Miggy in step with Greenberg's record season

PITTSBURGH -- Miguel Cabrera's two-run home run Wednesday put him back on Hank Greenberg's heels.

Like Greenberg in his record-setting 183-RBI season of 1937, Cabrera had 59 RBIs through his first 51 games. Also like Greenberg that year, Cabrera had 15 home runs. Even the batting average was remarkably similar: .369 for Greenberg, 368 for Cabrera.

The only significant difference was in extra-base hits. While Greenberg had one more double (14) than Cabrera at the same point, he also had seven triples to Cabrera's one.

The amazing part of Greenberg's season is that he kept up that same pace over the rest of the year. The Major League season was 154 games during those days, so the 51-game mark was just about one-third into the season. Multiply Greenberg's 59 RBIs by three, and the pace would've been for around 177-180 RBIs.

No Major League player has driven in as many runs in a season since Greenberg, who finished one off of Lou Gehrig's American League record set in 1931. Hank Wilson's 191 RBIs with the 1930 Cubs have lasted more than 80 years as the big league standard.