Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Ohiogal

(31,916 posts)
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 10:06 AM Aug 2019

Only Major League Baseball player ever to do this

On July 25, 1956, Roberto Clemente became the only MLB player to hit a walk-off inside-the-park grand slam in a 9–8 Pittsburgh Pirates win over the Chicago Cubs, at Forbes Field.

Saw this on Wikipedia when looking up inside the park grand slams this morning.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Only Major League Baseball player ever to do this (Original Post) Ohiogal Aug 2019 OP
He was a great player oswaldactedalone Aug 2019 #1
Forbes Field had deep left field and center field dimensions Zambero Aug 2019 #2
I had to look-up what "walk-off" means. euphorb Aug 2019 #3
Baseball is like socks, there are all sorts of combinations. rzemanfl Aug 2019 #5
My only sports Hero Devilsun Aug 2019 #4
See above. n/t rzemanfl Aug 2019 #6
So, 1st off - Welcome to DU Devilsun The Polack MSgt Aug 2019 #8
I saw Clemente at a game in Forbes Field around 1965 Hokie Aug 2019 #7
Here's another cool one...Only Major League Baseball player ever to do this Brother Buzz Aug 2019 #9
MLB Inside The Park Grand Slams yuiyoshida Aug 2019 #10
Great stat! kairos12 Aug 2019 #11

Zambero

(8,962 posts)
2. Forbes Field had deep left field and center field dimensions
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 10:15 AM
Aug 2019

As I recall, something on the order of 450 feet to the CF wall or more. If an outfielder was situated shallow enough, a deep line drive could roll to the wall, and it could require several seconds for the ball to be retrieved. Also, given distance it would have been difficult, if the fielder was not Roberto Clemente himself, to get the ball directly back to home plate in time to throw a batter running at full tilt out at the plate. In this instance, the batter/runner was faster than the relay.

euphorb

(279 posts)
3. I had to look-up what "walk-off" means.
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 10:23 AM
Aug 2019

For those who (like me) didn't know, a walk-off home run is a home run that end the game--it scores the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

rzemanfl

(29,554 posts)
5. Baseball is like socks, there are all sorts of combinations.
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 11:26 AM
Aug 2019

By the way, it can happen in extra innings too.

Devilsun

(200 posts)
4. My only sports Hero
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 10:26 AM
Aug 2019

I grew up in a small town near Pittsburgh and I idolized Clemente. I was 9 and vividly recall my Mom telling me Roberto had died in a plane crash on New Years Eve. Worst start to a year i ever had. 😥😣

The Polack MSgt

(13,182 posts)
8. So, 1st off - Welcome to DU Devilsun
Tue Aug 13, 2019, 11:23 AM
Aug 2019

Next up, ARE YOU MY EVIL TWIN, OR AM I YOURS?

I have used those exact words regarding Roberto for almost 50 years. Except it was my dad who told me.

I saw Roberto throw out Johnny Bench trying to go 1st to 3rd on a team mate's single.

Clemente was maybe 5 feet from the warning track and he threw him out by 3 steps. That throw is burned into my baseball memory forever

Hokie

(4,286 posts)
7. I saw Clemente at a game in Forbes Field around 1965
Mon Aug 12, 2019, 11:34 AM
Aug 2019

I was a teenager. They were playing the Giants with Mays and McCovey. Clemente threw a frozen rope strike from the right field corner to third base to hold a runner to a double. As Bob Prince used to say "They will not run on Roberto Clemente's arm!". He was such a gifted baseball player and a wonderful human being.

BTW, I seem to recall that Willie McCovey hit a grand slam home run that is still going.

Brother Buzz

(36,382 posts)
9. Here's another cool one...Only Major League Baseball player ever to do this
Tue Aug 13, 2019, 02:55 PM
Aug 2019
Fernando Tatís

Fernando Tatís became the only player to hit two grand slams in the same inning, when he attained the milestone, slugging two in the third inning for the St. Louis Cardinals on April 23, 1999. In achieving the feat, he also set a new major league record with eight runs batted in in a single inning.
Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Baseball»Only Major League Basebal...