In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all the bases occupied, thereby scoring 4 runs - the most possible on a single play. Lou Gehrig hit 23 career grand slams, the most by any player in Major League Baseball. Don Mattingly set the single-season record with 6 grand slams in 1987 - remarkably, the only 6 of his entire 14-year career; Travis Hafner tied the single-season record in 2006. Roger Connor is believed to have been the first major league player to hit a grand slam, on September 10, 1881 for the Troy Trojans, although Charlie Gould hit one for the Boston Red Stockings in the National Association on September 5, 1871 (the National Association is not recognized by Major League Baseball as a major league).
On several occasions in major league history, the first being Connor's 1881 home run, a player has hit a walk-off grand slam for a 1-run victory; some baseball observers call this an "ultimate grand slam" [1] [2].
In the 2005 major league season, grand slams accounted for 132 of the 5017 total home runs hit (2.6 %). On June 13 and 14, 2006, the Minnesota Twins recorded the rare feat of two grand slams in consecutive games against the Boston Red Sox, including a walk off grand slam by Jason Kubel in the 12th inning on the 13th. Also in 2006, the Chicago White Sox hit grand slams in three consecutive games against the Houston Astros on June 23, June 24, and June 25. Two of the three grand slams were hit by second baseman Tadahito Iguchi. They became the first team to accomplish this feat since the Detroit Tigers did it in 1993. In 2007, the Kansas City Royals surrendered grand slams in three straight games, two against the Baltimore Orioles and one against the Detroit Tigers, from April 13 to April 16, 2007.
In the 2006 major league season, Travis Hafner of the Cleveland Indians set a major league record by hitting five grand slams prior to the All-Star Break. Weeks later on July 16, Carlos Beltran and Cliff Floyd of the New York Mets hit grand slams during an 11-run 6th inning in a game against the Chicago Cubs, the 7th time two grand slams have been hit in a single inning (the 4th time in National League history). Hafner's sixth grand slam on August 13 tied Mattingly's record for most in a season.
In Japan's professional league, the feat of multiple grand slams in a single inning by a team has been accomplished three times; most recently on April 1, 2007 by José Fernández and Takeshi Yamasaki of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. The Daiei Hawks accomplished the feat in 1999.[1]
On April 23, 1999, Fernando Tatis of the St. Louis Cardinals hit 2 grand slams in the same inning, both against Chan Ho Park, in the only such occurrence in major league history. Tatis had never hit a grand slam in his career before.
Three players have hit grand slams at their first at-bat: Kevin Kouzmanoff (2006), Jeremy Hermida (2005), and Bill Duggleby (1898). Kouzmanoff was the first and only to hit a grand slam off of the first pitch.
A nickname for the grand slam popularized by the sports media is the "grand salami".
World Series[]
Follow the linked year on the far left for detailed information on that series.
