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Juan Soto –
SotoPhoto by pdeonarain<\/a> <\/a><\/small><\/p><\/div>\n
The Nationals\u2019 Juan Soto<\/strong> <\/span>holds the distinction of being the only MLB player to enjoy\u00a0 three multi-homer games before his twentieth birthday<\/em><\/strong> (June 13, June 29 and September 11, 2018).\u00a0 The only other players with multiple two-homer games before reaching age 20 are Mel Ott<\/strong> \u00a0Giants, 1928), Ken Griffey Jr.<\/strong> (Mariners, 1989) and Bryce Harper<\/strong> (Nationals, 2012). \u00a0\u00a0Other teenagers (not already mentioned here) with multiple-homer games are: Harmon Killebrew<\/strong>, Senators, 1956); Brian McCall<\/strong> (White Sox, 1962); Tony Conigliaro<\/strong> (Red Sox, 1964); Ed Kranepool<\/strong>, (Mets, 1964); ; Andruw Jones <\/strong>(Braves, 1996).<\/p>\n
The surprise on this list is McCall,<\/strong> who (as a 19-year-old) hit two home runs \u00a0in a September 30, 1962 game \u2013 as his White Sox topped the Yankees 8-4. It would be McCall\u2019s only two MLB home runs<\/em><\/strong> in an MLB career that encompassed just seven games (in 1962-63). McCall hit 47 home runs over six minor-league seasons. Like Danny Murphy, McCall was moved to the mound, pitching \u00a0in the minors in 1965 and \u00a01966, but never making an MLB mound appearance.<\/p>\n
Old Guys Rule<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
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Julio Franco – Old Guys rule and he is their king!<\/p><\/div>\n
Julio Franco is the oldest player to have a multi-homer MLB game<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 at age 46 years-299 days. He did it while playing 1B for the Braves in a June 18, 2005 6-1 win over the Reds in Cincinnati. Franco played in 23 MLB seasons (1982-94, 1996-97, 2001-2007) from age 23 through age 48.<\/p>\n
Franco also is the oldest player ever to hit an MLB home run (48 years-254 days) on May 4, 2007 – as his Mets \u00a0topped the Diamondback 5-3. In fact, in the ranking of oldest-player home runs<\/em>, Franco holds 18 0f the top 19 places.<\/p>\n
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The 11 multi-home run games (in a season) of Hank Greenberg<\/strong> and Aaron Judge<\/strong> were all two-home run contests.\u00a0 Sammy Sosa<\/strong> had ten two-homer games and one three-homer game in his 11 multi-homer games.<\/p>\n
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Now, that Makes for a Good Story<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
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Photo by jenniferlinneaphotography<\/a> <\/a><\/small><\/p><\/div>\n
Rockies\u2019 shortstop Trevor Story<\/strong><\/span>\u2019s two-home run debut game<\/em><\/strong> is the most unique on the list above.\u00a0 It is the only one the chart that took place on Opening Day<\/em><\/strong>. It came on April 4, 2016 as Story\u2019s Rockies topped the Diamondbacks 10-5. Story went on to homer in his first \u00a0four games as a major leaguer \u2013 going 7-for-19 (.368) with six homers, six runs scored and 11 RBI.<\/p>\n
Still Active, Story has put up a .268-174-516 line over seven seasons. He currently has 19 multi-home games in his career.<\/p>\n
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There have been more than 350 three-homer MLB regular-season games, so we’ll just touch on a few highlights here.<\/p>\n
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The youngest player ever to record a three-homer game <\/em><\/strong>is Tigers\u2019 outfielder Al Kaline<\/strong><\/span>, who accomplished the feat on April 17, 1955 – as the Tigers topped the athletics 16-0. Kaline, already in his third MLB season, was 20 years-19 days old and on his way to a .340-27-102 season, leading the AL in average and base hits (200).<\/li>\n
The oldest player with a three-homer game <\/em><\/strong>is Stan Musial<\/strong> <\/span>(at 41 years-229 days).\u00a0 Musial\u2019s game came on July 8, 1962, as his Cardinals topped the Mets 5-1. Musial had two three-homer games in his\u00a0 22-season MLB \u00a0career (35 two-homer games, 399 with one home run).<\/li>\n
Only four players have recorded a three-homer game after their fortieth birthday<\/em><\/strong>: Stan Musial<\/strong><\/span> (Cardinals, 1962), Jason Giambi<\/span> <\/strong>(Rockies, 2011),<\/em> Reggie Jackson <\/strong><\/span>(Angels, 1986) and Babe Ruth <\/strong><\/span>(Braves,1935).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The most three homer games in a single season<\/em> is three \u2013 and they came in a span of 46 days –\u00a0 by Sammy Sosa in 2001. Ironically, Sosa\u2019s Cubs lost two of the three contests.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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A Baseball Roundtable Extra – a bit of\u00a0 “one thing leads do another.”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
