By Keith Sutton*

 

     Pitchers have contributed significantly to the grand slam story.   It was a National League hurler, Bill Duggleby of the Phils, who was the only player ever to hit a bases loaded home run in his first at bat in the majors. This feat was accomplished on April 21, 1898.   It was also a pitcher who was the only NL player to hit two grand slam homers in one game. This was Tony Cloninger of the Atlanta Braves on July 3, 1966.

 

     The list of pitchers who hit grand slams is embellished also by the names of great American League hurlers such as Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, Lefty Grove, Wes Ferrell, Red Ruffing, and Early Wynn.   Burly Early did it as a pinch hitter, and we thought those instances should be included because calling on a hurler to pinch hit with the bases loaded is quite a compliment.   In Wynn's case, he hit his slam in the fifth and then pitched the rest of the way to win the game.

 

     Seven hurlers hit two grand slams in their careers. In addition to Cloninger, there was Schoolboy Rowe and

Tommy Byrne, each of whom hit one as a pinch batter, and Dizzy Trout, Camilo Pascual, Bob Gibson, and Rick Wise.

 

     Byrne and Al Hollingsworth were the only grand slam hitters who also gave up slams to other pitchers. Lon Warneke, who never hit one himself, suffered the embarrassment of giving up two jackpot wallops to fellow pitchers.

 

     What were the most exciting grand slams?    Well, any bases loaded homer by a pitcher is dramatic, but Ruffing hit his full-house homer in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 2-2.    Clay Bryant hit one in the tenth to win a game for the Cubs in 1937.    This was the only extra-inning slam by a pitcher and was unusual because Bryant was pitching in relief of Charlie Root, who had homered earlier in the game.

 

 

*Assisted by Leonard Gettelson

 

 

GRAND SLAM HOMERS HIT BY PITCHERS SINCE 1900

 

 

 

GRAND SLAM HOMERS HIT BY PITCHERS SINCE 1900