August 3, 2017

Slugfest in Chicago

The Diamondbacks and Cubs played a classic slugfest Thursday afternoon, the Diamondbacks winning 10-8 when Paul Goldschmidt hit the seventh home run of the game, his third of the day to break the 8-8 tie.

Goldschmidt’s first career three-homer game gave him 25 for the season, and his six RBIs matched a career high.

Given the emphasis in the headline and the article, it seems that people think it’s unusual for Goldschmidt to have gone so long without a three-home run game.

Not counting Goldschmidt today, there are 270 players who debuted since 1969 (played their whole careers with the low mound) who had at least one game in which they hit at least three home runs. Of those who never hit three in a game, here are the top ten HR producers:

First Name Last Name At Bats Plate App Hits Homeruns
Rafael Palmeiro 10472 12046 3020 569
David Ortiz 8640 10091 2472 541
Gary Sheffield 9217 10947 2689 509
Fred McGriff 8757 10174 2490 493
Vladimir Guerrero 8155 9059 2590 449
Jim Edmonds 6858 7980 1949 393
Dwight Evans 8996 10569 2446 385
Jeff Kent 8498 9537 2461 377
Carlton Fisk 8756 9853 2356 376
Gary Gaetti 8951 9817 2280 360

That’s a pretty good list, one that Goldschmidt would have been proud to join someday.

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