Once again, when Baseball Roundtable looks into hardball stories and statistics, one thing leads to another. For this post, the approaching 2022 World Series and Albert Pujols retirement combined to drive me toward a look at single-game and single World Series targets for this year’s combatants to shoot for. (Did I take that analogy too far?) Along the way, we’ll also look at a few single-game World Series records that player would prefer to escape and evade.
In an homage to Pujols, this post will focus on World Series single-game records. Following shortly will be a post on World Series single-series records and, then, one on a handful of World Series I recall with particular fondness.
Albert Pujols – Possibly the Best World Series Game at the Plate … Ever
Photo by Dirk DBQ
On October 22, 2011 – in Game Three of the Cardinals/Rangers World Series matchup – Redbirds’ 1B Albert Pujols went five-for-six with four runs scored and six RBI. In the process, he established a new (and still-standing record for total bases in a World Series game (14) and also earned, and still holds, a share of the World Series’ single-game records for hits (5), runs scored (4), RBI (6) and home runs (3). Ironically, in the other six games, he went one-for-nineteen, with six walks, four runs scored and no RBI.
Now, let’s look at the Fall Classic record book. Note: Some of these records could change over time. The Negro League single-game records have not yet been incorporated. The full-series records have.
SOME SINGLE-GAME WORLD SERIES MARKS TO SHOOT FOR (or avoid)
Home Runs in a World Series Game – Three
Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Pablo Sandoval
Babe Ruth … While three players have hit three home runs in a World Series game, the Yankees’ Babe Ruth is the only player to accomplish the feat twice – October 6, 1926 and October 9, 1928. In Game Four of the 1926 Series, as the Yankees topped the Cardinals 10-5, Ruth went three-for-four, with three home runs, two walks, four runs scored, four RBI and, of course, three dingers. The long-ball victims were Redbirds’ starter Flint Rhem (twice) and reliever Herman Bell. In Game Four of the 1928 World Series (a Yankees’ sweep over the Cardinals), Ruth went three-for-five with three solo home runs – two off Bill Sherdel and one off Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander.
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Reggie Jackson … The Yankees’ Reggie Jackson’s feat was unique in that he hit his three long balls (October 18, 1977) off three consecutive pitches offered up by three different pitchers. After drawing a walk to lead off the bottom of the second inning of Game Six (versus Dodgers’ starter Burt Hooton), Jackson hit the first pitch he saw from Hooton in the fourth inning for a two-run home run. He came up again in the fifth, facing Elias Sosa, and hit the first pitch in that at bat for another two-run homer. In his next at bat, leading off the eighth frame, Jackson hit the first pitch from Charlie Hough for a solo home run. A three-for-three day with four runs scored and five RBI.
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Albert Pujols … Albert Pujols hit his three home runs in Game Three of the 2011 World Series (versus the Rangers) in Texas – as part of a five-for-six day. He hit a three-run homer on a 1-1 pitch from Alexi Ogando in the top of the sixth; a two-run shot on the first pitch he saw from Mike Gonzalez in the seventh; and a solo shot homer a 2-2 pitch from Darren Oliver in the ninth. Those six RBI – which tie for the World Series single-game record – were the only runs driven in by Pujols in the seven-game Series – won by the Redbirds four games-to-three.
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Pablo Sandoval … In Game One of the 2012 World Series (October 24), the Giants’ Pablo Sandoval went four-for-four, with three home runs, three runs scored and four RBI. He homered in the first and third innings off the Tigers’ Justin Verlander and in the fifth off Al Alburquerque before adding a single off Jose Valverde in the seventh – as the Giants triumphed 8-3.
Pablo Sandoval hit just 12 home runs in 108 games during the 2012 season and only 153 in 14 MLB seasons. In the 2012 post-season, however, he hit six home runs in 18 games.
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Base Hits in a World Series Game – Five
Paul Molitor, Albert Pujols
Paul Molitor … Brewers’ third baseman and leadoff hitter Paul Molitor – who hit .302 with 201 hits in the 1982 regular season – grounded out to second base leading off the 1982 World Series (Inning One, Game One, in St. Louis on October 12). It would be the only time he was retired in the game, as the Brewers triumphed 10-0. Molitor followed with a single in the second inning; an RBI-single in the fourth; a single in the sixth; a single in the eighth; and an RBI single in the ninth.
