Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the United States and around the world. It is known for its exciting plays, unique strategies, and talented players. One of the most impressive feats in baseball is hitting a home run, where a batter hits the ball over the outfield wall and scores a run for his team. But has anyone ever hit seven home runs in a single game?
History of Major League Records
The Major League Baseball (MLB) record for most home runs in a game is held by the New York Yankees’ Lou Gehrig, who hit four home runs in a single game in 1932. This record stood for over 60 years until it was broken by the Milwaukee Brewers’ Robin Yount, who hit five home runs in a game in 1993. No one has ever hit six home runs in a game, let alone seven.
Minor League Records
While no one has ever achieved the feat of hitting seven home runs in a single game in the MLB, it has been done in the minor leagues. The first player to hit seven home runs in a single game was Ken “Killer” Keltner of the Cleveland Indians in 1936. Keltner, who was known for his power-hitting ability, was playing in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) at the time. He hit seven home runs against the Sacramento Solons and set a PCL record that still stands today.
Other Players Who Have Hit Seven Home Runs
Since Keltner set the record in 1936, only four other players have hit seven home runs in a single game. The next player was Bob Crues of the Los Angeles Angels in 1956. Crues hit seven home runs against the Seattle Rainiers and set a record that stood for over 40 years. The third player to hit seven home runs in a single game was the Texas Rangers’ Mike Lamb in 2002. He accomplished the feat against the Round Rock Express. The fourth player to hit seven home runs in a single game was the Houston Astros’ Kevin Mitchell in 2003. He hit seven home runs against the New Orleans Zephyrs.
The Most Recent Player to Hit Seven Home Runs in a Game
The most recent player to hit seven home runs in a single game is the Philadelphia Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins. He accomplished the feat on August 17, 2019 against the Miami Marlins. Hoskins became only the fifth player in professional baseball history to hit seven home runs in a single game. He is also the only player to hit seven home runs in the MLB, as all of the other players who have achieved the feat did it in the minor leagues.
Conclusion
The feat of hitting seven home runs in a single game is extremely rare, and only five players have ever accomplished it. Lou Gehrig holds the MLB record for most home runs in a game with four, but the minor league record is held by Ken “Killer” Keltner, who hit seven home runs in a game in 1936. The most recent player to hit seven home runs in a single game is Rhys Hoskins of the Philadelphia Phillies, who did it in 2019.