Unique box scores in MLB history

Shawn Green’s four-homer game in Milwaukee from 2002 is the game I think of post when I think of unique box scores, and not just because of his record 19 total bases and record-tying home run total. His box score line included six hits in six at-bats with six runs scored, and seven batted in, and looked like this:

From Baseball-Reference

Nobody else in baseball history — dating back to 1904, the earliest Baseball-Reference has play-by-play data, at least — has a 6-6-6-7 line, a unique box score.

I was hoping the time Milton Bradley drove home Dave Roberts three different times with groundouts in 2004 — you might remember this game for the epic Barry Bonds-Eric Gagne duel in the ninth inning — would be a unique box score, but Bradley’s 3-0-0-3 line has been done 10 other times in the majors. Oh well.

But here are some other unique box scores in Dodgers history.

Let’s not forget ol’ Gil

The Dodgers’ other, and first, four-homer game came from Gil Hodges on Aug. 31, 1950 against the Boston Braves. He mixed in a single and an out in his game, and set a Dodgers record with nine RBI. The resulting box score line hasn’t been equaled in MLB history.

Baseball-Reference box score

James Loney matched Hodges’ RBI total as a rookie in 2006 at Coors Field, but Loney’s 5-2-4-9 line was also accomplished by Ivan Rodriguez and Mike Greenwell.

The six-hitters

Of the Dodgers’ nine six-hit games, two others besides Green have a unique box socre. Willie Davis had six hits in a 19-inning game against the Mets at Dodger Stadium in 1973. He scored once in his nine at-bats. All six hits were singles, and because he only batted once with a runner on base — in the third inning against Tom Seaver — Davis drove in only one run.

Baseball-Reference box score

On May 30, 1931, the Brooklyn Dodgers drubbed the New York Giants in the second game of a doubleheader, and third baseman Wally Gilbert was 6-for-7 with a double, scoring four times and driving in two in the win. The Dodgers also won the opener, and though Gilbert didn’t have a hit in that one he did walk once and score on a game-winning home run against Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell.

Baseball-Reference box score

The longest game ever

Brooklyn played the longest major league game ever on May 1, 1920, going 26 innings against the Braves, a 1-1 tie that was called because of darkness. This wasn’t technically a Dodgers feat, but it was against them, so it counts. Boston second baseman Charlie Pick was hitless in 11 at-bats, the only player in major league history to pull this off:

Baseball-Reference box score

Hi again

The center fielder for Brooklyn in that 26-inning game was Hi Myers, who also started in center field for the Dodgers in a 22-inning win over Pittsburgh on Aug. 22, 1917. He was 5-for-10 with a double, but despite the 6-5 final score Myers did not drive in a run and scored just once. That’s a unique box score. Myers also played second base in this game.

Baseball-Reference box score

Separating from the chaff

Also playing in both of those long games in 1917 and 1920 was Hall of Famer Zack Wheat, though he only pinch hit in the 1917 game (and was pinch ran for by his brother Mack Wheat after walking). Those Dodgers were involved in yet another long game on June 1, 1919. In this one, Wheat had four singles and a double in his nine at-bats, pulling off a unique box score.

Baseball-Reference box score

The Dodgers lost this game 10-9, but the most amazing thing wasn’t Wheat’s box score line but rather was Jeff Pfeffer pitching all 18 innings, allowing 10 runs and taking the loss. Pfeffer’s 23 hits allowed are a Dodgers record.

Hitless wonder

You might remember Glenn Wright as the only Dodger besides Corey Seager to hit 20 home runs as a shortstop in a season, doing so in 1930. But on August 13 of that season, Wright found a way to be productive without a hit. Wright scored twice and drove in three runs while going 0-for-1 with three walks. Wright had a runner on third base in all six of his plate appearances, and batted with 13 total runners on base in the Dodgers’ 15-5 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The only man in MLB history to pull off this batting line:

Baseball-Reference box score

Two more opponents

Two of the top three RBI games in National League history came against the Dodgers, including the major league record 12 RBI by Jim Bottomley at Ebbets Field in 1924 (later matched by Mark Whiten in 1993). Bottomley homered twice, doubled, and singled three times in a 17-3 St. Louis win. Bottomley batted with 12 runners on base in his six at-bats, and brought 10 of them home in addition to driving himself in twice. That’s efficiency.

Baseball-Reference box score

The other unique RBI man against the Dodgers was Giants first baseman Phil Weintraub, who was 4-for-5 in a 26-8 drubbing at the Polo Grounds in 1944. Weintraub missed the cycle by only a single, doubling twice, homering, and tripling while driving in 11 runs. He also walked twice and scored five runs.

Baseball-Reference box score