Taking It One Base at a Time
When the Brewers’ Paul Molitor hit .355 (11-for-31) in the 1982 World Series, every one his safeties was a single. The Brew Crew lost the Series to the Cardinals four games-to-three.
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Albert Pujols … Cardinals’ first baseman Albert Pujols had his five-hit World-Series contest in Game Three (October 22) of the 2011 Series (in Texas). Like Molitor (above), Pujols grounded out in his first at bat – and then went on to record five straight hits. Unlike Molitor, his safeties were not all singles. He led off the fourth inning with a single (off Matt Harrison); led off the fifth with a single off Scott Feldman; popped a three-run home run off Alexi Ogando in the sixth; homered off Mike Gonzalez in the seventh; and homered off Darren Oliver (solo) in the ninth. The Cardinals won the contest 16-7 and won the Series four game-to-three.
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Runs Batted in a World Series Game – Six
Bobby Richardson, Hideki Matsui, Albert Pujols, Addison Russell
Bobby Richardson … In Game Three of the 1960 World Series (October 8), the Yankee trounced the Pirates 10-0. Despite a lineup that included the big bats of Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Bill Skowron and Elston Howard, little 5’9” second baseman Bobby Richardson (a .252 hitter with just one home run and 26 RBI in 150 1960 regular-season games) did the most damage to the Pirates’ pitching staff. His day included a Grand Slam home run in the first frame and a tw0-run single in the fourth (part of a two-for-five day). Richardson’s six RBI set a new MLB single-game World Series RBI record (since tied). How unlikely was the Richardson Grand Slam? In 12 MLB seasons (1,412 regular-season games), he had just 34 home runs and one regular-season Grand Slam. Despite the Yankees losing the Series four games-to-three, Richardson, who drove in a World Series’ record 12 RBI in the seven games, was named the Series MVP – the only player from the l0sing team ever granted that honor.
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Hideki Matsui … In the final game of the 2009 World Series (Game Six on November 4), Yankee DH Hideki Matsui filled the DH role well – driving in six runs in the Yankees’ 7-3 win over the Phillies. His three-for-four day included a two-run home run (off Pedro Martinez) in the second inning; a two-run single off Martinez in the third; and a two-run double off J.A. Happ in the fifth. Matsui had quite a series, leading the Bronx Bombers in average (.615); home runs (3); and RBI (8) – and winning World Series MVP Honors. Matsui was coming off a .274-28-90 regular season.
Put Me In, Coach
In Hideki Matsui’s first three seasons with the Yankees (2003-05), he played in every Yankee Game – going .297-70-330. Matsui joined the Yankees (and MLB) after playing ten seasons in Japan, where he hit .304-332-889.
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Albert Pujols … Yep, Albert Pujols is here again – thanks to his three-home run, six-RBI game in the 2011 World Series (Game Three, October 22). As noted earlier, in that 16-7 win, Pujols set the World Series single-game record for total bases and tied the World Series single-game records for hits (5), home runs (3), RBI (6) and runs scored (4).
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Addison Russell … The Cubs faced elimination for the second game in a row as they came into Game Six of the 2016 World Series. (The opposing Indians had won three of the first four games.) Cubs’ SS Addison Russell lashed a two-run double in the top of the first to put the Cubbies ahead 3-0 and, two innings later, smacked a Grand Slam to push the edge to 7-0. The Cubs eventually won 9-3 and ended up taking the Series four games-to-three, with a ten-inning, 8-7 win in Game Seven. Russell hit just .222 for the Series, but drove in a Series-leading nine runs. Over a five-season MLB career, Russell hit .242-60-253 in 615 games. 2016 was his only All Star year and he reached career highs in runs (67), home runs (21) and RBI (95).
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Runs Scored in a World Series Game – Four
Babe Ruth, Earle Combs, Frankie Crosetti, Enos Slaughter, Reggie Jackson, Kirby Puckett, Carney Lansford, Lenny Dykstra, Jeff Kent, Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman
This is a mark, I ‘d like to seek broken, if only to end an 11-player tie.
