This is our old blog. It hasn't been active since 2011. Please see the link above for our current blog or click the logo above to see all of the great data and content on this site.
«
»

Batting seasons with higher RBI than OPS+

Posted by Andy on May 25, 2010

This simple Batting Season Finder search returns interesting results. I looked for all seasons with RBI greater than or equal to OPS+ value, given that the batter qualified for the batting title that year.

There full list is here but let me summarize and highlight a little.

In the last 110 years (since 1901) there have been 270 such seasons. However, 98 of them came in the Steroids Era, now defined as 1993-2009. This means that more than a third of these unusual seasons came in only about 15% of the time period. Going back further, 122 of the seasons have come since 1983, or over 45% in just under a quarter of the time period.

The majority of these seasons were induced by high-scoring offense, meaning a high-scoring individual team, playing in a high-offense stadium, or playing in an overall high-offense era. (Or, a combination of any of these 3 factors.) Think about what it means to have an OPS+ of 120. In years where the entire league scoring is low, an OPS+ might mean only a 90-100 RBI season. But in high-scoring years, that same player with an OPS+ of 120 might drive in 120 runs and make this list.

Basically, the seasons on this list break down into 3 categories. Here they are, along with a few example seasons for each category:

1. Players with really large OPS+ values but even larger RBI totals due to lots of homers and/or a high-scoring offense:

Rk Player Year RBI OPS+ Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
1 Ryan Howard 2009 141 140 29 PHI NL 160 703 616 105 172 37 4 45 75 8 186 6 0 6 11 8 1 .279 .360 .571 .931 *3/D
2 Juan Gonzalez 1998 157 149 28 TEX AL 154 669 606 110 193 50 2 45 46 9 126 6 0 11 20 2 1 .318 .366 .630 .997 *9D
3 Johnny Bench 1970 148 141 22 CIN NL 158 671 605 97 177 35 4 45 54 9 102 0 1 11 12 5 2 .293 .345 .587 .932 *273/985
4 Tommy Davis 1962 153 149 23 LAD NL 163 711 665 120 230 27 9 27 33 6 65 2 3 8 17 18 6 .346 .374 .535 .910 *758/9
5 Vern Stephens 1949 159 138 28 BOS AL 155 711 610 113 177 31 2 39 101 0 73 0 0 0 19 2 2 .290 .391 .539 .930 *6
6 Joe DiMaggio 1938 140 139 23 NYY AL 145 660 599 129 194 32 13 32 59 0 21 2 0 0 0 6 1 .324 .386 .581 .967 *8
7 Hank Greenberg 1937 183 172 26 DET AL 154 701 594 137 200 49 14 40 102 0 101 3 2 0 0 8 3 .337 .436 .668 1.105 *3
8 Hal Trosky 1936 162 146 23 CLE AL 151 671 629 124 216 45 9 42 36 0 58 3 3 0 0 6 5 .343 .382 .644 1.026 *3/4
9 Hank Greenberg 1935 170 169 24 DET AL 152 710 619 121 203 46 16 36 87 0 91 0 4 0 0 4 3 .328 .411 .628 1.039 *3
10 Hack Wilson 1930 191 178 30 CHC NL 155 709 585 146 208 35 6 56 105 0 84 1 18 0 0 3 0 .356 .454 .723 1.177 *8
11 Chuck Klein 1930 170 159 25 PHI NL 156 719 648 158 250 59 8 40 54 0 50 4 13 0 0 4 0 .386 .436 .687 1.123 *9
12 Hack Wilson 1929 159 155 29 CHC NL 150 670 574 135 198 30 5 39 78 0 83 2 16 0 0 3 0 .345 .425 .618 1.044 *8
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/24/2010.

