On this date (June 18), 14 years ago, Colorado Rockies’ second baseman Mike Lansing earned the “Yellow Jersey” of MLB “cycles,” – complete the cycle in just four innings.
Lansing, hitting second in the order, hit an RBI triple to right in the first inning (getting the most difficult leg of the cycle out of the way), added a two-run home run in the bottom of the second, hit a two-run double in the bottom of the third (as the Rockies scored nine times to take a 14-1 lead), and then completed the cycle with a single to right in the fourth. Lansing then struck out in the sixth, before being pinch hit for in the eighth. Lansing’s day? Four-for-five, three runs, five RBI and MLB’s quickest-ever cycle, as the Rockies topper Arizona 19-2.
Drafted (in the sixth round of the MLB draft) out of Wichita State, where he was a 1989 All American, the 6’/175 lb. right-hander was primarily a second baseman in his nine- season major league career – although he also saw considerable time at third base and shortstop. He hit .275 with 14 home runs, 120 RBI and 90 stolen bases in three minor league seasons (193 games) before making the Montreal Expos roster in 1993. In his rookie season, Lansing appeared in 141 games, going .287-3-45, with 23 steals.
Never an All Star, Lansing proved a valuable, reliable and versatile roster addition during his career (1993-2001 -Expos/Rockies/Red Sox) –finishing with a .271 average, 84 home runs, 440 RBI and 119 steals in 1,110 games. Lansing reached 20 home runs once (1997), topped 20 steals three times (1993-95-96), and hit 40 or more doubles twice (1996-97). Injuries took their toll late in his career and in his final two MLB seasons, he hit just .243.
In addition to his fastest-ever cycle, Lansing shares (with 54 others) the record for the most home runs in an inning (two). On May 7, 1997, Lansing hit a two-run and three-run homer in a 13-run sixth inning as the Expos topped the Giants 19-3 in San Francisco.
For the game, Lansing was four-for-five, with three runs and five RBI.
