Uncover the Hidden Legends Behind MLB’s Record-Breaking RBI Feats That Shattered Baseball History

You know, RBIs — they’ve always been kinda like pitcher wins, right? Not exactly the gold standard for judging true player greatness, but boy, do they spotlight some seriously impressive careers. Sure, the advanced stats crowd might roll their eyes, saying RBIs don’t quite tell the full story anymore. But who’s to say it’s not downright entertaining watching one guy rack up a mountain of RBIs, dragging his teammates across home plate like a one-man parade? In this deep dive, we’re shedding the anti-RBI lens for a moment to celebrate the legends who’ve piled up the most RBIs in a single game, season, and across entire careers in MLB history. Ready to meet the heavy hitters and game-changers who made the stat memorable? Let’s hit it. LEARN MORE.

RBIs are much like pitcher wins in that, while they are not the best way to judge performance, a whole lot of very good players show up at the top of the career lists. We’re breaking down the players who have the most RBIs in a game, season and career in MLB history.

The poor RBI.

The stat has been under fire by the advanced analytics community for quite some time. After judging hitters by how many runs they drive in throughout much of baseball history, the consensus has finally seemed to shift. Most agree that RBIs are not of the utmost importance in determining the game’s elite.

But you know what can be fun? Watching one player drive in a whole bunch of teammates. And RBIs are much like pitcher wins in that, while they are not the best way to judge players, a whole lot of very good players show up at the top of the career lists.

So, let’s turn off our anti-RBI brains for one day, and salute those who have driven in the most teammates in given periods of time.

Most RBIs in a Career

1. 2,297 – Hank Aaron (1954-76)

The career leaders in RBIs is a shortlist of the best players of all time.

And at the top is one of the most consistently elite players ever.

Hammerin’ Hank Aaron is known for his home runs, but he also led the league in RBIs four different times for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. He had more than 100 RBIs 11 times, eventually surpassing Babe Ruth atop this list. His lowest RBI total in a single season between 1955-71 was 89.

Salvador Perez led the league with 121 RBIs in 2021. A player would have to average that number for 19 years to topple Aaron’s career total. Good luck with that.

banner art for Requiem for a King podcast about Hank Aaron

2. 2,218 – Albert Pujols (2001-22)

3. 2,215 – Babe Ruth (1914-35)

4. 2,086 – Alex Rodriguez (1994-2016)

5. 1,996 – Barry Bonds (1986-2007)

Most RBIs in a Season

1. 191 – Hack Wilson, Chicago Cubs (1930)

The 1920s and ‘30s were a boon for sluggers in the middle of lineups, as the top 11 single-season RBI totals are from those two decades. The most RBIs by anyone in a season since 1940 was 165 for Manny Ramirez in 1999, which is tied for the 13th most in a single season.

At the top of the list is Hack Wilson, a hitter who would’ve fit in well in the three true outcome world of today’s MLB.

Wilson not only set the record for RBIs in 1930, but led the league in home runs, walks and strikeouts as well. His timing wasn’t the best, however, as MLB elected not to have an official National League MVP that year due to financial restraints.

2. 184 – Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees (1931)

3. 183 – Hank Greenberg, Detroit Tigers (1937)

4. 175 – Jimmie Foxx, Boston Red Sox (1938)

5. 173 – Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees (1927, 1930)

Most RBIs in a Game

T-1. 12 – Jim Bottomley, St. Louis Cardinals (Sept. 16, 1924)

A pair of St. Louis Cardinals top this list, as Bottomley and Mark Whiten are the only two players to drive in 12 runs in one game in MLB history. As you might expect, neither game was close. Bottomley drove in his 12 RBIs in a 17-3 win over the Brooklyn Robins. Bottomley hit two of his 14 home runs on the season while going 6 for 6.