(but only when they are hitting!)
David Vincent
Since 1876, 1,214 pitchers have hit 3,790 homers in the major leagues
(264,773 total home runs).
567 of them hit just 1
71 of them hit at least 10
In 2011, a pitcher homered 24 times.
1973-1996: no homers by American League pitchers
1997-2011: 17 homers by American League pitchers
CC Sabathia and Josh Beckett twice each in that time
1997-2011: 10 of 14 AL teams with homers by pitchers (Angels, Athletics,
Twins and Yankees with none)
May 13, 1942: Cubs at Braves Field
Jim Tobin pitched a complete-game victory for the Braves (6-5 victory)
Tobin led off the fifth inning with a home run
Tobin led off the seventh inning with a home run
Tobin batted in the eighth with the game tied, 4-4, and a runner on first
He hit his third four-bagger of the day
The previous day, Tobin had hit a two-run pinch hit home run
Four home runs in five plate appearances
Guy Hecker hit three inside the park homers on August 15, 1886
June 23, 1971: Phillies at Cincinnati
Pitcher Rick Wise of the Phillies homered twice in the game (3 RBI)
Wise pitched a no-hitter, allowing one walk in game
Only pitcher to hit two homers and throw a no-hitter in same game
Pitchers who threw a no-hitter and hit one home run:
•Frank Mountain (June 5, 1884)
•Wes Ferrell (April 29, 1931)
•Jim Tobin (April 27, 1944)
•Earl Wilson (June 26, 1962)
33 pitchers have ended a game with a home run
Last: Craig Lefferts (April 25, 1986)
Lefferts entered game in 11th inning for the Padres
Pitched two innings
Surrendered a run in the twelfth to the Giants
Graig Nettles led off bottom of inning with a homer to tie game
Lefferts hit a solo homer to win the contest
Pitchers who have hit two game-ending homers:
•Wes Ferrell
•Kirby Higbe
Dave Eiland pitched in 92 games in 10 years
Debut: August 3, 1988 for the Yankees
First batter faced: Paul Molitor who hit a home run
95 pitchers have surrendered a homer to their first batter faced
Eiland signed by the Padres in 1992
April 10, 1992: Eiland’s first major league at bat
Homered vs the Dodgers in 8-3 Padres victory
113 batters have homered in their first at bat
Eiland is the only one on both lists
Statistics
Most homers by a pitcher (Career):
Wes Ferrell, 37
Most homers by a pitcher (Season):
Wes Ferrell, 9 (1931)
Most homers by a pitcher (Career since 1973):
Carlos Zambrano, 23
Most homers by a pitcher (Season since 1973):
Mike Hampton, 7 (2001)
Most homers by a pitcher (Career, active players):
Carlos Zambrano, 23
Most homers by a pitcher (Season, active players):
Carlos Zambrano, 6 (2006)