Slugging Average : 1978 National 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:

"I don't think I stayed for a complete game that first year (in Arizona). But something happened. During the second year, I started watching more intently, listening to the broadcasters talk about strategy. I started getting it. Suddenly, a 162-game season didn't seem ridiculously long anymore." - Richard Ruelas in The Arizona Republic (11-07-2001)
 

1978 Slugging Average Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Dave Parker .585 (.58520) Pittsburgh Pirates 1
Reggie Smith .559 (.55928) Los Angeles Dodgers 2
George Foster .546 (.54636) Cincinnati Reds 3
Jack Clark .537 (.53716) San Francisco Giants 4
Jeff Burroughs .529 (.52869) Atlanta Braves 5
Greg Luzinski .526 (.52593) Philadelphia Phillies 6
Ted Simmons .512 (.51163) St. Louis Cardinals 7
Steve Garvey .499 (.49922) Los Angeles Dodgers 8
Dave Winfield .499 (.49915) San Diego Padres 9
Ellis Valentine .489 (.48947) Montreal Expos 10
Bill Madlock .481 (.48098) San Francisco Giants 11
George Hendrick .467 (.46653) San Diego Padres 12
St. Louis Cardinals  
Richie Hebner .464 (.46437) Philadelphia Phillies 13
Gary Matthews .462 (.46203) Atlanta Braves 14
Jose Cruz .460 (.46018) Houston Astros 15
Larry Parrish .454 (.45385) Montreal Expos 16
Ron Cey .452 (.45225) Los Angeles Dodgers 17
Bob Watson .451 (.45119) Houston Astros 18
Tony Perez .449 (.44853) Montreal Expos 19
Andre Dawson .442 (.44171) Montreal Expos 20
Mike Schmidt .435 (.43470) Philadelphia Phillies 21
Lee Mazzilli .432 (.43173) New York Mets 22
Gary Carter .422 (.42214) Montreal Expos 23
Pete Rose .421 (.42137) Cincinnati Reds 24
Davey Lopes .421 (.42078) Los Angeles Dodgers 25



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.

The first player from the Angels franchise (they were the California Angels at the time) to wear the number twenty-five was Bob Perry.