Year | Game | Batter | Site | Pitcher | Inning | Score after HR | Final score | Series standing | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1920 | Game 5, October 10 | Elmer Smith, Cleveland | League Park | Burleigh Grimes, Brooklyn | 1st | 4-0 | 8-1, W | 3-2 Cle | The first slam in Series history, hit with none out in the 1st, is overshadowed when, in the 5th inning, Bill Wambsganss turns the only unassisted triple play ever in the Series. |
1936 | Game 2, October 2 | Tony Lazzeri, New York (AL) | Polo Grounds | Dick Coffman, New York (NL) | 3rd | 9-1 | 18-4, W | 1-1 | With President Roosevelt in attendance, Lazzeri hits a 2-2 pitch with one out to give the Yankees a sizable lead. |
1951 | Game 5, October 9 | Gil McDougald, New York (AL) | Polo Grounds | Larry Jansen, New York (NL) | 3rd | 5-1 | 13-1, W | 3-2 NY(AL) | McDougald puts the Yankees up with 2 out in the 3rd. |
1953 | Game 5, October 4 | Mickey Mantle, New York | Ebbets Field | Russ Meyer, Brooklyn | 3rd | 6-1 | 11-7, W | 3-2 NY | After a two-out error by Gil Hodges, a hit batter and a walk, Mantle hits reliever Meyer's first pitch out of the park. |
1956 | Game 2, October 5 | Yogi Berra, New York | Ebbets Field | Don Newcombe, Brooklyn | 2nd | 6-0 | 13-8, L | 2-0 Bkn | Berra's blast with 2 out isn't enough to hold off the Dodgers in what becomes, at 3 hours 26 minutes, the longest 9-inning game in Series history until 1993. |
1956 | Game 7, October 10 | Moose Skowron, New York | Ebbets Field | Roger Craig, Brooklyn | 7th | 9-0 | 9-0, W | 4-3 NY | The Yankees score all their runs on 4 HRs to seal the Series, with Skowron's wallop on the first pitch with none out ending the scoring. |
1960 | Game 3, October 8 | Bobby Richardson, New York | Yankee Stadium | Clem Labine, Pittsburgh | 1st | 6-0 | 10-0, W | 2-1 NY | Richardson's HR with 1 out in the 1st starts him toward a Series-record 6 RBI. |
1962 | Game 4, October 8 | Chuck Hiller, San Francisco | Yankee Stadium | Marshall Bridges, New York | 7th | 6-2 | 7-3, W | 2-2 | With 2 out, Hiller hits the first grand slam by a National Leaguer in the Series. |
1964 | Game 4, October 11 | Ken Boyer, St. Louis | Yankee Stadium | Al Downing, New York | 6th | 4-3 | 4-3, W | 2-2 | With men on 1st and 2nd, Bobby Richardson's error with 1 out while seeking a double play opens the gate for Boyer to hit his pivotal blast. |
1964 | Game 6, October 14 | Joe Pepitone, New York | Sportsman's Park | Gordie Richardson, St. Louis | 8th | 8-1 | 8-3, W | 3-3 | With 2 out, Pepitone hits one onto the roof of the right field pavilion to help force Game 7. |
1968 | Game 6, October 9 | Jim Northrup, Detroit | Busch Stadium | Larry Jaster, St. Louis | 3rd | 8-0 | 13-1, W | 3-3 | Northrup's HR with none out is the highlight of a 10-run inning which puts the Tigers ahead 12-0. |
1970 | Game 3, October 13 | Dave McNally, Baltimore | Memorial Stadium | Wayne Granger, Cincinnati | 6th | 8-1 | 9-3, W | 3-0 | Besides his 2-out HR, McNally also pitches a complete game to put Baltimore within one win of the title. |
1987 | Game 1, October 17 | Dan Gladden, Minnesota | Metrodome | Bob Forsch, St. Louis | 4th | 7-1 | 10-1, W | 1-0 Min | Gladden's HR with none out caps a 7-run inning which ends the Cardinals' 25-inning shutout streak. |
1987 | Game 6, October 24 | Kent Hrbek, Minnesota | Metrodome | Ken Dayley, St. Louis | 6th | 10-5 | 11-5, W | 3-3 | With 2 out, Hrbek hits reliever Dayley's first pitch out of the park. |
1988 | Game 1, October 15 | José Canseco, Oakland | Dodger Stadium | Tim Belcher, Los Angeles | 2nd | 4-2 | 5-4, L | 1-0 LA | With 2 out, Canseco hits his first major league grand slam on a 1-0 pitch; but Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run wins it for the Dodgers. |
