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Top 50 Greatest Hitting Performances(Back to Back Days)

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tpeichel

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2008
15,639
119
Nate Colbert 17 has a signature with the question, "has your favorite player ever hit 5 HR in a doubleheader?" which always make me think back to when Kirby Puckett had a doubleheader where he had six hits in a game and between the two games went 10 for 11.

I looked up the record for doubleheaders and couldn't find Puckett anywhere. It ends up he did it in back to back games over a weekend series in Milwaukee, not a doubleheader.

Since I am sure someone has already compiled a list of the greatest doubleheader performances of a all-time, I thought we could create a list of the greatest back to back game performances of all time. The criteria will be consecutive games only, no off days allowed. If the stats are close, late season, playoff and world series performances will get extra credit.

Post a little summary and we'll rank them as we go and I'll update this page with the list.

01. 43 Tony Lazzeri (May 23/24 1936) 7 for 10, 5 HR, 1 3B, 15 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB
02. 41 Nate Colbert (August 1/1 1972) 7 for 9, 5 HR, 13 RBI, 7 R, 1 BB
03. 40 Shawn Green (May 23/24 2002) 9 for 10, 5 HR, 1 2B, 8 RBI, 8 R
04. 39 Willie Mays (May 12/13 1958) 8 for 10, 4 HR, 2 3B, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 1 SB, 1 CS
05. 39 Reggie Jackson (June 14/15 1969) 8 for 10, 3 HR, 1 3B, 2 2B, 14 RBI, 5 R, 1 BB
06. 39 Travis Hafner (July 19/20 2004) 7 for 8, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB
07. 38 Ty Cobb (May 5/6 1925) 9 for 12, 5 HR, 1 2B, 11 RBI, 6 R, 1 CS
08. 38 Geoff Jenkins (April 28/29 2001) 7 for 9, 5 HR, 1 2B, 12 RBI, 6 R
09. 38 Mark McGwire (June 27/28 1987) 8 for 10, 5 HR, 1 2B, 7 RBI, 9 R
10. 37 Ralph Kiner (Aug 15/16 1947) 5 for 6, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB
11. 37 Walker Cooper (July 6/7 1949) 8 for 10, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB
12. 36 Stan Musial (May 2/2 1954) 6 for 8, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB
13. 36 Joe Carter (July 18/19 1989) 6 for 7, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB, 1 SB
14. 36 Kirby Puckett (Aug 29/30 1987) 10 for 11, 4 HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 6 R
15. 36 Edgar Martinez (May 17/18, 1999) 6 for 8, 5 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 2 BB
16. 36 Joe Adcock (Jul 30/31, 1954) 8 for 10, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 1 CS
17. 36 Alphonso Soriano (Aug 13/14, 2013) 6 for 9, 4 HR, 1 2B, 13 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB
18. 35 Carl Yastzremski (May 19/20 1976) 7 for 9, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB
19. 35 Mark McGwire (June 10/11, 1995) 6 for 9, 5 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 3 BB
