Lofty home run figures and impressive RBI totals normally go hand and hand. However, for every home run number that has been achieved on more than one occasion, a highest and lowest RBI total were established for that figure. As the long ball number gets smaller, the quantity of players who attained the figure becomes greater while the disparity between the highest and lowest RBI totals become more pronounced. With this in mind, I decided to research which players produced the highest and lowest RBI totals for each round-tripper number. For part one of this three-part series, I will be identifying the top and bottom RBI totals for the loftiest home run numbers, ranging from Barry Bonds’ single-season record of 73 down to 30.
The
majority of the top RBI totals for each of these robust home run numbers
were established during the high-scoring Live Ball Era of the 1920s and
1930s by Hall of Fame sluggers such as Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, and
Hank Greenberg. Much of the remainder of the peak RBI totals were
achieved in the late 1990s and early 2000s when scoring reached
similarly-high levels. Outside of those eras, players were much more
likely to register the all-time low RBI total than attain the top mark.
Unless
otherwise noted, the players who established the peak RBI totals were
primarily batted out of the three-hole, cleanup, or five-spot in the
order. Players hitting out of those three spots generally stepped into
the batter’s box with a greater number of runners on base than the other
spots in the order. Taking this into account, I included a pair of
statistics that readers may not be familiar with: BR and BRS%. BR
represents the total number of runners on base when the batter came to
the plate. BRS% represents the percentage of how many of those
baserunners scored during the batters’ plate appearances. BRS% includes
all the baserunners the batter drove in outside of driving himself in
via the long ball. However, BRS% also includes the small number of
baserunners who scored during the batters’ plate appearances for which
he was not credited with a RBI. Nevertheless, BRS% is still a useful
tool to determine how well a batter capitalized on their RBI
opportunities. Because higher-scoring eras produced loftier BR and BRS%
figures, I have placed the average BRS% for the players’ respective
league next to their individual BRS%. Since the majority of the players
who posted the top RBI totals were batted in the heart of the order, I
do not consider merely registering an above average BRS% to be
sufficient. In my opinion, for a single season, a figure close to three
percent over the league norm is good, anything approaching a
four-percent edge is very good, and an advantage of five percent or more
is excellent. Because play-by-play data is missing for a small number
of games for seasons prior to 1969, BR and BRS% statistics are subject
to change should that data become available. Bearing this in mind, the
bold leading totals for those figures are also italicized.
Next
to each home run number, I have displayed the quantity of times the
figure has been attained. Because no exact long ball number of 60 or
higher has been produced more than once, the players’ statistics for
those figures will appear together with no high or low RBI total
designation. Bold numbers on the player’s stat line denotes the player
led their respective league in the category.
73-Barry Bonds 2001 Giants, 153 G, 664 PA, 156 H, 73 HR, 137 RBI, .328 BA, .515 OBP, .863 SLG, 259 OPS+, 393 BR, 16.5 BRS% vs. 14.8 NL avg
70-Mark McGwire 1998 Cardinals, 155 G, 681 PA, 70 HR, 147 RBI, .299 BA, .470 OBP, .752 OPS, 216 OPS+, 412 BR, 19.2 BRS% vs. 14.7 NL avg
66-Sammy Sosa 1998 Cubs, 159 G, 722 PA, 66 HR, 158 RBI, .308 BA, .377 OBP, .647 SLG, 160 OPS+, 487 BR, 19.7 BRS% vs. 14.7 NL avg
65-Mark McGwire 1999 Cardinals, 153 G, 661 PA, 65 HR, 147 RBI, .278 BA, .424 OBP, .697 SLG, 177 OPS+, 413 BR, 20.1 BRS% vs. 15.2 NL avg
64-Sammy Sosa 2001 Cubs, 160 G, 711 PA, 64 HR, 160 RBI, .328 BA, .437 OBP, .737 SLG, 203 OPS+, 495 BR, 20.2 BRS% vs. 14.8 NL avg
63-Sammy Sosa 1999 Cubs, 162 G, 712 PA, 63 HR, 141 RBI, .288 BA, .367 OBP, .635 SLG, 151 OPS+, 462 BR, 18.0 BRS% vs. 15.2 NL avg
62-Aaron Judge 2022 Yankees, 157 G, 696 PA, 62 HR, 131 RBI, .311 BA, .425 OBP, .686 SLG, 210 OPS+, 417 BR, 16.6 BRS% vs. 14.0 AL avg
61-Roger Maris 1961 Yankees, 161 G, 698 PA, 61 HR, 141 RBI, .269 BA, .372 OBP, .620 SLG, 167 OPS+, 407 BR, 20.9 BRS% vs. 14.4 AL avg
60-Babe Ruth 1927 Yankees, 151 G, 691 PA, 60 HR, 165 RBI, .356 BA, .486 OBP, .772 SLG, 225 OPS+, 508 BR, 21.1 BRS% vs. 16.7 AL avg
Interestingly,
Sammy Sosa was the only player to hit 60-plus home runs and not lead
his respective league in the category. Sosa reached the 60-home run
plateau on three occasions, each time being bettered by another
slugger—finishing runner-up to Mark McGwire in 1998 and 1999 and Barry
Bonds in 2001. While the home run title eluded Sosa in those seasons,
he did manage to pace the senior circuit on two other occasions, leading
the way with 50 round-trippers in 2000 and 49 in 2002. Roger Maris,
Sosa, Bonds, and Aaron Judge each claimed the MVP Award for their
respective leagues during their 60-long ball campaigns in 1961, 1998,
2001, and 2022. Babe Ruth‘s and Maris’ respective 1927 and 1961
Yankees teams captured World Series titles. Sosa’s 1998 Cubs and
Judge’s 2022 Yankees made the playoffs but failed to advance to the Fall
Classic. Ruth registered the highest BRS% among the 60-plus home run
sluggers while Maris maintained the healthiest advantage over the league
average. Among these sluggers, only Judge was regularly batted outside
of the heart of the order. Yankees manager Aaron Boone primarily wrote
Judge’s name in as the two-hole hitter while also having him make
roughly a third of his starts out of the leadoff spot. Boone’s use of
Judge reflects a growing trend over the past decade which has seen teams
shy away from reserving the heart of the order for its top hitters and
instead opting to bat those players out of one of the first two spots in
the lineup.
