Hitting for the cycle

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Eric Davis hit for the cycle in 1989
Eric Davis hit for the cycle in 1989

In baseball, a player hits for the cycle when he hits a single, a double, a triple and a home run in the same game, though not necessarily in that order. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a natural cycle.

The feat is rare in Major League Baseball as it requires a game of no fewer than four hits, and the unusual combination of a home run, which requires a batter to hit for some power, and a triple, which requires a batter to have both speed on the basepaths and a favorable fall of the ball.

Thus, hitting for the cycle demonstrates excellence in three of the five "tools" of baseball. The accomplishment is held in high enough esteem that players needing only a single to complete the cycle have been known to hold up at first base on balls hit in the alley.

There are only three current major league teams that, to date, have not had a player hit for the cycle – the San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays. To date, no player has ever hit for the cycle in a post-season game.

Contents

[edit] Chronological list of players who have hit for the cycle

Listed below are the 277 occurrences of players hitting for the cycle in Major League Baseball (players with multiple occurrences denoted in parentheses, natural cycles in bold):

Date Player Team
May 25, 1882 Curry Foley Buffalo
July 30, 1883 Al Knight Philadelphia (AA)
September 12, 1883 John Reilly Cincinnati
September 19, 1883 John Reilly (2) Cincinnati
June 16, 1884 Jim O'Rourke Buffalo
June 12, 1885 Dave Orr New York (AA)
June 13, 1885 George Wood Detroit
June 16, 1885 Henry Larkin Philadelphia (AA)
September 28, 1885 Mox McQuery Detroit
May 24, 1886 Fred Dunlap St. Louis (NL)
August 8, 1886 Pete Browning Louisville
August 21, 1886 Jack Rowe Detroit
September 23, 1886 Chippy McGarr Philadelphia (AA)
April 30, 1887 Tip O'Neill St. Louis
May 2, 1887 Fred Carroll Pittsburgh
May 7, 1887 Tip O'Neill (2) St. Louis
August 10, 1887 Dave Orr (2) New York (AA)
August 26, 1887 Bid McPhee Cincinnati
May 15, 1888 Harry Stovey Philadelphia (AA)
June 13, 1888 Sam Barkley Kansas City
July 28, 1888 Jimmy Ryan Chicago
August 25, 1888 Mike Tiernan New York
June 7, 1889 Pete Browning (2) Louisville
August 8, 1889 Jack Glasscock Indianapolis
August 15, 1889 Larry Twitchell Cleveland
July 5, 1890 Bill Van Dyke Toledo
July 18, 1890 Jumbo Davis Brooklyn (AA)
July 21, 1890 Roger Connor New York (PL)
August 1, 1890 Oyster Burns Brooklyn (NL)
August 6, 1890 John Reilly (3) Cincinnati
August 12, 1890 Farmer Weaver Louisville
July 1, 1891 Jimmy Ryan (2) Chicago
September 12, 1891 Abner Dalrymple Milwaukee
April 24, 1894 Lave Cross Philadelphia
June 13, 1894 Bill Hassamaer Washington
August 17, 1894 Sam Thompson Philadelphia
September 28, 1894 Tom Parrott Cincinnati
August 16, 1895 Tommy Dowd St. Louis
September 30, 1895 Ed Cartwright Washington
May 9, 1896 Herman Long Boston
May 30, 1896 Bill Joyce Washington