2. Players with an average OPS+ who managed to get a higher RBI total usually thanks due to a high-scoring offense:

Rk Player Year RBI OPS+ Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
1 Jeff Francoeur 2007 105 102 23 ATL NL 162 696 642 84 188 40 0 19 42 5 129 5 0 7 14 5 2 .293 .338 .444 .782 *9
2 Aramis Ramirez 2003 106 102 25 TOT NL 159 670 607 75 165 32 2 27 42 3 99 10 0 11 21 2 2 .272 .324 .465 .788 *5
3 Torii Hunter 2003 102 98 27 MIN AL 154 642 581 83 145 31 4 26 50 7 106 5 0 6 15 6 7 .250 .312 .451 .762 *8/D
4 Eric Karros 2000 106 100 32 LAD NL 155 663 584 84 146 29 0 31 63 2 122 4 0 12 18 4 3 .250 .321 .459 .780 *3/D
5 Jeff Cirillo 2000 115 100 30 COL NL 157 684 598 111 195 53 2 11 67 4 72 6 1 12 19 3 4 .326 .392 .477 .869 *5
6 Tony Batista 2000 114 102 26 TOR AL 154 664 620 96 163 32 2 41 35 1 121 6 0 3 15 5 4 .263 .307 .519 .827 *5
7 Carlos Beltran 1999 108 99 22 KCR AL 156 723 663 112 194 27 7 22 46 2 123 4 0 10 17 27 8 .293 .337 .454 .791 *8/D
8 Dante Bichette 1999 133 102 35 COL NL 151 659 593 104 177 38 2 34 54 3 84 2 0 10 15 6 6 .298 .354 .541 .895 *7/D
9 Richie Sexson 1999 116 101 24 CLE AL 134 525 479 72 122 17 7 31 34 0 117 4 0 8 19 3 3 .255 .305 .514 .818 37D/9
10 Matt Williams 1997 105 101 31 CLE AL 151 636 596 86 157 32 3 32 34 4 108 4 0 2 14 12 4 .263 .307 .488 .795 *5
11 Sammy Sosa 1997 119 99 28 CHC NL 162 694 642 90 161 31 4 36 45 9 174 2 0 5 16 22 12 .251 .300 .480 .779 *9
12 Travis Fryman 1997 102 99 28 DET AL 154 657 595 90 163 27 3 22 46 5 113 5 0 11 15 16 3 .274 .326 .440 .766 *5
13 Derek Bell 1996 113 98 27 HOU NL 158 684 627 84 165 40 3 17 40 8 123 8 0 9 18 29 3 .263 .311 .418 .729 *9/8
14 Chili Davis 1993 112 102 33 CAL AL 153 645 573 74 139 32 0 27 71 12 135 1 0 0 18 4 1 .243 .327 .440 .767 *D/1
15 George Bell 1992 112 99 32 CHW AL 155 670 627 74 160 27 0 25 31 8 97 6 0 6 29 5 2 .255 .294 .418 .712 *D7
16 Ruben Sierra 1987 109 101 21 TEX AL 158 696 643 97 169 35 4 30 39 4 114 2 0 12 18 16 11 .263 .302 .470 .771 *9/8
17 Gary Gaetti 1987 109 102 28 MIN AL 154 628 584 95 150 36 2 31 37 7 92 3 1 3 25 10 7 .257 .303 .485 .788 *5/D
18 Butch Hobson 1977 112 101 25 BOS AL 159 637 593 77 157 33 5 30 27 4 162 4 10 3 17 5 4 .265 .300 .489 .789 *5
19 Gus Bell 1959 115 100 30 CIN NL 148 620 580 59 170 27 2 19 29 1 44 2 1 8 13 2 3 .293 .325 .445 .770 *9/7
20 Frank Malzone 1957 103 99 27 BOS AL 153 672 634 82 185 31 5 15 31 1 41 1 1 5 15 2 1 .292 .323 .427 .751 *5
21 Ray Jablonski 1954 104 99 27 STL NL 152 674 611 80 181 33 3 12 49 0 42 2 1 11 17 9 4 .296 .345 .419 .764 *5/3
22 Maurice Van Robays 1940 116 98 25 PIT NL 145 609 572 82 156 27 7 11 33 0 58 3 1 0 16 2 0 .273 .316 .402 .718 *7/93
23 Pinky Higgins 1937 106 100 28 BOS AL 153 654 570 88 172 33 5 9 76 0 51 1 7 0 0 2 6 .302 .385 .425 .809 *5
24 Goose Goslin 1935 109 101 34 DET AL 147 651 590 88 172 34 6 9 56 0 31 2 3 0 0 5 4 .292 .355 .415 .770 *79
25 Hal Trosky 1935 113 100 22 CLE AL 154 680 632 84 171 33 7 26 46 0 60 1 1 0 0 1 2 .271 .321 .468 .789 *3
Rk Player Year RBI OPS+ Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
26 Billy Rogell 1934 100 98 29 DET AL 154 679 592 114 175 32 8 3 74 0 36 0 13 0 0 13 3 .296 .374 .392 .766 *6
27 Pinky Whitney 1932 124 100 27 PHI NL 154 678 624 93 186 33 11 13 35 0 66 0 19 0 0 6 0 .298 .335 .449 .784 *5/4
28 Pinky Whitney 1930 117 98 25 PHI NL 149 662 606 87 207 41 5 8 40 0 41 1 15 0 0 3 0 .342 .383 .465 .849 *5
29 Red Kress 1929 107 102 24 SLB AL 147 627 557 82 170 38 4 9 52 0 54 1 17 0 0 5 8 .305 .366 .436 .802 *6
30 Glenn Wright 1925 121 102 24 PIT NL 153 660 614 97 189 32 10 18 31 0 32 0 15 0 0 3 7 .308 .341 .480 .822 *6/5
31 Bibb Falk 1925 99 98 26 CHW AL 154 677 602 80 181 35 9 4 51 0 25 2 22 0 0 4 5 .301 .357 .409 .766 *7
32 Al Simmons 1924 102 98 22 PHA AL 152 644 594 69 183 31 9 8 30 0 60 2 18 0 0 16 15 .308 .343 .431 .774 *87
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/24/2010.

