NEWSLETTER
Yesterday, IÂ stumbled upon this fantastic graphical representation of the rarity of various MLB feats (hitting for the cycle, no-hitters, perfect games, etc.).
Check it out (and then quickly like us on Facebook too):
At the very bottom (i.e. the rarest of events) is the four-homer game. As you can see, there’ve been 14 four-homer games in Major League Baseball (and no five-homer games) during the modern era. The most recent of which came from Josh Hamilton back in 2012 against the Baltimore Orioles.
But today – May 23 – happens to be the 15-year anniversary of Shawn Green’s four-homer effort for the Los Angeles Dodgers (and against the Milwaukee Brewers) back in 2002.
Here’s a video – courtesy of the Dodgers on Twitter – of his ridiculous performance, which also happened to include a single and a double:
Check it out:
On this date in 2002, @shawngreen15 became 14th player in @MLB history to hit 4 home runs in a game (6-for-6, 7 RBI, 6 R). #DodgersOTD pic.twitter.com/oHoWAKQe5T
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 23, 2017
That’s one fine piece of hitting. And for some extra yucks, check out the change in Green’s season stats before that day’s offensive breakout and immediately thereafter:
Before May 23, 2002:Â .238/.344/.396 (97 wRC+)
After May 23, 2002:Â .265/.364/.494 (126 wRC+)
He gained 27 points of batting average, 20 points of on-base percentage, and 98 (!) points of slugging IN ONE AFTERNOON! Using wRC+, we can see that he went from being roughly 3% worse than the average Major League hitter to 26%Â better.Â
Now that’s what they call “Having yourself a day.”