20. 35 Josh Hamilton (May 7/8, 2012) 6 for 9, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB
21. 35 Jimmie Foxx (June 7/8, 1933) 5 for 8, 4 HR, 1 3B, 10 RBI, 7 R, 2 BB
22. 35 Jim Tabor (July 4/4 1939) 6 for 9, 4 HR, 1 2B, 11 RBI, 7 R, 1 BB
23. 35 Babe Ruth (July 8/9 1927) 7 for 9, 3 HR, 2 2B, 12 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 SB
24. 35 Sammy Sosa (Aug 10/11 2002) 6 for 9, 4 HR, 1 2B, 14 RBI, 2 R
25. 35 Gary Carter (Sept 3/4, 1985) 6 for 8, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB
26. 34 Mike Piazza (Aug 26/27 1995) 6 for 8, 4 HR, 2 2B, 10 RBI, 5 R, 1 BB
27. 33 Barry Bonds (May 19/20, 2001) 6 for 7, 5 HR, 1 2B, 5 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB
28. 33 Mel Ott (Aug 4/5 1934) 6 for 7, 3 HR, 1 2B, 7 RBI, 8 R, 3 BB
29. 33 Barry Larkin (June 27/28 1991) 5 for 8, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 1 BB, 1 SB
30. 33 Mark Whiten (Sept 7/8 1993) 6 for 9, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 5 R, 1 SB
31. 33 Andre Dawson (June 2/3, 1987) 6 for 10, 4 HR, 1 3B, 12 RBI, 4 R, 1 SB
32. 33 Johnny Bench (May 8/9, 1973) 6 for 8, 4 HR, 1 2B, 11 RBI, 4 R
33. 32 Garrett Atkins (Sept 18/19 2006) 8 for 10, 2 HR, 1 3B, 2 2B, 10 RBI, 6 R
34. 32 Babe Ruth May (21/22 1930) 6 for 9, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R
35. 32 Darryl Spencer (May 12/13 1958) 6 for 10, 4 HR, 1 3B, 1 2B, 8 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB
36. 32 Al Oliver (Aug 17/17, 1980) 6 for 9, 4 HR, 1 3B, 1 2B, 7 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB
37. 32 Willie Stargell (May 21/22 1968) 8 for 12, 4 HR, 1 2B, 9 RBI, 5 R, 1 SB
38. 32 Ralph Kiner (Sept 11/12 1947) 5 for 8, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 1 BB
39. 32 Johnny Bench (July 25/26 1970) 7 for 9, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 4 R
40. 32 Babe Herman (June 22/23, 1930) 5 for 7, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 1 SB
41. 32 Rusty Greer (Aug 22/23, 1997) 5 for 8, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB
42. 32 Erubiel Durazo (May 17/18, 2002) 5 for 7, 4 HR, 1 2B, 10 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB
43. 31 Ken Williams (Apr 4/5 1922) 6 for 7, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 1 BB, 1 SB
44. 31 Manny Ramirez (Sep 15/16, 1998) 5 for 8, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R
45. 31 Don Mueller (Sept 1/2 1951) 5 for 9, 5 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R
46. 31 Phil Weintraub (Apr 29/30, 1944) 6 for 8, 1 HR, 1 3B, 3 2B, 11 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB
47. 31 Roberto Clemente (May 14/15, 1967) 7 for 9, 3 HR, 1 3B, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 5 R
48. 31 Adrian Beltre (Aug 31 & Sep 1, 2008), 8 for 10, 3 HR, 1 3B, 1 2B, 6 RBI, 7 R
49. 31 Damian Easley (June 3/4, 2006) 6 for 9, 4 HR, 1 2B, 10 RBI, 4 R, 1 BB
50. 31 Jeff Cirillo (June 28/29, 2000) 7 for 10, 3 HR, 2 2B, 9 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB
 
