Expert: Tom Schott - 11/18/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi there.  Most fans know that Lou Gehrig holds the record for grand slams.  Has there ever been an inside the park grand slam?  What about a walk off inside the park grand slam?  Then there is what I call the "dumb ass" grand slam, which is a grand slam preceded by an intentional walk.  How often has that happened?

ANSWER: Brad,

   I'll give you the information I was able to find: There have been 224 inside-the-park grand slam homers between 1881 when the first one was recorded and 1999, the last year I can find a record for. There has only been one walk-off ITP grand slam HR in baseball history, by Roberto Clemente, on July 25, 1956. I cannot answer the question about an intentional walk preceding the ITP HR.




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi there,
    I was talking with a friend about baseball comebacks.  What is the biggest run deficit overcome in the ninth inning to win a baseball game?  What is the biggest run deficit to win a game with two outs?  Finally, do such comebacks of the same magnitude occur in other sports such as football, basketball or hockey with greater or lesser frequency?  Thanks, I know this is a toughie.

ANSWER: Hi Brad,

 Can't help you much on this one. I can tell you that the largest run deficit overcome by a team to win a game is 12 in the AL and 11 in the NL. Don't know what inning(s) these runs scored.

In the AL:

Det (Chi) June 18, 1911
Phil (Cle) June 15, 1925
Clev (Sea) Aug 5, 2001 (11 innings)

In the NL:

StL (NY) June 15, 1952 (1st game)
Phil (Chi) April 17, 1976 (10 innings)
Hou (StL) July 18, 1994

I can also tell you that the most runs scored after 2 were out in the inning was 13 in the AL and 12 in the NL, but this is not what you're looking for.

As for the final question you asked, I have no idea.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Who holds the record for most times successfully stealing home?  My guess is that Rod Carew or Ty Cobb holds the record.  Has there ever been a game winning (walk off) steal of home?  Has anyone besides Jackie Robinson stolen home in a World Series game?

Answer
Brad:


Ty Cobb holds the lifetime steals of home record with 54.
See: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_stbah.shtml

There have been several walk-off steals of home, the latest I can find was by Willie Davis of the Dodgers in the bottom of the 16th inning against the Phillies on September 19, 1964.

There have also been several steals of home in the World Series, the latest by Brad Fullmer of the LA Angels in the 2nd game of the 2002 Series against the Giants.