What is an RBI in MLB?

The Major League Baseball (MLB) is regarded as the leading professional baseball league in North America, with a rich heritage that traces back to its establishment in 1869. The league features 30 teams and operates through a regular season followed by playoffs, culminating in the World Series, which decides the champion. Each match generates a vast collection of statistics closely monitored by fans, analysts, and players alike to assess performance and strategic approach.

Important stats like batting average (BA), runs batted in (RBI), and on-base percentage (OBP) are essential for measuring a player's influence during games. The batting average reflects how successful a player is at securing hits; typically, an average above .300 signifies exceptional skill. Further analytical tools such as Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) provide deeper insights into player contributions by integrating various statistical components to present a thorough assessment of their impact on the game.

RBI in MLB

In Major League Baseball (MLB), RBI (Runs Batted In) is a statistic that recognizes a batter for every run that scores due to their offensive contribution. A player typically receives an RBI when they hit the ball, enabling a runner to touch home plate, this can occur through singles, doubles, triples, or home runs.

Moreover, an RBI may also be granted if a batter executes a sacrifice fly or grounder that results in a run-scoring, or if they walk and subsequently, another player on base crosses home plate during the following play. Before the 1920 MLB season, runs batted in were not officially recorded as a baseball statistic.

Who holds the MLB record for RBI?

Hank Aaron holds the record for the highest number of Runs Batted In (RBI) in Major League Baseball history, amassing an impressive total of 2,297 RBIs. His professional career was from 1954 to 1976, primarily with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves. Amongst his numerous accolades, Aaron has the RBI record in addition to maintaining the all-time home run record for 33 years until being eclipsed by Barry Bonds in 2007.

Albert Pujols is in second place on the all-time RBI leaderboard with 2,218 RBIs throughout his playing career from 2001 to 2022. He represented various teams during this period, notably the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels. Pujols’s accomplishments include three MVP awards and recognition as an All-Star 25 times, along with two World Series championships won in 2006 and 2011.

In third place is Babe Ruth, who accumulated 2,214 RBIs over an illustrious career spanning from 1914 to 1935. His tenure included stints with the Boston Red Sox (1914–1919), New York Yankees (1920–1934), and Boston Braves (1935). Throughout his journey in baseball, he claimed seven World Series titles and was a batting champion in the American League in 1924.

Here is a list of the top 20 players with the most RBIs in MLB: