Double slams

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Boston Red Sox 3rd baseman Bill Mueller hit not one, but two grand slam home runs on this date in 2003. His 9 Runs Batted In helped the Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 14-7.

It was quite an offensive display, but of course the bases had to be loaded both times for Mueller to have a chance. It also helps, it turns out, to be a member of the visiting team, and play for the Red Sox. Twelve players in major league history have hit two grand slams in one game, 11 of them were on the visiting team. Four of them played for the Boston Red Sox.

American League
Tony Lazzeri-NY 1936
Jim Tabor-Boston 1939
Rudy York-Boston 1946
Jim Gentile-Baltimore 1961
Jim Northrup-Detroit 1968
Frank Robinson-Baltimore 1970
Robin Ventura-Chicago 1995
Chris Hoiles-Baltimore 1998
Nomar Garciaparra-Boston 1999
Bill Mueller-Boston 2003

Only three National Leaguers have hit two grand slams in the same game The circumstances of two were unbelievable. In 1999 St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Fernando Tatis hit two grand slams in the same inning! What are the odds of that happening?

One of the other National Leaguers to hit two grand slams in one game was a pitcher! On July 3, 1966 Atlanta Braves starter Tony Cloninger was 3 for 5 with 9 RBI on his way to a complete game win over the San Francisco Giants 17-3. Cloninger's offensive production was no fluke. He hit 5 home runs and drove in 23 that year.

Here's a list of National League double slammers as compiled by Baseball Almanac:

National League
Tony Cloninger-Atlanta 1966
Fernando Tatis-St. Louis 1999
Josh Willingham-Washington 2009

Contributing Sources:
July 3, 1966 box score
2 grand slams in one game

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