Baseball: Most home runs by a pitcher in the American League. Ferrell was a decent pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, but he was a pretty great hitter…for a pitcher. He hit an American League record 37 homers. Hall of Famer Bob Lemon of the Cleveland Indians was a great pitcher, and he also holds the AL record for most career home runs, with 37. This record will stand unless there’s a massive rule change in baseball. Pitchers haven’t batted in the American League since 1973, when the league introduced the “designated hitter.”