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List of Major League Baseball single-game home run leaders

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A black and white baseball card featuring a man in a white baseball jersey and striped cap holding both hands out cupped in front of his chest.
Bobby Lowe was the first MLB player to hit four home runs in a single game, doing so in 1894.

In baseball, a home run occurs when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process. In modern baseball, the feat is typically achieved by hitting the ball over the outfield fence between the foul poles (or making contact with either foul pole) without first touching the ground, resulting in an automatic home run. There is also the "inside-the-park" home run where the batter reaches home safely while the baseball is in play on the field.

Eighteen players have hit four home runs in a single Major League Baseball (MLB) game, which writers of Sporting News described as "baseball's greatest single-game accomplishment".[1] The most recent to accomplish the feat to date is J. D. Martinez with the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 4, 2017. No player has done this more than once in his career. In the pre-professional era, Lipman Pike also hit five home runs in 1866. No player has ever hit four home runs in a postseason game; that record is three, first accomplished by Babe Ruth in Game 4 of the 1926 World Series.[2]

According to the Society for American Baseball Research, Oil Cities catcher Jay J. Clarke went 8–8 with eight home runs, a single-game professional record. However, Clarke's total is disputed, reported by some newspapers as three homers and eight runs scored, but there is no surviving box score to help confirm or deny his feat.

Bobby Lowe was the first to hit four home runs in a single game, doing so on May 30, 1894, for the Boston Beaneaters.[3] Fans were reportedly so excited that they threw $160 in silver coins ($5,600 today) onto the field after his fourth home run.[1][4] Of all players to achieve the feat, Lowe hit the fewest career home runs, with a total of 71. Two years after Lowe's feat, Ed Delahanty of the Philadelphia Phillies became the second player to hit four home runs in a game. Two other Phillies players have achieved the feat, Chuck Klein in 1932 and Mike Schmidt in 1976.[5] Two other current franchises, the Atlanta Braves (with three) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (with two), have had multiple four-homer games in their history and share the distinction of having one four-homer game in each city they have called home (for the Braves, Boston, Milwaukee, and Atlanta; for the Dodgers, Brooklyn and Los Angeles). Five current franchises – the Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Oakland Athletics – share the record of having surrendered two four-homer games over their histories. Thirteen of the 30 franchises (as of 2021) have achieved at least one four-homer game, and 12 franchises have surrendered at least one. Eleven have never been involved in a four-homer game at all, although only three of these (Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins) date back to before the 1960s expansion era.

Despite Delahanty's achievement on July 13, 1896, the Phillies lost to the Chicago Colts, one of only two occasions when a player hit four home runs but was on the losing team.[5] The other such occasion took place in 1986, when Bob Horner had four home runs for the Braves, but the Montreal Expos emerged victorious.[5] Following Delahanty's four-home run game in 1896, no other player would accomplish the feat for nearly 36 years, the longest gap between such occurrences.[5] The shortest interval took place in 2002,[5] when Mike Cameron hit his four on May 2, 2002,[6] and Shawn Green repeated the feat 21 days later, on May 23.[7] This was the first time two players had achieved a four-homer game in the same season; this would occur again in 2017 when Scooter Gennett and J. D. Martinez achieved the feat in June and September respectively.[8][5] Cameron was also the first and only player to hit four solo home runs in one game, accounting for the minimum of 4 RBIs when accomplishing the feat. When Martinez struck his four home runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he became the first player with a four-homer game to hit more homers than his opponents gained base hits.[9]

These games have resulted in other MLB single-game records due to the extreme offensive performance. Mark Whiten tied Jim Bottomley for the most runs batted in in a single game with 12 in his four-homer game.[10] Shawn Green hit a double and a single along with his four home runs for 19 total bases, an MLB record. It surpassed Joe Adcock's mark of 18, which also came from a four-homer game.[11][12] Carlos Delgado is the only player to make four plate appearances in a game and hit a home run each time.[13] Warren Spahn pitched the ball which Gil Hodges hit for the first of his four, the only Hall of Fame pitcher faced during a four-home-run game.[1] Of the 14 players eligible for the Hall of Fame who have hit four home runs in a game, six have been elected. Players are eligible for the Hall of Fame if they have played in at least 10 major league seasons and have been either retired for five seasons or deceased for at least six months.[14] These requirements leave three players ineligible who are living and have played in the past five seasons and one (Seerey) who did not play 10 seasons in MLB.

