On May 6, as the Twins took the measure of the Oakland A’s 13-0, Eddie Rosario made his major league debut – and he got off to a pretty fast start. In his first at bat, in the third inning, the rookie right fielder hit a Scott Kazmir fastball into the left field bleachers – becoming 119th player to homer in his first MLB at bat. More significantly, Rosario become only the 29th MLBer to homer on the very first pitch he ever saw in “the show.”
This piqued BBRT’s curiosity. Who were those 29 first-pitch, first-swing sultans of swat – and what did they do after their auspicious inaugural plate appearances? What I learned was a little surprising.
- Two MLB players have enjoyed the ultimate satisfaction of squaring up for a Grand Slam on the first major league pitch they ever saw: Kevin Kouzmanoff for the Indians on September 2, 2006 and Daniel Nava for the Red Sox on June 12, 2010.
Of the 29 first-pitch-ever HRs, 19 were solo shots, five were two-run homers, three were three-run home runs and two were grand slams.
- Their first-pitch home runs represent the only MLB round trippers for eight of the 29 players (although this includes Rosario and Twins’ pitcher Tommy Milone (recently sent down to Triple A Rochester) – both still active.
Angels’ right-handed pitcher Don Rose’s first-pitch-ever home run was not only his only MLB round tripper, it was the difference in the Angels 6-5 win over the A’s at Oakland, which happened to also be Rose’s only major league victory (he went 1-4, 4.14 over three seasons).
- The most career home runs by a player who homered on the first MLB pitch he ever saw is 195 by Jay Bell (first-pitch HR at 2B for the Indians on September 29, 1986 – 18-season MLB career). The most home runs hit the season the player hit his first-pitch HR is 14 by outfielder Chris Richard (first-pitch homer for the Cardinals on July 17, 2000). Notably, that first-pitch shot was the only one Richard would hit for the Cardinals (or in the National League). After appearing in just six games with the Cardinals, Richard was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Mike Timlin. Richard played in 56 games for Orioles that season – adding another 13 round trippers. (He finished the season at .265-14-37.)
The most home runs hit in any subsequent season by a member of the first-pitch-ever HR club is 38 by Bell (for the Diamondbacks in 1999).
- Seven of the 29 players to hit first-pitch-ever dingers were pitchers (actually eight if you count Gene Stechschulte, who was being used as a pinch hitter when he accomplished the feat for the Cardinals on April 17, 2001).
By the position they were playing, here’s the first-pitch home run hitter count: pitchers (7); pinch hitters (7); left fielders (4); right fielders (3); first baseman (2); shortstops (2); designated hitters (2); second baseman (1); catchers (1). Among the pinch-hitters and DHs, the primary positions played when they appeared in the field were RF (3) and LF (2); third base (2); pitcher and first base (1 each).
- Seven players came through with first-pitch HRs as pinch hitters. The most interesting of these was Gene Stechschulte. The 6’ 5”, 210-pound Cardinals’ right hander is the only MLB pitcher to homer on the first pitch he ever saw, while being used as a pinch-hitter. Stechschulte’s homer (a two-run shot) came in the sixth inning of a Cardinals’ 17-4 loss to the Diamondbacks (April 17, 2001). It was only Stechschulte’s second professional at bat – and his second extra base hit. He had one minor league at bat (in 204 games) collecting a double.
- Only two players hit a second round tripper in the same game in which they achieved their first-pitch HR. On July 23, 1964, A’s shortstop Bert Campaneris went three-for-four, with two homers, two runs and three RBI as his Kansas City Athletics topped the Twins 4-3 in eleven innings. On August 2, 2010, Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia went four-for-five with two homers, a double, three runs and three RBI as the Blue Jays topped Tampa Bay 17-11. Arencibia is the only member of the first-pitch-ever HR club to also collect four hits in the same game.
- The 29 first-pitch home runs have been pretty well split: 15 by American Leaguers and 14 by National Leaguers, as well as 15 by the home team and on the road.
- If you’re superstitious, a first-pitch home runs is a pretty good sign. The team whose rookie achieved the historic blast has won 21 of the 29 contests.
- The Cardinals have had more players homer on the first pitch they ever saw than any other team – four. The American League leader is Toronto with three. Washington has seen the feat accomplished in both the AL (Senators) and NL (Nationals).
Finally, the list:
Walter Mueller, RF, Pirates … May 7, 1922
Clise Dudley, P, Robins (Dodgers) … April 27, 1929
Eddie Morgan, PH, Cardinals … April 14, 1936
Bill LeFevbre, P, Red Sox … June 10, 1938
Clyde Vollmer, LF, Reds … May 31, 1942
George (Sam) Vico, 1B, Tigers … April 20, 1948
Chuck Tanner, PH, Braves … April 12, 1955
Bert Campaneris, SS, Athletics (KC) … July 23, 1964
Brant Alyea, PH, Senators … September 12, 1965
Don Rose, P, Angels … May 24, 1972
Al Woods, PH, Blue Jays … April 7, 1977
Jay Bell, 2B, Indians … September 29, 1986
Junior Felix, DH, Blue Jays … May 4, 1989
Jim Bullinger, P, Cubs … June 8 1992
Jay Gainer, 1B, Rockies … May 14, 1993
Esteban Yan, P, Rays … June 4, 2000
Chris Richard, LF, Cardinals … July 17, 2000
Gene Stechschulte, PH, Cardinals … April 17, 2001
Marcus Thames, RF, Yankees … June 10, 2002
Kaz Matsui, SS, Mets … April 6, 2004
Andy Phillips, PH, Yankees … September 26, 2004
Adam Wainwright, P, Cardinals … May 24, 2006
Kevin Kouzmanoff, DH, Indians …September 2, 2006
Mark Saccomanno, PH, Astros … September 8, 2008
Daniel Nava, LF, Red Sox … June 12, 2010
J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays … August 7, 2010
Tommy Milone, P, Nationals … September 3, 2011
Starling Marte, LF, Pirates … July 26, 2012
Eddie Rosario, RF, Twins … May 6, 2015
Note: Apologies for being a little late with this post. I’ve been out of town, on the road and a little distracted – see the photo to the left. Despite the lure of the Napa Valley, I did find time to take in a UC Davis baseball game – which the home squad won 10-2 over CSUN (see photo at the end of this post). I hope you enjoyed the first-pitch homer factoids.
