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Grand slam (baseball) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

In baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with runners on first, second, and third base ("bases loaded"). This scores four runs and is the most possible in one play.

According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term came from the card game of contract bridge. A grand slam in contract bridge involves taking all the possible tricks. The word slam, by itself, can mean a loud sound, such as a door being closed with a lot of force. Slamming the door on one's opponent(s), is similar to the bat slamming the ball into a home run.

Images for kids

  • Roger Connor (baseball player)

    Roger Connor, circa 1887.

  • Don Mattingly

    In 1987, Don Mattingly set the record for most grand slams in a single season, with six. Oddly, those were the only grand slams of his career.

  • Fernando Tatis

    Fernando Tatís (pictured with the Mets) is the only player to hit two grand slams in the same inning, with the Cardinals, in 1999.

  • Travis Hafner bats lr

    Travis Hafner matched Mattingly's single-season record in 2006.

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