July 10, 1901 Harry Davis Philadelphia (AL)
July 23, 1901 Fred Clarke Pittsburgh
July 30, 1901 Nap Lajoie Philadelphia (AL)
May 7, 1903 Fred Clarke (2) Pittsburgh
July 29, 1903 Patsy Dougherty Boston (AL)
September 24, 1903 Bill Bradley Cleveland
June 20, 1904 Duff Cooley Boston (NL)
October 4, 1904 Sam Mertes New York (NL)
April 26, 1907 Johnny Bates Boston (NL)
October 2, 1908 Otis Clymer Washington
July 3, 1910 Chief Wilson Pittsburgh
August 25, 1910 Danny Murphy Philadelphia (AL)
October 6, 1910 Bill Collins Boston (NL)
July 3, 1911 Frank Baker Philadelphia (AL)
August 19, 1911 Mike Mitchell Cincinnati
June 9, 1912 Tris Speaker Boston (AL)
June 10, 1912 Chief Meyers New York (NL)
July 25, 1912 Bert Daniels New York (AL)
August 22, 1912 Honus Wagner Pittsburgh
July 5, 1915 Heinie Groh Cincinnati
June 13, 1918 Cliff Heathcote St. Louis (NL)
August 8, 1920 George Sisler St. Louis (AL)
September 17, 1920 Bobby Veach Detroit
September 17, 1920 George Burns New York (NL)
May 7, 1921 Bob Meusel New York (AL)
June 1, 1921 Dave Bancroft New York (NL)
August 13, 1921 George Sisler (2) St. Louis (AL)
August 30, 1921 Dave Robertson Pittsburgh
April 29, 1922 Ross Youngs New York (NL)
May 25, 1922 Jimmy Johnston Brooklyn
June 27, 1922 Ray Schalk Chicago (AL)
July 3, 1922 Bob Meusel (2) New York (AL)
July 7, 1923 Pie Traynor Pittsburgh
April 17, 1924 Baby Doll Jacobson St. Louis (AL)
August 28, 1924 Goose Goslin Washington
June 4, 1925 Kiki Cuyler Pittsburgh
June 20, 1925 Max Carey Pittsburgh
July 21, 1925 Roy Carlyle Boston (AL)
September 26, 1926 Bob Fothergill Detroit
July 15, 1927 Jim Bottomley St. Louis (NL)
August 5, 1927 Cy Williams Philadelphia (NL)
May 29, 1928 Bill Terry New York (NL)
July 26, 1928 Bob Meusel (3) New York (AL)
May 16, 1929 Mel Ott New York (NL)
May 23, 1929 Oscar Melillo St. Louis (AL)
September 2, 1929 Joe Cronin Washington
May 8, 1930 Freddie Lindstrom New York (NL)
June 23, 1930 Hack Wilson Chicago (NL)
August 21, 1930 Chick Hafey St. Louis (NL)
May 18, 1931 Babe Herman Brooklyn
July 1, 1931 Chuck Klein Philadelphia (NL)
July 24, 1931 Babe Herman (2) Brooklyn
June 3, 1932 Tony Lazzeri New York (AL)
July 22, 1932 Mickey Cochrane Philadelphia (AL)
May 5, 1933 Pepper Martin St. Louis (NL)
May 26, 1933 Chuck Klein (2) Philadelphia (NL)
June 24, 1933 Arky Vaughan Pittsburgh
August 2, 1933 Mickey Cochrane (2) Philadelphia (AL)
August 6, 1933 Pinky Higgins Philadelphia (AL)
August 14, 1933 Jimmie Foxx Philadelphia (AL)
August 17, 1933 Earl Averill Cleveland
September 30, 1933 Babe Herman (3) Chicago (NL)
June 10, 1934 Doc Cramer Philadelphia (AL)
June 25, 1934 Lou Gehrig New York (AL)
August 19, 1934 Moose Solters Boston (AL)
June 29, 1935 Joe Medwick St. Louis (NL)
May 24, 1936 Sam Leslie New York (NL)
April 20, 1937 Gee Walker Detroit
July 9, 1937 Joe DiMaggio New York (AL)
August 1, 1937 Lou Gehrig (2) New York (AL)
July 12, 1938 Odell Hale Cleveland
May 5, 1939 Sam Chapman Philadelphia (AL)
May 27, 1939 Charlie Gehringer Detroit
July 19, 1939 Arky Vaughan (2) Pittsburgh
June 8, 1940 Harry Craft Cincinnati
June 15, 1940 Harry Danning New York (NL)