59-2 individual seasons
High 168-Babe Ruth 1921 Yankees, 152 G, 693 PA, 59 HR, 168 RBI, .378 BA, .512 OBP, .846 SLG, 239 OPS+, 504 BR, 21.4 BRS% vs. 16.7 AL avg
Low 132-Giancarlo Stanton 2017 Marlins, 159 G, 692 PA, 59 HR, 132 RBI, .281 BA, .376 OBP, .631 SLG, 169 OPS+, 405 BR, 18.5 BRS% vs. 14.4 NL avg
The
1921 campaign proved to be a banner year for Ruth in a career full of
them. En route to helping the Yankees franchise capture its first
pennant, “The Bambino” amassed 457 total bases which still stands as a
MLB record. Additionally, he set the MLB Modern Era benchmark for runs
scored with 177. Ninety-six years after Ruth, Marlins right fielder
Giancarlo Stanton produced MLB’s second 59-home run season. Although
Stanton finished 36 RBI south of Ruth’s 1921 total, he still managed to
pace the senior circuit in the category and win the NL MVP. Ruth likely
would have claimed the honor for the AL but neither league presented
MVP Awards in 1921. While Ruth was famously batted out of the
three-hole in New York’s lineup, Stanton primarily batted second for
Miami.
58-5 individual seasons
High 169-Jimmie Foxx 1932 Athletics, 154 G, 702 PA, 58 HR, 169 RBI, .364 BA, .469 OBP, .749 SLG, 207 OPS+, 530 BR, 21.5 BRS% vs. 16.7 AL avg
Low 123-Mark
McGwire 1997 Athletics/Cardinals, 156 G, 657 PA, 58 HR, 123 RBI, .274
BA, .393 OBP, .646 SLG, 170 OPS+, 437 BR, 15.6 BRS% vs. 15.0 MLB avg
With
his dominant 1932 effort, Athletics first baseman Jimmie Foxx secured
his first of three AL MVP Awards. The 1997 season saw Mark McGwire
accomplish the unique feat of leading all of MLB in home runs while
failing to register the highest total in either league. Swapped from
Oakland to St. Louis in a July 31 trade deadline deal, McGwire departed
the junior circuit with 34 long balls and added 24 more round-trippers
in the senior loop.
57-2 individual seasons
High 142-Luis Gonzalez 2001 Diamondbacks, 162 G, 728 PA, 57 HR, 142 RBI, .325 BA, .429 OBP, .688 SLG, 174 OPS+, 449 BR, 19.8 BRS% vs. 14.8 NL avg
High 142-Álex Rodríguez 2002 Rangers, 162 G, 725 PA, 57 HR, 142 RBI, .300 BA, .392 OBP, .623 SLG, 158 OPS+, 463 BR, 18.8 BRS% vs. 15.2 AL avg
Coincidentally,
Luis Gonzalez and Álex Rodríguez posted MLB’s only 57-home run
campaigns in sequential seasons. Rodríguez led the AL in both home runs
and RBI while Gonzalez’s totals were only good enough to rank
third-best in the NL for each category. After crushing 57 long balls
during the regular season, Gonzalez blooped a walk-off RBI single into
the shallow outfield to give the Diamondbacks the Series-ending victory
over the Yankees in Game Seven of the 2001 Fall Classic.
56-3 individual seasons
High 191-Hack Wilson 1930 Cubs, 155 G, 709 PA, 56 HR, 191 RBI, .356 BA, .454 OBP, .723 SLG, 177 OPS+, 591 BR, 23.2 BRS% vs. 18.0 NL avg
Low 146-Ken Griffey Jr. 1998 Mariners, 161 G, 720 PA, 56 HR, 146 RBI, .284 BA, .365 OBP, .611 SLG, 150 OPS+, 464 BR, 19.8 BRS% vs. 15.4 AL avg
The
1930 campaign witnessed Cubs center fielder Hack Wilson set the MLB
single-season record with 191 RBI. Wilson’s benchmark has stood for
nearly a century. Baseball Reference recognizes Wilson as the
unofficial winner of the 1930 NL MVP. Interestingly though, Wilson’s
1930 BRS% of 23.2 was not the highest mark he achieved during his career
as he bettered the figure when he notched a whopping 26.5 BRS% in 1932
while playing for the Dodgers. During 1932, Wilson stepped into the
batter’s box with 392 baserunners and finished the year with 23 home
runs and 123 RBI. Had he compiled this same 26.5 BRS% with his 591
baserunners from 1930, he likely would have driven in over 200 runs. Wilson attained his record-setting RBI total despite leading the senior
circuit in both walks and strikeouts, accruing 105 free passes and
being mowed down 84 times. Among MLB hitters, only Babe Ruth had a
higher combined total of his plate appearances end without making
contact as the Yankees slugger drew an AL-high 136 bases on balls while
ranking fifth with 61 strikeouts.
Mariners
center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. produced each of the other two 56-home
run campaigns, amassing the figure in back-to-back years in 1997 and
1998 while racking up almost identical respective RBI totals of 147 and
146. Griffey’s 56 four-baggers led the AL in both years but he only
paced the junior loop in RBI during 1997, as he slotted third the
following season.
54-9 individual seasons
High 156-Álex Rodríguez 2007 Yankees, 158 G, 708 PA, 54 HR, 156 RBI, .314 BA, .422 OBP, .645 SLG, 176 OPS+, 530 BR, 19.4 BRS% vs. 15.4 AL avg
Low 124-José Bautista 2010 Blue Jays, 161 G, 683 PA, 54 HR, 124 RBI, .260 BA, .378 OBP, .617 SLG, 164 OPS+, 366 BR, 19.7 BRS% vs. 14.3 AL avg
No
MLB player has finished the season with exactly 55 home runs—the lowest
number that has yet to be achieved. However, on nine occasions, a
slugger has ended the year with 54 round-trippers, the most for any
total of 50 or higher. Álex Rodríguez’s 156 RBI for the AL
wildcard-winning 2007 Yankees leads the way among these nine 54-home run
campaigns. Rodríguez’s lofty RBI total helped him claim the AL MVP for
the third and final time during his career. Yet, the slugger who ranks
at the bottom of the RBI rundown, Blue Jays right fielder José
Bautista, actually produced a higher BRS% than Rodríguez. However, the
Yankees offense provided “A-Rod” with many more RBI opportunities as he
stepped to the plate with a league-leading 530 men on base compared to
the 366 Bautista saw in 2010. Much of that disparity can be traced to
Toronto batting Bautista outside the heart of the order for the bulk of
the first half of the season, as prior to establishing himself in 2010,
the journeyman slugger had bounced around MLB, playing for five
different franchises since making his big league debut in 2004. After
spending the opening months of 2010 as a seven-hole hitter while also
shuttling between batting leadoff, fifth, and sixth in the order, the
Blue Jays finally settled on using Bautista out of the three-spot in
late June. From that point forward, he racked up 75 RBI over his final
90 games.
