In baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners ("bases loaded"), thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge,[better source needed] in which a grand slam involves taking all the possible tricks. The word slam, by itself, usually is connected with a loud sound, particularly of a door being closed with excess force; thus, slamming the door on one's opponent(s), in addition to the bat slamming the ball into a home run.

Roger Connor, circa 1887.

Highlights

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Players

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Roger Connor is believed to have been the first major league player to hit a grand slam, on September 10, 1881, for the Troy Trojans of the National League (NL) at Riverfront Park in Rensselaer, New York.[1] Although Charlie Gould hit one for the Boston Red Stockings of the National Association (NA) in 1871,[2] the NA is not recognized by Major League Baseball (MLB) as a major league.

 
In 1987, Don Mattingly set the record for most grand slams in a single season, with six. These were the only grand slams of his career.

Alex Rodriguez has 25 career grand slams, the most by any player in MLB history.[3] Don Mattingly (1987) and Travis Hafner (2006) share the single-season record with six grand slams each – in Mattingly's case, these were the only grand slams of his major league career. Ernie Banks (1955) and Albert Pujols (2009) share the single-season National League record with five grand slams each.[4][5]

In 1968, Jim Northrup of the Detroit Tigers set a major league record by hitting three grand slams in a week, including two in consecutive at-bats of a game.[6] This feat (three grand slams in one week) would later be matched by Larry Parrish of the Texas Rangers in 1982.[7] However, Northrup hit his three slams in only 14 plate appearances, setting a record that still stands as of 2021.[8]

Several grand slams, the first being Connor's in 1881, consisted of a player hitting a walk-off grand slam for a one-run victory; some baseball observers call this an "ultimate grand slam".[9] Roberto Clemente is the only player to have hit a walk-off inside-the-park grand slam in a one-run victory;[10] when the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Chicago Cubs 9–8 on July 25, 1956 at Forbes Field, a park known for its spacious outfield. The most recent grand slam was hit on October 25th, 2024, by Freddie Freeman in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6–3 win over the New York Yankees during Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.[11]

Four players hit a grand slam in their first Major League at-bat: Bill Duggleby (1898), Jeremy Hermida (2005), Kevin Kouzmanoff (2006), and Daniel Nava (2010). Kouzmanoff, Nava, and Duggleby hit theirs on the first pitch; Hermida's grand slam was in a pinch-hit at bat.

 
Fernando Tatís (pictured with the Mets) is the only player to hit two grand slams in the same inning, with the Cardinals, in 1999.

Tony Cloninger is the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in one game, for the Atlanta Braves in a 1966 contest against the San Francisco Giants.

Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners became the first American League pitcher since the designated hitter rule went into effect in 1973 to hit a grand slam when he did so on June 23, 2008, against the New York Mets in an interleague game.[12]

The only major league player to hit two grand slams in one inning is Fernando Tatís of the St. Louis Cardinals, in 1999, both grand slams coming off Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Chan Ho Park in the third inning. Tatis was only the second National League player to hit two grand slams in one game, joining Cloninger. Park was only the second pitcher in major league history to give up two grand slams in one inning, joining Bill Phillips of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who did it in 1890, one to Tom Burns and one to Malachi Kittridge. Therefore, Park was the first to give up both to the same batter. Tatis had never hit a grand slam before in his career. Bill Mueller is the only player to hit grand slams from both sides of the plate in the same game, when he hit two in 2003 for the Boston Red Sox against the Texas Rangers. Robin Ventura is the only player to hit a grand slam in both games of a doubleheader, when he did so in 1999 for the New York Mets against the Milwaukee Brewers.

In Japan's professional league, the feat of multiple grand slams in a single inning by a team has been accomplished three times; most recently on April 1, 2007 by José Fernández and Takeshi Yamasaki of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. The Daiei Hawks accomplished the feat in 1999.[13]

Team

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In 2006, the Chicago White Sox hit grand slams in three consecutive games against the Houston Astros (June 23–25). Scott Podsednik hit the only grand slam of his career in the series opener. Joe Crede followed up with a slam of his own on Saturday, and Tadahito Iguchi hit a game tying grand slam in the bottom of the ninth with two outs in the series finale. The White Sox became the first team to accomplish this since the Detroit Tigers in 1993. On the other hand, the 2007 Kansas City Royals surrendered grand slams in three straight games; two against the Baltimore Orioles (April 13–14) and one against the Tigers (April 16).

On August 25, 2011, the New York Yankees became the first team in MLB history to hit three grand slams in one game. Robinson Canó, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson took Oakland Athletics pitchers Rich Harden, Fautino de los Santos, and Bruce Billings deep, with each grand slam being hit in a different inning. The Yankees would win the game 22–9.[14][15][16]

On June 3, 2017, a record-breaking seven grand slams were hit on one day: One each for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim whose Albert Pujols hit his 600th career home run.

On August 20, 2020, the San Diego Padres became the first team to hit a grand slam in four consecutive games when Fernando Tatis Jr, Wil Myers, Manny Machado, and Eric Hosmer each hit a grand slam in a series against the Texas Rangers.[17][18]

On October 16, 2021, in Game 2 of the 2021 ALCS against the Houston Astros, the Boston Red Sox became the first team to hit two grand slams in one postseason game when J. D. Martinez hit one in the first inning and Rafael Devers hit one in the second.[19] Two days later, in Game 3 of the series, Kyle Schwarber hit another slam for Boston to make the Red Sox the first team to hit three grand slams in one postseason series.[20]

Notable calls

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"Get out the rye bread and the mustard, Grandma, it is grand salami time!"—used by longtime Seattle Mariners lead commentator Dave Niehaus from the 1995 season until his death in November 2010.[21] Currently used by Niehaus' longtime partner Rick Rizzs.

