Hack Wilson
Wilson's 1930 season produced the most RBIs in baseball history — 191 — a record that's survived nearly a century of offensive evolution. The 5-foot-6 slugger combined an unusually compact frame with tremendous power, making him one of the game's first true home run threats who didn't look the part.
His .307 career average tells only half the story. Wilson's peak years in Chicago saw him drive in 120-plus runs four times, including three seasons over 150. That 1930 campaign also featured 56 home runs, showcasing the kind of power numbers that were revolutionary for the late 1920s.
The Hall of Fame recognition came four decades after his playing days ended, but Wilson's offensive dominance during baseball's transition into the modern era was undeniable. His RBI record remains untouchable in today's game.
Career · Batting
12 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | NY1 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | .200 | — | — |
| 1924 | NY1 | 107 | 383 | 10 | 57 | .295 | — | — |
| 1925 | NY1 | 62 | 180 | 6 | 30 | .239 | — | — |
| 1926 | CHC | 142 | 529 | 21 | 109 | .321 | — | — |
| 1927 | CHC | 146 | 551 | 30 | 129 | .318 | — | — |
| 1928 | CHC | 145 | 520 | 31 | 120 | .313 | — | — |
| 1929 | CHC | 150 | 574 | 39 | 159 | .345 | — | — |
| 1930 | CHC | 155 | 585 | 56 | 191 | .356 | — | — |
| 1931 | CHC | 112 | 395 | 13 | 61 | .261 | — | — |
| 1932 | BRO | 135 | 481 | 23 | 123 | .297 | — | — |
| 1933 | BRO | 117 | 360 | 9 | 54 | .267 | — | — |
| 1934 | BRO | 74 | 192 | 6 | 30 | .245 | — | — |
| Career | 1348 | 4760 | 244 | 1063 | .307 | — | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.