Two homers in first career game
Posted by Andy on April 29, 2009
Since 1954 two players have hit 2 homers in their first career major-league game. Do you know whom?Back in 1999, I remember when Mark Quinn of the Royals achieved the feat, and I recall it being mentioned that he was the first guy sicne Bert Campaneris to do it. The PI confirms:
Games Link to Individual Games +-----------------+-----+-------------------------+ Mark Quinn 1 Ind. Games Bert Campaneris 1 Ind. Games
How crazy that both these guys played for Kansas City?
Does anybody know if anybody did this before 1954 (I tend to doubt it...)
April 29th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Bob Nieman of the St. Louis Browns did it on 09-14-51 & Charlie Reilly of the Columbus Solons (American Association) did it 10-09-1889. Both players did it in their first two Major League at bats.
Jack
April 29th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Maybe even crazier is that, although both did it for Kansas City, the two did it for different teams - Campaneris for the Athletics and Quinn for the Royals.
Keith McDonald homered in his first two at-bats, too, but the at-bats came in different games. He only had one at-bat in his first game.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
I suppose the most interesting thing about Keith McDonald is that he accumulated only three hits in his major league career and they were all home runs.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:49 am
As far as I can tell, McDonald holds the record for most homers by a guy who had more homers than strikeouts in his career. I had hoped that someone with a more substantial career had done it. I didn't search before 1903, though, so I don't know.
May 4th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Looking at McDonald's minor league numbers, he looks like a modest hitter with some power (~.770 OPS, 27.7 AB/HR in AAA from 1999 - 2003). Given the fact that he's a catcher who hit 3 HR in 11 major league AB, it's surprising that he only got 2 AB in the majors in 2001 and didn't get another cup of coffee after that. His fielding looks decent (29% CS, .991 Fld%, 7.15 RF/G), though it's tough to gauge catchers based on numbers alone. You'd think SOMEeone would have been interested and have given him another chance.