53-2 individual seasons
High 138-Chris Davis 2013 Orioles, 160 G, 673 PA, 53 HR, 138 RBI, .286 BA, .370 OBP, .634 SLG, 168 OPS+, 396 BR, 21.5 BRS% vs. 14.0 AL avg
Low 120-Pete Alonso 2019 Mets, 161 G, 693 PA, 53 HR, 120 RBI, .260 BA, .358 OBP, .583 SLG, 147 OPS+, 407 BR, 17.0 BRS% vs. 14.8 NL avg
Orioles
first baseman Chris Davis paced the junior loop in long balls and RBI
while also registering the top BRS%. By going deep 53 times, Mets first
baseman Pete Alonso set the MLB rookie record for home runs, surpassing
the 52 hit by Aaron Judge two years earlier. At the conclusion of the
2019 season, Alonso captured the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
52-7 individual seasons
High 149-George Foster 1977 Reds, 158 G, 689 PA, 52 HR, 149 RBI, .320 BA, .382 OBP, .631 SLG, 165 OPS+, 535 BR, 18.7 BRS% vs. 14.8 NL avg
Low 112-Willie Mays 1965 Giants, 157 G, 638 PA, 52 HR, 112 RBI, .317 BA, .398 OBP, .645 SLG, 185 OPS+, 373 BR, 16.6 BRS% vs. 13.8 NL avg
With
his 52 round-trippers in 1965, Giants center fielder Willie Mays
produced the sixteenth 50-home run campaign since Babe Ruth became first
slugger to reach the half-century mark in 1920. However, following
1965, MLB saw an extended drought in 50-home run seasons as only Reds
left fielder George Foster managed to reach the lofty plateau between
1966 and 1989. What’s more, Foster’s 149 RBI represented MLB’s highest
total since Tommy Davis accumulated 153 in 1962. And, aside from Maris’
1961 campaign, between 1951 and 1996, Foster is the only slugger to
post the top RBI total for a round-tripper number of 30 or higher. Mays
and Foster each took home the NL MVP for their respective 1965 and 1977
performances.
51-5 individual seasons
High 138-Johnny Mize 1947 Giants, 154 G, 664 PA, 51 HR, 138 RBI, .302 BA, .384 OBP, .614 SLG, 160 OPS+, 425 BR, 21.7 BRS% vs. 14.7 NL avg
Low 127-Ralph Kiner 1947 Pirates, 152 G, 666 PA, 51 HR, 127 RBI, .313 BA, .417 OBP, .639 SLG, 173 OPS+, 453 BR, 16.1 BRS% vs. 14.7 NL avg
Low 127-Willie Mays 1955 Giants, 152 G, 670 PA, 51 HR, 127 RBI, .319 BA, .400 OBP, .659 SLG, 174 OPS+, 427 BR, 17.8 BRS% vs. 14.4 NL avg
Johnny
Mize and Ralph Kiner tied for the NL long ball lead in 1947. Even
though Mize played for an 81-win fourth-place Giants club and Kiner
suited up for the 62-win cellar-dwelling Pirates, Mize actually stepped
to the plate with 28 fewer baserunners than Kiner. However, Mize did a
better job of driving those baserunners in and thus, enjoyed an 11 RBI
advantage over Kiner, pacing the senior circuit in the category while
the Bucs slugger settled for runner-up.
Eight
years later, Mays put together an identical home run/RBI combo to
Kiner’s while turning the rare trick of leading the league in both long
balls and triples, topping the NL with 13 three-baggers. Although Mays
registered the lowest RBI totals for both 52 and 51-home run campaigns,
he posted steady BRS% figures in each of those seasons and averaged a
solid career BRS% of 17.0 against a league-norm of 14.0.
50-6 individual seasons
High 175-Jimmie Foxx 1938 Red Sox, 149 G, 685 PA, 50 HR, 175 RBI, .349 BA, .462 OBP, .704 SLG, 183 OPS+, 477 BR, 24.3 BRS% vs. 16.4 AL avg
Low 110-Brady
Anderson 1996 Orioles, 149 G, 687 PA, 50 HR, 110 RBI, .297 BA, .396
OBP, .637 SLG, 156 OPS+, 373 BR, 16.6 BRS% vs. 15.7 AL avg
Red
Sox first baseman Jimmie Foxx won his final of three AL MVP Awards in
1938. Furnishing a junior loop-pacing 24.3 BRS%, Foxx amassed 175
RBI—37 more than the next closest slugger to end the season with exactly
50 home runs. Orioles center fielder Brady Anderson was at a bit of a
disadvantage for producing a high RBI total as he batted leadoff for
over 70% of his plate appearances with nearly all of the remainder
coming out of the two-hole.
49-20 individual seasons
High 166-Lou Gehrig 1934 Yankees, 154 G, 690 PA, 49 HR, 166 RBI, .363 BA, .465 OBP, .706 SLG, 207 OPS+, 524 BR, 21.8 BRS% vs. 16.3 AL avg
Low 103-Eugenio
Suárez 2019 Reds, 159 G, 662 PA, 49 HR, 103 RBI, .271 BA, .358 OBP,
.572 SLG, 131 OPS+, 402 BR, 14.4 BRS% vs. 14.8 NL avg
On
twenty different occasions, a slugger has finished the season a single
home run shy of the half-century mark. Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig
earned the AL Triple Crown during his dominant 1934 campaign but oddly
only managed to classify fifth in the MVP election. Nearly half of Reds
third baseman Eugenio Suárez’s 103 RBI came as a result of driving
himself in via the long ball. Suárez had the misfortune of standing
atop the senior circuit leaderboard with 189 strikeouts and posted a
meager 14.4 BRS% that was actually a touch below the 14.8 NL average. Suárez’s 14.4% was a particularly poor figure considering he primarily
batted out of the three-spot in Cincinnati’s lineup. By comparison,
Gehrig struck out a mere 31 times in 1934.
48-15 individual seasons
High 163-Jimmie Foxx 1933 Athletics, 149 G, 670 PA, 48 HR, 163 RBI, .356 BA, .449 OBP, .703 SLG, 201 OPS+, 529 BR, 21.6 BRS% vs. 16.5 AL avg
Low 111-Frank
Howard 1969 Senators, 161 G, 702 PA, 48 HR, 111 RBI, .296 BA, .402 OBP,
.574 SLG, 178 OPS+, 448 BR, 15.9 BRS% vs. 13.4 AL avg
Low 111-Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2021 Blue Jays, 161 G, 698 PA, 48 HR, 111 RBI, .311 BA, .401 OBP, .601 SLG, 167 OPS+, 408 BR, 15.4 BRS% vs. 14.7 AL avg
Jimmie
Foxx won both the AL Triple Crown and MVP in 1933. Like Foxx, Vladimir
Guerrero Jr. topped the junior loop in home runs, slugging percentage,
and OPS+. However, the Blue Jays slugger was much less successful at
driving in baserunners, trailing Foxx by 52 RBI while cobbling together a
15.4 BRS% compared to the A’s slugger’s 21.6. Senators power-hitter
Frank Howard did a slightly better job of taking advantage of his
opportunities than Guerrero, maintaining a BRS% of 15.9. Howard was at a
disadvantage to post a high RBI total as run scoring in general was
down during the late 1960s, as evidenced by the 13.4 BRS% averaged by AL
batters in 1969.