Various newspaper accounts show players used the term "grand salami" for a grand slam at least as early as 1966. "When Ernie Banks hits a grand slam he always calls it a 'grand salami,'" reported Jack Lang. "'In that way I always manage to get a nice big salami delivered to my home by the Hebrew National salami people,' Banks laughed."[22]

Career grand slam leaders

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Alex Rodriguez currently holds the record for most career grand slams with 25.
 
With 23 grand slams, Lou Gehrig held the all-time record until 2013.[23]

[3]

Name Total
Alex Rodriguez 25
Lou Gehrig 23
Manny Ramírez 21
Eddie Murray 19
Willie McCovey 18†
Robin Ventura 18
Jimmie Foxx 17
Carlos Lee 17
Ted Williams 17
Hank Aaron 16
Dave Kingman 16
Babe Ruth 16
Albert Pujols 16

 † National League record

Single-season grand slam leaders

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[4]

 
Travis Hafner matched Mattingly's single-season record in 2006.
Name Total Year League
Don Mattingly 6 1987 AL
Travis Hafner 6 2006 AL
Ernie Banks 5 1955 NL
Jim Gentile 5 1961 AL
Albert Pujols 5 2009 NL
Richie Sexson 5 2006 AL
Royce Lewis 5 2023 AL
18 players 4

World Series

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Other MLB postseason grand slams

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MLB All-Star Game grand slams

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See also

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References

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  • Ryczek, William J. (1992). Blackguards and Red Stockings; A History of Baseball's National Association 1871–1875. Wallingford, Connecticut: Colebrook Press. ISBN 0-9673718-0-5
  • Orem, Preston D. (1961). Baseball (1845–1881) From the Newspaper Accounts. Altadena, California: Self-published.

Works cited

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  1. ^ John R. Husman. "September 10, 1881: Roger Connor's 'ultimate' grand slam". sabr.org. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  2. ^ Charlton, James. "The Chronology – 1871". BaseballLibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  3. ^ a b Kelly, Matt (December 1, 2021). "A-Rod's 25 grand slams stand alone". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Kelly, Matt (March 11, 2019). "Hafner, Mattingly hold single-year grand slam record". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  5. ^ "Grand Slam Records". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  6. ^ "Jim Northrup Dies at 71; Propelled Tigers to Title". The New York Times. 9 June 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Larry Parrish of the Texas Rangers Ties a Major League Record by Clubbing His Third Grand Slam within the Span of a Week". ThisDayInBaseball.com. 10 July 1982. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Move over Babe, Lou ... here's Brett Phillips". MLB.com. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Ultimate Grand Slams". SI.com. 2002-05-18. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved 2002-07-30.
  10. ^ "Grand Slam (baseball)". The ARMory Power Pitching Academy. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  11. ^ "Freeman ends the game with a walk off grand slam". www.mlb.com. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  12. ^ Stone, Larry (June 24, 2008). "Notebook – Grand slam by Felix Hernandez is one for the books". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  13. ^ "Hawks pound Shimizu, Marines". Yomiuri Shimbun. Retrieved 2007-04-02. [dead link]
  14. ^ Caldwell, Dave (August 25, 2011). "On a Long and Wet Day, the Yankees Win in Grand Style". The New York Times. and Mouat, Mike (August 25, 2011). "Yankees slam Athletics in grand fashion". Reuters.
  15. ^ Slusser, Susan (August 25, 2011). "Yankees hit 3 grand slams to beat A's 22–9". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  16. ^ Parker, Rob (August 25, 2011). "It was a grand ole day at the ballpark". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
  17. ^ "After historic slam, Padres walk off AGAIN". MLB.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  18. ^ "Padres 1st with grand slams in 4 straight games". ESPN.com. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  19. ^ a b Gallegos, Martin (October 16, 2021). "2 innings, 2 slams: Sox make playoff history". MLB.com. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  20. ^ a b Gallegos, Martin (October 18, 2021). "Sox make history with THIRD slam of ALCS". MLB.com. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  21. ^ "Audio: Relive Some Of Dave Niehaus' Best Calls". SBNation.com. 2010-11-11. Retrieved 2015-06-20.
  22. ^ Lang, Jack (3 Sep 1966). "Baseball bits". Jersey Journal. p. 10.
  23. ^ "Lou Gehrig Grand Slams". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  24. ^ "Cubs vs. Indians – 11/01/16". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  25. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (October 25, 2024). "Freddie Freeman wins Game 1 with 1st walk-off grand slam in World Series history". MLB.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  26. ^ Maguire, Brent (October 25, 2024). "'Gibby, meet Freddie!' Two hobbled Dodgers, two iconic walk-off home runs". MLB.com. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  27. ^ Full Nelson: Cruz belts walk-off slam in 11th" by T.R. Sullivan, MLB.com. Accessed Oct 10, 2011.
  28. ^ Yomtov, Jesse (October 7, 2018). "Ronald Acuna becomes youngest player with postseason grand slam". USA Today. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  29. ^ Landry, Kennedi (October 8, 2023). "Rangers slam way past O's, head home with 2-0 lead". mlb.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  30. ^ Kreuz, Julia (October 22, 2023). "4 K's? Hostile crowd? Adolis shrugs it all off with slam". mlb.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  31. ^ "García breaks postseason RBI record with walk-off blast". mlb.com. October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
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