3. Players with a well below-average OPS+ who somehow managed to get a lot of RBI (again usually thanks to a high-scoring offense around them):

Rk Player Year RBI OPS+ Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
1 Aubrey Huff 2009 85 81 32 TOT AL 150 597 536 59 129 30 1 15 51 7 87 5 0 5 15 0 6 .241 .310 .384 .694 *3D
2 Pedro Feliz 2009 82 81 34 PHI NL 158 625 580 62 154 30 2 12 35 3 68 3 2 5 12 0 1 .266 .308 .386 .694 *5/6
3 Julio Lugo 2007 73 65 31 BOS AL 147 630 570 71 135 36 2 8 48 0 82 0 8 4 9 33 6 .237 .294 .349 .643 *6/D
4 Ray Durham 2007 71 64 35 SFG NL 138 528 464 56 101 21 2 11 53 6 75 2 0 9 18 10 2 .218 .295 .343 .638 *4
5 Clint Barmes 2006 56 47 27 COL NL 131 535 478 57 105 26 4 7 22 6 72 9 19 7 2 5 4 .220 .264 .335 .598 *6/4
6 Angel Berroa 2006 54 52 26 KCR AL 132 503 474 45 111 18 1 9 14 1 88 3 9 3 21 3 1 .234 .259 .333 .592 *6
7 Pedro Feliz 2006 98 79 31 SFG NL 160 644 603 75 147 35 5 22 33 4 112 1 1 6 18 1 1 .244 .281 .428 .709 *5/76
8 Tony Batista 2004 110 80 30 MON NL 157 650 606 76 146 30 2 32 26 4 78 4 4 10 14 14 6 .241 .272 .455 .728 *5
9 Tony Batista 2003 99 73 29 BAL AL 161 670 631 76 148 20 1 26 28 4 102 5 0 6 20 4 3 .235 .270 .393 .663 *5/D
10 Vinny Castilla 2002 61 60 34 ATL NL 143 578 543 56 126 23 2 12 22 4 69 7 0 6 22 4 1 .232 .268 .348 .616 *5
11 Joe Randa 2001 83 77 31 KCR AL 151 636 581 59 147 34 2 13 42 2 80 6 1 6 15 3 2 .253 .307 .386 .693 *5D/4
12 Neifi Perez 2000 71 69 27 COL NL 162 699 651 92 187 39 11 10 30 6 63 0 7 11 9 3 6 .287 .314 .427 .741 *6
13 Mike Lansing 2000 60 54 32 TOT ML 139 548 504 72 121 18 6 11 38 2 75 0 3 3 20 8 2 .240 .292 .365 .657 *4/5
14 Ron Coomer 2000 82 81 33 MIN AL 140 589 544 64 147 29 1 16 36 2 50 4 0 5 25 2 0 .270 .317 .415 .733 *3/D5
15 Neifi Perez 1999 70 62 26 COL NL 157 732 690 108 193 27 11 12 28 0 54 1 9 4 4 13 5 .280 .307 .403 .710 *6
16 Vinny Castilla 1999 102 83 31 COL NL 158 674 615 83 169 24 1 33 53 7 75 1 0 5 15 2 3 .275 .331 .478 .809 *5
17 Joe Carter 1997 102 77 37 TOR AL 157 668 612 76 143 30 4 21 40 5 105 7 0 9 12 8 2 .234 .284 .399 .683 D379
18 Terry Pendleton 1996 75 68 35 TOT NL 153 618 568 51 135 26 1 11 41 6 111 3 1 5 18 2 3 .238 .290 .345 .635 *5
19 Charlie Hayes 1996 75 74 31 TOT ML 148 569 526 58 133 24 2 12 37 4 90 0 3 3 17 6 0 .253 .300 .375 .675 *5