47-26 individual seasons
High 173-Lou Gehrig 1927 Yankees, 155 G, 717 PA, 47 HR, 173 RBI, .373 BA, .474 OBP, .765 SLG, 220 OPS+, 587 BR, 21.6 BRS% vs. 16.7 AL avg
Low 102-Troy Glaus 2000 Angels, 159 G, 678 PA, 47 HR, 102 RBI, .284 BA, .404 OBP, .604 SLG, 150 OPS+, 416 BR, 13.2 BRS% vs. 15.7 AL avg
The
1927 campaign was a banner one for Lou Gehrig and the Yankees as the
slugger took home the AL MVP Award and the team captured the World
Series championship. Due to the rules of the time, Babe Ruth—who
famously blasted 60 long balls—was not eligible for the MVP, having
previously won the award in 1923. Gehrig certainly benefited from
batting cleanup in New York’s “Murderer’s Row,” digging in with a
league-high 587 runners on base. Nevertheless, he also did an excellent
job of capitalizing on those opportunities, notching a 21.6 BRS%. By
contrast, Angels third baseman Troy Glaus produced a well-below league
average BRS% of 13.2 while primarily batting out of the six-hole.
46-24 individual seasons
High 185-Lou Gehrig 1931 Yankees, 155 G, 738 PA, 46 HR, 185 RBI, .341 BA, .446 OBP, .662 SLG, 194 OPS+, 601 BR, 21.6 BRS% vs. 16.9 AL avg
Low 94-Kyle Schwarber 2022 Phillies, 155 G, 669 PA, 46 HR, 94 RBI, .218 BA, .323 OBP, .504 SLG, 131 OPS+, 326 BR, 15.0 BRS% vs. 14.2 NL avg
Once
again benefiting from a league-high number of baserunners and once
again capitalizing on those opportunities, Gehrig established another
top RBI figure in 1931. On this occasion, “The Iron Horse” set an AL
record that still stands today, racking up an eye-popping 185 RBI. Gehrig’s 1931 campaign marks the first of just six times in which a
batter has stepped to the plate with 600-plus baserunners.
As
a poster boy for the “three-true-outcomes hitter” who struggles to bat
.200, Kyle Schwarber made for an odd choice to bat leadoff in the
Phillies lineup. Once a rarity, “three-true-outcomes hitters” like
Schwarber have become much more common in today’s game. Schwarber
dubiously paced the senior loop with 200 strikeouts but starred in the
postseason and helped Philadelphia capture the NL pennant. The quick
succession of Schwarber, Eugenio Suárez, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
registering the lowest RBI figures for three of the last four home run
numbers, highlights how modern-day sluggers are much more likely to show
up at the bottom rather than the top of RBI rundowns.
45-23 individual seasons
High 157-Juan González 1998 Rangers, 154 G, 669 PA, 45 HR, 157 RBI, .318 BA, .366 OBP, .630 SLG, 149 OPS+, 519 BR, 22.2 BRS% vs. 15.4 AL avg
Low 90-Barry Bonds 2003 Giants, 130 G, 550 PA, 45 HR, 90 RBI, .341 BA, .529 OBP, .749 SLG, 231 OPS+, 369 BR, 13.0 BRS% vs. 14.4 NL avg
A
pair of MVP winners on opposite sides of the RBI spectrum, Rangers
right fielder Juan González secured the AL MVP for a second time in 1998
while Giants left fielder Barry Bonds’ 2003 campaign marked the sixth
occasion in which he claimed the NL honor. An aggressive hitter,
González rarely took walks but offset his lack of patience by producing
lofty RBI totals fueled by his superb BRS percentages. In contrast to
González, Bonds paced the NL in free passes a dozen times, including
2003 when he accrued 148 bases on balls—61 of which were of the
intentional variety. As opposing teams adopted the practice of pitching
around Bonds and placing him on first base rather than challenging him
with runners in scoring position, his BRS rates began to suffer. Both
sluggers teams won their respective division titles but González enjoyed
a much greater number of RBI opportunities. Bonds also played 24 games
fewer than González. These three factors led to a 67-RBI disparity
between the two players.
44-32 individual seasons
High 165-Manny Ramírez 1999 Indians, 147 G, 640 PA, 44 HR, 165 RBI, .333 BA, .442 OBP, .663 SLG, 174 OPS+, 507 BR, 24.7 BRS% vs. 15.5 AL avg
Low 93-Nelson
Cruz 2015 Mariners, 152 G, 655 PA, 44 HR, 93 RBI, .302 BA, .369 OBP,
.566 SLG, 159 OPS+, 373 BR, 14.2 BRS% vs. 14.4 AL avg
During
the 1999 campaign, Indians right fielder Manny Ramírez seemingly turned
back the clock to the Live Ball Era, racking up an astounding 165
RBI—the highest single-season total since Jimmie Foxx’s 175 from 1938. Boasting a phenomenal 24.7 BRS%, Ramírez contributed immensely to
Cleveland’s securing of the AL Central title.
The
2015 campaign was a strange one for several power-hitters, including
Mariners right fielder Nelson Cruz who was one of five sluggers to reach
the 40-home run plateau while failing to drive in 100 runs. Prior to
2015, this odd statistical combination had only occurred 16 times and
never more than twice in a season. However, the ensuing years have
witnessed this once rare combination become more common as it has
happened ten times over the past nine seasons.
43-26 individual seasons
High 159-Ted Williams 1949 Red Sox, 155 G, 730 PA, 43 HR, 159 RBI, .343 BA, .490 OBP, .650 SLG, 191 OPS+, 569 BR, 19.0 BRS% vs. 14.5 AL avg
*Low 96-Matt Williams 1994 Giants, 112 G, 483 PA, 43 HR, 96 RBI, .267 BA, .319 OBP, .607 SLG, 141 OPS+, 310 BR, 17.1 BRS% vs. 14.9 NL avg
Low 99-Davey
Johnson 1973 Braves, 157 G, 651 PA, 43 HR, 99 RBI, .270 BA, .370 OBP,
.546 SLG, 143 OPS+, 441 BR, 14.1 BRS% vs. 13.8 NL avg
Like
Barry Bonds, Red Sox left fielder Ted Williams drew a prodigious number
of walks during his career. Yet, while Bonds struggled at times to
maintain an above-league-average BRS%, Williams was generally able to
achieve impressive BRS rates. In fact, for their careers, Williams
posted an 18.5 BRS% versus a 14.5% AL-average while Bonds assembled a
16.6% mark against a 14.5% NL-average. In contrast to Bonds’ 2003,
Williams enjoyed a steady diet of RBI opportunities during 1949,
stepping up to the plate with 569 baserunners. “Teddy Ballgame” did a
much better job of bringing those runners home as he notched a 19.0 BRS%
and snared MVP honors after his Red Sox finished a single game behind
the Yankees in the AL pennant race. Williams also topped the junior
circuit with 162 walks, 14 more than Bonds’ league-pacing 2003 total.
At
the bottom of the RBI rundown for 43-home run campaigns are a pair of
sluggers who put together the aforementioned combination of failing to
drive in 100 runs while hitting 40 long balls. I placed an asterisk
next to the name of Giants third baseman Matt Williams because his
96-RBI campaign came during the strike-shortened 1994 season. When the
strike halted play, Williams was on pace to challenge the MLB
single-season record for home runs which, at that time, was held by
Roger Maris. While Williams would have easily blown past the 100-RBI
mark had it not been for the strike, the 1973 campaign ended with Braves
second baseman Davey Johnson checking up a single RBI shy of triple
digits. Johnson shared Atlanta’s clubhouse with Hank Aaron who put
together a 40 home run/96 RBI stat line, thus giving the pair the unique
distinction of being the first teammates to turn the odd trick of
reaching the 40-long ball plateau while failing to amass 100 RBI. In
Aaron’s case, his RBI total was lower due to only playing 120 games as
his 17.5 BRS% was well-above the NL norm. By contrast, Johnson
registered a 14.1% figure that barely cleared the league average. Also,
Johnson saw the majority of his plate appearances come out of the sixth
spot in the order while splitting most of the remainder batting fifth
or seventh.
42-42 individual seasons
High 162-Hal Trosky 1936 Indians, 151 G, 671 PA, 42 HR, 162 RBI, .343 BA, .382 OBP, .644 SLG, 146 OPS+, 521 BR, 23.6 BRS% vs. 17.2 AL avg
Low 97-Mickey Mantle 1958 Yankees, 150 G, 654 PA, 42 HR, 97 RBI, .304 BA, .443 OBP, .592 SLG, 188 OPS+, 414 BR, 13.3 BRS% vs. 14.0 AL avg
Low 97-Fernando Tatis Jr. 2021 Padres, 130 G, 546 PA, 42 HR, 97 RBI, .282 BA, .364 OBP, .611 SLG, 166 OPS+, 290 BR, 20.0 BRS% vs. 13.9 NL avg
Another
power-hitting slugger who exhibited patience at the plate, Yankees
center fielder Mickey Mantle led the AL with 42 home runs yet concluded
the 1958 season south of the 100-RBI plateau. Whereas Ted Williams and
Barry Bonds drew copious numbers of walks while rarely striking out, the
free-swinging Mantle fanned with regularity, dubiously topping the AL
on five occasions. However, Mantle also paced the junior circuit a
handful of times in walks. The 1958 campaign represented the only
season in which he simultaneously finished atop the leaderboard in both
categories, striking out 120 times while taking 129 free passes. Mantle
additionally led the way with 127 runs scored as New York captured the
World Series championship. With his 42 round-trippers and 97 RBI,
Mantle became only the second player to check up short of the century
mark in RBI while reaching the 40-home run plateau as his center fielder
counterpart on the Dodgers, Duke Snider, had turned the odd trick the
year before. Though Mantle did an excellent job of getting on base and
driving himself in via the long ball, his subpar 13.3 BRS% kept him from
accruing a triple-digit RBI total.
One of the
more recent players to put together the once rare combination of
reaching the 40-home run mark while failing to accumulate 100 RBI,
Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. produced round-tripper and RBI
numbers that were identical to Mantle’s 1958 stat line. However, in
Tatis’ case, lack of opportunity rather than a middling BRS% is
primarily to blame for his lower RBI total as he only stepped into the
batter’s box with 290 baserunners. When given the chance, Tatis often
rose to the occasion, notching a sizzling 20.0 BRS% against a 13.9 NL
average. Tatis’ advantage over the senior loop was comparable to the
edge that Indians first baseman Hal Trosky boasted over the AL in 1936
while racking up 162 RBI, the leading total among sluggers who hit 42
four-baggers.
41-50 individual seasons
High 173-Lou Gehrig 1930 Yankees, 154 G, 703 PA, 41 HR, 173 RBI, .379 BA, .473 OBP, .721 SLG, 203 OPS+, 550 BR, 24.2 BRS% vs. 17.9 AL avg
Low 80-Joey Gallo 2017 Rangers, 145 G, 532 PA, 41 HR, 80 RBI, .209 BA, .333 OBP, .537 SLG, 118 OPS+, 295 BR, 13.2 BRS% vs. 14.6 AL avg
Yet
again, Lou Gehrig’s name shows up at the top of the leaderboard as he
paced the 1930 AL and 41-home run campaigners alike with 173 RBI. “The
Iron Horse’s” commanding 93-RBI edge over the bottom-dwelling Joey
Gallo, marks the first long ball number in which the highest RBI total
is more than double the lowest one. Another poster boy for the modern
day “three-true-outcomes hitter,” Gallo struck out 196 times in 2017. The free-swinging slugger split his 532 plate appearances between
hitting out of the five, six, seven, eight, and nine spots in the
Rangers lineup so he did not see a large number of opportunities. That
said, Gallo did little to capitalize on the chances he did see,
maintaining a paltry 13.2 BRS%. At the plate, Gallo has been, in many
ways a poor man’s Kyle Schwarber, producing less impressive statistics
in virtually every facet of offense including BRS%. For their careers,
Schwarber has compiled a slightly-above MLB average 15.0 BRS% while
Gallo has registered a meager 12.3 figure.
40-59 individual seasons
High 184-Hank Greenberg 1937 Tigers, 154 G, 701 PA, 40 HR, 184 RBI, .337 BA, .436 OBP, .668 SLG, 172 OPS+, 610 BR, 24.6 BRS% vs. 16.4 AL avg
Low 80-Mike Trout 2022 Angels, 119 G, 499 PA, 40 HR, 80 RBI, .283 BA, .369 OBP, .630 SLG, 176 OPS+, 244 BR, 17.2 BRS% vs. 14.0 AL avg
Six
years after Lou Gehrig established the AL benchmark with 185 RBI,
Tigers first baseman Hank Greenberg came one shy of matching the record. Like Gehrig, Greenberg benefited from digging in with 600-plus men on
base over the course of the season. Greenberg did an outstanding job
bringing those runners home, notching a 24.6 BRS% that, among junior
circuit batters, only trailed the 24.7 figure of Joe DiMaggio. A full
104 RBI behind Greenberg is the 2022 total of Angels center fielder Mike
Trout. A combination of missed time due to injuries and lack
opportunity from batting out of the two-hole in Los Angeles’ punchless
lineup resulted in Trout averaging a mere two RBI per home run.
