Baseball's Best Decade by Carroll Conklin Read Free Book Online

list? Ernie Banks at 925, Orlando Cepeda at 896, Roberto Clemente at 862.
     
    1970s – Two sluggers from the Big Red Machine – Johnny Bench and Tony Perez – were the dominant run makers during the 1970s. Bench led the National League in RBIs 3 times, a feat matched during the decade only by fellow Cincinnati Red George Foster. No player led the American League in RBIs more than once during the 1970s.
    Who almost made the list? Bob Watson at 822, Al Oliver at 812, Greg Luzinski at 755.

    The Top RBI Producers for Each Decade (1980s-2000s)
     
    1980s
Eddie Murray
996
Mike Schmidt
929
Dale Murphy
929
Dave Winfield
899
Andre Dawson
895
     
    1990s
Albert Belle
1,099
Ken Griffey Jr.
1,091
Barry Bonds
1,076
Juan Gonzalez
1,068
Frank Thomas
1,040
     
    2000s
Alex Rodriguez
1,243
Albert Pujols
1,112
Manny Ramirez
1,106
Miguel Tejada
1,046
Carlos Delgado
1,045
     
     
    1980s – No player drove in as many as 1,000 runs during the 1980s. The player who came the closest, the Baltimore Orioles’ switch-hitting first baseman Eddie Murray, led the American League only once in RBIs, as again no player won more than a single RBI title in the junior circuit. Mike Schmidt and Dale Murphy each led the National League twice.
    Who almost made the list? Jim Rice at 868, George Brett at 851, Harold Baines at 835.
     
    1990s – Six players drove in more than 1,000 runs during the 1990s, led by Albert Belle’s 1,099, the highest total for an American Leaguer since the 1930s. Belle won the league RBI title twice during the 1990s, one less than Detroit’s Cecil Fielder. In the National League, Barry Bonds was the only player to drive in more than 1,000 runs during the 1990s, winning the RBI title only once. The only repeat winner in the National League was Andres Galarraga.
    Who almost made the list? Rafael Palmeiro at 1,068, Fred McGriff at 975, Jeff Bagwell at 961.
     
     
    1990s – Alex Rodriguez was far and away the most prolific run producer during the 2000s. He had the highest RBI total of any player since the 1930s, and led the American League in RBIs twice during the decade, as did Boston’s David Ortiz. Ryan Howard led the league in RBIs 3 times during the decade.
    Who almost made the list? Vladimir Guerrero at 1,037, Lance Berkman at 1,026, Carlos Lee at 1,019.

    The Top Scoring Teams for Each Decade (1920s-1940s)
     
    1920s
New York Yankees
8,486
Detroit Tigers
8,254
New York Giants
8,005
St. Louis Cardinals
7,870
Pittsburgh Pirates
7,836
     
1930s
New York Yankees
9,695
Detroit Tigers
8,399
Cleveland Indians
8,246
Washington Senators
8,139
Philadelphia Athletics
7,989
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
1940s
Boston Red Sox
7,714
New York Yankees
7,631
Brooklyn Dodgers
7,538
St. Louis Cardinals
7,443
Detroit Tigers
6,955
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    During the 1920s, the New York Yankees scored more runs than any other team. And from 1920-1928, Babe Ruth scored more runs than any other Yankee player – or any other player in the American League – in 7 of those years.
     
     
    The Boston Red Sox scored the most runs in the 1940s, led by Ted Williams (left) and Bobby Doerr. This pair between them had 12 seasons with 100 or more RBIs during the 1940s.
     
       
         Lou Gehrig                  Joe DiMaggio              Tony Lazzeri
     
                          
                               Bill Dickey             George Selkirk
     
    The 1936 New York Yankees had five players – the most ever – with 100 or more RBIs: Lou Gehrig (152), Joe DiMaggio (125), Tony Lazzeri (109), Bill Dickey (107), George Selkirk (107).
     
         
    The Detroit Tigers finished second in scoring to the New York Yankees for the 1930s. The 1934 Tigers, American League pennant winners, featured 4 players with 100 or more RBIs: (left to right) Hank Greenberg (139), Charlie Gehringer (127), Billy Rogell (100) and Goose Goslin (100).
     
    1920s