While this post is all about regular-season multi-homer games, here’s a look at players with a three-homer game in the post-season.<\/p>\n
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Babe Ruth<\/strong>, Yankees … Game Four, 1926 World Series & Game Four, 1928 World Series<\/li>\n
Reggie Jackson,<\/strong> Yankees … Game Six, 1977 World Series<\/li>\n
Albert Pujols<\/strong>, Cardinals … Game Three, 2011 World Series<\/li>\n
Pablo Sandoval<\/strong>, Giants … Game One, 2012 World Series<\/li>\n
Bob Robertson,<\/strong> Pirates … Game Two, 1971 NLCS<\/li>\n
George Brett<\/strong>, Royals … Game Three, 1978 ALCS<\/li>\n
Adam Kennedy<\/strong>, Angels … Game Five, 2002 ALCS<\/li>\n
Enrique Hernandez<\/strong>, Dodgers\u00a0 … Game Five, 2017 NLCS<\/li>\n
Chris Taylor<\/strong>, Dodgers … Game Five, 2012 NLCS<\/li>\n
Adrian Beltre<\/strong>, Rangers … Game Four, 2011 ALDS.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Ah, those great single-admission doubleheaders – which helped make the next story possible.<\/p>\n
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A Beautiful Coincidence<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n $\"\"$ <\/a>Stan Musial<\/strong> and Nate Colbert<\/strong> share the record for most home runs in a double header -with five \u2013 and they share more than that. On May 2, 1954, the New York Giants faced Musial\u2019s Cardinals in a double header before 26,662 fans at Busch Stadium.\u00a0 And, on that day, Musial became the first player to pole five home runs in a doubleheader \u2013 or, if you prefer, five home runs in a single day of the MLB schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n
As the Cardinals won Game One 10-6, Musial was brilliant, recording four hits and a walk in five plate appearances \u2013 including a solo home run in the third inning, a two-run homer in the fifth and a three-run blast in the eighth. It was the first time Musial had hit three round trippers in a single game. He ended with contest with three runs scored and six RBI.<\/span><\/p>\n
Musial faced knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm in Game Two. If Stan was going to continue his long-ball heroics, he would have to provide his own power \u2013 and he did. In Game Two, Musial collected two hits and a walk in five plate appearances \u2013 including a two-run homer in the fifth inning and a solo shot in the seventh, scoring three runs and driving in three in a 9-7 Cardinals loss.<\/span><\/p>\n
So, for the doubleheader, Stan Musial was six-for-eight, with two walks, six runs scored, nine RBI and five home runs.<\/span><\/p>\n
Now, that coincidence.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
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Among the fans witnessing Musial\u2019s 1954 feat was eight-year-old Nate Colbert \u2013 who, on August 1, 1972, would become the second player in MLB history (and there are still only two) to hit five round trippers in a double header.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
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Colbert, whose San Diego Padres were facing the Atlanta Braves in a double header before a meager crowd of 5,784 (in Atlanta), got his day off to a quick start. The Padres\u2019 clean-up hitter hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning. Colbert went on to add a run-scoring single in the third, another single in the fourth, and a solo homer in the seventh before striking out to open the ninth. For the game, won by the Padres 9-0, Colbert was four-for-five, three runs scored, five RBI and two home runs.<\/span><\/p>\n
Game two started out quietly enough, with Colbert drawing a first-inning walk. Things heated up fast, as Colbert added a grand slam in the second, a ground out to third base in the fourth, a two-run homer in the seventh and a day-topping two-run round tripper with two out in the ninth. In the process, he went three-for-four with three runs scored and eight RBI \u2013 becoming only the second player with five home runs in a double header. (The Padres, by the way, won game two 11-7.)\u00a0 For the double header, Colbert was seven-for-nine, with a walk, seven runs scored, 13 RBI and five home runs. Stan Musial, however, was not in the stands.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Some four-homer game tidbits:<\/p>\n
