Photo: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Yesterday (May 11, 2022), Brewers’ DH Christian Yelich, hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and home run all in one game) for the third time in his career. (Despite, Yelich’s heroics, the Brewers lost to the Reds (in Cincinnati) by a 14-11 scored. Yelich had a ground-rule double in he first inning; a three-run home run in the third; a single in the fifth; flied out to CF in the seventh; and recorded the often-elusive triple in the top of the ninth.
In the process, Yelich became:
- Just the sixth player to record three cycles in an MLB career; and
- the first player to record three career cycles against the same team (Reds).
Before yesterday’s performance, Yelich was already:
- One of just five MLB players to record two cycles in a season; and
- the only MLB player to record two cycles in a season against the same team (Reds).
Baseball Roundtable Disclaimer: The MLB records noted in this post have the potential to change as Major League Baseball recognizes and further incorporates Negro League records from 1920-48.
In celebration of Yelich’s achievement, Baseball Roundtable thought this might be a good time to revisit come cycle trivia.
The Most Cycles Ever
Only six MLB players have hit for the cycle three times in their careers: John Reilly (Red Stockings, twice in 1883 and Reds in 1890); Babe Herman (Brooklyn Robins, twice in 1931 and Cubs in 1933); Bob Meusel (Yankees in 1921, 1922 and 1928); Adrian Beltre (Mariners in 2008, Rangers in 2012 and 2015); Trea Turner (Nationals in 2017, 2019 and 2021); and Christian Yelich (Brewers, twice in 2018, 2022).
The Most Cycles Ever in One Season
Only five players have collected two cycles in one season. Among those, Brewers’ outfielder Christian Yelich is the only one to hit for the cycle against the same team (the Reds) twice in the same campaign. In Yelich’s 2018 MVP season, he hit for the cycle on August 29, as the Brewers topped the Reds 13-12 in ten innings in Cincinnati. He doubled up on cycles on September 17, as the Brewers topped the Reds 8-0 in Milwaukee.
The Only Pitcher Ever to Record a Win and Hit for the Cycle in the Same Game
On July 28, 1888 – as the Chicago White Stockings topped the Detroit Wolverines, 21-17 – Jimmy Ryan started in CF for Chicago with Mark Baldwin on the mound. In the bottom of the second – with two out, six runs scored in the inning and the bases loaded – Chicago Manager Cap Anson had Baldwin and Ryan change places. Ryan fanned Detroit pitcher Charles “Lady” Baldwin to end the inning, with the White Stockings trailing 7-4. Chicago tied the game at 8-8 in the top of the fourth and went on to win 21-17.
Ryan got the victory, pitching 7 1/3 innings, allowing ten runs. He also went five-for-six at the plate (a single, double, two triples and a home run), was safe on error, scored three runs, drove in four and stole a pair of bases. In the process, he became the first (and still only) player to record a pitching victory and a cycle in the same game. (For the season, Ryan hit .332, leading the National League in hits with 182, doubles with 33 and home runs with 16). On the mound, he was 4-0, 3.05 in eight appearances (two starts). For his 18-season MLB career (1885-1900, 1902-03), Ryan hit.308-118-1,093, with 419 steals (2,014 games). On the mound he was 6-1, 3.62 in 24 games (five starts).
The Fastest Cycle Ever
On June 18, 2000, Colorado Rockies’ second baseman Mike Lansing completed the cycle in just four innings – making it the quickest cycle in MLB history. Notably, Lansing was consistently behind in the counts and three of his four hits came with two strikes. Lansing, batting second in the order, hit:
- An RBI triple to right in the first inning, on a 1-2 pitch;
- A two-run home run (0-1 pitch) in the bottom of the second;
- A two-run double (2-2 pitch) in the bottom of the third (as the Rockies scored nine times to take a 14-1 lead); and
- A single (another 1-2 offering) to right in the fourth.
Lansing then struck out in the sixth, before being lifted for a pinch-hitter (Darren Bragg) in the eighth. Lansing ended the day four-for-five, with three runs scored and five RBI, as the Rockies torched the Diamondbacks 19-2 in Denver.
The “Slowest” Cycle Ever
The Expos’ Tim Foli is the only player to start a cycle one day and complete it the next. On April 21, 1976, Foli collected a single, double and triple in a contest against the Cubs that was suspended in the top of the seventh due to darkness. When play resumed the following day, Foli added an eighth-inning home run. (The Expos prevailed 12-6.)
Longest Time Ever Between Cycles
Among players with multiple cycles, George Brett went the longest time between cycles – 11 years & 57 days. He hit for the cycle on May 28, 1979 (his age-26 season) and again on June 24, 1990 (his age-37 season).
Something Old … Something New
The youngest MLB player ever to hit for the cycle is the NY Giants’ Mel Ott (age 20 and 75 days) on May 16, 1929). The oldest player to hit for the cycle is The Angels’ Dave Winfield (age 39 and 264 days) on June 24, 1991.
Three’s a Crowd
Between August 2 and August 14 1933, three MLB players it for the cycle. Mickey Cochrane (August 2); Pinky Higgins (August 6); Jimmie Foxx (August 14). All three were suited up for the Philadelphia Athletics.
Sharing the Wealth
Three players have hit for the cycle in both the NL and AL: Bob Watson (NL Astros-1977 and AL Red Sox-1979); John Olerud (NL Mets-1997 and AL Mariners-2001); Michael Cuddyer (AL Twins-2009 and NL Rockies-2014).