1992 | Game 5, October 22 | Lonnie Smith, Atlanta | SkyDome | Jack Morris, Toronto | 5th | 7-2 | 7-2, W | 3-2 Tor | With 2 out, Smith's HR helps keep the Braves alive in the Series. |
1998 | Game 1, October 17 | Tino Martinez, New York | Yankee Stadium | Mark Langston, San Diego | 7th | 9-5 | 9-6, W | 1-0 NY | Martinez' 2-out HR follows Chuck Knoblauch's 3-run game-tying shot earlier in the inning. |
2005 | Game 2, October 23 | Paul Konerko, Chicago | U.S. Cellular Field | Chad Qualls, Houston | 7th | 6-4 | 7-6, W | 2-0 Chi | Konerko's 2-out shot to left on reliever Qualls' first pitch gives the White Sox the lead, but Scott Podsednik later wins it with a walk-off home run. |
Other major league postseason grand slams[]
Series | Game | Batter | Site | Pitcher | Inning | Score after HR | Final score | Series standing | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1970 ALCS | Game 1, October 3 | Mike Cuellar, Baltimore | Metropolitan Stadium | Jim Perry, Minnesota | 4th | 7-2 | 10-6, W | 1-0 Bal | Cuellar, who batted only .089 in the regular season, pulls the ball down the right field line with one out; clearly foul when passing first base, the 29 mph wind carries it fair. Cuellar himself does not last through the fifth inning. |
1977 NLCS | Game 1, October 4 | Ron Cey, Los Angeles | Dodger Stadium | Steve Carlton, Philadelphia | 7th | 5-5 | 7-5, L | 1-0 Phi | With two out, Cey fouls off three full-count pitches before tying the game, but three singles and a balk in the 9th give the Phillies the win. |
1977 NLCS | Game 2, October 5 | Dusty Baker, Los Angeles | Dodger Stadium | Jim Lonborg, Philadelphia | 4th | 5-1 | 7-1, W | 1-1 | After Steve Garvey is walked intentionally with one out, Baker gives the Dodgers their second grand slam in as many nights. |
1982 ALCS | Game 4, October 9 | Don Baylor, California | Milwaukee County Stadium | Moose Haas, Milwaukee | 8th | 5-7 | 9-5, L | 2-2 | After Haas takes a no-hitter into the 6th in a game delayed twice by rain, Baylor brings the Angels within two runs with one out in the 8th. |
1989 NLCS | Game 1, October 4 | Will Clark, San Francisco | Wrigley Field | Greg Maddux, Chicago | 4th | 8-3 | 11-3, W | 1-0 SF | With two out, Clark hits the first pitch for his second HR of the game; he also singles, doubles and walks, picking up an NLCS-record 6 RBI. |
1992 NLCS | Game 2, October 7 | Ron Gant, Atlanta | Fulton County Stadium | Bob Walk, Pittsburgh | 5th | 8-0 | 13-5, W | 2-0 Atl | With two out, Gant hits his first career grand slam to double the Braves' lead. |
1995 NLDS | Game 3, October 6 | Mark Lewis, Cincinnati | Riverfront Stadium | Mark Guthrie, Los Angeles | 6th | 7-1 | 10-1, W | 3-0 Cin | After Guthrie enters the game with none out, Lewis hits the first pinch-hit grand slam in postseason history, propelling the Reds to their eighth straight playoff victory and their eighth NLCS. |
1995 ALDS | Game 4, October 7 | Edgar Martinez, Seattle | Kingdome | John Wetteland, New York | 8th | 10-6 | 11-8, W | 2-2 | After hitting a 3-run HR in the 3rd to cut NY's lead to two runs, Martinez hits another to center field to take the lead for good, finishing with a postseason-record 7 RBI. A walk, bunt single and hit batter had loaded the bases with none out. |
1996 ALDS | Game 1, October 1 | Bobby Bonilla, Baltimore | Camden Yards | Paul Shuey, Cleveland | 6th | 9-3 | 10-4, W | 1-0 Bal | After two walks, a single, a sacrifice fly and a hit batter, Shuey enters the game and is greeted by Bonilla's blast with two out. |
