The slugging center fielder holds the distinction of being one of the few players not remembered for his home run records (all though he did lead the league for three straight years). He is best remembered for his 1930 season where he had one-hundred ninety-one runs batted in, good for the all time record ahead of fellow Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig (one-hundred eighty-four), Hank Greenberg (one-hundred eighty-three), and Jimmie Foxx (one-hundred seventy-five). Even in today's slug-it-out world of long ball RBIs, the only player to even come within thirty runs of Wilson is Manny "Mr. RBI" Ramirez with one-hundred sixty-five.
Wilson was no stranger to RBIs. He had over one-hundred of them in during six of his twelve Major League seasons. 1930 did, however, turn out to be his career year. He set a new National League record for single season home runs at fifty-six, which stood until the 1998 Sammy Sosa / Mark McGwire war. Strangely enough, Wilson never had a grand slam in 1930. Also, Wilson's record stood at a mere one-hundred ninety ribbies until research in the 1980s found that a run batted in attributed to Charlie Grimm actually belonged to Wilson, rewriting the record at one-hundred ninety-one.
Wilson never saw his total go above the one-hundred ninety mark. He died in 1948, his life cut short due to his infamous battle with alcoholism. Wilson's record stands as one of the unreachable marks in baseball's history.
"I never played drunk. Hung over, yes, but never drunk." - Hack Wilson
191 Runs Batted InHack Wilson |
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RBI # | Date | Matchup | AB | H | HR | RBI |
1 | 04-15-1930 | Cubs 9 @ Cardinals 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
4 | 04-21-1930 | Cubs 9 @ Reds 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
7 | 04-22-1930 | Cubs 3 vs Cardinals 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
9 | 04-25-1930 (a) | Cubs 6 vs Reds 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
10 | 04-28-1930 | Cubs 7 vs Pirates 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
11 | 04-30-1930 | Cubs 5 vs Pirates 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
13 | 05-04-1930 | Cubs 8 vs Phillies 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
15 | 05-06-1930 | Cubs 3 vs Dodgers 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
19 | 05-07-1930 | Cubs 9 vs Dodgers 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
20 | 05-08-1930 | Cubs 7 vs Dodgers 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
22 | 05-09-1930 | Cubs 6 vs Giants 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
25 | 05-10-1930 | Cubs 4 vs Giants 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
26 | 05-12-1930 | Cubs 12 vs Giants 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
29 | 05-13-1930 | Cubs 9 vs Braves 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
31 | 05-15-1930 | Cubs 8 vs Braves 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
34 | 05-18-1930 (b) | Cubs 9 @ Cardinals 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
35 | 05-20-1930 | Cubs 3 @ Cardinals 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
36 | 05-22-1930 | Cubs 12 @ Pirates 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
37 | 05-24-1930 | Cubs 5 @ Pirates 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
39 | 05-26-1930 | Cubs 2 vs Reds 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
41 | 05-28-1930 | Cubs 6 vs Reds 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
42 | 05-30-1930 (c) | Cubs 9 vs Cardinals 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
44 | 05-31-1930 | Cubs 6 vs Cardinals 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
49 | 06-01-1930 | Cubs 16 vs Pirates 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
50 | 06-03-1930 | Cubs 15 @ Braves 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
51 | 06-04-1930 | Cubs 18 @ Braves 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
52 | 06-05-1930 | Cubs 10 @ Braves 7 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
53 | 06-06-1930 | Cubs 13 @ Dodgers 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
55 | 06-07-1930 | Cubs 9 @ Dodgers 12 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
56 | 06-10-1930 | Cubs 2 @ Phillies 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
58 | 06-12-1930 | Cubs 3 @ Phillies 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
60 | 06-14-1930 | Cubs 8 @ Giants 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
61 | 06-16-1930 | Cubs 8 @ Giants 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
64 | 06-19-1930 | Cubs 10 vs Braves 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
66 | 06-21-1930 (ab) | Cubs 5 vs Braves 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
67 | 06-22-1930 | Cubs 2 vs Braves 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
72 | 06-23-1930 | Cubs 21 vs Phillies 8 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
73 | 06-24-1930 | Cubs 6 vs Phillies 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
74 | 07-01-1930 | Cubs 5 vs Giants 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
76 | 07-02-1930 | Cubs 8 vs Giants 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