Quote the Raven, “Nevermore”
The Marlins are the only MLB team to never have a batter record a cycle.
The Biggest Seasons for Cycles
MLB a record nine cycles in 1933 and 2009. Here are the hitters.
1933: Pepper Martin, Cardinals; Chuck Klein, Phillies; Arky Vaughn, Pirates; Mickey Cochrane, Athletics; Pinky Higgins, Athletics; Jimmie Foxx, Athletics; Earl Averill, Indians; Babe Herman, Cubs.
2009: Orlando Hudson, Dodgers; Ian Kinsler, Rangers; Jason Kubel, Twins; Michael Cuddyer, Twins; Melky Cabrera, Yankees; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies; Felix Pie, Orioles; B.J. Upton, Rays.
Hitting (running) into an Out for the Cycle
Photo by rchdj10 
The Yankees’ 1B Lou Gehrig (kind of) earned a cycle by being tossed out at the plate. On June 25, 1934, as New York topped Chicago 13-2 at Yankee Stadium, Gehrig hit two-run home run in the first inning; a single in the third; and a double in the sixth. Gehrig came up needing just the triple for the cycle in the seventh and hit a smash to deep center (scoring Yankees’ CF Ben Chapman). Gehrig wasn’t satisfied with a three-bagger and was thrown out at home (8-6-2) trying for an inside-the-park home run – thus getting credit for the triple he needed for a cycle.
Nearly a Cycle – In One Inning
On June 27, 2003, Johnny Damon was playing CF and leading off for the Red Sox as they took on the Marlins in Boston. In a start that brought Boston fans up out of their seats, Damon was three-fourths of the way to the cycle bat the end of the first inning – and had tied an MLB record with three hits in an inning. (The Red Sox scored 14 runs in the first inning, on their way to a 25-3 win over the Marlins at Fenway.) Damon who collected a single, double and triple in the bottom of the first, ended the game five-for-seven, with three runs scored, three RBI, a double, a triple and three singles. He, unfortunately, did not get the cycle. In his final three at bats Damon: struck out; flied out to center; singled to right; singled past third base.
Here’s how that first inning went:
- Johnny Damon – Double past first base down the line. (Off starter Carl Pavano.)
- Todd Walker – Single, Damon scores.
- Nomar Garciaparra – Double.
- Manny Ramirez – Home run, scoring three.
- David Ortiz – Double.
- Kevin Millar – Single, Ortiz scores.
Michael Tejera replaces Pavano on the mound.
- Trot Nixon – Single.
- Bill Mueller – Walk, loading the bases.
- Jason Varitek – Single, Millar and Nixon score.
- Damon – Triple to deep right field, Mueller and Varitek score.
- Walker – Single, Damon scores.
Allen Levrault takes over for Tejera – at this point, we’ve seen two pitchers, 11 batters, ten hits, one walk, nine runs and no outs.
- Garciaparra – Foul pop out.
- Ramirez – Single.
- Ortiz – Walk, loading the bases.
- Millar – Sacrifice fly, scoring Walker.
- Nixon – Walk, loading the bases.
- Mueller – Double, scoring Ramirez and Ortiz.
- Varitek – Walk.
- Damon – Line drive single to left, Nixon scores, Mueller is thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Red Sox score 14 runs on 13 hits and four walks; Damon collects a single, double and triple.
The Cycle … From a Family Perspective
Only two father-son combinations have hit for the cycle at the major-league level – and both involved rookies.
Gary Ward hit for the cycle as a rookie (in just his 14th game) for the Twins on September 18, 1980. His son Daryle hit for the cycle for the Pirates (against the Cardinals) on May 26, 2004 (in his seventh MLB season).
In 2018, Blues Jays’ rookie Cavan Biggio – in a September 17 game against the Orioles – hit for the cycle. Cavan’s father, Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, hit for the cycle (for the Astros versus the Rockies) on April 8, 2002.
The Cycle … Sometimes it Skips a Generation
Pittsburgh Pirates’ outfielder Gus Bell hit for the cycle on June 4, 1951 – as the Pirates topped the Phillies 12-4 in Philadelphia. Fifty-three seasons later – on June 28, 2004 – Phillies’ 3B David Bell (Gus Bell’s grandson) hit for the cycle (also in Philadelphia), as the Phillies topped the Expos 14-6. Gus and David Bell are the only grandfather-grandson combination to achieve MLB cycles.
Cycles … A Big Stage Perspective
Brock Holt is the only player to record a cycle in the post season. He did it on October 8, 2018, as the Red Sox beat the Yankees 16-1 in Game Three of the American League Division Series. Holt grounded out in the top of the second inning; had a single and a triple in the Yankees seven-run fourth; grounded out in the sixth; hit a ground-rule double in the eighth; and managed to finish his cycle with a home run with two outs in the top of the ninth. It was Holt’s second career cycle. He had a regular-season cycle for the Red Sox on June 16, 2015, as Boston topped Atlanta 9-4 at Fenway. He also completed that cycle with two outs in Boston’s last offensive inning – hitting a triple with two down in the bottom of the eighth.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Almanac.com; Baseball-Reference.com; “July 28, 1888: Jimmy Ryan hits for cycle as Chicago White Stockings win 21-17 slugging match, ” by Mike Huber, SABR.
BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE ON THE TOP 100 BASEBALL BLOG LIST
Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. To see the full list, click here.
I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT
Follow/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here. More baseball commentary; blog post notifications; PRIZES.
Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
