Fastball

This Day in History: Fernando Tatis Sr. Hits Two Grand Slams in Same Inning!

Twenty-four years ago today, April 23, 1999, St. Louis Cardinals player Fernando Tatis Sr. did something that has never been done in baseball history: hit two grand slams in the same inning. The feat was accomplished against the Los Angeles Dodgers and both grand slams came off of Chan Ho Park.

Brady Farkas

This Day in History: Fernando Tatis Sr. Hits Two Grand Slams in Same Inning!
This Day in History: Fernando Tatis Sr. Hits Two Grand Slams in Same Inning! /
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April 23 is the day of Fernando Tatis Sr. No, not Fernando Tatis Jr., the San Diego Padres star, but the day of his dad.

On April 23, 1999, Tatis Sr. did something that has never been matched in baseball history: He hit two grand slams in the same inning. Ironically enough, both grand slams came off the same pitcher -- Chan Ho Park of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The first home run came with nobody out after two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases. The second after multiple walks and some fielders choices.

It's an incredible feat that has never happened before and hasn't happened since, and it's the thing that defines the career of Tatis Sr., who had a fairly good career as a whole. Also, ironically enough, Tatis Jr. hit the grand slams while hitting behind Mark McGwire.

The 48-year-old spent part of 11 seasons in the major leagues including three years with the Mets, three with the Montreal Expos, three with the Cardinals, two with the Texas Rangers and one with the Baltimore Orioles. He was a lifetime .265 hitter with a .344 on-base percentage who hit 113 homers and drove in 448.

His son, Fernando Jr. is one of the brightest young stars in baseball. He just recently returned from a PED suspension and is playing again for the Padres.

He made his debut in 2019, hitting 22 home runs while stealing 16 bases. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he hit 17 more homers and then in 2021, he hit 42 homers to lead baseball and added 25 steals.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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