Reds rookie slugger Sal Stewart could be on a collision course with history.
Stewart recorded 29 RBIs over Cincinnati’s first 27 games this season, the most by a rookie since José Abreu’s 32 RBIs through the White Sox first 27 games in 2014.
That puts Stewart on a rare pace. At the very least, he has a good chance to become just the seventh hitter to reach 100 RBIs in a rookie season this century.
100-RBI rookie seasons in 21st century:
- 2019: Pete Alonso, 120
- 2017: Aaron Judge, 114
- 2014: José Abreu, 107
- 2006: Ryan Zimmerman, 110
- 2003: Hideki Matsui, 106
- 2001: Albert Pujols, 130
With the way he's hitting, though, Stewart may have his sights set on a much loftier figure: Ted Williams' rookie record of 145 RBIs, set in 1939.
Even if he falls short of Williams' mark, Stewart would put himself in elite company if he manages to reach 120 RBIs, a feat only seven hitters have achieved in a rookie season since RBIs became an official stat in 1920. Here's a look at those seven, starting with Williams.
Ted Williams: 145 RBIs (1939)
Many consider Williams to be the greatest hitter who ever lived, and he made it clear from the start that he was on another level. Joining the Red Sox at the age of 20, Williams not only set the rookie RBI record but also posted a 1.045 OPS -- Pujols (1.013 in 2001) and Judge (1.049 in 2017) are the only other players in Major League history to tally at least 500 plate appearances and record an OPS of 1.000 or higher in their rookie season. There was no Rookie of the Year Award yet, but Williams finished fourth in the 1939 AL MVP race behind Joe DiMaggio, Red Sox teammate Jimmie Foxx and Bob Feller.
Walt Dropo: 144 RBIs (1950)
Eleven years after Williams set the rookie RBI record, the mark was nearly broken by one of his teammates. Although he didn’t make his season debut until May 2, Dropo ended up tying Red Sox teammate Vern Stephens for the MLB lead in RBIs -- Williams himself had 97 RBIs over 89 games that year but missed significant time after fracturing his arm in the All-Star Game -- while hitting .322 with 34 homers. Dropo, who beat out Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford for AL Rookie of the Year honors, never came close to matching his 1950 production in any other season.
Hal Trosky: 142 RBIs (1934)
Before constant migraines derailed his career, Trosky was an RBI machine for Cleveland for more than a half-decade. His 142 RBIs in 1934 set a rookie record -- later broken by Williams -- and began a streak of six consecutive seasons with more than 100 RBIs, including an MLB-leading 162 in ’36.
Dale Alexander: 137 RBIs (1929)
Like Trosky, Alexander’s promising career was also cut short at a relatively young age. The first baseman remains the only player in MLB history to begin his MLB tenure with back-to-back 130-RBI seasons, doing so for the Tigers in 1929-30, and he also won a batting title with a .367 average between Detroit and Boston in '32. However, he hurt his knee in 1933 and suffered severe burns while receiving diathermy treatment for the injury, nearly losing the leg in the process. Alexander didn’t play again after 1933, his age-30 season.
Albert Pujols: 130 RBIs (2001)
Although he had only one Minor League season under his belt and lacked a permanent defensive position, Pujols impressed Cardinals brass enough during Spring Training to crack the Opening Day roster in 2001. He went on to produce one of the best rookie seasons ever (.329 BA, 37 HR, 1.013 OPS) -- a fitting opening act for a player who'd ultimately hit 703 home runs and cement himself as one of the game's all-time greats.
Joe DiMaggio: 125 RBIs (1936)
The twilight of Babe Ruth’s career coincided with some lean years for the Yankees, who won just one title from 1929-35, but DiMaggio’s arrival in ’36 instantly returned the Bronx Bombers to prominence. The future Hall of Famer hit .323 with 29 homers and a .928 OPS over 138 games in his rookie year, driving in 125 runs along the way as New York won the pennant. The Yanks then defeated the Giants in the Fall Classic for their first of four straight championships.
Pete Alonso: 120 RBIs (2019)
Alonso wasted no time making his mark for the Mets in 2019, homering 53 times to break the MLB rookie record Judge had set just two years earlier. He also recorded 120 RBIs -- becoming the first rookie to do so in nearly two decades -- and won the Home Run Derby for good measure.