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Most hits in a game as a sub

Posted by Andy on February 19, 2008

Some of the recent comment chatter gave me this idea: most hits in a game by a player who didn't start the game:

  Cnt Player            Date          Tm   Opp GmReslt PA AB  R  **H** 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF ROE GDP SB CS BOr Positions
+----+-----------------+-------------+---+----+-------+--+--+--+------+--+--+--+---+--+---+--+---+--+--+---+---+--+--+---+---------+
    1 Tom Paciorek      1984-05-08    CHW  MIL W  7-6  10  9  1    5    0  0  0   3  1   1  3   0  0  0   1   0  0  0 6th LF 1B     

    2 Quinton McCracken 2005-07-18    ARI  FLA W  8-7   5  5  1    4    0  1  0   3  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  1  0 9th CF
    3 Shawn Wooten      2002-08-05    ANA @DET W  6-3   4  4  1    4    1  0  0   1  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th PH 1B
    4 Chad Fonville     1995-06-17    LAD @CHC W 12-5   5  5  1    4    1  0  0   1  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 1st 2B
    5 Randy Milligan    1991-06-23(2) BAL @KCR W  9-8   4  4  1    4    0  0  0   2  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 4th DH
    6 Paul O'Neill      1990-04-18    CIN  SDP W 11-7   4  4  2    4    0  0  1   3  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 6th PH RF
    7 Kelly Gruber      1988-04-11    TOR  NYY W 17-9   6  6  3    4    1  0  2   5  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 6th 3B
    8 Julio Gonzalez    1982-10-03    STL @CHC W  5-4   5  5  3    4    1  0  1   1  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 1st 2B
    9 Rufino Linares    1982-04-13    ATL @CIN W  8-5   4  4  3    4    1  0  0   1  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 3rd PR LF
   10 Jim Wohlford      1980-05-24    SFG @PIT W 10-9   6  6  1    4    2  0  0   1  0   0  2   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th PH LF
   11 Claudell Washingt 1979-07-04    CHW @CLE W 16-4   4  4  2    4    1  0  1   3  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 2nd RF
   12 Jay Johnstone     1970-04-12    CAL @KCR W  7-5   4  4  2    4    1  0  0   0  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 5th CF
   13 Hawk Taylor       1964-06-20    NYM  PHI W  7-3   5  5  2    4    0  0  2   4  0   0  1   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th C
   14 Felix Mantilla    1962-05-25    NYM @LAD L  8-17  4  4  1    4    1  1  0   4  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 7th SS
   15 Matty Alou        1961-07-25    SFG @PIT W 16-7   5  4  1    4    1  0  0   4  0   0  0   0  0  1   0   0  0  0 3rd LF
   16 Harry Simpson     1958-05-30(1) NYY  WSH L  8-13  5  5  0    4    1  0  0   3  0   0  0   0  0  0   0   0  0  0 1st PH RF

Paciorek's performance is nice, although he did get 9 at-bats in which to get those 5 hits. #7 Kelly Gruber managed 3 homers as a sub, although if you look at the box score for that game, you'll see that he entered for Rance Mulliniks in the top of the first inning on defense, so he basically played the whole game.

Here is a second list for most homers in a game by a sub. As was already pointed out, Art Shamsky holds the record with 3. Ryan Howard had a memorable game for the Phillies in 2006, though,when he pinch hit with 2 outs in the eighth, tying the game on a solo homer, and then added a second homer in the 12th to win the game 2-1.

One Response to “Most hits in a game as a sub”

  1. kingturtle Says:

    I know who Shamsky is, but I must admit I never knew about this game. It's even better than the Sandberg Game (June 23, 1984). Thanks for uncovering it. It now ranks as one of my all-time favorite games.

    After coming in during a double switch in the 8th inning, in three consecutive at bats Shamsky accounted for his team's last five runs of the game, with one go-ahead and two game-tying home runs!! According to Wikipedia, the feat made Shamsky the first player in Reds history to hit two extra-inning home runs in one game. And the bat went on display in the Hall of Fame. By the way, Shamsy was in the hole when Cardenas made the last out. Too bad he didn't get another at bat. He DID homer in his next at bat, though, a 2-out go-ahead 2-run pinch hit dinger on August 14. AMAZING! It tied a record for homers in 4 consecutive at bats.

    Shamsky's minor league roommate Pete Rose (age 25) hit a dinger in the game, batting third in the line up! He also had 2 IBBs!