Baseball History/Research Question

[Huckleberry]

While poking around Wikipedia I saw a link to a reference that states that on May 17, 1996, Chris Hoiles became the only player in Major League history to bat with the bases loaded, in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, down by three and hit a grand slam on a full count pitch to win it.

I found the box score for the game but no reference to the count being full. Anyone know where I can find that? And it seems like the theory that it was the only full count occurrence in history would be based on a lack of data. Some of the previous slams in the same situation may have been with a full count but we just can't know.

[EagleFan]

While poking around Wikipedia I saw a link to a reference that states that on May 17, 1996, Chris Hoiles became the only player in Major League history to bat with the bases loaded, in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, down by three and hit a grand slam on a full count pitch to win it.

I found the box score for the game but no reference to the count being full. Anyone know where I can find that? And it seems like the theory that it was the only full count occurrence in history would be based on a lack of data. Some of the previous slams in the same situation may have been with a full count but we just can't know.

Could be lack of data with the older games but that entire scenario of just being up in the bottom of the 9th, bases loaded, 2 outs and down by 3 runs is not common at all, let alone hitting a grand slam, and then adding the fact that the count had to be 3-2.

[Karlifornia]

Chris Hoiles, the first inductee enshrined in the: "Realized Childhood Daydream Hall of Fame"

[Peregrine]

Yeah I looked but couldn't find the pitch count either, the box score sites don't have any of the detailed pitching data for that game, besides the boxscore.

[Huckleberry]

Well, then, until someone can produce a trustworthy account of the game that includes detailed pitch data or a screenshot of a broadcast of the moment of truth I hereby remove the full count detail from Hoiles' accomplishment.

[nine years old]So someday I can be the only guy to ever do it![/nine years old]

[chesapeake]

That was the most miserable game I have ever seen. I got out of work in DC late and got stuck in traffic on the way to Baltimore. I finally got to my seat, fuming, in the top of the 4th and my Mariners were already getting crushed 7-2. But they come back and amazingly take a lead in the top of the 8th on a granny by A-Rod. Jay Buhner hits a 2 run dinger in the 9th for insurance. Somehow, some way, these idiots are going to salvage my night.

But in true Mariner fashion, Norm Charlton walks Ripken to load the bases, and Mariner killer Chris Hoiles hits a can of corn that somehow clears the fence by maybe 3 feet. Everyone in my section was screaming so loudly that no one noticed me sobbing into my hat.

Sorry, I can't remember the count. Thinking about this has been a lot like getting a 4 inch paper cut and drowning it in lemon juice.

I'll dig through my boxes in the basement to see if I can find my scorecard, which would typically have that info. But since this was a very rare time that I got there ridiculously late and I was near apoplectic because of the score and traffic, I may not have kept score that night. It's not the Elias Sports Bureau, but it is the best I can do.

[lcjjdnh]

Running a quick library database search, I pulled this from the Washington Post. The first three paragraphs from the next day's game story tells you all you need to know.:

Well, the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners produced another typical major league game tonight before 47,529 drained fans: 27 runs, 41 hits, 26 runners left on base and close to unimaginable drama.
Twice, the game turned on grand slams. Seattle seemed to clinch a come-from-behind victory on shortstop Alex Rodriguez's grand slam in the eighth. But Chris Hoiles hit a 3-2 pitch with two out in the ninth with three aboard to give the Orioles a 14-13 victory.

"It was the only way that game could end," Orioles Manager Davey Johnson said. "Last team at bat wins. This was a classic."

[Huckleberry]

You consider the Washington Post trustworthy?!?!? HA! ;)

[chesapeake]

I can neither confirm nor deny the Post's account. I can't find a scorecard for that game, leading me to believe I didn't keep one.