Extra Inning Home Runs

In 100 years of major league’ baseball, there have been nearly 117,000 home runs hit in regulation games. Less than 2 percent of these, or 2150, have been hit in extra innings. Yet, these overtime homers have been very important. About 90-95% of the time they provide the winning margin.

In 1975, for example, there were 49 extra inning homers hit. On two occasions the teams with the extra inning blasts lost; on two other occasions, both teams had extra inning roundtrippers.

Home runs have been hit in all extra innings up to and including the 22nd. On June 24, 1962, Jack Reed, a third-string outfielder with the Yankees, hit his only major league homer off Phil Regan of the Tigers in the 22nd inning, giving Jim Bouton a 9-7 win. On July 17, 1914, Babe Adams of the Pirates set a record by not giving up a walk in a 21-inning game; however, he did give up a 2-run homer to Larry Doyle of the Giants and lost 3-1.

You’d think a roundtripper in the 20th would be a game winner. Tommy Harper hit one for Seattle on July 27, 1969, but Joe Lahoud of the Red Sox hit one with a man on in the bottom of the 20th and they won.

Of the several other late, late home runs, two should be mentioned because they were hit by players usually identified as pitchers. On August 17, 1882, Providence beat Detroit 1-0 in 18 innings when Charles Radbourn, playing rightfield that day, hit one out of the park. Monte Ward pitched the distance and won. On May 24, 1918, Smoky Joe Wood, also playing the outfield, hit one in the 19th to give the Indians a 3-2 win over George Mogridge of the Yankees.

When it came to hitting grand slam home runs in extra innings, no player hit one later than the 16th. The only one to do that was Clyde Voilmer of the Red Sox in 1951. His was one of 73 grand slam homers hit in overtime since 1900. Four players did it twice: Cy Williams, Roger Mans, Tommy Davis, and Cookie Rojas. Here is the full list since 1900:

*Assisted by David Ross

 

Players Hitting Extra-Inning Grand Slams 

10th Inning AL		10th Inning NL
Harry Heilmann, Det. 1919		Barney Friberg, Chi. 1923
Babe Ruth, New York 1925		Jigger Statz, Chi. 1924
Bob Meusel, N.Y. 1929		Cy Williams, Phil. 1924
John Berardino, StL. 1940		Cy Williams, Phil. 1925
Joe DiMaggio, N.Y. 1948		Harvey Hendrick, Chi. 1933
Don Lenhardt, Bos. 1952		Leo Durocher, StL. 1935
Don Buddin, Boston 1959		Clay Bryant, Chi. 1937
Mickey Mantle, N.Y. 1961		Dolf Camilli, Bkn. 1942
Roger Mans, N.Y. 1962		Arky Vaughan, Bkn. 1943
George Smith, Bos. 1966		Walker Cooper, N.Y. 1948
Don Buford, Chicago 1967		Wally Post, Phil. 1958
Joe Pepitone, N.Y. 1969		Joe Adcock, Mil. 1961
Cesar Tovar, Minn. 1969		Tommy Davis, L.A. 1961
Br. Robinson, Bait. 1970		Fr. Robinson, Cin. 1962
Cookie Rojas, K.C. 1972		Eddie Kasko, Cin. 1962
Bob Montgomery, Bos. 1973		Bob Aspromonte, Hou. 1963
Tommy Davis, Balt. 1975		Willie Mays, S.F. 1967
		Lee May, Cincinnati 1970
		Joe Hague, StL. 1971

 

11th Inning AL		11th Inning NL
Tris Speaker, Clev. 1923		Ray Mueller, Bos. 1937
Tommy Henrich, N.Y. 1948		Eddie Miller, Bos. 1940
Roger Mans, Clev. 1957		Ival Goodman, Cin. 1940
Dick Stuart, Bos. 1964		Ralph Kiner, Pitt. 1951
Cookie Rojas, K.C. 1974		Connie Ryan, Cin. 1951
		Monte Irvin, N.Y. 1953
12th Inning AL		Bob Bailey, Pitt. 1966
Joe Jackson, Clev. 1911		Rick Joseph, Phil. 1967
Happy Felsch, Chi. 1916		Johnny Bench, Cin. 1969
Wally Pipp, N.Y. 1923		Deron Johnson, Phil. 1971
Chas. Gehringer, Det. 1930
Vern Stephens, Bos. 1949		12th Inning NL
Carroll Hardy, Bos. 1962		Frank Chance, Chi. 1902
Frank White, K.C. 1975		Johnny Kling, Chi. 1908
		Pie Traynor, Pitt. 1927
13th Inning AL		Frank Secory, Chi. 1946
Don Dillard, Clev. 1962
Donald Lock, Wash. 1963		13th Inning NL
Dick McAuliffe, Det. 1967		Ed Konetchy, Pitt. 1913
		Marty Kavanagh, StL. 1918
14th Inning AL		Jack Hiatt, S.F. 1969
Bruce Campbell, Clev. 1935
Leon Culberson, Bos. 1946		14th Inning NL
		John Pramesa, Cin. 1951
16th Inning AL		Tim Harkness, N.Y. 1963
Clyde Vollmer, Bos. 1951

 

While some players scored a flock of overtime runs with grand slam homers, other players divided up the honors. On May 2, 1964, the Minnesota Twins bombed the Kansas City A’s into submission with 4 consecutive homers in the 11th inning. They were hit by Tony Oliva, Bob Allison, Jimmie Hall, and Harmon Killebrew. The pitching victim of the first three was Dan Pfister. On June 8, 1965, the Braves got into the act in the 10th inning with 4 homers against the Cubs. In that inning, Joe Torre, Eddie Mathews, Henry Aaron, and Gene Oliver delivered the goods.

There have been three occasions when players hit 2 extra inning homers in the same game. In 1943, Vern Stephens connected for the Browns in the 11th and 13th innings; in 1963 when Willie Kirkland was with the Indians, he hit homers in the 11th and 19th innings; and in 1966, Art Shamsky, inserted as a sub for the Reds in mid-game, hit one in the 10th and another in the 11th, to give him 3 for the game.

When it came to hitting fourbaggers in extra innings, the real star was Willie Mays. He connected in overtime in 22 games. His first was a 3-run shot in 1951 when Willie was a 20-year-old rookie and his victim was 42-year-old Dutch Leonard. In June 1967 Willie walloped a grand slam in the 10th at the Astrodome. His most memorable was a swat in the 16th off Warren Spahn in July 1963, which gave Juan Marichal a 1-0 squeaker over the Braves’ great southpaw.

Here is a rundown on all 22 of Mays’ overtime homers.  

Date of Game				Opposing Hurler & Club	Inn.	OB
June	22	1951		Dutch Leonard, Cubs	10	2
July	3	1951		Jocko Thompson, Phils	13	0
July	7	1951		George Estock, Braves	10	0
April	30	1954		Warren Hacker, Cubs	14	0
May	13	1955		Harvey Haddix, Cards	10	0
June	4	1955		Warren Hacker, Cubs	12	0
June	30	1955		Ed Roebuck, Dodgers	10	1
July	4	1955 (2)		Lino Donoso, Pirates	11	1
July	4	1957		Jim Brosnan, Cubs	12	1
Aug.	4	1957 (2)		John Klippstein, Reds	12	0
May	21	1958		Hal Jeffcoat, Reds	10	0
June	20	1959		Stan Williams, Dodgers	13	0
July	10	1959		Orlando Pena, Reds	11	0
June	29	1961		Frank Sullivan, Phils	10	0
May	26	1962		Jay Hook, Mets	10	1
June	13	1963		Dick Ellsworth, Cubs	10	0
July	2	1963		Warren Spahn, Braves	16	0
Aug.	4	1963		Lindy McDaniel, Cubs	10	0
June	13	1967		Barry Latman, Astros	10	3
Sept.	27	1968		Ted Abemathy, Reds	15	0
April	15	1969		Wayne Granger, Reds	10	0
June	6	1971 (2)		Joe Hoerner, Phils	12	0

 

Mays has a wide margin over other home run leaders when games go beyond the regulation 9. In comparison, Babe Ruth hit 16 in overtime, and Frank Robinson 15. Robby connected either in the 10th or 11th, while Mays was the only player to hit in each overtime frame up to the 16th. Here is a breakdown of the leaders.

 

Batters Hitting Most Homers in Extra Innings

	10th	11	12	13	14	15	16	Other	Total
Willie Mays	11*	2	4*	2	1	1	1		22
Babe Ruth	6	5	1	0	1	2*			16
Frank Robinson	10	5							15
Jimmie Foxx	6	6*	0	0	0	0	1	1	14
Mickey Mantle	8	5	1						14
Ted Williams	5	3	4*	1					13
Henry Aaron	7	4	1	0	1				13
Stan Musial	4	2	4*	1					11
Harmon Killebrew	6	4	1						11
Willie Stargell	5	2	0	3*					10
Yogi Berra	5	1	2	1					9
Ernie Banks	5	2	2						9
Billy Williams	6	1	0	0	1	1			9
Richie Allen	5	0	1	2	0	0	0	1	9

*Leader

 

Pitchers have also joined in the act of hitting extra inning home runs. It has been done 37 times since 1900, occurring all the way up to the 14th inning. Two pitchers did it twice: In 1911 Jack Coombs connected once in the 11th inning and once in the 14th. Dizzy Dean put his bat where his mouth was and hit 10th inning homers in both 1934 and 1935.

When it comes to extra inning homers, however, pitchers are usually viewed from the other end of the delivery system. What pitcher served up the most extra inning homers? Was it Robin Roberts, who gave up a record total of 502 homers in his career? Or Warren Spahn? Or Early Wynn? It was none of these. Roberts gave up only 7 overtime homers; Spahn 6, and Wynn 5. In the first place, Roberts and Wynn were starting hurlers who did not pitch much in overtime. Spahn did pitch more in extra innings, but seemed to get stronger as he went along.

Who then pitches in extra innings? Relief hurlers, of course! The pitcher most frequently victimized by extra inning homers was El Roy Face. He is way out ahead of other pitchers with 21 overtime booboos. Here is the rundown on Face.

 

Date of Game			Opposing Batter & Club	Inn.	OB
July	14	1956	Dee Fondy, Cubs	10	0
Sep.	16	1956	Rip Repuiski, Cards	10	0
April	30	1957	Stan Musial, Cards	13	0
Aug.	30	1959 (2)	Ed Bouchee, Phils	10	0
July	20	1960	Tommy Davis, Dodgers	11	0
Sep.	25	1960	Eddie Mathews, Braves	10	1
April	13	1961	Hobie Landrith, Giants	11	0
Aug.	6	1961 (2)	VadaPinson, Reds	10	0
Sep.	11	1961	Felipe Alou, Giants	10	0
Sep.	23	1961	Wes Covington, Phils	16	0
July	5	1962 (1)	Fred Whitfield, Cards	10	0
June	2	1963	Jim Hickman, Mets	10	0
Aug.	25	1963	John Callison, Phils	11	1
April	14	1964	Billy Williams, Cubs	10	1
April	28	1966	Ron Santo, Cubs	10	0
May	29	1966	Jim Gentile, Astros	11	0
Aug.	12	1966	Art Shamsky, Reds	10	0
June	6	1967	Ron Swoboda, Mets	10	0
June	20	1968	Jim Fairey, Dodgers	10	0
May	6	1969	Tito Francona, Braves	12	1
Aug.	13	1969	Johnny Bench, Reds	11	3

 

Although Willie Mays hit the most extra inning homers, 22, and El Roy Face gave up the most, 21, and they played against each other for 15 years, Willie never connected in overtime off the forkball ace of the Pirates.

Ranking some distance behind Face in giving up boundary belts in extra frames were Hoyt Wilhelm, Lindy McDaniel, Johnny Sam, and Dick Radatz. Radatz is the surprise, giving up 12 extra inning roundtrippers in his short career. Sam split his career as a starter and reliever. The only full-time starter on the list is Gaylord Perry, and he pitches more extra innings than any of the current starters.

Here is a breakdown of those pitchers who have given up the most home runs in extra innings.

 

	10th	11	12	13	14	15	16	Total
El Roy Face	13	5	1	1	0	0	1	21
Hoyt Wilhelm	8	3	2	1				14
Lindy McDaniel	9	2	1	1				13
Johnny Sam	7	3	0	2				12
Dick Radatz	9	1	1	0	1			12
Gaylord Perry	4	5	0	0	0	1		10
John Klippstein	5	2	2					9
Don McMahon	7	1	0	0	0	1		9
Turk Lown	6	1	1					8