RBI per HR

TheVon

While watching the Cardinals/Red Sox game this weekend I saw that Rick Ankiel had hit 12 home runs this year and only had 32 RBI. That seemed like a low RBI total to me for someone with a fair amount of round-trippers.

Curious, I decided to look into this. Here are this year's players with 10 or more HRs with the fewest RBI per HR:

1. Russell Branyan 10 HR, 17 RBI (1.7)
2. Hanley Ramirez 16 HR, 33 RBI (2.06)
3. Marcus Thames 14 HR, 31 RBI (2.21)
4. Mike Cameron 12 HR, 28 RBI (2.33)
5. Adrian Beltre 14 HR, 33 RBI (2.36)
6. Adam Dunn 18 HR, 43 RBI (2.39)
7. Ryan Doumit 10 HR, 24 RBI (2.4)
8. Grady Sizemore 17 HR, 41 RBI (2.41)
9. Cody Ross 12 HR, 29 RBI (2.42)
10. Mike Napoli 11, 27 RBI (2.45)

At the opposite end of the spectrum you have:

1. Justin Morneau 11 HR, 59 RBI (5.36)
2. David Murphy 10 HR, 51 RBI (5.1)
3. Xavier Nady 10 HR, 49 RBI (4.9)
4. Troy Glaus 10 HR, 47 RBI (4.7)
5. David Wright 12 HR, 56 RBI (4.67)
6. Carlos Beltran 11 HR, 51 RBI (4.64)
7. Jose Guillen 13 HR, 60 RBI (4.62)
8. Miguel Tejada 10 HR, 43 RBI (4.3)
9. Garrett Atkins 10 HR, 42 RBI (4.2)
10. Mark Teixeira 14 HR, 57 RBI (4.07)

What did I learn from all this? Not a thing. I just thought it was interesting.

ziggy29

From 2000 to 2004, Barry Bonds was very high on the list of fewest RBIs per homer, but that's mostly because pitchers only pitched to him with no one on base.

ymarea

In 1985, Tom Herr of St Louis knocked in 110 while hitting only 8 homers. I don't know what his batting average was with runners in scoring position, but it must have been phenomenal.

On the flip side, in 1987 Brook Jacoby of Cleveland had only 69 RBI while slugging 32 homers. What makes it especially puzzling is that he had 540 at bats and hit .300.

ziggy29

<< <i>In 1985, Tom Herr of St Louis knocked in 110 while hitting only 8 homers. I don't know what his batting average was with runners in scoring position, but it must have been phenomenal. >>

Well, it also helps to bat behind Vince Coleman, who was in scoring position almost every time he reached base (110 SB), and Willie McGee with a .384 OBP and 56 steals of his own.

Hitting 38 doubles didn't hurt either.

perkdog

Good stuff guys! I love odd ball stat stuff like this, thanks for posting!

dallasactuary

The worst ever RBI/HR season, I believe, for a player with 20+ home runs was by Carlton Fisk in 1984: 21 HR and only 43 RBI. As with any RBI-related stat, the quality of the team is far more important than the quality of the player, and the 1984 White Sox were pretty bad. And Fisk had to bat second behind one of the worst, if not the worst, leadoff men in history (Rudy Law).

But aside from the per HR stuff, the most futile season in history belongs to Tommie Agee in 1968. In 368 AB, he drove in 17 runs (and walked 15 times while striking out 103 for what I believe is another record in futility). He started out at the bottom of the order, and somehow got moved to leadoff as the season wore on (where he did better). Along the way he managed to collect 74 AB in the 2 throughh 6 slots in the order - and drove in 0 runs!

calaban7

<< <i>

<< <i>In 1985, Tom Herr of St Louis knocked in 110 while hitting only 8 homers. I don't know what his batting average was with runners in scoring position, but it must have been phenomenal. >>

Well, it also helps to bat behind Vince Coleman, who was in scoring position almost every time he reached base (110 SB), and Willie McGee with a .384 OBP and 56 steals of his own.

Hitting 38 doubles didn't hurt either. >>



Herr batted .335 with RISP . In 185 at bats , he drove in an amazing 98 runs. He had 2 HR's , 2 Triples and 12 of his 38 doubles. I agree here , that Vince"the Tarpster " Coleman and Willie "ET" McGee played a huge part.

CDsNuts

Not to mention all the sac flies Herr must've had that year. Coleman was tagging from third on a pop up to the pitcher. I actually always liked Tommy Herr. The Cards were stacked with solid role guys who went in and did their job every day, and Herr was one of the better ones. I seem to remember him going to one or two AS games. The guys they had in the late 80s formed some of the better teams ever, and not one of them was a perennial offensive standout- Ozzie, McGee, Coleman, Herr, Jack Clark, Lonnie Smith, Pendelton, Landrum, Darrell Porter, Van Slyke..... fun team to watch, especially considering they didn't have any great pitchers and had to rely on great defense and manufacturing runs.

ymarea

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>In 1985, Tom Herr of St Louis knocked in 110 while hitting only 8 homers. I don't know what his batting average was with runners in scoring position, but it must have been phenomenal. >>

Well, it also helps to bat behind Vince Coleman, who was in scoring position almost every time he reached base (110 SB), and Willie McGee with a .384 OBP and 56 steals of his own.

Hitting 38 doubles didn't hurt either. >>



Herr batted .335 with RISP . In 185 at bats , he drove in an amazing 98 runs. He had 2 HR's , 2 Triples and 12 of his 38 doubles. I agree here , that Vince"the Tarpster " Coleman and Willie "ET" McGee played a huge part. >>



Thanks, calaban7. Very interesting stuff.

calaban7

Thanks, calaban7. Very interesting stuff. >>



www.retrosheet.org--makes me look like a genius.

JackWESQ

Granted it's 19th century, but for his career Hall of Famer Sam Thompson averaged ten (10) RBIs for every homerun - 127 HRs, 1299 RBIs. In 1887, he had 11 HRs and 166 RBIs and in 1895, he had 18 HRs and 165 RBIs.

Even more crazy from the 19th century is Hall of Famer Cap Anson who, for his career, had 97 HRs and 2076 RBIs; that's 21 RBIs per HR. Take a look at Ed Delahanty as well.

/s/ JackWESQ

TheVon

Wow. According to Baseball-Reference.com Ed Delahanty didn't strike out for 7 years.