39-72 individual seasons
High 159-Hack Wilson 1929 Cubs, 150 G, 670 PA, 39 HR, 159 RBI, .345 BA, .425 OBP, .618 SLG, 155 OPS+, 548 BR, 22.6 BRS% vs. 17.2 NL avg
High 159-Vern Stephens 1949 Red Sox, 155 G, 712 PA, 39 HR, 159 RBI, .290 BA, .391 OBP, .539 SLG, 137 OPS+, 623 BR, 18.3 BRS% vs. 14.5 AL avg
Low 79-Mike Trout 2018 Angels, 140 G, 608 PA, 39 HR, 79 RBI, .312 BA, .460 OBP, .628 SLG, 198 OPS+, 301 BR, 13.6 BRS% vs. 14.5 AL avg
A
year before racking up a record 191 RBI, Hack Wilson paced the senior
loop with 159, in the process of playing a key role in the Cubs securing
the 1929 NL pennant. Exactly two decades later, Red Sox shortstop Vern
Stephens posted a carbon copy of Wilson’s home run and RBI totals while
stepping to the plate with an AL-high 623 men on base. The 1949 season
represented the middle campaign of an incredible three-year run in which
Stephens dug into the batter’s box with no fewer than 604 baserunners
in each season. During that three-year stretch, Stephens benefited from
batting cleanup behind a trio of OBP machines in Dom DiMaggio, Johnny
Pesky, and Ted Williams. Stephens did an adequate but unspectacular job
of capitalizing on this embarrassment of riches, notching a BRS% of
18.3. Only Dixie Walker—who batted with an astounding 626 baserunners
for the 1945 Dodgers—is on record as seeing more potential RBI
opportunities than Stephens. However, a small number of Boston’s games
are missing play-by-play data, meaning that the power-hitting
shortstop’s true baserunner total may indeed be closer to 650. As
Stephens set the RBI high-water mark for 39 four-baggers, his teammate
Williams simultaneously achieved the top figure for 43 long balls.
For
the second round-tripper number in a row, Mike Trout shows up with the
lowest RBI total. While his 40-home run/80-RBI combo from 2022 was
primarily due to factors out of his control, he bore a greater share of
the blame for falling well-short of a triple-digit RBI total in 2018. Whereas the Angels slugger produced a solid 17.2 BRS% during 2022, the
opposite was true in 2018 when he dipped below the league norm,
delivering a substandard BRS% of 13.6. Trout primarily batted second in
both seasons but also saw a decent number of his plate appearances come
out of the three-spot in 2022. Bringing a similar combination of power
and patience to the plate as Barry Bonds and Mickey Mantle, like those
two sluggers, Trout’s RBI totals have often suffered from opposing
pitchers refusing to challenge him with men on base. During 2018, Trout
drew 122 walks, marking the third time he topped the AL in the
category.
38-71 individual seasons
High 137-Chuck Klein 1932 Phillies, 154 G, 711 PA, 38 HR, 137 RBI, .348 BA, .404 OBP, .646 SLG, 164 OPS+, 479 BR, 20.5 BRS% vs. 16.1 NL avg
Low 77-Joey
Gallo 2021 Rangers/Yankees, 153 G, 616 PA, 38 HR, 77 RBI, .199 BA, .351
OBP, .458 SLG, 121 OPS+, 361 BR, 11.1 BRS% vs. 14.7 AL avg
Phillies
right fielder Chuck Klein snared NL MVP honors for his superb 1932
effort. By contrast, Joey Gallo drew sharp criticism for his 2021
performance, particularly after a late-July trade deadline deal which
saw him go from the Rangers to the Yankees. Upon arriving in New York,
virtually all of Gallo’s offensive numbers steeply declined, including
his ability to drive in runs. Prior to the trade, Gallo batted .223
with 25 home runs and 55 RBI across 388 plate appearances for Texas. However, after being dealt to the Yankees, he cobbled together an
anemic .160 average while hitting 13 long balls and driving in a mere 22
runs over 228 plate appearances. Living up to his reputation as a
“three-true-outcomes-hitter,” Gallo led the AL with 111 walks and 213
strikeouts. Gallo managed to only accrue 99 hits and post a dismal BRS%
of 11.1—particularly poor numbers considering he was primarily batted
in the heart of the order throughout the year. Conversely, Klein
amassed a NL-best 226 hits and turned the rare trick of simultaneously
leading the way in home runs and stolen bases, cracking 38 long balls
and swiping 20 bags.
37-79 individual seasons
High 158-Lou Gehrig 1937 Yankees, 157 G, 700 PA, 37 HR, 158 RBI, .351 BA, .473 OBP, .643 SLG, 176 OPS+, 541 BR, 22.9 BRS% vs. 16.4 AL avg
Low 75-Aaron
Judge 2023 Yankees, 106 G, 458 PA, 37 HR, 75 RBI, .267 BA, .406 OBP,
.613 SLG, 175 OPS+, 235 BR, 16.6 BRS% vs. 14.3 AL avg
With
158 RBI for the 1937 Yankees, Lou Gehrig claimed the top spot for his
fifth different home run number. Gehrig’s 158 total put him just ahead
of another premier run producer from the era as he bettered Jimmie
Foxx’s 1930 output by two RBI. Yet, for 1937, Gehrig’s 158 RBI only
slotted third-best among junior circuit hitters as Hank Greenberg led
the way with 184—one short of tying Gehrig’s AL record. “The Iron
Horse’s” RBI total sandwiched him between a pair of his Yankees
teammates as Joe DiMaggio secured bridesmaid honors with 167 while Bill
Dickey’s 133 ranked fourth. With this trio of sluggers fueling New
York’s high-scoring offense, the team raced away with the AL pennant and
captured the World Series championship. In addition to owning the top
RBI figure for a handful of home run numbers, Gehrig also registered the
second-highest totals for players with 34, 32, or 27 round-trippers.
One
year after setting the AL benchmark with 62 long balls, injuries
limited Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge to just 106 games. The towering
slugger primarily batted out of the two-spot in New York’s lineup where
the club struggled to put men on base in front of him. Thus, the
combination of these two factors resulted in Judge producing a
relatively low RBI total of 75 to go along with his 37 four-baggers.
36-88 individual seasons
High 168-Hank Greenberg 1935 Tigers, 152 G, 710 PA, 36 HR, 168 RBI, .328 BA, .411 OBP, .628 SLG, 170 OPS+, 569 BR, 22.3 BRS% vs. 16.0 AL avg
Low 74-Joc
Pederson 2019 Dodgers, 149 G, 514 PA, 36 HR, 74 RBI, .249 BA, .339 OBP,
.538 SLG, 126 OPS+, 244 BR, 15.6 BRS% vs. 14.8 NL avg
The
aforementioned Hank Greenberg put together a banner 1935 for Detroit,
claiming the AL MVP and helping the team win the World Series title. Eighty-four years later, Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson smacked a
career-high 36 home runs while accruing less than half of Greenberg’s
RBI total. Pederson batted out of the leadoff spot for the first-place
Dodgers, a move that greatly minimized his RBI opportunities.