20 Bret Boone 1996 69 64 27 CIN NL 142 568 520 56 121 21 3 12 31 0 100 3 5 9 9 3 2 .233 .275 .354 .629 *4
21 Joe Oliver 1993 75 74 27 CIN NL 139 521 482 40 115 28 0 14 27 2 91 1 2 9 13 0 0 .239 .276 .384 .659 *23/9
22 Gary Gaetti 1990 85 76 31 MIN AL 154 625 577 61 132 27 5 16 36 1 101 3 1 8 22 6 1 .229 .274 .376 .650 *5/63
23 Joe Carter 1990 115 85 30 SDP NL 162 697 634 79 147 27 1 24 48 18 93 7 0 8 12 22 6 .232 .290 .391 .681 *873
24 Andres Thomas 1989 57 53 25 ATL NL 141 571 554 41 118 18 0 13 12 3 62 0 1 4 17 3 3 .213 .228 .316 .544 *6
25 Tom Herr 1987 83 80 31 STL NL 141 597 510 73 134 29 0 2 68 3 62 3 4 12 12 19 4 .263 .346 .331 .677 *4
Rk Player Year RBI OPS+ Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
26 Terry Pendleton 1985 69 66 24 STL NL 149 602 559 56 134 16 3 5 37 4 75 0 3 3 18 17 12 .240 .285 .306 .591 *5
27 Tony Armas 1983 107 85 29 BOS AL 145 613 574 77 125 23 2 36 29 0 131 2 0 8 31 0 1 .218 .254 .453 .707 *8D
28 Tommy Helms 1970 45 44 29 CIN NL 150 605 575 42 136 21 1 1 21 4 33 0 5 4 18 2 2 .237 .262 .282 .543 *46
29 Ron Santo 1962 83 74 22 CHC NL 162 679 604 44 137 20 4 17 65 5 94 2 3 5 17 4 1 .227 .302 .358 .659 *5/6
30 Frank Malzone 1961 87 85 31 BOS AL 151 644 590 74 157 21 4 14 44 3 49 1 0 9 19 1 3 .266 .314 .386 .700 *5
31 Walt Dropo 1953 96 78 30 DET AL 152 645 606 61 150 30 3 13 29 0 69 6 4 0 22 2 0 .248 .289 .371 .660 *3
32 Dave Philley 1950 80 71 30 CHW AL 156 682 619 69 150 21 5 14 52 0 57 1 10 0 17 6 3 .242 .302 .360 .662 *98
33 Don Mueller 1950 84 80 23 NYG NL 132 539 525 60 153 15 6 7 10 0 26 3 1 0 9 1 0 .291 .309 .383 .691 *9/7
34 Sam Dente 1950 59 53 28 WSH AL 155 654 603 56 144 20 5 2 39 0 19 1 11 0 25 1 1 .239 .286 .299 .585 *64
35 Virgil Stallcup 1948 65 55 26 CIN NL 149 566 539 40 123 30 4 3 18 0 52 0 9 0 14 2 0 .228 .253 .315 .569 *6
36 Luis Olmo 1944 85 84 24 BRO NL 136 547 520 65 134 20 5 9 17 0 37 2 8 0 9 10 0 .258 .284 .367 .651 845/79
37 Eddie Miller 1943 71 64 26 CIN NL 154 632 576 49 129 26 4 2 33 0 43 4 19 0 10 8 0 .224 .271 .293 .564 *6
38 Johnny Berardino 1940 85 84 23 SLB AL 142 559 523 71 135 31 4 16 32 0 46 0 4 0 11 6 8 .258 .301 .424 .725 *64/5
39 Babe Dahlgren 1939 89 76 27 NYY AL 144 603 531 71 125 18 6 15 57 0 54 2 13 0 15 2 3 .235 .312 .377 .689 *3
