How many RBIs did Babe Ruth have?

bxb

I see on the news Arod recently passed Babe on the RBI list with 1900 something.

I seem to recall Babe had over 2200 RBIs when Hank Aaron passed him.

I know there are different official lists, but can't someone figure out the truth.

SDSportsFan

According to the story on ESPN.com, RBIs were not considered an official statistic until 1920; therefore, there is some discrepancy as to how many RBIs Ruth should be credited with. The Elias Sports Bureau, the statistician of Major League Baseball, has Ruth at 1,992 for his career.

According to baseball-reference.com, Ruth had 2,214 RBIs, including 224 from 1915-1919.

Steve

MCMLVTopps

You can also research at "baseball-almanac.com". There is an incredible wealth of info there.

That website claims 2,213 in 22 years of playing.

bxb

Doesn't make sense to me that RBIs before 1920 don't count.

Estil

<< <i>Doesn't make sense to me that RBIs before 1920 don't count. >>



Don't we have most all the box scores for MLB games from its very beginning (whether that is 1876 (NL's founding) or 1871 (NA's founding) is very much a matter of debate; the majority view though is 1876)? If so, you can use them to figure out the RBIs would be, or saves or perhaps even those weird SABR stats.

mlbfan2

<< <i>Don't we have most all the box scores for MLB games from its very beginning (whether that is 1876 (NL's founding) or 1871 (NA's founding) is very much a matter of debate; the majority view though is 1876)? If so, you can use them to figure out the RBIs would be, or saves or perhaps even those weird SABR stats. >>



RBIs are a stat that can't be calculated accurately by looking at a pre-1920s box score. For example, even if you knew that a team scored 1 run in an inning that went single, double, single, ground out, K, K, which player drove in the run? You can't tell. It could be any one of 3 players, or even none of them.

bxb

Well, I think all steroid cheaters records should be removed from the all time lists.

SultanOfSwat

<< <i>Well, I think all steroid cheaters records should be removed from the all time lists. >>




If they are a proven steroid or ped cheat, I think they need to strike their names from the list so the all time records will mean something like they used to.

SultanOfSwat

<< <i>I see on the news Arod recently passed Babe on the RBI list with 1900 something.

I seem to recall Babe had over 2200 RBIs when Hank Aaron passed him.

I know there are different official lists, but can't someone figure out the truth. >>



"The Babe" had 2,214 RBIs.

JoeBanzai

<< <i>Well, I think all steroid cheaters records should be removed from the all time lists. >>



Great idea! They got their money.............they should sacrifice their place in MLB history.