July 13, 1940 Johnny Mize St. Louis (NL)
July 19, 1940 Buddy Rosar New York (AL)
August 2, 1940 Joe Cronin (2) Boston (AL)
September 8, 1940 Joe Gordon New York (AL)
July 19, 1941 George McQuinn St. Louis (AL)
July 3, 1943 Leon Culberson Boston (AL)
May 17, 1944 Bobby Doerr Boston (AL)
July 6, 1944 Bob Johnson Boston (AL)
September 2, 1944 Dixie Walker Brooklyn
July 15, 1945 Bob Elliott Pittsburgh
August 4, 1945 Bill Salkeld Pittsburgh
May 19, 1946 Mickey Vernon Washington
July 21, 1946 Ted Williams Boston (AL)
May 13, 1947 Bobby Doerr (2) Boston (AL)
September 14, 1947 Vic Wertz Detroit
May 20, 1948 Joe DiMaggio (2) New York (AL)
July 30, 1948 Wally Westlake Pittsburgh
August 29, 1948 Jackie Robinson Brooklyn
June 14, 1949 Wally Westlake (2) Pittsburgh
June 25, 1949 Gil Hodges Brooklyn
July 24, 1949 Stan Musial St. Louis (NL)
June 2, 1950 George Kell Detroit
June 25, 1950 Ralph Kiner Pittsburgh
June 28, 1950 Roy Smalley Chicago (NL)
August 2, 1950 Elmer Valo Philadelphia (AL)
September 7, 1950 Hoot Evers Detroit
June 4, 1951 Gus Bell Pittsburgh
June 4, 1952 Larry Doby Cleveland
July 11, 1954 Don Mueller New York (NL)
July 2, 1957 Lee Walls Chicago (NL)
July 23, 1957 Mickey Mantle New York (AL)
May 2, 1959 Frank Robinson Cincinnati
July 15, 1960 Brooks Robinson Baltimore
August 14, 1960 Bill White St. Louis
September 14, 1961 Ken Boyer St. Louis
July 13, 1962 Lou Clinton Boston
June 27, 1963 Johnny Callison Philadelphia
August 7, 1963 Jim Hickman New York (NL)
May 26, 1964 Jim King Washington
June 16, 1964 Ken Boyer (2) St. Louis
July 22, 1964 Willie Stargell Pittsburgh
July 28, 1964 Jim Fregosi Los Angeles (AL)
May 14, 1965 Carl Yastrzemski Boston
July 17, 1966 Billy Williams Chicago (NL)
August 11, 1966 Randy Hundley Chicago (NL)
May 20, 1968 Jim Fregosi (2) California
May 7, 1970 Wes Parker Los Angeles
May 20, 1970 Rod Carew Minnesota
July 2, 1970 Tony Horton Cleveland
July 6, 1970 Tommie Agee New York (NL)
July 8, 1970 Jim Ray Hart San Francisco
July 9, 1971 Freddie Patek Kansas City
April 16, 1972 Dave Kingman San Francisco
August 2, 1972 César Cedeño Houston
August 29, 1972 Bobby Murcer New York (AL)
September 19, 1972 César Tovar Minnesota
June 27, 1973 Joe Torre St. Louis
June 9, 1974 Richie Zisk Pittsburgh
May 27, 1975 Lou Brock St. Louis
April 22, 1976 Tim Foli Montréal
June 4, 1976 Larry Hisle Minnesota
June 25, 1976 Mike Phillips New York (NL)
July 24, 1976 Lyman Bostock Minnesota
August 9, 1976 César Cedeño (2) Houston
September 3, 1976 Mike Hegan Milwaukee
June 24, 1977 Bob Watson Houston
August 5, 1977 John Mayberry Kansas City
September 24, 1977 Jack Brohamer Chicago (AL)
April 22, 1978 Andre Thornton Cleveland
July 20, 1978 Chris Speier Montréal
July 27, 1978 Mike Cubbage Minnesota
May 28, 1979 George Brett Kansas City
August 10, 1979 Dan Ford California
September 15, 1979 Bob Watson (2) Boston
September 26, 1979 Frank White Kansas City
April 22, 1980 Ivan DeJesus Chicago (NL)
May 13, 1980 Fred Lynn Boston
June 12, 1980 Mike Easler Pittsburgh
September 18, 1980 Gary Ward Minnesota
October 1, 1980 Charlie Moore Milwaukee
