Who are the only Braves to drive in 120 runs in a season?
With Matt Olson closing in on 120 RBI this season, here is a look at all of the Braves that have reached that lofty milestone.
Much of the talk regarding making history with the Atlanta Braves has understandably centered around the insane season Ronald Acuna Jr. is having. However, another Brave that is having a tremendous season that isn't getting enough love is first baseman Matt Olson. Olson currently leads all of baseball with 46 home runs while also posting a 152 wRC+ and 4.8 fWAR in 2023. However, it is his RBI total that will be the focus here.
As of 9/7. Olson has driven in 115 runs this season which is 13 more than any other player in MLB so far. With Olson appearing to be a lock to eclipse 120 RBI in 2023, he will likely join a very exclusive group in Braves history.
Here are the only Atlanta Braves to drive in 120 runs in a season
In a lot of ways, runs batted in a team statistic as a key component of it requires batters to get on base ahead of a hitter. Given how good the Braves' lineup is this season, it hardly surprising that Atlanta has three players in the top 20 in RBI. However, Olson's excellence at driving runners in is particularly impressive and as we will see, something that has been rarely seen in franchise history. Case in point: as good as Chipper Jones and Javy Lopez were at the plate for the Braves, neither of them managed to get 120 RBI in a season.
Let's take a look at the Braves players that were able to drive in 120 runs in a season and it starts with a very familiar name.
Hank Aaron - 7 times
To the surprise of exactly no one, Hank Aaron had the most seasons with 120 RBI or more at seven. Aaron eclipsed the mark in 1957, 1959-1963, and 1966. Hank was also the only Braves player to drive in 130+ runs multiple times as well, although he does not hold the franchise record for a Braves season. That name comes a little bit later.
Eddie Mathews - 2 times
It is actually a bit surprising that Eddie Mathews only managed to drive in 120 runs twice, but he only managed to do so in 1953 and 1960. His 1953 season was particularly insane has hit drove in 135 runs while hitting 47 home runs and posting a 1.033 OPS. He somehow lost the MVP race to Roy Campanella that season which is a reminder that MVP voting has been broken for a long time.
Wally Berger - 2 times
Younger Braves fans may not be aware of Wally Berger, but he was awesome for the Boston Braves from 1930 to 1937. Berger drove in north of 120 runs in 1934 and 1935 where he weirdly hit exactly 34 home runs in each of those seasons. Berger would go on to be a scout for the Yankees after retiring and living a long life until passing away at 83 in 1988.
Andruw Jones - 2 times
It isn't particularly shocking to see Andruw's name on this list given some of the seasons he put up. Andruw put up 128 RBI in 2005 where he lost a really tight MVP race to Albert Pujols and then drove in 129 runs the following season. It is still a shame that it is taking as long as it has to get Andruw into the Hall of Fame, but at least the Braves are finally retiring his number.
Hugh Duffy - 2 times
The franchise leader for RBI in a single season is a name that few Braves fans will know, Hugh Duffy. Duffy drove in a staggering 145 in 1894 and then drove in 129 runs in 1897. Duffy hit .440 in that magical 1894 season which is top 5 in baseball history. In his nine seasons with Boston, Duffy slashed .332/.394/.455 with just 69 homers. It was certainly a different time.
Jimmy Collins - 1897
Another pre-1900 player makes the list in Jimmy Collins for his 132 RBI back in 1897. Fun fact, Collins wouldn't come close to repeating the feat as his next highest RBI total the rest of his career was 111 the following season. After that, Collins never drove in more than 95 runs in a season.
Gary Sheffield - 2003
Many fans seem to forget just how good Gary Sheffield was in his short stint with the Braves. His 2003 season was particularly good where he posted a 1.023 OPS with 39 home runs and 132 RBI. Sheffield would finish in the top 3 of MVP voting that season finishing behind Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols when they were at the height of their powers.
Tommy McCarthy - 1894
Heading back to the early days of Braves baseball, Tommy McCarthy makes the list for the 126 runs he drove in back in 1894. McCarthy had a pair of awesome seasons for Boston in 1893 and 1894 where he averaged an OPS north of .900 while also stealing 40+ bases each season. He was always a stolen base threat, but the rest of his career was pretty ordinary outside of those two seasons.
Billy Nash - 1893
The final member of the list from ye old days on this list is Billy Nash who put up 123 RBI back in 1893. Nash slashed .291/.399/.433 that season with 10 homers and 30 stolen bases which ended up being his best season as a professional. Nash did drive in 110 runs a couple of years later, but the 1893 season was his peak for sure.
Freddie Freeman - 2019
Back to the modern era, old friend Freddie Freeman had a number of great seasons with the Braves including his 2020 MVP campaign. Freddie would have had a real shot to get to 120 RBI in 2020 if it had been a normal length season. However, it was not to be and the only season he got more than 120 RBI was the 121 runs he drove in during the 2019 season.
Andres Galarraga - 1998
It is hard not to think about how good Andres Galarraga may have been if he didn't get cancer during his tenure with the Braves. However, he was still really, really good and the 121 RBI he had in 1998 was just the tip of the iceberg that was his season. He hit 44 home runs and posted a .991 OPS while anchoring the Braves' offense. It is remarkable that he was able to come back and play another 5 seasons, but oh what might have been.
Dale Murphy - 1983
Dale Murphy only having one season on this list is another surprising tidbit, but Murph's only entry here is from the 121 runs he drove in during his second MVP season in 1983. Murphy drove in over 100 runs five times during his time with the Braves and has a borderline Hall of Fame resume which helps highlight and explain how hard it is to drive in 120+ runs in a season.
David Justice - 1993
Finally, we come to 1995 World Series hero David Justice who drove in 120 runs in 1993. Justice was awesome that season as he also had 40 home runs and an .871 OPS. He would finish in the top 3 of MVP voting that season finishing behind Bonds and Lenny Dykstra of all players and ahead of future Brave Fred McGriff and teammate Ron Gant.
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