40 Don Heffner 1938 69 66 27 SLB AL 141 554 473 47 116 23 3 2 65 0 53 4 12 0 0 1 1 .245 .341 .319 .661 *4
41 Pete Fox 1938 96 80 29 DET AL 155 675 634 91 186 35 10 7 31 0 39 2 8 0 0 16 7 .293 .328 .413 .742 *9/7
42 Del Young 1937 24 23 25 PHI NL 109 386 360 36 70 9 2 0 18 0 55 1 7 0 8 6 0 .194 .235 .231 .465 *4
43 George Scharein 1937 57 52 22 PHI NL 146 560 511 44 123 20 1 0 36 0 47 2 11 0 11 13 0 .241 .293 .284 .577 *6
44 Jackie Hayes 1937 79 47 30 CHW AL 143 631 573 63 131 27 4 2 41 0 37 2 15 0 0 1 6 .229 .282 .300 .583 *4
45 Odell Hale 1937 82 79 28 CLE AL 154 626 561 74 150 32 4 6 56 0 41 1 8 0 0 9 6 .267 .335 .371 .706 *54
46 Leo Durocher 1937 47 37 31 STL NL 135 520 477 46 97 11 3 1 38 0 36 0 5 0 17 6 0 .203 .262 .245 .507 *6
47 Eric McNair 1936 74 73 27 BOS AL 128 536 494 68 141 36 2 4 27 0 34 5 10 0 0 3 3 .285 .329 .391 .720 *645
48 Travis Jackson 1936 53 50 32 NYG NL 126 496 465 41 107 8 1 7 18 0 56 1 12 0 9 0 0 .230 .260 .297 .557 *5/6
49 Skeeter Newsome 1936 46 33 25 PHA AL 127 508 471 41 106 15 2 0 25 0 27 1 11 0 0 13 4 .225 .266 .265 .531 *6/475
50 Marv Owen 1936 105 85 30 DET AL 154 655 583 72 172 20 4 9 53 0 41 7 12 0 0 9 6 .295 .361 .389 .750 *5/3
Rk Player Year RBI OPS+ Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
51 Luke Sewell 1936 73 66 35 CHW AL 128 509 451 59 113 20 5 5 54 0 16 1 3 0 0 11 2 .251 .332 .350 .682 *2
52 Ray Pepper 1934 101 82 28 SLB AL 148 598 564 71 168 24 6 7 29 0 67 1 4 0 0 1 4 .298 .333 .399 .732 *78/9
53 Ski Melillo 1934 55 44 34 SLB AL 144 589 552 54 133 19 3 2 28 0 27 1 8 0 0 4 6 .241 .279 .297 .576 *4
54 Jim Levey 1933 36 24 26 SLB AL 141 567 529 43 103 10 4 2 26 0 68 3 9 0 0 4 6 .195 .237 .240 .477 *6
55 Ski Melillo 1932 66 54 32 SLB AL 154 659 612 71 148 19 11 3 36 0 42 2 9 0 0 6 6 .242 .286 .324 .610 *4
56 Earl Sheely 1931 77 73 38 BSN NL 147 586 538 30 147 15 2 1 34 0 21 2 12 0 0 0 0 .273 .319 .314 .633 *3
57 Bill Cissell 1931 46 45 27 CHW AL 109 433 409 42 90 13 5 1 16 0 26 4 4 0 0 18 6 .220 .256 .284 .540 *64/5
58 Tommy Thevenow 1930 78 52 26 PHI NL 156 624 573 57 164 21 1 0 23 0 26 2 26 0 0 1 0 .286 .316 .326 .642 *6
59 Hughie Critz 1930 61 55 29 TOT NL 152 707 662 108 172 20 13 4 30 0 32 0 15 0 0 8 0 .260 .292 .347 .639 *4
60 Frank O'Rourke 1929 62 61 34 SLB AL 154 659 585 81 147 23 9 2 41 0 28 5 28 0 0 14 7 .251 .306 .332 .637 *5/46