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Stolen Bases in a World Series Game – Three
Honus Wagner, Willie Davis, Lou Brock, B.J. Upton, Rajai Davis
Lou Brock … Lets’ just note here, that Lou Brock remains the only player to steal three bases in a World Series game twice in his career. The fleet Cardinals’ outfielder accomplished the feat against the Red Sox in Game Seven of the 1967 World Series (October 12) and in Game Three of the 1968 World Series (October 5) against the Tigers.
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Intentional Walks in World Series Game – Three
Rudy York, Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz
Rudy York, Red Sox … October 11, 1946 – Game Five of the Red Sox/Cardinals World Series.
Barry Bonds, Giants … On October 23, 2002 – Game Four of the Angels/Giants World Series.
Albert Pujols, Cardinals … On October 24, 2011 – in Game Five of the Cardinals/Rangers World Series.
David Ortiz, Red Sox … On October 30, in Game Six of the Cardinals/Red Sox World Series.
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Grounded into Double Plays in a World Series Game – Three
Willie Mays
PHOTO: New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer, William C. Greene, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Willie Mays … On October 8, 1951 – in Game Four of the Yankees/Giants World Series – Giants’ rookie CF Willie Mays came to bat four times and not only was held hitless, but grounded into a Series single-game record three double plays.
Baseball Roundtable Extra – Whiff and Poof
While 17 players have fanned four times in a World Series Game – including position players Josh Devore, Mickey Mantle, Joe Collins, Wayne Garrett, Devon White, Brad Hawpe, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell Mike Napoli, George Springer and Cody Bellinger:
- Only pitcher George Pipgras has fanned five times in a World Series Game. The Yankee righthander did it in Game Three of the 1932 Cubs/Yankees World Series – whiffing in all five of his plate appearances. Pipgras, a career .163 hitter, did get the win in a 7-5 Yankee triumph.
- Only Cody Bellinger has fanned four times in a World Series Game twice – and he did it in a span of five days. The Dodgers’ rookie 1B did it in Game Three of the 2017 Dodger/Astros World Series (October 27) – fanning four times in four at bats on fourteen pitches. He repeated the “feat” in Game Six (October 31) fanning four times in four plate appearances – this time on 24 pitches. Seager was coming off an All Star season in which he hit .2667-39-97. (In the 2017 World Series Bellinger struck out a World Series record 17 times (in 29 plate appearances.)
Doubles in a World Series Game – Four
Frank Isbell
Frank Isbell … In Game Five of the 1906 World Series (Cubs/White Sox), White Sox’ 2B Frank Isbell went four-for-five, rapping four doubles, as the White Sox topped the Cubs 8-6. Isbell scored three times and drove in two. Isbell was not exactly a doubles machine. In the 1906 regular season he hit just 18 doubles in 617 plate appearances.
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Triples in a World Series Game – Two
Tommy Leach, Patsy Dougherty, Dutch Reuther, Bobby Richardson, Tommy Davis, Mark Lemke
Tommy Leach, Pirates … Game One 1903 World Series (Pirates/Boston Americans). Notably, both three-baggers were hit off Cy Young. Part of a four-for-five day.
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Patsy Dougherty, Boston Americans … Game Five 1903 World Series, part of a three-for-six, three-RBI day.
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Dutch Reuther, Reds … Game One, 1919 World Series (Reds/White Sox). Reuther gets special mention as the only pitcher on the list. He collected two triples, a single and a walk in four plate appearances – and also pitched a one-run, six-hit complete game as his Reds triumphed 9-1. Reuther was a solid-hitting pitcher, putting up a .258 average, with seven home runs and 111 RBI over 11 MLB seasons.
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Bobby Richardson, Yankees … Game Six 1960 World Series (Pirates/Yankees). The Yankee second-sacker went two-for-three with one run and three RBI in the game.
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Tommy Davis, Dodgers – Game Two, 1963 World Series (Dodgers/Yankees). The Dodgers’ CF went two-for-four, with one run and two RBI.
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Mark Lemke, Braves … Game Six, 1991 World Series (Braves/Twins). A two-for-three day with two runs and three RBI for the Braves’ 2B.
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Now Let switch to the moundsmen
Perfect Games in the World Series – One
Don Larsen
Don Larsen, Yankees …. Game 6 1960 World Series (October 8). Don Larsen, coming off a 11-5, 2.36 season, pitched the World Series’ only Perfect Game – retiring all 27 Dodger batters on a total of 97 pitchers as the Yankees won 2-0. Larsen, who fanned seven, reached ball three on only one Dodger hitter (Dodgers’ shortstop Pee Wee Reese in the first inning). Dodgers’ pitcher Sal Maglie had the longest at bat versus Larsen – a seven-pitch at bat before fanning on a 2-2 pitch to end the sixth inning.
