Grand slam (baseball) facts for kids

A grand slam in baseball is one of the most exciting plays! It happens when a player hits a home run while all three bases are full of runners. Imagine: a runner on first base, one on second, and one on third. When the batter hits a grand slam, all four players – the batter and the three runners – score a run! This is the most runs a team can score on one single hit.

Where the Name "Grand Slam" Comes From

The cool name "grand slam" actually comes from a card game called contract bridge. In bridge, a "grand slam" means winning every single trick in the game. It's like a complete victory!

The word "slam" itself means to close something loudly, like "slamming a door." In baseball, it's like the batter "slams" the ball out of the park, making a big statement against the other team.

Amazing Grand Slam Moments

Hitting a grand slam is rare, but some players have hit many!

Record-Setting Seasons

In 1987, a famous player named Don Mattingly hit six grand slams in just one season. That was a new record! What's even more surprising is that those were the only grand slams he ever hit in his whole career. Later, in 2006, another player named Travis Hafner also hit six grand slams in one season, matching Mattingly's record.

Two Grand Slams in One Inning

Can you imagine hitting two grand slams in the same game? How about in the same inning? Only one player in baseball history has ever done that! In 1999, Fernando Tatís hit two grand slams in one inning while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. It was an incredible and unforgettable moment!

Images for kids

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  Roger Connor, an early baseball star, pictured around 1887.

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  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.

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

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