Magic Number 541-- Among the Best, America's Elite

Magic Number 541-- Among the Best, America's Elite

All you need to do to be among the best baseball players of all time is to reach that number.

The top thousand guys in Runs Batted In. RBIs. These are the major league hitters who have somehow driven in that many runs. By hit, by sacrifice, by walks... Probably not awarding an RBI by the defensive team's errors.

At least for now, 2020, that is the number to reach. 541. That means 5 really good seasons, or at least 10 pretty good seasons, or a career of some longevity. This benchmark will change in the future as newer guys surpass it and bump the older guys down.

A few things to consider in being deemed "America's Elite". Just because it is considered "America's pastime", it is certainly not limited to the United States and its citizens. Many non-U.S. players have excelled in the sport, increasingly so since the late 1800s when the statistics were first kept.

Of the top five RBI leaders of all time, Cap Anson, was born way back in 1852! He must have had distinct memories of the Civil War all his life. He began playing at age 19 in 1871, and enjoyed a long career till 1897 when 45. He is the oldest and eldest among the top players. He accomplished the feat, not to be surpassed for a while, in 2524 games over 27 years. All before the year 1900. He had 2075 ribbies, currently tied with a current player to be mentioned soon, at fifth all time.

Speaking of before the year 1900, the Bambino was born in 1895 (about the same time as my grandparents), and went on to crash into the record books in many ways, mostly with the Yankees. While being known for the long ball home run, recreating the game in some ways, he went on to log 2214 RBIs, in the span of 22 seasons from 1914 to 1935. Legendary, and then becoming the best RBI producer in 5 years less than Anson, by 310 games less, too (2214). Babe Ruth was all of that.

Hammerin' Hank came next; he is still number one in RBIs at present (2020, COVID-19 delayed season), but he had the Babe to reach for . He is Mr. Production, if no one has ever called him that before. Hank Aaron was the epitome of getting runs on the board over his 23 year career, which began in 1954.  Sad to think that other African-American players could have a chance to put huge numbers on the boards like Cap Anson or Babe Ruth if they had been integrated into the game before 1947. At least Major League baseball and America got it right by then... In time for greats  such as Aaron and Mays and so many others to make the national pastime what it should be. A place for all to compete and play. The Hammer was born in 1934, three years before my dad. His career ended in 1976, about the time I was about to see my first major league game in Cincinnati. Hank tops the charts for Runs driven in at the Everest number of 2297.

The last two players to round out the top five RBI guys of all time, of this pantheon of 1,000 major leaguers that range from the two thousands down to 541, are recent gentlemen to the game, players who have made it deep, relatively, or at least thus far, into the 21st century. Alex Rodriguez did not retire too long ago (2016). His numbers were always stellar and amazing, but he will forever be tainted with having using PEDs, Performance Enhancing Drugs. This has cost him a lot, so despite his 22 seasons played and 2784 games at such high caliber, his numbers will always be questioned because of those illegal substances. He was born in 1975, five years after me, and played from 1994 to 2016. He will be eligible for the Hall of Fame next January, but some other all time greats have been penalized for many years now, and have not been selected by the purists among the chosen voters, namely Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, and Roger Clemens (pitcher) foremost among them.

 It will be interesting to see how the Hall of Fame vote will turn out for A-rod in his first year of eligibility in 2021. Those voters can be really stingy when it comes to not cheating, being honest, and the purity of the game (see Pete Rose, all-time hits leader). Rodriguez has been punished with games suspended, so I think he will fare better than Bonds and Palmeiro, whose number certainly deserve it. Mark McGuire is another matter. It will also be crucial from the point of view if the 2020 season will play at all because of corona virus ravaging the earth physically and economically, and what will happen as far as playing even next year, 2021. The world is changed right now.

Lastly we have the man of the hour, Albert Pujols. Quite the guy, no evidence of cheating or doing enhancers, and he is tied with Mr. Cap Anson of the 19th century at fifth place, at 2075 ribbies. He is poised to get a bit more production before he is through. Last year he hit .244 and reached 93 RBIs in only 131 games, at age 39. He has some RBIs left in the tank, and he trails number one, Hank Aaron by a mere 222 RBIs. Will he be valuable enough to the California Angels or another team into his 40s to make the mark? I think so. That would amount to two amazing seasons, far fetched for his age, or three decent ones, putting him at 42 years-old. This global pandemic is not helping matters for him or any player seeking career stats.

By the way, I remember feeling old doing Army things when I was forty-two years old, and also playing competitive basketball and ping pong (yes, it's a sport), and at the the same time still having some chops and skills.

The two dudes at the bottom, at 541 career RBIs? They are not  forgotten and not chopped liver.

Jerry Pridy and Pete Suder. One was born in 1916, the other in 1919. One played 11 years and the other 13. They are still among the top thousand of all time, that includes hundreds of men from all parts and backgrounds. African- Americans, Puerto Ricans, Domincans, Cubans, Venezuelans, Colombians, Panamanians, Nicaraguans, Mexicans, Canadians, Japanese, Taiwanese, Koreans... Perhaps I am leaving a few countries out. Point is, the elite of this pastime and sport we wish to celebrate and honor. It brings some of us back home, to our roots or our dreams or fantasies. To contemplate the greatness, the production, a game well played, a career well invested, a fandom well earned. Fame and fortune from hard work, ultimate skill, and bit of lady luck.

Hammerin' Hank, the Sultan of Swat, A-rod, Cap and Albert, you are the best of the best, and we honor the rest.

Way to bring 'em home.