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No-Hitter (not a Perfect Game) in a World Series – One
Red Grier
Red Grier … Red Grier of the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants (Eastern Colored League) tossed a no-hitter versus the Chicago American Giants (Negro National League) in a 10-0 win in Game Three of the 1926 Negro Leagues World Series. Retrosheet.org shows that Grier walked six and fanned eight in the outing – and also collected three hits (a double and two singles) and a walk.
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Complete Game Shutouts – 49
While there have been 49 complete-game shutouts in the World Series, Baseball Roundtable will give special mention to the three pitchers who threw extra-inning, complete-game shutouts.
Christy Mathewson, Giants … In Game Two of the 1913 World Series (Giants/Athletics), Christy Mathewson pitched a ten-inning, eight-hit, one-walk, five-strikeout shutout as his Giants won 3-0. Mathewson himself drove in the game’s first run with a single off Athletics’ starter Eddie Plank. (The Giants scored three times in the top of the tenth.)
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Clem Labine, Dodgers … In Game Five of the 1956 World Series (Dodgers/Yankees), Clem Labine went ten innings and shutout the Yankees on four hits, two walks and five strikeouts. Bob Turley went the distance for the Yankees, giving up just one run on four hits, with eight walks and 11 whiffs. Jackie Robinson drove in the only run of the game plating Jim Gilliam with a single with two outs in the bottom of the tenth.
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Jack Morris, Twins … Jack Morris tossed a ten-inning, complete-game shutout as the Twins won Game Seven of the 1991 Series 1-0. Ironman Morris tossed 126 pitches in shutting out the Braves on seven hits, with two walks and eight whiffs.
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Most Innings pitched in a World Series Game -14
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth … Babe Ruth pitched 14 innings for the Red Sox in a World Series complete-game, six-hit, 2-1 win ( over the Brooklyn Robins) on October 9, 1916. Ruth gave up just six hits (three walks/four strikeouts) over the 14 frames. He also picked up an RBI on a third-inning ground out.
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Most Strikeouts in a World Series Game – 17
Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson … In the Opening Game of the 1968 World Series (October 8), the Cardinals’ Bob Gibson (facing the Tigers) struck out a World Series’ single-game record 17 hitters – getting each of the nine players in the Tigers’ starting lineup at least once. Gibson threw a five-hit shutout, as St. Louis won 4-0.
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Batters Hit-by-Pitch in a World Series – Four
Lance McCullers Jr.
Lance McCullers, Jr. … in Game Seven of the 2017 World Series (November 1), Lance McCullers of the Astros plunked four Dodgers in 2 1/3 innings. Surprisingly, despite giving up three hits and hitting four batters in 2 1/3 innings, McCullers did not surrender a run.
It went like this:
- Bottom of the first – Astros up 2-0. Dodgers’ CF Chris Taylor opens with a double; McCullers fans SS Corey Seager on a 3-2 pitch; 3B Justin Turner is hit by a 1-2 pitch; 1B Cody Bellinger fans on a 1-2 pitch; RF Yasiel Puig is hit by a 3-1 pitch loading the bases. LF Joc Pederson grounds out on an 0-2 pitch to end the inning.
- Second Inning – 2B Logan Forsythe leads off with a single to left (on a 1-0 pitch); C Austin Barnes grounds out, Forsythe moving to second; PH Enrique Hernandez is it by a 3-1 pitch; Taylor lines into a double play.
- Third Inning – Seager singles to center on a 1-2 pitch; Turner is hit by an 0-0 pitch; Bellinger strikes out on a 2-2 pitch. Brad Peacock relieves McCullers and retries Puig and Pederson with no damage., The Astros go on to win the Game 5-1 and the Series four games-to-three.
