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A grand slam is when a home run hit with the bases loaded occurs (i.e., runners on first, second, and third base simultaneously), hitting up to four home runs—the maximum feasible in a single play. To date, a little over ten players have achieved double grand slams in a single game at the MLB. The Washington Nationals’ playmaker Josh Willingham has the record for the most recent, which was on July 27, 2009. No player has ever done it more than once in his career, and no player has ever hit more than two in a single game. , Tony Lazzeri was the first to smash two grand slams in a single game for the New York Yankees against the Philadelphia Athletics on the 24th of May 1936.
What is a grand slam in baseball?
A grand slam happens when a batter hits a home run while runners occupy all three bases in baseball. In terms of plate output, a grand slam is the pinnacle of a batter’s career. When a batter hits a grand slam, they are given four RBIs (Runs batted in). In addition, they are credited with three RBIs for runners already on base and one for themselves. A grand slam in baseball is the same as a home run in baseball.
2 Grand Slam Examples
Example one: In this analogy, we’ll suppose the first two batters of the inning hit singles and are presently on first and second base. The pitcher intentionally walks the third batter of the inning. Thus, runners have taken up all three bases.
This puts the pitcher in peril, although a run will be pushed in if he walks the next hitter. More so, it puts the batter in a good position since he knows the pitcher will have to throw several pitches over the plate to prevent a walk. The hitter smashes a big shot over the center-field fence after the pitcher throws a ball right down the middle! All runners, including the batter, score, and the hitter, are credited with a grand slam and four RBIs!
Example two: In this scenario, we’ll assume our pitcher, who appears to be off today, walked the first three hitters. We’re not sure why the manager hasn’t pulled him out yet! The following batter hits a sharp line drive down the first baseline, and the ball rolls to the outfield edge. Our quick runner makes it around the bases and touches home before the ball can reach the catcher. The hitter is credited with a grand slam and four RBI!
Does the batter have to hit the ball over the fence for a grand slam?
No.
A batter may smash a grand slam without batting the baseball over the fence, as seen in illustration #2 above.
Example 2 is regarded as “within the park grand slam.”
As you might expect, an inside-the-park home run demands a considerable amount of speed on the part of the runner.
When we say fast, we mean it! Kevin Kiermaier of the Tampa Bay Rays completed one of the quickest trips around the bases on an inside-the-park grand slam home run in 14.29 seconds!
Let’s start with the distance between bases. Ninety feet multiplied by four bases equals 360 feet or 120 yards. Assume that he stretched another 40 or 50 feet when he rounded the bases. Around 400 feet in 14 seconds! Fantastic!
Does an error negate an inside-the-park grand slam home run?
Yes.
Like most offensive snaps in a baseball game, committing an error will affect how the play is scored.
For example:
If the bases are complete when the batter strikes the ball into the field, however, the fielder makes a terrible throw or fails to field the ball correctly, and it slips by them when it really shouldn’t, the defense is penalized with a mistake on the play.
It will not be scored as a home run depending on where the runners are when the mistake happens. For example, if the runners who were previously on base scored, but the batter is only halfway to third, the scoring may be as follows: Triple – E9 – 3RBI, even if the batter can score.
The hitter is credited with a triple and three due to the error that happened during the play, not the grand slam. The scoring is entirely in the hands of the game’s official referee.
Conclusion
As children, we all fantasize about hitting a grand slam. With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, We took the batter’s mound with a 3-2 count and a three-run lead. Then something occurs. The baseball seems to be a beach ball emerging out of the pitcher’s hand and is heading straight down the center. Your eyes shine brightly. You take a long, deep breath. You take a step. You use everything you’ve got to swing. You made the catch. It’s a grand slam!
For more on baseball, read.
What Is A Grand Slam In Baseball‘