Runs Batted In : 1996 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"Although baseball decided to extend the regular season deeper into October to play 162 games (after the 09-11 disaster), why not just play 154? Baseball has dealt with shortened seasons before. (Bud) Selig spoke about the sanctity of playing 162 games, but baseball played 154 games until 1961. Baseball should have just let the games go and continued with the current schedule." - Joe Morgan on ESPN (September 19, 2001)
 

1996 Runs Batted In Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Andres Galarraga 150 Colorado Rockies 1
Dante Bichette 141 Colorado Rockies 2
Ken Caminiti 130 San Diego Padres 3
Barry Bonds 129 San Francisco Giants 4
Ellis Burks 128 Colorado Rockies 5
Jeff Bagwell 120 Houston Astros 6
Gary Sheffield 120 Florida Marlins  
Bernard Gilkey 117 New York Mets 8
Derek Bell 113 Houston Astros 9
Vinny Castilla 113 Colorado Rockies  
Todd Hundley 112 New York Mets 11
Eric Karros 111 Los Angeles Dodgers 12
Jeff King 111 Pittsburgh Pirates  
Chipper Jones 110 Atlanta Braves 14
Fred McGriff 107 Atlanta Braves 15
Mike Piazza 105 Los Angeles Dodgers 16
Brian Jordan 104 St. Louis Cardinals 17
Henry Rodriguez 103 Montreal Expos 18
Sammy Sosa 100 Chicago Cubs 19
Moises Alou 96 Montreal Expos 20
Sean Berry 95 Houston Astros 21
Jeff Conine 95 Florida Marlins  
Steve Finley 95 San Diego Padres  
Ryan Klesko 93 Atlanta Braves 24
Ryne Sandberg 92 Chicago Cubs 25



Jim Thome wore number twenty-five since he first came up with the Cleveland Indians making him the franchise record holder for that particular number (Mike Garcia is second).

The first player from the Angels franchise (they were the California Angels at the time) to wear the number twenty-five was Bob Perry.

The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?