September 24, 1992: Dave Winfield becomes first 40-year-old in AL to record 100 RBIs in a season

September 24, 2024

By Kevin Glew

Cooperstowners in Canada

Thirty-two years ago today, Toronto Blue Jays DH Dave Winfield became the first 40-year-old in American League history to record 100 RBIs in a season.

He reached the milestone with a two-run home run off Baltimore Orioles right-hander Ben McDonald in the first inning of a Blue Jays’ 8-2 win at Camden Yards.

“I really can’t understand why no 40-year-old has done it before,” Winfield told the Toronto Star after the game. “Maybe everyone else retired and was playing with their grandchildren.

“I’m glad to get past it and go on because people were starting to talk about it. I remember all the attention being stuck on 399 home runs got me last year.”

Winfield was proud to reach 100 RBIs at his age.

“It’s an achievement,” he said. “The oldest guy, that’s nice. It’s something I thought I could do but it wouldn’t have been as probable on a team that wasn’t in it. I wouldn’t have had the energy, the enthusiasm I’d have needed. It’s kind of like we were all working together on this.”

For good measure, Winfield drove in two more runs with a double in the second inning.

It was the eighth and final 100-RBI season of Winfield’s major league career and his first since 1988 when he knocked in 107 for the New York Yankees.

With his 100th RBI, Winfield joined teammate Joe Carter in the exclusive club. This marked the first time Blue Jays teammates had driven in 100 runs in same season since 1986 when Jesse Barfield and George Bell each knocked in 108.

Winfield finished the 1992 regular season – his sole campaign with the Blue Jays – with 108 RBIs.

Two other American League players have since joined Winfield in the 40-year-old, 100-RBI club: Harold Baines drove in 103 for the Orioles and Cleveland at age 40 in 1999 and Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz knocked in 127 in 2016 when he was 40.

Cap Anson is the oldest major league player to drive in 100 runs in a season. He reached the century mark for the National League’s Chicago Colts in 1894 at age 42.