35-97 individual seasons
High 151-Al Simmons 1932 Athletics, 154 G, 718 PA, 35 HR, 151 RBI, .322 BA, .368 OBP, .548 SLG, 131 OPS+, 597 BR, 20.1 BRS% vs. 16.7 AL avg
Low 79-Max Muncy 2018 Dodgers, 137 G, 481 PA, 35 HR, 79 RBI, .263 BA, .391 OBP, .582 SLG, 161 OPS+, 283 BR, 15.9 BRS% vs. 13.9 NL avg
Over
the course of his career, Al Simmons established himself as one of the
game’s finest run producers, maintaining a superb 22.0 BRS% across his
20 seasons in MLB. Thus, the 20.1 clip he registered for the 1932
Athletics, while well-above the AL average, actually fell beneath his
lofty career norm. Simmons’ 151 RBI only trailed the 169 of teammate
Jimmie Foxx who simultaneously set the peak RBI total for players with
58 long balls. Among 35-home run campaigners, slotting runner-up to
Simmons is Don Mattingly who racked up 145 RBI for the 1985 Yankees. Mattingly’s 145 RBI represents not only the highest figure from the
1980s but also marks the closest a player from that decade came to
posting the top RBI total for any round-tripper number of 30 or above.
One
year before Joc Pederson compiled the all-time low RBI output for 36
four-baggers, his Dodgers teammate Max Muncy earned the dubious
distinction for home run number 35. While Pederson primarily batted
leadoff for Los Angeles in 2019, the pennant-winning 2018 edition of the
club shifted Muncy all around the order, giving him no less than 20
plate appearances out of each of the nine spots. Dodgers skipper Dave
Roberts most commonly slotted Muncy in the two-hole where he made 144 of
his 481 plate appearances. Muncy furnished a 15.9 BRS%, similar to the
15.6 clip Pederson attained for the team during the following year. Although Muncy did not accumulate a high RBI total, his adaptability
helped the club immensely as, in addition to being a Swiss Army knife in
the batting order, he fulfilled a utility role on defense, taking the
field at first base, second base, third base, and left field over the
course of the season. What’s more, the versatile slugger also made 30
appearances as a pinch hitter, during which he batted .292 with three
home runs and nine RBI.
34-125 individual seasons
High 157-Al Simmons 1929 Athletics, 143 G, 629 PA, 34 HR, 157 RBI, .365 BA, .398 OBP, .642 SLG, 159 OPS+, 520 BR, 25.2 BRS% vs. 16.7 AL avg
Low 77-Hank Aaron 1972 Braves, 129 G, 545 PA, 34 HR, 77 RBI, .265 BA, .390 OBP, .514 SLG, 147 OPS+, 324 BR, 14.5 BRS% vs. 13.4 NL avg
Low 77-Gary
Sánchez 2019 Yankees, 106 G, 446 PA, 34 HR, 77 RBI, .232 BA, .316 OBP,
.525 SLG, 119 OPS+, 296 BR, 14.9 BRS% vs. 14.8 AL avg
Al
Simmons drilled 34 home runs and amassed an AL-leading 157 RBI for the
World Series champion-1929 A’s. Simmons benefited from a league-high
520 baserunners but rose to the occasion, notching a sensational 25.2
BRS%. The following season witnessed the slugger improve on these
figures while earning a second World Series ring as he produced a trio
of career-bests with 36 round-trippers, 165 RBI, and a junior
loop-leading 27.6 BRS%. Simmons would be listed as achieving the top
RBI total for three-straight home run numbers if not for Hank Greenberg
manufacturing a 36 long ball/168 RBI combo in 1935.
MLB
all-time career RBI-leader Hank Aaron surprisingly shows up alongside
Gary Sánchez with the lowest RBI mark for 34 home runs. Aaron’s 14.5
BRS% from 1972 still put him above the 13.4 NL average. In any event,
this was an uncharacteristically-low BRS% for the veteran slugger who
maintained a solid 17.6 clip over his 23 seasons in MLB.
33-132 individual seasons
High 135-Mel Ott 1936 Giants, 150 G, 660 PA, 33 HR, 135 RBI, .328 BA, .448 OBP, .588 SLG, 177 OPS+, 468 BR, 21.6 BRS% vs. 15.7 NL avg
Low 62-Mike Zunino 2021 Rays, 109 G, 375 PA, 33 HR, 62 RBI, .216 BA, .301 OBP, .559 SLG, 136 OPS+, 219 BR, 13.7 BRS% vs. 14.7 AL avg
Giants
right fielder Mel Ott’s brilliant 1936 campaign helped power the club
to the NL pennant. At the bottom of the 132 individual 33-home run
seasons is Rays catcher Mike Zunino—the second backstop in a row to
bring up the rear as Yankees receiver Gary Sánchez compiled the lowest
RBI figure for 34 round-trippers, two years earlier. Nevertheless, both
Zunino’s and Sánchez’s teams managed to win their respective divisions. Sánchez and Zunino certainly owe some of their modest RBI totals to
accumulating just 446 and 375 plate appearances, respectively. Yet,
Sánchez also struggled to register a league-average BRS% despite being
batted primarily in the heart of New York’s order. By contrast, Zunino
hit almost exclusively out of the bottom three spots of Tampa Bay’s
order, making his below-average BRS% a little more understandable.
32-163 individual seasons
High 143-Earl
Averill 1931 Indians, 155 G, 701 PA, 32 HR, 143 RBI, .333 BA, .404 OBP,
.576 SLG, 150 OPS+, 513 BR, 22.4 BRS% vs. 16.9 AL avg
Low 64-Rob Deer 1992 Tigers, 110 G, 448 PA, 32 HR, 64 RBI, .247 BA, .337 OBP, .547 SLG, 145 OPS+, 308 PA, 10.4 BRS% vs. 14.4 AL avg
Center
fielder Earl Averill struck out a mere 38 times across 701 plate
appearances while smacking 32 home runs and racking up 143 RBI for the
1931 Indians. Sixty-one years later, Tigers right fielder Rob Deer
matched Averill’s long ball number but managed to compile just 64 RBI as
he was mowed down a staggering 131 times in 448 plate appearances. “Three-true-outcome-hitters” like Deer were much less common in MLB
when he played during the late-1980s and early-1990s. Deer primarily
batted out of the six and seven-holes in Detroit’s lineup.
