What Is the Best MLB Single Game Individual Performance, Ever ?

[protectionist]

That is the question. It's been a hefty 154 years, since the first professional baseball game was played by the Cincinatti Red Stockings. Thousands of games have been played, all over the US and in Canada.

So to narrow down to ONE PLAYER in just ONE GAME, is a significant thing to do. In any event, Just take your best shot at it, and we'll see what we can come up with. Should be interesting to see what the responses will be, lots of good information about some very spectacular players, in both the American & National leagues.

 

[Toddsterpatriot]

Chicago Cubs: Kerry Wood’s 20 strikeout game is MLB’s greatest outing

There have been plenty of amazing pitching performances over the years but Cubs right-hander Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game reigns supreme.

cubbiescrib.com

 

[MarathonMike]

This Day In Dodgers History: Shawn Green Has 4 Home Runs, 7 RBI In 6-Hit Game Against Brewers

On this day in Los Angeles Dodgers history, Shawn Green had four home runs in a six-hit game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

dodgerblue.com

 

[protectionist]

This Day In Dodgers History: Shawn Green Has 4 Home Runs, 7 RBI In 6-Hit Game Against Brewers

On this day in Los Angeles Dodgers history, Shawn Green had four home runs in a six-hit game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

dodgerblue.com

good choice......hell of a day for him.

 

[rampart]

That is the question. It's been a hefty 154 years, since the first professional baseball game was played by the Cincinatti Red Stockings. Thousands of games have been played, all over the US and in Canada.

So to narrow down to ONE PLAYER in just ONE GAME, is a significant thing to do. In any event, Just take your best shot at it, and we'll see what we can come up with. Should be interesting to see what the responses will be, lots of good information about some very spectacular players, in both the American & National leagues.

1 at bat.

kirk gibson in dodger blue vs oakland's eckersly (the dominant, by far, closer that year) . whenever i wake up, old and sore (like this morning), i can take a minute to slow down and remember that it might be less painful to trot around the bases.

here is the clip. sorry, i still need to figure out the embedding on this site.

kirk gibson at bat vs eckersly world series - Bing video

www.bing.com

i'm a fan of the braves, chipper jones had several great days when i was at the park. maddox (one of 4 hall of fame pitchers in that bull pen) pitched a 2 hitter and went 2/4 with a home run in 1 game.

and, of course, pete rose .........

 

[Godboy]

All of you are wrong. There is only ONE correct answer to the OP's question. No feat in sports history can compare to Jim Abbots no hitter.

 

[rightwinger]

Fernando Tatis of the Cardinals hit two Grand Slams in ONE INNING…..a record that will never be broken

Two slams in one inning? Won't happen again

Sunday marks the 24th anniversary of the night Cardinals third baseman Fernando Tatis pummeled two grand slams in the same inning at Dodger Stadium, and even more astonishingly, did so off the same pitcher (Chan Ho Park). Nobody had hit two slams in the same inning before in a Major

www.mlb.com

 

[lg325]

1981 Fernando Valenzuela shut out for the Dodgers against the Astros is the first that came to mind.

 

[rightwinger]

July 2 1963, Future HOF Pitchers Warren Spahn and Juan Marichal engaged in a pitchers duel carrying shutouts into the 16th inning. Juan Marichal ended up with the 1-0 victory

July 2, 1963: Marichal outduels Spahn in 16-inning thriller – Society for American Baseball Research

sabr.org

 

[Dadoalex]

On August 12, 1966

Reds and Pirates at Crosley.

Art Shamsky comes in as a PH in the 8th inning and proceeds to hit 3 HR, all of them either tying the game or putting the Reds in the lead.

Others had bigger numbers but no one has been more clutch in a single game.

 

[rightwinger]

On August 12, 1966

Reds and Pirates at Crosley.

Art Shamsky comes in as a PH in the 8th inning and proceeds to hit 3 HR, all of them either tying the game or putting the Reds in the lead.

Others had bigger numbers but no one has been more clutch in a single game.

I was a big fan of Shamsky when he was on the Mets

 

[Anathema]

The greatest game ever by a single player is a ninth inning pinch runner…

Dave Roberts of the Boston Red Sox, October 17, 2004.

Roberts steal of second base, after pinch running for Kevin Millar in the ninth inning changed not just that game, but the series, the season, a franchise, and an entire region of the country.,

 

[lg325]

Thomas Edgar Cheney (October 14, 1934 – November 1, 2001) was a Major League Baseball player. Cheney, a right-handed pitcher from Morgan, Georgia, played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Senators in a span of eight seasons from 1957 to 1966.

Cheney is most notable for striking out the highest number of batters in a Major League Baseball game. He did so on September 12, 1962, when as a Senator, struck out 21 Baltimore Orioles in 16 innings en route to a 2–1 victory.

 

[Rocko]

When I was growing up
Mark Witten hit 4hrs.. If memory serves me correct another player hit 4 hrs. a few years ago.

 

[Devils_Advocate]

Mike Schmidt ( The Cubs Killer ):

April 17, 1976: When Mike Schmidt hit four straight homers in a Wrigley Field slugfest

The homers keyed a major comeback for the Phillies.

www.sportingnews.com

Or

Rick Monday saving the American Flag:

It's been 40 years since Rick Monday saved that U.S. flag from being burned

On this date 40 years ago, Rick Monday saved an American flag from being burned on the Dodger Stadium field by two protestors.

www.cbssports.com

Or

Jim Rice saves child:

40 years later, a look back at the day Jim Rice saved a boy's life at Fenway Park

40 years later, here's a look back at the day Jim Rice saved a boy's life at Fenway Park. Read more on Boston.com.

www.boston.com

Some moments in Baseball go beyond the game and the heroics of one player saving a child's life is more than all the perfect games, home runs and so on, so Jim Rice for me and I am a Cubs fan.

 

[leftwinger]

^^^^^yes. I was going to say Schmidt in 24-23 thriller.

4HR, 5 hits, 8RBI, scored 4 runs.


*****also TATIS sr. Hit two gramd slams in the same inning for STL. April 22, 2023

 

[jwoodie]

Babe Ruth's 14 inning win in Game 2 of the 1916 World Series.

 

[protectionist]

My vote goes to what has only been done ONCE in 154 years of professional baseball. And may never be done again.

That is the PERFECT GAME pitched by Don Larsen of the 1956 New York Yankees, in the World Series, against the National League champ Brooklyn Dodgers. Not only did Larsen not allow a single one of 27 Dodger at bats to reach first base, but he did it against the defending world champions (who won the world series the year before, and had a really tough hitting lineup including :
Duke Snider (hit 40+ HRs in 5 consecutive seasons)
Jackie Robinson (.313 career batting avg)
Carl Furillo (.299 career batting avg)
Gil Hodges (hit 4 HRs in one game)
Roy Campanella (3 MVP awards ; 8 all star games)

Can't imagine the nerves of steel Larsen must have had to mow down 27 consecutive batters. At the end of the game, catcher Yogi Berra jumped up on to Larsen's 6'4" sturdy frame and hugged him. Ever since, this has become a routine for catchers to congratulate their pitcher, after a super performance, although none as big as this one.

 

[protectionist]

My second place winner is Reggie Jackson's performance in the 1977 world series. 3 for 3, 4 runs scored, 5 RBIs, 3 HRs (one of them a 500 ft shot)

 

[Jarlaxle]

Jack Morris, and his 10-inning, 126-pitch shutout to clinch the 1991 World Series for the Twins.