RetroSimba

(Updated: Dec. 14, 2021)

Carlos Beltran, who retired as a player on Nov. 13, 2017, rates among the best switch-hitters to play the game.

Among switch-hitting run producers, Beltran ranks No. 3 all-time in RBI and No. 4 in home runs.

“I’m very proud of being a switch-hitter,” Beltran told Stan McNeal of Cardinals Gameday Magazine in 2013. “When I look and see how few switch-hitters have done what I have done, I am very proud.”

Here are the top 11 career RBI leaders among switch-hitters:

1. Eddie Murray (1,917 RBI): Consistent rather than dominant, Murray only once led a major league in RBI for a season. That was when he had 78 for the Orioles in strike-shortened 1981.

2. Chipper Jones (1,623 RBI): In 19 years with the Braves, Jones drove in 100 or more runs nine times, but never led the National League in RBI.

“I always find switch-hitters are a small fraternity, and we are all proud to be in it,” Jones said to Cardinals Gameday Magazine.

3. Carlos Beltran (1,587 RBI): In 2012, his first season as a Cardinal, Beltran had 97 RBI, second on the club to the 102 by fellow outfielder Matt Holliday. Beltran followed that with 84 RBI in 2013.

According to Cardinals Gameday Magazine, Beltran, a natural right-hander, started switch-hitting a year after he signed with the Royals in 1995.

4. Mickey Mantle (1,509 RBI): In 1956, when Mantle won the Triple Crown by also leading the American League in batting average (.353) and home runs (52), he had 130 RBI, two more than Al Kaline of the Tigers. It’s the only time Mantle topped the American League in RBI.

5. George Davis (1,440 RBI): A big-league shortstop from 1890-1909 for the Cleveland Spiders, New York Giants and Chicago White Sox, Davis was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

6. Ted Simmons (1,389 RBI): Among all catchers, Simmons rates second in RBI, behind Yogi Berra (1,430), and ahead of Johnny Bench (1,376), Mike Piazza (1,335) and Ivan Rodriguez (1,332).

7. Chili Davis (1,372 RBI): In his only season of 100 or more RBI, he knocked in 112 for the 1993 Angels.

8. Roger Connor (1,323 RBI): A first baseman who played from 1880 to 1897, Connor led the National League with 130 RBI for the Giants in 1889.

9. Ruben Sierra (1,322 RBI): He led the American League in 1989 with a career-high 119 RBI for the Rangers.

10. Pete Rose (1,314 RBI): Primarily a leadoff batter, Rose had a single-season career best of 82 RBI in 1969 for the Reds.

11. Mark Teixeira (1,298 RBI): The first baseman had eight seasons with 105 or more RBI. His single-season career high was 144 for the 2005 Rangers. He led the American League with 122 for the 2009 Yankees.

On May 2, 2012, Beltran had a career-high seven RBI in the Cardinals’ 12-3 victory over the Pirates at St. Louis. Batting cleanup and swinging left-handed, Beltran had two three-run home runs and a run-producing single in his first three at-bats _ all against starter A.J. Burnett. Boxscore

Beltran entered that game in a 3-for-32 slump. “I’ve been searching at the plate, trying to find my swing, trying to feel comfortable, trying to go out there and have quality at-bats,” Beltran told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Hitting is about feeling.”

Beltran is fourth in career home runs among switch-hitters. The leaders are Mantle (536), Murray (504), Chipper Jones (468), Beltran (435) and Teixeira (409).

In 2012, Beltran hit 32 home runs for St. Louis. Rip Collins, with 35 in 1934, is the only Cardinals switch-hitter to slug more in a season.