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Strikeouts by A Reliever in a World Series Game – 11
Moe Drabowsky
Moe Drabowsky … In the Opening Game of the 1966 World Series (October 5) between the Orioles and Dodgers. Moe Drabowsky came on in the bottom of the third inning with the Orioles up 4-1. The Dodgers, however, had the bases loaded with one out (starter Dave McNally had walked RF Lou Johnson, LF Tommy Davis and 2B Jim Lefebvre in succession. Drabowsky got 1B Wes Parker on a strikeout; walked 2B Jim Gilliam to force in a run; and retired got C Johnny Roseboro on a foul pop up.
Drabowsky went on to fan the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings. Ultimately, he finished the game, pitching 6 2/3 frames – giving up one hit and two walks and fanning 11, as the Orioles won 5-2. Those two runs would be the Dodgers only tallies in the four-game Series. They lost the final three games by scores of 6-0, 1-0 and 1-0.
The Baltimore Orioles used only four pitchers Dave McNally, Wally Bunker, Jim Palmer and Moe Drabowsky in winning the 1966 World Series four games-to-one over the Dodgers.
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Most Hits Allowed in a World Series Game – 15
Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson – In Game Seven of the 1925 World Series (October 15) between the Pirates and Senators, the Senators’ Walter Johnson pitched a complete-game (eight innings) – giving up 15 hits, nine runs (five earned), with one walk and three strikeouts – as his Senators lost 9-7.
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Most Home Runs Allowed in a World Series Game – 4
Charlie Root, Gene Thompson, Dick Hughes
Charlie Root, Cubs … In Game Three of the 1932 Yankees/Cubs World Series, Cubs’ starter Charlie Root lasted just 4 1/3 innings (five hits, six runs). Among the five hits were two home runs apiece by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The Yankees won the game 7-5, with Ruth and Gehrig driving in six runs.
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Gene Thompson, Reds … In Game Three of the 1937 Yankees/Reds World Series (October 7), Reds ‘starter Gene Thompson lasted 4 2/3 innings (five hits, four walks, seven runs). The five hits included home runs by RF Charlie Keller (2); CF Joe DiMaggio; and C Bill Dickey. The Yankees won the contest 7-3.
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Dick Hughes, Cardinals … In Game Six of the 1967 Cardinals/Red Sox World Series ( October 11), Cardinals’ starter Dick Hughes lasted just 3 2/3 innings (five hits, four runs) giving up home runs to SS Rico Petrocelli (2); LF Carl Yastrzemski and CF Reggie Smith. The Red Sox prevailed 8-4.
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Most Walks Allowed in a Word Series Game – Ten
Bill Bevens
Bill Bevens … On October 3, 1947, the Yankees’ Bill Bevens gave up just one hit (8 2/3 innings) in a 3-2 World Series loss to the Dodgers. Bevens, unfortunately, walked a World Series single-game record ten batters (one intentional), and free passes contributed to all the scoring.
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Most Runs Given Up in a World Series – Ten
Brickyard Kennedy
Bill “Brickyard” Kennedy … Bill Kennedy gave up a World Series single-game record ten runs on October 7, 1903, as his Pirates lost to the Boston Americans (AL) 11-2. Kennedy was matched up in a scoreless duel with Cy Young through five innings, before giving up six runs – all unearned – on three hits and three errors in the sixth and another four runs (all earned) in the seventh.
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Earned Runs Given Up – Eight
Grover Cleveland (Pete) Alexander, Jay Witasick
Grover Cleveland Alexander … On October 5, 1928, Grover Cleveland (Pete) Alexander (16-9, 3.36 in the regular season) lasted only 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees – giving up eight runs on six hits (one home run) and four walks, in a game the Yankees won 9-3. The 41-year-old Alexander, with 364 regular-season wins under his belt, pitched just five innings in the Series (a Yankee sweep), giving up 11 runs.
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Jay Witasick … On November 3, 2001 – in Game Six of the World Series – Yankees’ reliever Jay Witasick came on in the third inning against the Diamondbacks, who already had roughed up starter Andy Pettitte for six runs (on seven hits and two walks) in just two innings. Witasick gave up a record-tying eight earned runs (plus one unearned) in 1 1/3 innings. While he gave up ten hits, Witasick walked none and recorded all four of his outs on strikeouts. Eight of the first nine batters Witasick faced collected base hits (six single and two doubles).
For past posts ranking the World Series Top Ten Shutouts (click here) and Ranking the Top World Series Walk Off Home Runs (click here)
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; The World Series (Dial Press/Sports Products, Inc.)
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