31-169 individual seasons
High 154-Joe Medwick 1937 Cardinals, 156 G, 677 PA, 31 HR, 154 RBI, .374 BA, .414 OBP, .641 SLG, 182 OPS+, 468 BR, 25.9 BRS% vs. 15.6 NL avg
Low 61-Tyler
O’Neill 2024 Red Sox, 113 G, 473 PA, 31 HR, 61 RBI, .241 BA, .336 OBP,
.511 SLG, 132 OPS+, 262 BR, 11.8 BRS% vs. 14.1 AL avg
Cardinals
left fielder Joe Medwick dominated opposing pitching in 1937, winning
the NL MVP and becoming the last senior circuit slugger to earn the
Triple Crown. Medwick also made the most of his opportunities, pacing
the loop with a fantastic BRS% of 25.9. The most recent player to
establish a new RBI-low, Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill’s paltry 11.8
BRS% is a particularly woeful figure considering he was batted in the
heart of Boston’s order for roughly 92% of his 473 plate appearances
during 2024.
30-167 individual seasons
High 144-Vern Stephens 1950 Red Sox, 149 G, 693 PA, 30 HR, 144 RBI, .295 BA, .361 OBP, .511 SLG, 113 OPS+, 608 BR, 19.4 BRS% vs. 15.3 AL avg
Low 59-Curtis
Granderson 2016 Mets, 150 G, 633 PA, 30 HR, 59 RBI, .237 BA, .335 OBP,
.464 SLG, 114 OPS+, 306 BR, 9.8 BRS% vs. 14.2 NL avg
Low 59-Jedd
Gyorko 2016 Cardinals, 128 G, 438 PA, 30 HR, 59 RBI, .243 BA, .306 OBP,
.495 SLG, 111 OPS+, 259 BR, 12.0 BRS% vs. 14.2 NL avg
Low 59-Kyle
Schwarber 2017 Cubs, 129 G, 486 PA, 30 HR, 59 RBI, .211 BA, .315 OBP,
.467 SLG, 99 OPS+, 258 BR, 11.6 BRS% vs. 14.4 NL avg
Low 59-Cedric
Mullins 2021 Orioles, 159 G, 675 PA, 30 HR, 59 RBI, .291 BA, .360 OBP,
.518 SLG, 137 OPS+, 294 BR, 11.2 BRS% vs. 14.7 AL avg
The
1950 campaign saw Red Sox shortstop Vern Stephens cap his three-year
run of digging into the batter’s box with no fewer than 604 baserunners
each season by leading the AL with 144 RBI. Stephens’ 19.4 BRS%
represented his best figure over the three-year stretch, as 1948 and
1949 had witnessed him register respective marks of 18.4 and 18.3. Throughout the three-year period, Stephens primarily batted cleanup
behind a succession of patient hitters in Dom DiMaggio, Johnny Pesky,
and Ted Williams. Between 1948 and 1950, DiMaggio, Pesky, and Williams
posted average OBP figures of .400, .412, and .484 for a combined .429
mark. Stephens came close to pacing the junior circuit in RBI during
all three years, as he also led the way with 159 in 1949 while his 137
slotted second behind the 155 of Yankees center fielder Joe DiMaggio for
1948. The top RBI producer for long ball numbers 39 and 30, Stephens
hit 29 four-baggers in 1948 and temporarily owned the distinction of
accumulating the highest RBI total for that home run number as well,
having tied the benchmark set by Cardinals slugger Jim Bottomley in
1929. However, Stephens and Bottomley were relegated to sharing
runner-up status when Mike Sweeney assembled a 29 long ball/144 RBI
combination for the Royals in 2000.
Going into
the 2015 campaign, the 30-home run plateau had been achieved on 1,248
occasions since Babe Ruth first crossed the threshold in 1920. During
that 96-year period, 71.4% of the sluggers to finish the season with 30
or more round-trippers, did so while amassing triple digits in RBI. At
this point, Félix Mantilla and the aforementioned Rob Deer shared the
dubious distinction of compiling the lowest RBI figure while reaching
the 30-home run plateau, having each driven in a mere 64 runs for the
1964 Red Sox and 1992 Tigers, respectively. However, whereas Deer bore
much of the blame for his presence at the bottom of the rundown,
Mantilla’s middling RBI total was more the result of a lack of
opportunities as he stepped into the batter’s box with only 223
baserunners at his disposal. Mantilla hit exactly 30 long balls and
split the majority of his 470 plate appearances between batting out of
the leadoff and two-hole spot, yet managed to register a 15.3 BRS% that
easily cleared the 13.3 AL average.
However,
the 2016 campaign witnessed the end of Mantilla’s 52-year stay at the
back of the pack as Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson and Cardinals
utility infielder Jedd Gyorko simultaneously established new lows,
finishing with identical totals of 30 home runs and 59 RBI. The
following season, a third slugger joined Granderson and Gyorko at the
bottom rung as Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber manufactured his own 30
home run/59 RBI combo. In 2021, the occupancy on the ground floor
further expanded when Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins produced a
carbon copy of Granderson’s, Gyorko’s, and Schwarber’s round-tripper and
RBI totals. Like Mantilla, this quartet of sluggers suffered from a
lack of opportunities as they were primarily batted outside of the heart
of the order. However, in contrast to Mantilla, they largely failed to
capitalize on what chances they did see as each posted BRS% figures
that were well-below average.
by John Tuberty
Follow me on Twitter/X @BloggerTubbs
Stat
links to main players mentioned: Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Álex Rodríguez, Willie Mays, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Giancarlo Stanton,
Kyle Schwarber, Ken Griffey Jr., Roger Maris, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.,
Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Max Muncy, Fernando Tatis Jr., Mark McGwire,
Jimmie Foxx
Sources:
All statistics are drawn from Baseball Reference and Stathead
Cards:
Lou Gehrig 2023 Topps Chrome Platinum Anniversary, Mike Trout 2023
Topps Series 1 Royal Blue border, Jimmie Foxx 1993 Ted Williams Card
Company, Mark McGwire 1997 Ultra, George Foster 1978 Topps, Willie Mays
1965 Topps, Juan González 1998 Donruss, Barry Bonds 2004 Fleer Ultra,
Lou Gehrig 2021 Stadium Club Black Foil, Joey Gallo 2022 Topps Series 1
Short Print Variation, Hank Greenberg 1936 Goudey, Al Simmons 1984
Marketcom Conlon Baseball Immortals, Joe Medwick 1961 Fleer, Vern
Stephens 1952 Topps, Aaron Judge 2019 Topps Target Aaron Judge
Highlights, Byron Buxton 2022 Topps X Aaron Judge All Rise, Joc Pederson
2017 Topps Stadium Club Chrome, Rod Carew 1976 Topps, Nolan Ryan 1990
Topps, Andres Galarraga 1994 Bowman
Other Articles by Tubbs Baseball Blog:
Rod Carew’s Seven Batting Titles and the Players He Denied the Honor by Annually Capturing the Crown
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