Ode to 1950 Red Sox, the Team that Scored 1,027 Runs

Only seven times in the history of major league baseball has a team scored over 1,000 runs in a season, and since 1950 only two teams have done it: the 1950 Red Sox, in 154 games, and the 1999 Indians, in 162 games. While that production was only good enough for a third-place finish, with a 94-60 record, the Red Sox must have been a sight to behold. The leader of that mighty offensive club was, of course, Ted Williams - for half the season anyway: After driving in nearly 100 runs by the all-star break, he missed the rest of the season after injuring himself in that best-of-both-leagues clash! Would the Sox have eclipsed the all-time mark (1,069, I believe), set by one of those Yankee juggernauts in the 1930s? It is reasonable to think so.

Here's a look at some of the statistics to marvel at from that year:

On-base percentages were outstanding. Four of the seven players who had more than 400 at bats that season had an on-base percentage (OBP) of over .400, ranging from .414 to .437. The list includes Johnny Pesky, Al Zarilla, Dom DiMaggio and Billy Goodman (shown in photo). The list does not include the fifth player with a .400+ average, Ted Williams, who registered a .452 mark during his just-over-half-year season. The lowest OBP among the regulars was a still sprightly .361, by shortstop Vern Stephens. The catchers themselves - Birdie Tebbetts, Matt Batts, and Buddy Rosar - all acquitted themselves well, with Tebbetts leading the trio with a .377 clip.

Batting averages were similarly remarkable. Billy Goodman led with a .354 average, while Tebbetts, Pesky, Zarilla, Williams, Dimaggio, and Walt Dropo also all batted comfortably above the .300 mark, though not quite in the Goodman area. In just over 100 plate appearances reserve outfielder Tom Wright also got into the act, batting .318
Everyone scored. Five of the regulars scored more than 100 runs, while Williams scored 82 times in just 334 at bats, and Zarilla and Goodman scored over 90 runs each in 471 and 424 at bats, respectively.

Who drove them in? Dropo and Stephens tied for the lead with 144 RBI apiece. Doerr knocked in a cool 120 runs, and Williams nearly finished with 100 RBI in his half-season work.

They put the ball in play. Only two of the nine players who had more than 400 at bats struck out more than 50 times - and certainly the high number of that group, 75 Ks by Dropo, remains far below what we've come to expect from most sluggers of Dropo's magnitude (except for Albert Pujols) over the years. After all, when Dropo was frequently putting the ball in play it was to the tune of 34 home runs and the aforementioned 144 RBIs. Williams, who had less than 400 at bats, struck out a mere 21 times.

Power, yes, but OBP, batting average, and contact were the main weapons. Two guys did hit more than 30 home runs (Dropo and Stephens); Williams would have over a fuller season, finishing at 28; and Doerr banged out 27 round trippers. After that, nobody had as many as 10.

Speed? Not much by way of stolen bases, though Dimaggio did swipe 15.

Quite a fascinating team and one whose baseball cards will make a great addition to the collection.