Matt Olson has assembled one of the greatest seasons in Braves history.
The first baseman had already set the franchise history for most homers in a single season, besting Andruw Jones’ 51 set in 2005. And with his first-inning home run off the Cubs’ Marcus Stroman Thursday, Olson also earned the franchise’s single-season RBI record. His 136 RBIs passed Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews’ high mark of 135 RBIs in 1953.
“It’s cool,” Olson said. “Obviously some of the guys (in the record books) are players I grew up watching, being a Braves guy (Atlanta native) and idolizing. When you’re in the middle of a season, you don’t really think about it too much. You just carry on. Maybe get into the offseason and enjoy a beer over it.”
Olson’s RBI total leads the majors by a comfortable margin (the Mets’ Pete Alonso has the next-highest total with 117). Olson will join Hall of Famer Hank Aaron as the only Braves to lead the majors in RBIs. Aaron achieved such in 1957, 1960, 1963 and 1966.
“I look at myself as a guy who’s supposed to drive runs in, being a first baseman in the middle of the order,” Olson said. “You can’t drive runs in if there aren’t guys on base. The majority of the year, I’ve been in the 4-hole with Ronald, Ozzie (Albies) and (Austin) Riley in front of me. That’s a pretty good threesome there up top to have guys on base and give me the chance to drive runs in. So I don’t really feel like it’s a me thing, that much. More of a product of the opportunities guys are giving me.”
Manager Brian Snitker: “Doing it here, you’re talking about some big-time Hall of Fame players who played here over the years. Some really, really big-time guys. Some that came through here for a couple years at a time. It’s quite an accomplishment. Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Chipper (Jones), Andruw (Jones), Javy (Lopez), there are some heavy hitters that - Gary Sheffield - that have put on this uniform and played here. I think it’s just phenomenal.”
Third baseman Austin Riley: “There are some iconic baseball players who’ve been in this organization. For (Olson) to do that is pretty special. I hope he’s able to soak it in and enjoy that moment because he earned it.”
Overall, Olson has hit .281 with a .992 OPS. He’s a few days away from playing all 162 games for the second consecutive season. If it wasn’t for his teammate Ronald Acuña and the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, who’ve both had their own historically excellent seasons, Olson would be generating more MVP buzz. His and others’ numbers have gone toward a winning cause: The Braves clinched MLB’s best record Thursday with their 103rd win. It marks their most victories since 1999, three shy of tying the franchise record.
In his second season with his hometown team, Olson has an RBI in 76 of the team’s 159 games. The next-highest total: Marcus Semien, who has an RBI in 66 of Texas’ games. Olson is also the first player with at least 53 homers (54) and 134 RBIs since Chris Davis in 2013. Only eight players have collected those single-season numbers since 2000.
The Braves begin their postseason run Oct. 7 in the National League Division Series. They will face the winner of the Phillies vs. Diamondbacks/Cubs/Marlins best-of-three Wild Card round that begins Oct. 3 in Philadelphia.
