Houston Astros perennial All-Star Jose Altuvé got off to a blistering start on Tuesday, Sept. 5 in the 2023 season when he helped his club jump out to a massive early lead by hitting a home run in each of his first three at-bats.
Even more impressive, though, Altuvé did so in the first three innings of the ball game (against the rival Texas Rangers, no less). With what felt like plenty more at-bats still to come, that had fans asking about some of the best home run performances that we've ever seen.
Specifically, baseball fans were wondering about the most home runs in an MLB game in the history of the league.
Most home runs hit in MLB game by a player
The most home runs hit by an MLB player in a game is four, which has been accomplished by 18 players in the professional era. That last modifier is key as Lipman Pike hit five home runs in a game in 1866, but that was prior to what is considered the professional era of baseball.
The last player to hit four home runs in a game was current Dodgers designated hitter/outfielder J.D. Martinez, who did so while he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017. On Sept. 4 of that season, he slapped four over the fence, coincidentally doing so against the Dodgers.
Here's a list of every player to hit four home runs in a single game in reverse chronological order.
Most home runs hit in MLB game by a team
The most home runs that an MLB team has ever hit in a game was 10 by the Toronto Blue Jays against the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 14, 1987. Catcher Ernie Whitt led the charge with three home runs in the outing, but Rance Mulliniks and George Bell also added a pair of homers apiece. Fred McGriff, Rob Ducey and Lloyd Moseby all added the additional dingers to reach that mark of 10. The Blue Jays won the game in a landslide, 18-3.