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markakis8

Active member
Oct 31, 2008
12,081
2
I seem to remember Marcus Giles having back to back 5 for 5 days...can't remember if they were just all singles though.

EDIT: I could've swore it was back to back 5 for 5 games but it appears he just had a torrid week. In 3 games he was 13 fo 15 and expanded to 5 games he was 18 for 25.

But in back to back games on July 28/29th 2003 he went 9 for 10 with 2 HR and 8 RBI
 
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tpeichel

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2008
15,639
119
August 29, 1987 MN versus MIL
Puckett made an out his first at bat then preceded to rap out 4 straight hits including blasting two HRs. His line for the day was 4 for 5 with 2 RBI and 3 Runs Scored.

August 30, 1987 MN versus MIL
SABR has a nice write on both games so I'll simply quote them:

http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/abfa93df
Before the Saturday game against the Brewers, Oliva lectured Puckett about being more aggressive with his bat. Puckett responded with four hits, including two home runs. The next day, he sat on a tarpaulin with Oliva before the game and said, "You know, Tony, I feel great. I feel like something's going to happen."

He had good reason for feeling that way. After driving in a run with a first-inning single, Puckett homered in the third to give the Twins a 2-0 lead. Milwaukee came back with three runs, but Puckett singled and scored the tying run in the fifth. Milwaukee retook the lead in the bottom of the inning, but it could have been worse. With the bases loaded, Robin Yount hit a long drive to center that Puckett hauled in with a leaping grab, robbing the Brewer star of a grand slam. Puckett doubled in the eighth as part of a three-run rally that put the Twins back in front. Then in the ninth, with Greg Gagne on first base, Puckett got another chance. This time he went the opposite way, drilling a home run to right for his sixth hit of the game. The ten hits in consecutive games set an American League record and tied the major-league mark.


His line for Game 2 was 6 for 6 with 2 HR, 2 Doubles, 4 runs and 4 RBI. I completely forgot about him robbing the grand slam.

His line for both games was 10 for 11, 4 HR, 2 Doubles, 7 Runs and 6 RBI.

I have no idea why the manager was letting his pitcher throw Puckett anything to hit in that last at bat. I mean the guy had nine consecutive hits off your staff, including 3 HR and 2 Doubles. What was he thinking? Then again, Puckett was a hacker and excellent bad ball hitter, so maybe he hit something out of the zone? Just intentionally walk the guy already.
 

tpeichel

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2008
15,639
119
Does Johnny Vander Meer's consecutive no-hitters count? Or are SPs excluded since they technically take rest days.

I think this will mainly be a hitting list because of the off days, but there could be some performances back in the early days of baseball when pitchers threw a lot more innings.
 

tpeichel

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2008
15,639
119
For the first 4 performances, I think I am going with this order. Any objections?


Shawn Green May 23/24 2002: 9 for 10, 5 HR, 1 2B, 8 RBI
Kirby Puckett August 29/30 1987: 10 for 11, 4 HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 6 R, Robbed Grand Slam, 10 straight hits
Geoff Jenkins April 28/29th of 2001: 7 for 9, 5 HR, 1 2B, 12 RBI, 6 R
Cal Ripken Jr. June 13/14th 1999: 8 for 10, 2 HR, 1 2B, 8 RBI, 6 R 1 2B
 

tpeichel

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2008
15,639
119
Cant remember the player, but in the very early days of baseball, there was a pitcher who normally threw both games of a doubleheader...Any help on his name?

Not sure, but I think you are right, there was a pitcher that threw both ends of a double header. Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Old Ross Hathburn?
 

tpeichel

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2008
15,639
119
Fernando Tatis had two grand slams in an inning. I'll have to check to see how he did before and after the game.
 

MrMet

Well-known member
Apr 6, 2010
13,556
612
The Poconos
May 20th,1999: Robin Ventura - Game 1 1-4 1R 4RBI (one grand slam) Game 2 2-3 2R 4RBI (one grand slam)
only player in Major League history to have a grand slam in both games of a doubleheader
 

tpeichel

Well-known member
Oct 10, 2008
15,639
119
May 20th,1999: Robin Ventura - Game 1 1-4 1R 4RBI (one grand slam) Game 2 2-3 2R 4RBI (one grand slam)
only player in Major League history to have a grand slam in both games of a doubleheader

Ventura is definitely a qualifier.

Looks like Tatis had another HR in the game following his two slam performance, but his totals were only 3 for 8 with 3 HR and 9 RBI so I'll add him for now, but he may get knocked off the list with only 3 hits in the two games.
 

sigma_chi

New member
Apr 14, 2010
2,104
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NE Arkansas/SEMO
Back in 1999 I remember Jose Jimenez facing off against Randy Johnson, Jimenez threw a no hitter then turned right around and if I'm correct threw a two hitter against Randy Johnson in a 1-0 shutout in his very next start. I was in attendance for the two hitter. Any Cardinal fans remember that?
 

Lowry

New member
Jan 15, 2013
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0
McAllen, TX
Walt Dropo - July 14-15, 1952: 14th - 5-5, 15th Doubleheader - Gm 1 - 4-4, Gm 2 - 4-5 (hits in first 3 at bats for 12 consecutive plate appearances w/ hits). Impressive 2 days, but going by the rules, even a decent back-to-back.
 

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