77 | 07-04-1930 (c) | Cubs 1 @ Pirates 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
80 | 07-05-1930 | Cubs 12 @ Pirates 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
81 | 07-06-1930 (b) | Cubs 4 @ Reds 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
82 | 07-06-1930 (c) | Cubs 7 @ Reds 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
84 | 07-16-1930 (b) | Cubs 6 @ Dodgers 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
85 | 07-18-1930 | Cubs 6 @ Dodgers 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
87 | 07-19-1930 | Cubs 5 @ Dodgers 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
88 | 07-20-1930 | Cubs 5 @ Giants 13 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
91 | 07-21-1930 | Cubs 6 @ Giants 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
92 | 07-24-1930 | Cubs 19 @ Phillies 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
93 | 07-25-1930 | Cubs 9 @ Phillies 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
98 | 07-26-1930 | Cubs 16 @ Phillies 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
99 | 07-27-1930 | Cubs 5 @ Reds 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
101 | 07-28-1930 (b) | Cubs 3 vs Reds 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
102 | 07-28-1930 (c) | Cubs 5 vs Reds 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
104 | 07-29-1930 | Cubs 3 vs Reds 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
106 | 08-01-1930 | Cubs 10 vs Pirates 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
107 | 08-02-1930 | Cubs 8 vs Pirates 14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
109 | 08-03-1930 | Cubs 8 vs Pirates 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
111 | 08-05-1930 | Cubs 5 @ Cardinals 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
114 | 08-07-1930 | Cubs 6 @ Cardinals 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
118 | 08-10-1930 (b) | Cubs 6 vs Braves 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
121 | 08-10-1930 (c) | Cubs 17 vs Braves 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
123 | 08-13-1930 | Cubs 5 vs Dodgers 15 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
125 | 08-14-1930 | Cubs 5 vs Dodgers 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
126 | 08-15-1930 (d) | Cubs 4 vs Dodgers 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
129 | 08-16-1930 (b) | Cubs 10 vs Phillies 9 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
131 | 08-17-1930 | Cubs 5 vs Phillies 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
135 | 08-18-1930 | Cubs 17 vs Phillies 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
136 | 08-19-1930 (b) | Cubs 8 vs Phillies 9 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
138 | 08-20-1930 | Cubs 8 vs Phillies 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
140 | 08-21-1930 | Cubs 6 vs Giants 13 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
141 | 08-22-1930 | Cubs 12 vs Giants 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
144 | 08-23-1930 | Cubs 4 vs Giants 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
148 | 08-26-1930 | Cubs 7 vs Pirates 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
151 | 08-27-1930 | Cubs 8 vs Pirates 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
157 | 08-30-1930 | Cubs 16 vs Cardinals 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
158 | 09-03-1930 | Cubs 6 @ Pirates 9 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
159 | 09-04-1930 (d) | Cubs 10 @ Pirates 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
160 | 09-05-1930 | Cubs 7 @ Pirates 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
164 | 09-06-1930 | Cubs 19 @ Pirates 14 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
165 | 09-11-1930 | Cubs 1 @ Dodgers 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
171 | 09-12-1930 | Cubs 17 @ Phillies 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
172 | 09-15-1930 (b) | Cubs 11 @ Phillies 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
173 | 09-15-1930 (c) | Cubs 6 @ Phillies 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
177 | 09-17-1930 | Cubs 5 @ Giants 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
178 | 09-19-1930 | Cubs 5 @ Braves 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
179 | 09-20-1930 | Cubs 2 @ Braves 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
182 | 09-22-1930 | Cubs 6 @ Braves 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
185 | 09-26-1930 | Cubs 7 vs Reds 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
189 | 09-27-1930 | Cubs 13 vs Reds 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
191 | 09-28-1930 | Cubs 13 vs Reds 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
RBI # | Date | Matchup | AB | H | HR | RBI |
(a) = Twelve (12) inning game. Source: The Sporting News (box scores). |
It is obvious that Hack Wilson could drive in the runs during his 1930 campaign, but did you know that Hack Wilson also led the league in home runs for three (3) consecutive seasons (1926-1927-1928)?
During the 1930 record setting season, the Chicago Cubs were thirty-four & sixteen during home games where Hack Wilson had a run batted in.
During the 1930 record setting season, the Chicago Cubs were twenty-eight & fourteen in road games where Hack Wilson had a run batted in.