Who / What
A run batted in (RBI) is a statistic used in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored. This statistic recognizes the contribution of a batter in advancing the game.
Background & History
The RBI is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored. For instance, if a batter bats a base hit which allows a teammate already on base to reach home, the batter gets credited with an RBI. Before the 1920 Major League Baseball season, runs batted in were not an official baseball statistic.
Why Notable
The RBI serves as a key statistic in baseball and softball by crediting batters for scoring opportunities. It reflects the impact of a batter on the team's ability to score runs. Certain situations, such as errors made on the play, are excluded when calculating this statistic.
In the News
As a fundamental statistic in baseball and softball, the RBI remains relevant for tracking batter performance and game outcomes. Its historical context is important when analyzing the evolution of baseball statistics.
