How many Yankees have hit three home runs in a game?

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Twenty-seven Yankees players have hit 3HRs in a game 37 times so far. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge finally achieved his first three-homer performance after playing 801 games in pinstripes, marking the latest milestone in pinstripes. This type of accomplishment, known as a three-homer game, is both notable and somewhat uncommon in baseball. Similar to hitting for the cycle or pitching a no-hitter, it’s a feat that stands out due to its rarity and the element of unpredictability.

Interestingly, the last time a Yankee player accomplished a three-homer game was on April 26, 2022, when Anthony Rizzo achieved the same feat.

Throughout this current season, there have been a total of seven instances of players hitting three home runs in a single game. Notable players like Kyle Tucker, Jose Ramirez, Adolis Garcia, Paul Goldschmidt, Jordan Diaz, and Trayce Thompson are among those who have achieved this feat. Looking back at the previous year, there were 14 such performances, featuring prominent names like Yordan Alvarez, Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Anthony Rizzo, as well as lesser-known players such as Isaac Paredes, Michael Perez, Jack Suwinski, and Lane Thomas.

List of Yankees with 3HRs in a single game

For reference, here is a compiled list of three-homer games in the history of the New York Yankees.

The 3-HR record book

Babe Ruth marked a historic moment for the Yankees by becoming the first player to achieve a three-home run performance in a single game. This memorable event occurred during the World Series against the Cardinals at the old Sportsman Park in St. Louis in 1926. Remarkably, Ruth repeated this accomplishment in 1928, delivering another three-home run display that propelled the Yankees to a decisive four-game sweep.

Ruth’s prowess in St. Louis was evident, as he replicated the feat in 1928, further solidifying his impact on the game. He showcased his exceptional skill again in a regular-season game on May 22, 1930, at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park. However, this time, the Yankees lost 15-7 in the first game of a doubleheader. Lou Gehrig followed in Ruth’s footsteps the next day, achieving the same feat in another doubleheader against the A’s, resulting in a triumphant 20-13 victory for the Yankees. Ruth and Lazerri also contributed home runs during that memorable game.

An additional notable instance occurred when Reggie Jackson became the sole player besides Ruth to hit three home runs in a single World Series game. Jackson’s incredible performance during Game Six of the 1977 World Series against the Dodgers led the Yankees to their first championship in 15 years, securing a place in baseball history.

Babe Ruth achieved the remarkable feat of hitting three home runs in a single game in both Major League Baseball leagues: once with the New York Yankees in 1930 and again in the National League with the Boston Braves in 1935. Interestingly, during the Dead Ball Era spanning from 1900 to 1920, no player managed to achieve a three-home run game in a major league match.

A curious note is that Babe Ruth did not achieve a three-home run game in any of the four years (1919, 1920, 1921, and 1927) when he established the single-season home run record. Similarly, neither Roger Maris nor Mickey Mantle managed a three-home run game in their record-setting 1961 season.

Within the Yankees’ history, Alex Rodriguez stands out with five instances of achieving a three-home run game. On July 25, 2015, just days before his 40th birthday, Rodriguez went deep three times against the Twins, with his third home run sparking a ninth-inning comeback for the Yankees. A-Rod, who played for the Mariners, Rangers, and Yankees during his 22-year career, first accomplished this feat in 2000 while playing for the Mariners, and subsequently repeated it with the Rangers in ’02 and twice with the Yankees in ’05 and ’10. One notable performance was against Bartolo Colon and the Angels in 2005, where Rodriguez tallied three home runs and 10 RBIs.

Lou Gehrig holds the record for the most three-home run games for the Yankees. His initial three-homer performance came in the iconic 1927 Yankees season, where he achieved this feat at Fenway Park on June 23, 1927. Nearly two years later, Gehrig repeated the feat against the White Sox at Comiskey Park on May 4, 1929. He went on to hit his final two three-home run games against the Philadelphia A’s, both contributing to 20-13 Yankees victories at Shibe Park. On May 22, 1930, during the second game of a doubleheader, Gehrig managed three home runs and an impressive eight RBIs, a feat he repeated twice more during his career.