61 Sam West 1929 75 73 24 WSH AL 142 577 510 60 136 16 8 3 45 0 41 0 22 0 0 10 8 .267 .326 .347 .673 *8/7
62 Tommy Thevenow 1926 63 59 22 STL NL 156 608 563 64 144 15 5 2 27 0 26 1 17 0 0 8 0 .256 .291 .311 .602 *6
63 Chick Galloway 1925 71 55 28 PHA AL 149 564 481 52 116 11 4 3 59 0 28 0 24 0 0 16 9 .241 .324 .299 .623 *6
64 Everett Scott 1924 64 53 31 NYY AL 153 587 548 56 137 12 6 4 21 0 15 0 18 0 0 3 7 .250 .278 .316 .593 *6
65 Willie Kamm 1924 93 83 24 CHW AL 147 626 528 58 134 28 6 6 64 0 59 2 32 0 0 10 9 .254 .337 .364 .700 *5
66 Everett Scott 1923 60 54 30 NYY AL 152 568 533 48 131 16 4 6 13 0 19 2 20 0 0 1 3 .246 .266 .325 .591 *6
67 Pie Traynor 1922 81 77 23 PIT NL 142 615 571 89 161 17 12 4 27 0 28 4 13 0 0 17 3 .282 .319 .375 .694 *56
68 Doc Lavan 1921 82 71 30 STL NL 150 607 560 58 145 23 11 2 23 0 30 2 22 0 0 7 7 .259 .291 .350 .641 *6
69 Duffy Lewis 1919 89 83 31 NYY AL 141 602 559 67 152 23 4 7 17 0 42 0 26 0 0 8 0 .272 .293 .365 .658 *7
70 Harry Swacina 1914 90 81 32 BAL FL 158 649 617 70 173 26 8 0 14 0 23 1 17 0 0 15 0 .280 .297 .348 .646 *3
71 Bill Bergen 1909 15 1 31 BRO NL 112 372 346 16 48 1 1 1 10 0 0 0 16 0 0 4 0 .139 .163 .156 .319 *2
72 Bill Bergen 1906 19 16 28 BRO NL 103 372 353 9 56 3 3 0 7 0 0 0 12 0 0 2 0 .159 .175 .184 .359 *2
73 Tommy Corcoran 1905 85 72 36 CIN NL 151 647 605 70 150 21 11 2 23 0 0 1 18 0 0 28 0 .248 .277 .329 .606 *6
74 Tommy Corcoran 1904 74 66 35 CIN NL 150 613 578 55 133 17 9 2 19 0 0 2 14 0 0 19 0 .230 .257 .301 .558 *6
75 Tommy Corcoran 1903 73 62 34 CIN NL 115 473 459 61 113 18 7 2 12 0 0 1 1 0 0 12 0 .246 .267 .329 .596 *6
Rk Player Year RBI OPS+ Age Tm Lg G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos
76 Bill Bergen 1902 36 30 24 CIN NL 89 342 322 19 58 8 3 0 14 0 0 0 6 0 0 2 0 .180 .214 .224 .438 *2
77 Herman Long 1901 68 50 35 BSN NL 138 559 518 54 112 14 6 3 25 0 0 1 15 0 0 20 0 .216 .254 .284 .537 *6
78 Bill Hallman 1901 41 36 34 TOT ML 128 525 464 48 86 13 5 0 28 0 0 4 29 0 0 13 0 .185 .238 .235 .473 *45/6
79 John Ganzel 1901 66 53 27 NYG NL 138 562 526 42 113 13 3 2 20 0 0 9 7 0 0 6 0 .215 .256 .262 .518 *3
80 Bones Ely 1901 44 39 38 TOT ML 110 435 411 29 87 12 5 0 9 0 0 2 13 0 0 11 0 .212 .232 .265 .497 *6/5
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/24/2010.

