3-HR game early in a career
Posted by Andy on May 7, 2008
Joey Votto just hit 3 homers in his 57th career game. Here are all the players before Votto to have a 3+ HR game among their first 57:
Games Link to Individual Games +-----------------+-----+-------------------------+ Jose Ortiz 1 Ind. Games Jonny Gomes 1 Ind. Games Bobby Estalella 1 Ind. Games Don Demeter 1 Ind. Games
May 7th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
You know, I've become accustomed to people using the phrase "all the players" when what they really mean is "all the players since 1901." Now it seems I'll have to get used to people writing "all the players" when what they really mean is "all the players since 1956."
If a ballplayer hit three home runs in a game, and Retrosheet hasn't gone back that far yet, did it make any noise?
Merv Connors hit three home runs on 17 September 1938. His entire career amounted to 52 games, so it's safe to say that he had a 3 HR game among his first 57.
Mickey Cochrane did it on 21 May 1925, his first year in the majors. That was his teams' 29th game of the year, so it was certainly among Cochrane's first 57.
There may have been others - I didn't check everyone.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Gerry--it's a good point. I've tried to be careful about the phrasing, but it's a helpful reminder.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
According to the play-by-play, one of Demeter's homers was an inside-the-parker! And another was a walk off! Pretty unusual.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I wonder how many players have hit a walk off and an inside-the-park homerun in the same game. I suppose one would not include those walk offs which were inside-the-parkers. Let alone anyone else doing it this early in their career!