When fans talk about the most home runs in an MLB game, they are usually looking at two distinct feats: a single team going wild over nine innings, or an individual player putting on a historic multi-homer clinic. Both record books contain legendary performances that still stun modern baseball observers.
The absolute team record belongs to the 1987 Toronto Blue Jays, who launched an incredible 10 home runs in a single game against the Baltimore Orioles. On the individual side, hitting four home runs in one game is an exclusive club that has only been achieved a select few times in major league history. These milestones represent the absolute pinnacle of offensive power in baseball.
The Team Record: Ten Home Runs in One Night
On September 14, 1987, the Toronto Blue Jays turned Exhibition Stadium into a launching pad. Facing the Baltimore Orioles, the Blue Jays' lineup connected for 10 home runs on the way to an 18-3 blowout victory.
Ernie Whitt and Rance Mulliniks each hit two home runs during the onslaught, while teammates George Bell, Lloyd Moseby, Rob Ducey, Fred McGriff, Ernie Whitt, and others contributed to the record-setting tally. Pitchers for Baltimore simply couldn't find a way to keep the ball in the park as Toronto's bats caught fire from the first inning onward.
While 10 remains the gold standard for a single team, a select group of franchises have come close with nine home runs in a game. This includes the 1999 Cincinnati Reds against the Philadelphia Phillies, along with more recent offensive outbursts by powerhouse lineups over the last few seasons.
The Individual Single-Game Milestone: Four Home Runs
While team efforts require sustained depth throughout a lineup, an individual player hitting four home runs in a single game is one of the rarest feats in American sports. It has happened less than twenty times across the long history of Major League Baseball.
Bobby Lowe was the first player to accomplish this back on May 30, 1894, playing for the Boston Beaneaters. Since then, legends and surprising sluggers alike have etched their names into the record books.
- Lou Gehrig (1932): The Iron Horse slugged four consecutive home runs against the Philadelphia Athletics, though game darkness nearly cut his historic day short.
- Willie Mays (1961): The "Say Hey Kid" hit four long balls for the San Francisco Giants in a dominant win against the Milwaukee Braves, capping off the performance with a game-winning home run in the bottom of the 12th inning.
- Shawn Green (2002): Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Green collected 19 total bases in a single game against the Milwaukee Brewers, combining his four home runs with a double and a single.
- Josh Hamilton (2012): Hamilton put on an unforgettable display at Camden Yards for the Texas Rangers, driving in eight runs while leaving opposing fans in awe of his raw power.
Factors That Create Historic Home Run Games
Witnessing a record-breaking home run onslaught requires a precise mix of external conditions, pitching mistakes, and hitter momentum. It rarely happens by accident.
Weather plays a massive role. Warm summer air is thinner, which reduces drag and allows batted balls to travel significantly further. Ballparks with cozy dimensions or winds blowing outward frequently serve as the backdrop for multi-homer explosions.
Pitching depth also dictates these outcomes. When a starting pitcher doesn't have their best stuff and gets knocked out early, a manager is forced to turn to a taxed bullpen. If middle relievers enter the game throwing fastballs over the heart of the plate to a locked-in lineup, the deficit can quickly spiral out of control into a historic home run parade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has any player ever hit five home runs in a single MLB game?
No player in major league history has hit five home runs in a single regular-season or postseason game. Several players have been intentionally walked or pitched around after hitting four, preserving the four-homer ceiling.
What is the record for home runs by both teams combined in one game?
The record for the most combined home runs in a single game is 13. This high-scoring affair happened on May 8, 2002, when the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers combined to clear the fence 13 times.
Can a team hit ten home runs and still lose the game?
No team in MLB history has ever lost a game after hitting 10 home runs. In fact, teams that hit five or more home runs in a single contest win the vast majority of the time due to the sheer run production generated.
How many total bases is the record for one player in a game?
The single-game total bases record is 19, a mark shared by Shawn Green (2002) and Nick Kurtz (2025), both of whom combined their four home runs with extra-base hits. You can read more about historical baserunning and hitting benchmarks on Baseball Almanac.