On this last list are many overrated players. At least, these players are often overrated by the non-stats-oriented fans. My favorite punching bag is Joe Carter. By no means was Carter a bad player, but he had some bad seasons that went largely overlooked by the fan population at large because he still managed some decent RBI totals. His 1997 with the Blue Jays ranks as one of the biggest fluke seasons ever, and yet many fans just saw him as a 100-RBI run-producer. Vomit.

Related posts:

    Higher strikeout total than batting average points
    Qualifying seasons batting under .200
    Lowest batting average, first two seasons
    Worst Batting Seasons By Catchers Since 1973
    Players with the most 90-99 RBI seasons and worst 100-RBI seasons

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 at 7:13 am and is filed under Season Finders. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

8 Responses to “Batting seasons with higher RBI than OPS+”

  1. Detroit Michael Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 7:48 am

    Given that you define the steroid era as 1993-2009, what evidence do you have that a large percentage of players stopped using steroids during the 2009-10 off-season? If you have no evidence, then don't try to popularize a misleading label.

  2. Andy Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 7:55 am

    My definition is based only on stats. Offense is down significantly this year, the lowest since 1992. Exactly when and who used steroids is unknown to me.

  3. Johnny Twisto Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 9:42 am

    Offense is always lower early in the season. I wouldn't make any conclusions about where scoring is really at for a while yet.

    Part of the reason there have been more of these seasons lately is because there are more teams (and also a few more games), but you are right that it would be more likely to occur in a higher-scoring environment.

  4. Morten Jonsson Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 10:19 am

    Don't get me started on Joe Carter. It's not his fault, of course, that Cito was under the delusion that Carter was still a good ballplayer. Cito never had a clue about things like that--the year before that 1997 season, he had the Jays trade John Olerud, their best hitter, to the Mets for the famous Robert Person. Not straight up, naturally. The Jays had to throw in some cash as well.

  5. Frank Young Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 10:40 am

    Maybe I'm missing something but there seem to be some omissions. As a White Sox fan, I note than Albert Belle had an OPS of 1.055 in 1998 with 152 RBI. In 1936, Luke Appling had an OPS of .981 with 128 RBI and Zeke Bonura had an OPS on .908 with 138 RBI. Appling and Bonura hit 6 and 12 homers, respectively.

  6. Charles Saeger Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 10:49 am

    Cito's defining moment in cluelessness was sending Derek Bell to San Diego before the 1993 season to play a mess of aging meteorites in left field (Darrin Jackson, Turner Ward; Carter had to play a bunch of the year there, and they had to trade for Rickey Henderson down the stretch, since they had nothing there). They did win in 1993, but were finished after that, in part because the Blue Jays, with Pat Gillick no longer running the show, were willing to let Gaston get rid of talented young players just because he didn't like them personally.

  7. Andy Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 10:49 am

    Frank, it goes by OPS+ and not OPS. The full list is available in a link near the top of the post.

  8. TBD3 Says:
    May 25th, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    It would be interesting to see these players' BA with RISP.

«
»