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Missing Explosions

Posted by Raphy on May 18, 2009

This season has had its share of exciting individual performances and team games.  However, one thing that has been missing is the individual 3 home-run game. A quick check with PI reveals that the last time a baseball season was 35 games (the minimum number every team thus far) old and did not have any player hit 3 home runs in one game was 1993. Here are the most 3-home run games through the first 35 games:

 Year Games Link to Individual Games
 ----+-----+-------------------------
 2001     6 Ind. Games
 1997     5 Ind. Games
 2004     3 Ind. Games
 2000     3 Ind. Games
 1999     3 Ind. Games
 1998     3 Ind. Games
 1996     3 Ind. Games
 1994     3 Ind. Games

Here is the list since 1994:

   Year         Games
 ----+-----+-------------------------
2008
1
2007
1
2006
2
2005
2
2004
3
2003
2
2002
2
2001
6
2000
3
1999
3
1998
3
1997
5
1996
3
1995
1
1994
3

4 Responses to “Missing Explosions”

  1. Dan Franzen Says:

    So what is the maximum number of games into a season before any player had a three-HR game?

  2. Raphy Says:

    Dan - In 1966 the first player to hit 3 home runs in one game was Gene Oliver in his team's 103rd game. This was the latest of any season 1954-2008.

  3. ZimJim Says:

    seems these statsical anamolies are themselves anamolies. while no one has hit 3 hr in a game this year, we are on pace to shatter the number of cycles hit in a year. in fact everyday i seem to hear someone who is a double or a triple short of the cycle

  4. Dan Franzen Says:

    Thanks, Raphy. That's a long time for three homers..