Joe DiMaggio also accomplished this feat three times. Interestingly, Babe Ruth, although achieving three-home run performances three times, managed only one such occurrence during regular season play. His final three home runs of his illustrious career occurred in 1935 while playing for the Boston Braves in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field, shortly before his retirement.

It’s worth noting that Babe Ruth remains the sole player with two three-home run games in postseason play, particularly in the World Series, an achievement that stands as a testament to his legendary status.

Lou Gehrig stands apart in Yankees history as the only player to achieve a remarkable four-home run performance in a single game. This unparalleled accomplishment took place on June 4, 1932, during a game against the Athletics in Philadelphia. Gehrig made history by hitting four home runs in his first four at-bats, playing a significant role in the Yankees’ resounding 20-13 victory against the A’s. His display of power came just inches away from a fifth home run, as his drive was caught in the distant reaches of deep centerfield.

Adding to the incredible narrative of that same game, Lazzeri achieved a rare feat by completing a natural cycle with a grand slam, making him the sole player in major league baseball history to accomplish this impressive combination.

Other interesting 3HR facts

During two consecutive days, on May 21 and 22, 1930, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig showcased their extraordinary talent by each hitting three home runs in successive games.

Notably, Mantle, Tommy Tresh, and Tony Clark achieved the unique feat of hitting home runs from both sides of the plate in their respective three-home run games.

In a memorable 1970 doubleheader against the Indians at Yankee Stadium, Bobby Murcer made history by hitting four consecutive home runs, with three occurring in the second game.

During the 1977 World Series, Reggie Jackson left an indelible mark by hitting a home run in his final at-bat during Game Five and achieving the remarkable feat of hitting three consecutive home runs in Game Six. This iconic moment holds a special place in Yankees history, even though my friend Matty missed all three Reggie homers while attending the game at Yankee Stadium.

Johnny Blanchard and Mickey Mantle stand as the only other Yankees besides Lou Gehrig to achieve the feat of hitting four consecutive home runs.

In a spectacular display of dominance, Lazzeri delivered an exceptional performance by hitting two grand slams and an additional home run while driving in an American League record of 11 runs during a resounding 25-2 victory against the Athletics at Shibe Park in Philadelphia in 1936. Notably, Lazzeri became the first Yankee to hit three home runs in a single regular season game in 1927.

On three separate occasions, the Yankees have faced defeat despite a player hitting three home runs — Babe Ruth in 1930, Johnny Mize in 1950, and Mike Stanley in 1995.

Joe DiMaggio’s initial three-home run game in 1937 resulted in an 11-inning, 8-8 tie against the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman’s Park.

Johnny Mize holds the MLB record for achieving the three-home run feat six times in his career. Five of these performances occurred during his time with the Cardinals and Giants in the National League. Mize made history by becoming the first player to achieve three home runs in a game twice in a single season in 1938, repeating the feat in 1940. He concluded his illustrious career with a three-home run game for the Yankees in 1950, a mere five days after Joe DiMaggio accomplished the same feat for the third time.

Throughout Yankees’ history, the team has achieved the feat of hitting three home runs in a game on different occasions, spanning the years 1927, 1930, 1932, 1950, 1977, 1995, and the current year.

Mark Teixeira left his mark earlier this year as the first Yankee since Gehrig in 1927 to hit three home runs in a game at Fenway Park.

Johnny Mize recorded a remarkable total of six three-home run games in his career, with his final achievement coming while he was with the Yankees in 1950.

Merv Connors, despite a career featuring only eight home runs, stands as a unique figure in baseball history, achieving a three-home run game despite his limited home run output.

Stan Musial accomplished his second career three-home run game at the age of 41 years and 229 days, setting a Major League record as the oldest player to achieve this feat.

The illustrious “Big Cat” Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa share the all-time record for achieving six different three-home run games each. Notable players like Joe Carter, Dave Kingman, Mark McGwire, and Carlos Delgado have each achieved three or more home runs in five different games, showcasing their exceptional talent and contributions to the sport.

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