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The youngest player to hit four homers in a game<\/strong> was White Sox’ outfielder Pat Seerey<\/strong> <\/span>(25 years-123 days).<\/li>\n
The oldest player to hit four homers in a game<\/strong> was Phillies’ outfielder Chuck Klein<\/strong><\/span> (31 years-277 days).<\/li>\n
The Braves\u2019 Bob Horner<\/strong> <\/span>is the only player to hit four home runs in a game his team lost<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 (The Braves lost to the Expos 11-8 on July 6, 1986).<\/li>\n
\u2018The Cardinals\u2019 Mark Whiten<\/strong><\/span> tied the MLB record for RBI in a game<\/strong> in his September 7, 1993 four-homer game versus the Reds, with 12 RBI. His day included a Grand Slam, two three-run homers; and one two-run shot.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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When Baseball Roundtable Looks into the Baseball Record Books \u2013 One Thing Always<\/em> Seems to Lead to Another.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
This post has focused thus far on multi-home run games. \u00a0\u00a0How about players who logged a multi-homer inning?\u00a0 Not as rare as you might think. A total \u00a059 players have it two home runs in a single inning. \u00a0Too many too list, but how about a few tidbits.<\/p>\n
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Fernando Tatis<\/strong><\/span> (Cardinals) is the only player to hit two Grand Slams in one inning<\/em><\/strong>. He did it on April 23, 1999. \u2013 in the third inning of a Redbirds\u2019 12-5 win over the Dodgers (in LA). Surprisingly, both Grand Slams came off the same pitcher – Dodgers\u2019 starter Chan Ho Park<\/strong><\/span>. Yep, they left Park in to take the thrashing. Park, by the way, finished the season 2-10, with a 7.43 ERA.<\/li>\n
Alex Rodriguez<\/strong> <\/span>(Yankees, 2007 & 2009), Edwin Encarnacion<\/strong><\/span> (Blue Jays, 2013 & Mariners, 2019), Andre Dawson<\/strong><\/span> (Expos, 1978 & 1985), Jeff King<\/strong> (<\/span>Pirates , 1995 & 1996) and Willie McCovey<\/strong><\/span> (Giants (1973 & 1977) are the only players to hit two home runs in an inning twice<\/strong> in their career.<\/li>\n
Carlos Baerga<\/strong> <\/span>(Indians, 1993), Mark Bellhorn<\/strong><\/span> (Cubs, 2002) and Kendrys Morales<\/strong><\/span> (Angels , 2012) all hit home runs from both side of the plate in the same inning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Baseball Roundtable Flash Back-to-Back \u2026 A Final Tale for this Post<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
In the top of the first inning of a game (May 2, 2002) between the Mariners and White Sox (in Chicago),\u00a0 White Sox’ starter Jon Rauch<\/strong> hit Mariners’\u00a0 RF Ichiro Suzuki<\/strong> with the first pitch of the game.\u00a0 Second baseman Bret Boone<\/strong> followed with a home run on the very next pitch, and\u00a0 CF \u00a0Mike Cameron<\/strong> followed with another dinger on a 1-2 pitch.\u00a0 The Mariners batted around and, by the time Boone came up for a second time that inning, held a 7-0 lead.<\/span><\/p>\n
In his second at bat of the frame, Boone homered again (another two-run shot), this time on a 1-2 pitch from Jim Parque<\/strong>. Next up was Cameron, who hit the first pitch he saw from Parque for another home run.\u00a0 This remains the only time that two players have homered twice, back-to-back, in the same inning<\/em><\/strong>. The Mariners, by the way, won the contest 15-4.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Side Note: We could see some players added to these lists as Negro League statistics from 1920-1948 are further documented and add to the MLB record books.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
Primary Resources:\u00a0 Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com<\/p>\n
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Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n $\"100\"$ <\/a>Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs.\u00a0 To see the full list, click\u00a0 here.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT<\/h3>\n
Follow\/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0 More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As Baseball Roundtable (impatiently) awaits that fan-centric phrase \u201cpitchers and catchers report,\u201d I continue to somewhat randomly peruse (and present) hardball\u00a0 statistics and stories. (Yes, even on Christmas Eve.)\u00a0 \u00a0In this post, I\u2019ll take a look at the long ball, specifically players \u2013 both familiar and obscure –\u00a0 who are at the top of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n