On this date (August 18) in 1998, the Braves faced off against the Giants in Atlanta, with Greg Maddux on the mound – seeking his 200th MLB win. Little did the fans know they would see a bit of history in more ways than one. Maddux would get win number 200, as the Braves topped the Giants 8-4, but there would be a little more obscure historic marker put down.
In the bottom of the first, Braves’ SS Walt Weis led off with a double to left (on a 3-2 pitch from Kirk Reuter). Two pitches later, Braves’ RF Gerald Williams brought home Weiss with a another double to left – and the tone was set. After 8 ½ innings, the Braves had an 8-4 win – and nine hits, all doubles. In a another “In Baseball We Count Everything” moment, it remains the most doubles ever in an MLB game by a team whose every hit was a double. Yep, nine hits – all two-baggers.
The Brave., by the way, finished fourth in the NL in doubles that season – but did not have a single player in the top 25 in two-base hits. Andruw Jones led the Braves with 33 doubles, 32nd in the league.
So, how about a few more team doubles records:
- Most doubles in a season, 376 – 2008 Rangers (led by Ian Kinsler with 41 and with nine players with 20+ doubles).
- Most doubles in a game, 14 – Chicago White Stockings on July 3, 1883 (in a 31-7 win over the Buffalo Bisons; with four doubles each by Cap Anson and Abner Dalrymple).
- Most doubles in an inning, 7 – Boston Bees (first inning, August 25, 1936 vs. St, Louis Cardinals) and Saint Louis Cardinals (seventh inning, July 21, 2012 vs. the Chicago Cubs).
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; NationalPastime.com
Baseball Roundtable Disclaimer: The MLB records referenced in this (and previous) posts have the potential to change (primarily additions) as Major League Baseball recognizes and fully incorporates Negro League records from 1920-48 into the MLB record book.
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