August 3, 1982 Frank White (2) Kansas City
May 6, 1984 Cal Ripken, Jr. Baltimore
May 16, 1984 Carlton Fisk Chicago (AL)
June 23, 1984 Willie McGee St. Louis
June 28, 1984 Dwight Evans Boston
June 27, 1985 Jeffrey Leonard San Francisco
July 4, 1985 Keith Hernandez New York (NL)
July 23, 1985 Oddibe McDowell Texas
September 18, 1985 Rich Gedman Boston
May 16, 1986 Tony Phillips Oakland
August 1, 1986 Kirby Puckett Minnesota
April 29, 1987 Andre Dawson Chicago (NL)
May 4, 1987 Candy Maldonado San Francisco
August 16, 1987 Tim Raines Montréal
September 23, 1987 Albert Hall Atlanta
June 12, 1988 Robin Yount Milwaukee
July 9, 1988 Chris Speier (2) San Francisco
September 14, 1988 Mike Greenwell Boston
April 16, 1989 Kelly Gruber Toronto
June 2, 1989 Eric Davis Cincinnati
August 1, 1989 Kevin McReynolds New York (NL)
August 25, 1989 Gary Redus Pittsburgh
July 25, 1990 George Brett (2) Kansas City
April 22, 1991 Robby Thompson San Francisco
May 15, 1991 Paul Molitor Milwaukee
June 24, 1991 Dave Winfield California
September 15, 1991 Ray Lankford St. Louis
August 25, 1992 Andújar Cedeño Houston
May 9, 1993 Mark Grace Chicago (NL)
June 23, 1993 Jay Buhner Seattle
July 28, 1993 Travis Fryman Detroit
April 12, 1994 Scott Cooper Boston
June 11, 1995 Rondell White Montréal
August 25, 1995 Gregg Jefferies Philadelphia
September 3, 1995 Tony Fernández New York (AL)
May 18, 1996 John Mabry St. Louis
June 6, 1996 John Valentin Boston
July 3, 1996 Alex Ochoa New York (NL)
June 5, 1997 Alex Rodriguez Seattle
September 11, 1997 John Olerud New York (NL)
May 18, 1998 Mike Blowers Oakland
June 10, 1998 Dante Bichette Colorado
July 25, 1998 Neifi Perez Colorado
May 3, 1999 Jeff Kent San Francisco
June 19, 1999 Todd Helton Colorado
July 6, 1999 Chris Singleton Chicago (AL)
April 27, 2000 José Valentín Chicago (AL)
May 19, 2000 Jason Kendall Pittsburgh
June 18, 2000 Mike Lansing Colorado
June 21, 2000 Eric Chavez Oakland
July 5, 2000 Luis Gonzalez Arizona
June 8, 2001 Damion Easley Detroit
June 16, 2001 John Olerud (2) Seattle
July 18, 2001 Jeff Bagwell Houston
August 17, 2001 Jeff Frye Toronto
September 29, 2001 Miguel Tejada Oakland
April 8, 2002 Craig Biggio Houston
September 18, 2002 Greg Colbrunn Arizona
June 24, 2003 Brad Wilkerson Montréal
June 29, 2003 Eric Byrnes Oakland
August 14, 2003 Travis Hafner Cleveland
September 14, 2003 Vladimir Guerrero Montréal
April 27, 2004 Chad Moeller Milwaukee
May 26, 2004 Daryle Ward Pittsburgh
June 28, 2004 David Bell Philadelphia
July 29, 2004 Eric Valent New York (NL)
August 17, 2004 Mark Teixeira Texas
August 25, 2004 Jeff DaVanon Anaheim
April 6, 2005 Brad Wilkerson (2) Washington
April 27, 2005 Mark Grudzielanek St. Louis
August 15, 2005 Randy Winn San Francisco
June 21, 2006 José Reyes New York (NL)
July 28, 2006 Luke Scott Houston
August 1, 2006 Carlos Guillén Detroit
September 13, 2006 Gary Matthews, Jr. Texas
September 16, 2006 Chone Figgins Los Angeles (AL)
May 13, 2007 Fred Lewis San Francisco
June 4, 2007 Mark Ellis Oakland
June 29, 2007 Aubrey Huff Baltimore
May 7, 2008 Carlos Gómez Minnesota