Players

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Baseball player Shawn Green
Baseball player J. D. Martinez
Shawn Green (left) was one of two players to hit four home runs in a game in May 2002. Green also hit a double and a single in the game for 19 total bases, an MLB record. J. D. Martinez (right) is the most recent MLB player to hit four home runs in a game.
Player Name
Date Date of the game
Team The player's team at the time
Opposing team The team against whom the player hit four home runs
Score Final score of the game, with the player's team's score listed first
RBI The number of runs batted in the player had in the game
TB The number of total bases the player had in the game
Career HR The number of home runs the player hit in his MLB career
º The home runs were in consecutive plate appearances
† Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
^ MLB record
* The player is still active.
‡ The player's team lost the game.
Players who have hit four home runs in a single regular-season game
Player Date Team Opposing team Score RBI TB Career HR Ref(s)
Bobby Loweº May 30, 1894 Boston Beaneaters Cincinnati Reds 20–11 9 17 71 [15][16]
Ed Delahanty† July 13, 1896 Philadelphia Phillies Chicago Colts 8–9‡ 7 17 101 [17][18]
Lou Gehrigº† June 3, 1932 New York Yankees Philadelphia Athletics 20–13 6 16 493 [19]
Chuck Klein† July 10, 1936 Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates 9–6 6 16 300 [20]
Pat Seerey July 18, 1948 Chicago White Sox Philadelphia Athletics 12–11 7 16 86 [21]
Gil Hodges† August 31, 1950 Brooklyn Dodgers Boston Braves 19–3 9 17 370 [22]
Joe Adcock July 31, 1954 Milwaukee Braves Brooklyn Dodgers 15–7 7 18 336 [23][24]
Rocky Colavitoº June 10, 1959 Cleveland Indians Baltimore Orioles 11–8 6 16 374 [25][26]
Willie Mays† April 30, 1961 San Francisco Giants Milwaukee Braves 14–4 8 16 660 [27][28]
Mike Schmidtº† April 17, 1976 Philadelphia Phillies Chicago Cubs 18–16 8 17 548 [29][30]
Bob Horner July 6, 1986 Atlanta Braves Montreal Expos 8–11‡ 6 16 218 [31][32]
Mark Whiten September 7, 1993 St. Louis Cardinals Cincinnati Reds 15–2 12^ 16 105 [33][34]
Mike Cameronº May 2, 2002 Seattle Mariners Chicago White Sox 15–4 4 16 278 [35][6]
Shawn Green May 23, 2002 Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers 16–3 7 19^ 328 [7][36]
Carlos Delgadoº September 25, 2003 Toronto Blue Jays Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10–8 6 16 473 [37][38]
Josh Hamilton May 8, 2012 Texas Rangers Baltimore Orioles 10-3 8 18 200 [39][40]
Scooter Gennettº June 6, 2017 Cincinnati Reds St. Louis Cardinals 13–1 10 17 87 [8][41]
J. D. Martinezº* September 4, 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks Los Angeles Dodgers 13–0 6 16 315 [5][42]

Note: RBI and TB counts include all plate appearances the player had in the game.
Source:[43][44][45]

