Albert Pujols Notches Career 2000 RBI In Style

According to most reports you'll read, on Thursday afternoon, Los Angeles Angels star Albert Pujols became the third player in MLB history to record 2,000 career RBI.

With a third inning, no-doubter solo homer off a 2-0 pitch from Tigers' lefty Ryan Carpenter, Pujols reached the meritorious figure. The blast came in the top of the inning of Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Angels won the game in a 13-0 romp. Pujols finished 1-for-4.

But, is Pujols just the third player to reach the heralded 2,000 mark in RBI? Or is he the fifth?

According to the very reliable stats at baseball-reference, he's numero cinco (five, for English speakers). The all-time leader is the venerable Hank Aaron, with 2297. The Sultan of Swat, the Bambino, Babe Ruth comes in at number two, with 2214, the numbers compiled by a number of researchers including baseball writer Ernie Lanigan. Runs Batted In (RBI) wasn't made an official statistic until 1920.

It's odd that Ruth isn't considered among the leaders, especially since the bulk of his 22 playing years (1914-1935) were after the stat became official. Incidentally, all of the years from 1920 forward were with the Yankees. The prior six seasons with the Red Sox, Ruth was just getting warmed up. He knocked in 224 runs with the Sox, 113 in his final season in Boston, 2019.

At number three is another player who did a ton of work at Yankee Stadium, Alex Rodriguez, who ended his 22-year career with 2086 RBI.

Number four is credited to the great Cap Anson, who played 27 years in the National Association and National League with the Rockford Forest Citys (NA, 1871), Philadelphia Athletics (NA, 1872-1875) and 22 seasons with the Chicago Cubs of the National League (1876-1897).

This is where it gets a little sketchy, since record-keeping just a decade or three after the Civil War were not quite what they are in the modern age.

The controversy over who has how many RBI is likely to never end, particularly since Ruth and Anson are both members of the Hall of Fame. That puts their reputations in lofty, revered spaces that purists will defend with honor and determination. According to this article on Yahoo Sports, the official MLB stats are now property of Elias Sports Bureau, and they list Babe Ruth at 1,992 RBI, significantly lower than the 2214 he's credited with on baseball-reference.com.

Alex Rodriguez is a solid lock on gaining entry to the Hall when he becomes eligible in 2021, and Pujols will be a first-ballot lock five years after he finishes his career, whenever that is.

Pujols is in his 19th season, having spent the first 11 with the St. Louis Cardinals and the past eight with his current team the LA Angels.