Jose Altuvé, the perennial All-Star for the Houston Astros, got off to a smashing start to the 2023 season on Tuesday, September 5, when he gave his club a tremendous early lead by scoring in each of his first three at-bats hit a home run.
Even more impressive, however, is that Altuvé managed to do so in the first three innings of the ballgame (against rival Texas Rangers, no less). With what felt like a lot more at-bats to come, fans were asking for some of the best home run performances we’ve seen.
Specifically, baseball fans marveled at the most home runs in an MLB game in league history.
The most home runs hit by an MLB player in a game is four, which was accomplished by 18 players in the pro era. This last modifier is crucial because Lipman Pike hit five home runs in a game in 1866, but that was before baseball’s so-called pro era.
The last player to hit four home runs in a game was current Dodgers-designated hitter/outfielder JD Martinez, who did so in 2017 while with the Arizona Diamondbacks. On September 4 of that season, he happened to hit a four over the fence to do so against the Dodgers.
Here is a list of all players who hit four home runs in a single game, in reverse chronological order.
|
player, team |
Opponent |
Date of the 4 hour game |
|---|---|---|
|
JD Martinez, Arizona Diamondbacks |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
September 4, 2017 |
|
Scooter Gennett, Cincinnati Reds |
St Louis Cardinals |
June 6, 2017 |
|
Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers |
Baltimore Orioles |
May 8, 2012 |
|
Carlos Delgado, Toronto Blue Jays |
Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
September 25, 2003 |
|
Shawn GreenLos Angeles Dodgers |
Milwaukee Brewers |
May 23, 2002 |
|
Mike Cameron, Seattle Mariners |
Chicago White Sox |
May 2, 2002 |
|
Mark Whiten, St Louis Cardinals |
Cincinnati Reds |
September 7, 1993 |
|
Bob Horner, Atlanta Braves |
Montreal exhibitions |
July 6, 1986 |
|
Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies |
Chicago Cubs |
April 17, 1976 |
|
Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants |
Milwaukee Braves |
April 30, 1961 |
|
Rocky Colavito, Cleveland |
Baltimore Orioles |
June 10, 1959 |
|
Joe Adcock, Milwaukee Braves |
Brooklyn Dodgers |
July 31, 1954 |
|
Gil HodgesBrooklyn Dodgers |
Boston Braves |
Aug. 31, 1950 |
|
Pat Seerey, Chicago White Sox |
Philadelphia Athletics |
July 18, 1948 |
|
Chuck Klein, Philadelphia Phillies |
Pittsburgh Pirates |
July 10, 1936 |
|
Lou Gehrig, New York Yankees |
Philadelphia Athletics |
June 3, 1932 |
|
Ed Delahanty, Philadelphia Phillies |
Chicago Colts |
July 13, 1896 |
|
Bobby Lowe, Boston Beaneaters |
Cincinnati Reds |
May 30, 1894 |
The most home runs ever hit by an MLB team in a game was 10 by the Toronto Blue Jays against the Baltimore Orioles on September 14, 1987. Catcher Ernie Whitt led the game with three home runs, but Rance Mulliniks and George Bell did also added a pair of home runs each. Fred McGriff, Rob Ducey and Lloyd Moseby all added extra things to reach that 10 mark. The Blue Jays won the game by a landslide 18-3.
Source : fansided.com