Unofficial four-home run games

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Only one player has ever hit four home runs in a spring training game: Henry Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Dodgers against the New York Mets on April 24, 1995.[46]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Jim, Hoppel; Meier, Jim; Deveney, Sean (August 10, 1999). "Four homers in one game". Sporting News. Archived from the original on April 8, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  2. ^ "MLB's three-home run playoff games: From Babe to Reggie, Kennedy to Enrique Hernandez". USA Today. October 20, 2017. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  3. ^ "Bobby Lowe Dead at 83". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. December 10, 1951. p. 18. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Suehsdorf, A. D. (1978). The Great American Baseball Scrapbook. Random House. p. 14. ISBN 0394502531.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "J.D. Martinez mashes his way to a four-homer game". ESPN. September 4, 2017. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Ralph, John (May 2, 2002). "With 4 homers, Cameron crows". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  7. ^ a b Gurnick, Ken (May 23, 2002). "A day for the ages for Green". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  8. ^ a b Kay, Joe (June 7, 2017). "Scooter Gennett hits 4 home runs for Reds to tie MLB record". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 23, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  9. ^ Perry, Dayn (September 4, 2017). "Diamondbacks' J.D. Martinez hits four home runs against Dodgers". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  10. ^ Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) (2007). The SABR Baseball List and Record Book: Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics. Scribner. p. 69. ISBN 9781416532453.
  11. ^ Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) (2007). The SABR Baseball List and Record Book: Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics. Scribner. p. 70. ISBN 9781416532453.
  12. ^ "May 23, 2002: Shawn Green's epic four-homer, six-hit day against the Brewers". Sporting News. May 23, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "Delgado ties record with four homers". ESPN. September 25, 2003. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  14. ^ "Rules for Election". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 30, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  15. ^ "Bobby Lowe Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  16. ^ "Bobby Lowe Career Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  17. ^ "Ed Delahanty Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  18. ^ "Ed Delahanty Career Home Runs". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  19. ^ "Lou Gehrig Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  20. ^ "Chuck Klein Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  21. ^ "Pat Seerey Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  22. ^ "Gil Hodges Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  23. ^ "Joe Adcock Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  24. ^ "Joe Adcock Dead at 71; Broke Up Longest No-Hitter". Los Angeles Times. May 4, 1999. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  25. ^ "Rocky Colavito Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  26. ^ Wilks, Ed (June 10, 1959). "Tribe's Rocky Colavito Ties Record in Majors' Toughest Home Run Park". Evening Independent. Associated Press. p. 6A. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  27. ^ "Willie Mays Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  28. ^ Reichler, Joe (May 1, 1961). "Giants' Slugging Sets or Ties a Flock of Records". The Hour. Associated Press. p. 14. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  29. ^ "Mike Schmidt Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  30. ^ "Mike Schmidt Hits Four Home Runs: Phillies Outslug Chicago,18–16". TimesDaily. United Press International. April 17, 1976. p. 21. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  31. ^ "Bob Horner Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  32. ^ "National League; Horner Ties Mark with 4 Home Runs". New York Times. July 7, 1986. p. C4.
  33. ^ "Mark Whiten Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  34. ^ Allen, Karen (September 8, 1993). "Cards' Whiten: 4 HRs, 12 RBI". USA Today. p. Sports, 1C.
  35. ^ "Mike Cameron Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  36. ^ "Shawn Green Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  37. ^ "Carlos Delgado Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  38. ^ Fordin, Spencer (September 25, 2003). "Delgado smashes four homers". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  39. ^ "Josh Hamilton Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  40. ^ "Hamilton makes history with four home runs". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  41. ^ "Scooter Gennett Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  42. ^ "J.D. Martinez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  43. ^ Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) (2007). The SABR Baseball List and Record Book: Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics. Scribner. p. 65. ISBN 9781416532453.
  44. ^ "Four or more home runs in a single game". Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). October 31, 2019. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  45. ^ "Four home runs in a game – Rare Feats". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  46. ^ Nightengale, Bob (April 24, 1995). "Rodriguez: 4 At-Bats, 4 Homers : Dodgers: Right fielder gets final one with count 3-0 and finishes spring training batting .405". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
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