In 1996 Paul Molitor hit 9 home runs with 113 RBIs. In 1985, Tommy Herr had 8 home runs with 110 RBIs. And in 1950, George Kell hit 8 home runs with 108 RBIs.
In 1996 Paul Molitor hit 9 home runs with 113 RBIs. In 1985, Tommy Herr had 8 home runs with 110 RBIs. And in 1950, George Kell hit 8 home runs with 108 RBIs. That's it. Over the last 57 years, they are the only players to accomplish the feat. Does this mean that in order to drive in runs, batters must hit home runs? As Ira Gershwin and DuBose Howard wrote in one of the great musical works of all time, "it ain't necessarily so." A home run produces at least one run, but there have been run producers who were not home run hitters.
Lave Cross Had 108 With NO Home Runs
The most remarkable 100 RBI season occurred in 1902, when Lafayette Napoleon "Lave" Cross (what a fantastic name. He must have really had fun in school) had 108 RBIs with 0 home runs. Cross hit .342, had a .374 on base average, and slugged .465, which are respectable statistics. It is possible to have "productive" seasons without hitting home runs.
100 RBIs With Fewer Than 10 Home Runs
In 1946, the first season following one of the world wars, Dixie Walker, who was some people's choice, hit 9 home runs and batted in 116 runs, but that pales when compared to his 1945 season, when he hit 8 home runs and had 124 RBIs. That same season Bob Elliott matched Walker's 8 home runs but had "only" 108 RBIs. In 1943, Elliott hit 7 home runs with 101 RBIs while Billy Herman, with only 2 home runs, had 100 RBIs. We can stop here, although there are many other players who had at least 100 RBIs with 9 or fewer home runs. Home runs excite fans and as Ralph Kiner, one of the great home run hitters of all time said, "Singles hitters drive Fords and home run hitters drive Cadillacs."
Home Run Hitters Don't Always Produce a Lot of Runs
Hack Wilson holds the single season season RBI record with 191, which is the year he set the National League home record of 56, a mark which stood until quite recently, and when Lou Gehrig set the American League RBI record of 184, he hit 46 home runs, but home run hitters don't always produce a lot of runs. Rob Deer averaged 32 home runs a season during his career. In 1992, Deer hit 32 home runs and batted in 64 runs, which is remarkable. In 2003, Barry hit 45 home runs with 90 RBIs, and in 2004, Brad Wilkerson had 67 RBIs with 32 home runs.
A Single Can Produce Runs
RBIs are a function of opportunity and it doesn't take a home run to knock in a run. A single can be as productive as a home run, and the single still leaves a runner on base. We are in the era of "arena baseball," and maybe, just maybe, a general manager will come along who will build a team with players who make contact, try to avoid strikeouts, and play basic, fundamental baseball. Right. And maybe the price of tickets will go down.
