Doerr .497 (.49723) Boston Red Sox 4
Roy Sievers .471 (.47134) St. Louis Browns 5
Larry Doby .468 (.46801) Cleveland Indians 6
George Kell .467 (.46743) Detroit Tigers 7
Vic Wertz .465 (.46546) Detroit Tigers 8
Eddie Robinson .459 (.45920) Washington Senators 9
Dick Kokos .459 (.45908) St. Louis Browns 10
Sam Chapman .455 (.45501) Philadelphia Athletics 11
Eddie Joost .453 (.45333) Philadelphia Athletics 12
Mickey Vernon .443 (.44349) Cleveland Indians 13
Jack Graham .430 (.43000) St. Louis Browns 14
Hoot Evers .428 (.42824) Detroit Tigers 15
Dale Mitchell .428 (.42813) Cleveland Indians 16
Cass Michaels .421 (.42068) Chicago White Sox 17
Dom DiMaggio .420 (.41983) Boston Red Sox 18
Hank Majeski .417 (.41741) Philadelphia Athletics 19
Bob Dillinger .417 (.41728) St. Louis Browns 20
Pete Suder .416 (.41573) Philadelphia Athletics 21
Jerry Priddy .414 (.41360) St. Louis Browns 22
Al Zarilla .411 (.41132) St. Louis Browns 23
Boston Red Sox  
Joe Gordon .407 (.40665) Cleveland Indians 24
Elmer Valo .404 (.40402) Philadelphia Athletics 25



Future Hall of Famer Sammy Sosa is best known for wearing number twenty-one; however, when the young slugger played for the Chicago White Sox (1989-1991) he only wore number twenty-five.

The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.