The Hack Wilson Record Era (1930)
The hammered down little strongman who rivaled the mighty Ruth.
Hack Wilson's 1930 season with the Chicago Cubs is widely considered one of the most memorable individual single-season hitting performances in baseball history. Highlights included 56 home runs, the National League record for 68 years, and 191 runs batted in, an MLB record yet to be approached.
- Season
- 1930
- Player
- Hack Wilson
- Team
- Chicago Cubs
- RBI Record
- 191
- Home Runs
- 56
- Manager
- Joe McCarthy
Lore & Background
Wilson played for the Cubs under manager Joe McCarthy in 1930. The ballpark was officially named Wrigley Field.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Cubs Park was thick with humidity and anticipation as Hack Wilson stepped into the batter's box. The crowd murmured, sensing another milestone nearing its end. He adjusted his gloves, gripping the wooden handle tightly against the grain of the bat. With a crack that echoed off the ivy-covered walls, he sent the ball soaring toward the bleachers. It wasn't just a hit; it was history in motion, frozen in the dust and grass of 1930.
Reader's Guide
Wilson's 1930 season featured 56 home runs and 191 RBIs. The closest any player has come to that RBI total was Lou Gehrig's 185 for the New York Yankees in 1931.
Did You Know?
- Wilson's 191 RBIs in 1930 remain an MLB record.
- His 56 home runs stood as the National League record for 68 years.
- Wilson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Chicago Cubs universe
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