1996 ALDS | Game 3, October 4 | Albert Belle, Cleveland | Jacobs Field | Armando Benitez, Baltimore | 7th | 8-4 | 9-4, W | 2-1 Bal | After Orioles starter Mike Mussina is controversially pulled after six innings, Jesse Orosco walks the bases loaded and is replaced; Belle crushes an 0-2 pitch with none out to keep the Indians alive in the series. |
1996 NLCS | Game 2, October 10 | Gary Gaetti, St. Louis | Fulton County Stadium | Greg Maddux, Atlanta | 7th | 8-3 | 8-3, W | 1-1 | In an inning featuring two walks, an error and a wild pitch, Gaetti wallops the first pitch with two out. Maddux surrenders his second grand slam in 34.2 NLCS innings after allowing only one in 2365.2 regular season innings. |
1997 NLDS | Game 3, October 3 | Devon White, Florida | 3Com Park | Wilson Alvarez, San Francisco | 6th | 4-1 | 6-2, W | 3-0 Fla | With two out, Florida gets a pair of singles and a walk before White hits Alvarez' 113th pitch to left field. The Marlins advance to their first NLCS, in their fifth year of play. |
1997 ALDS | Game 3, October 4 | Paul O'Neill, New York | Jacobs Field | Chad Ogea, Cleveland | 4th | 6-1 | 6-1, W | 2-1 NY | After starter Charles Nagy walks the bases loaded, O'Neill greets Ogea with a blast to center field with two out as rain begins to fall. |
1998 NLDS | Game 1, September 30 | Ryan Klesko, Atlanta | Turner Field | Matt Karchner, Chicago | 7th | 7-0 | 7-1, W | 1-0 Atl | Klesko's homer with two out, following three walks, secures the win for the Braves. |
1998 NLDS | Game 3, October 3 | Eddie Pérez, Atlanta | Wrigley Field | Rod Beck, Chicago | 8th | 6-0 | 6-2, W | 3-0 Atl | After Andruw Jones is walked intentionally, Pérez hits a homer with one out to wrap up the series for the Braves, sending the Cubs to their sixth straight playoff loss. |
1998 NLCS | Game 4, October 11 | Andrés Galarraga, Atlanta | Qualcomm Stadium | Dan Miceli, San Diego | 7th | 8-3 | 8-3, W | 3-1 SD | After Miceli enters the game, Galarraga caps a 6-run inning with a 459-foot blast to left-center with two out, helping to force a Game 5. |
1998 ALCS | Game 6, October 13 | Jim Thome, Cleveland | Yankee Stadium | David Cone, New York | 5th | 5-6 | 9-5, L | 4-2 NY | Thome's shot into the third deck with one out pulls the Indians within a run, but it isn't enough for the defending AL champions as the Yankees advance to the World Series. |
1999 NLDS | Game 1, October 5 | Edgardo Alfonzo, New York | Bank One Ballpark | Bobby Chouinard, Arizona | 9th | 8-4 | 8-4, W | 1-0 NY | Alfonzo hits his second HR of the game inside the left field foul pole with two out, after Robin Ventura was forced out at the plate one play earlier. |
1999 ALDS | Game 2, October 7 | Jim Thome, Cleveland | Jacobs Field | John Wasdin, Boston | 4th | 11-1 | 11-1, W | 2-0 Cle | After a 6-run 3rd inning highlighted by Harold Baines' 3-run HR, Thome makes it a blowout, ending a 5-run inning with a two-out shot and becoming the first player to hit two postseason grand slams. |
1999 ALDS | Game 5, October 11 | Troy O'Leary, Boston | Jacobs Field | Charles Nagy, Cleveland | 3rd | 7-5 | 12-8, W | 3-2 Bos | O'Leary homers with one out to give Boston the lead, and later hits a 3-run HR in the 7th to break an 8-8 tie and send the Red Sox to the ALCS; both homers come after intentional walks to Nomar Garciaparra. |
1999 ALCS | Game 4, October 17 | Ricky Ledee, New York | Fenway Park | Rod Beck, Boston | 9th | 9-2 | 9-2, W | 3-1 NY | Ledee hits a pinch-hit HR with one out to wrap up a 6-run inning and the victory. |