[edit] Number of cycles by team

Team Players
Pittsburgh Pirates 23
New York/San Francisco Giants 21
Boston Red Sox 19
St. Louis Cardinals 19
Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics 17
New York Yankees 14
Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins 12
Chicago Cubs 11
Cincinnati Reds 10
Detroit Tigers 10
New York Mets 9
St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles 8
Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers 8
Philadelphia Phillies 8
Cleveland Indians 7
Houston Astros 7
Montréal Expos/Washington Nationals 7
California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels 6
Kansas City Royals 6
Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves 5
Chicago White Sox 5
Milwaukee Brewers 5
Colorado Rockies 4
Philadelphia Athletics (AA) 4
Washington Senators/Texas Rangers 4
Detroit Wolverines 3
Louisville Colonels 3
Seattle Mariners 3
Washington Senators (19th century) 3
Arizona Diamondbacks 2
Buffalo Bisons 2
New York Metropolitans 2
Toronto Blue Jays 2
Brooklyn Gladiators 1
Cleveland Spiders 1
Indianapolis Hoosiers 1
Kansas City Cowboys 1
Milwaukee Brewers (American Association) 1
New York Giants (Players League) 1
St. Louis Maroons 1
Toledo Maumees 1
TOTAL 276

[edit] Players that have hit for 2 or more cycles

Player Team(s) Number
Babe Herman Brooklyn (2), Chicago (NL) 3
Bob Meusel New York (AL) 3
John Reilly Cincinnati 3
Ken Boyer St. Louis (NL) 2
George Brett Kansas City (AL) 2
Pete Browning Louisville 2
César Cedeño Houston 2
Fred Clarke Pittsburgh 2
Mickey Cochrane Philadelphia (AL) 2
Joe DiMaggio New York (AL) 2
Bobby Doerr Boston (AL) 2
Jim Fregosi Los Angeles/California (AL) 2
Lou Gehrig New York (AL) 2
Chuck Klein Philadelphia (NL) 2
Tip O'Neill St. Louis (NL) 2
John Olerud New York (NL), Seattle 2
Dave Orr New York (AA) 2
Jimmy Ryan Chicago (NL) 2
George Sisler St. Louis (AL) 2
Chris Speier Montreal, San Francisco 2
Bob Watson Houston, Boston (AL) 2
Frank White Kansas City (AL) 2
Brad Wilkerson Montreal, Washington (NL) 2

[edit] Statistics

  • There have been 14 natural cycles in the major leagues; seven in both the National and American Leagues.
  • Only once since 1957 has a player had the minimum of 4 plate appearances and hit for the natural cycle: Brad Wilkerson on 6/24/2003 for the Expos versus the Pirates.
  • There have been six cycles in which the home run was a grand slam. This happened five times in the American League and once in the National League
  • On June 3, 1932, Tony Lazzeri became the only player in major league history to accomplish both feats listed above: hitting a natural cycle and ending it with a grand slam. This is often overlooked because Lazzeri did it in the same game that teammate Lou Gehrig hit four home runs.
  • Nap Lajoie, Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, and Chuck Klein all hit for the cycle in the same season that they won the Triple Crown.
  • Gary Ward (1980) and Daryle Ward (2004) became the first father/son combo to hit for the cycle.
  • Gus Bell (1951) and David Bell (2004) became the first grandfather/grandson combo to hit for the cycle.
  • Since 1956, 3 "reverse natural" cycles have been accomplished, i.e., the home run was followed by the triple, then the double, and finally the single: Jim Fregosi (1968), Luke Scott (2006), and Carlos Gomez (2008). The home run of Scott's cycle was also the first of his Major League career.
  • John Olerud and Bob Watson are the only players to hit for the cycle in both leagues.
  • On August 29, 1948, Jackie Robinson became the first African American player to hit for the cycle in the major leagues.

[edit] External links