1999 NLCS | Game 5, October 17 | Robin Ventura, New York | Shea Stadium | Kevin McGlinchy, Atlanta | 15th | 4-3 | 4-3, W | 3-2 Atl | The Mets tie the score at 3-3 with a bases-loaded walk with one out, bringing up Ventura, who with 13 career grand slams is tied for the lead among active players with Harold Baines and Mark McGwire. He comes through with the first walk-off grand slam – and the first grand slam in extra innings – in postseason history, clearing the center-right field wall, but is officially credited with only a 1-run single after being mobbed by teammates upon passing first base. |
2003 NLCS | Game 4, October 11 | Aramis Ramírez, Chicago | Pro Player Stadium | Dontrelle Willis, Florida | 1st | 4-0 | 8-3, W | 3-1 Chi | After Willis walks the bases loaded with one out, Ramírez gets the Cubs off to an early lead by hitting a 2-2 pitch into the left field seats. |
2004 ALDS | Game 3, October 8 | Vladimir Guerrero, Anaheim | Fenway Park | Mike Timlin, Boston | 7th | 6-6 | 8-6, L | 3-0 Bos | Guerrero ties the score with a two-out HR to right on a 0-1 pitch, but the Red Sox score two in the 10th to advance to the ALCS. |
2004 ALCS | Game 7, October 20 | Johnny Damon, Boston | Yankee Stadium | Javier Vázquez, New York | 2nd | 6-0 | 10-3, W | 4-3 Bos | Damon homers to right on reliever Vázquez' first pitch with one out, staking Boston to an early lead; he homers again in the 4th for an 8-1 lead as the Red Sox complete their comeback after being down 3 games to 0. |
2005 NLDS | Game 1, October 4 | Reggie Sanders, St. Louis | Busch Stadium | Jake Peavy, San Diego | 5th | 8-0 | 8-5, W | 1-0 StL | With one out, Sanders homers on a 3-0 fastball from Peavy, who was unknowingly pitching with a fractured rib. |
2005 NLDS | Game 4, October 9 | Adam LaRoche, Atlanta | Minute Maid Park | Brandon Backe, Houston | 3rd | 4-0 | 7-6, L | 3-1 Hou | LaRoche, battling stomach flu, homers with two out, after two walks and a hit batter, to give the Braves an early lead, but the Astros tie the game 6-6 in the 9th and win in 18 innings to advance to the NLCS. |
2005 NLDS | Game 4, October 9 | Lance Berkman, Houston | Minute Maid Park | Kyle Farnsworth, Atlanta | 8th | 5-6 | 7-6, W | 3-1 Hou | With one out, Berkman hits an opposite-field homer to left on a 2-1 pitch to bring the Astros within a run; it is the first time that two grand slams are hit in the same postseason game. After tying the game in the 9th, the Astros win the series on Chris Burke's walk-off homer in the 18th, making it the longest game in postseason history. |
All-Star Game[]
Year | Batter | Date and Site | Pitcher | Inning | Score after HR | Final score | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1983 | Fred Lynn, AL (California) | July 6, Comiskey Park | Atlee Hammaker, NL (San Francisco) | 3rd | 9-1 | 13-3, W | In the 50th anniversary game, Lynn hits the first grand slam in All-Star history to right field on a 2-2 pitch with two out, capping a 7-run inning and virtually ensuring the AL's first victory since 1971 and second since 1962. |
Career grand slam leaders[]
Players in Bold are currently active (as of 2009).
- Lou Gehrig - 23
- Manny Ramírez - 21
- Eddie Murray - 19
- Willie McCovey - 18
- Robin Ventura - 18
- Jimmie Foxx - 17
- Ted Williams - 17
- Hank Aaron - 16
- Dave Kingman - 16
- Babe Ruth - 16
See also[]
- Major league players who have hit two grand slams in one game
References[]
- Ryczek, William J. (1992). Blackguards and Red Stockings; A History of Baseball's National Association 1871-1875. Wallingford, CT: Colebrook Press. ISBN 0-9673718-0-5
- Orem, Preston D. (1961). Baseball (1845-1881) From the Newspaper Accounts. Altadena, CA: Self-published.
- ↑ Hawks pound Shimizu, Marines. Retrieved on April 2, 2007.