The postseason spotlight can transform ordinary players into legends, and nothing captivates fans quite like the long ball. When it comes to the biggest stage of all, which World Series home run records are sluggers aiming for who are lucky enough to reach that point in October?
Let’s dive into the three incredible records many likely set their sights on, along with some fascinating stories behind these remarkable achievements.
Related: The Definitive Guide to Postseason Home Run Leaders
Eye-Popping World Series Home Run Records To Know About
Most Home Runs in One World Series: The Exclusive Five-Homer Club
Fox Sports pointed out that three sluggers share the record for hitting the most home runs in a single World Series:
- Reggie Jackson (Yankees, 1977)
- Chase Utley (Phillies, 2009)
- George Springer (Astros, 2017)
Jackson, Utley, and Springer each slugged five taters during the Fall Classic during those specific years. What makes this especially impressive is how difficult it’s been to break. Despite the modern era’s power surge and juiced balls, no player has managed to hit six homers in a single World Series.
Jackson’s performance remains the most iconic, as it helped him earn the nickname “Mr. October.” His five-homer series included that unforgettable three-homer performance in Game 6 that cemented his legacy. He slashed .450/.542/1.250 in 24 plate appearances while helping the Yankees beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Utley’s 2009 performance was equally remarkable but came in a losing effort against the Yankees. His five homers accounted for almost half of Philadelphia’s total run production in that series, and he posted a 1.448 OPS despite his team falling short.
Springer complemented his five homers with a .379 average and seven RBI en route to winning MVP honors as part of Houston’s 2017 championship.
Consecutive World Series Homers: Freeman’s Historic Streak
The most recently broken World Series record belongs to Freddie Freeman, who homered in six consecutive World Series games across two different Fall Classics. His streak began in the final two games of the 2021 Fall Classic with the Atlanta Braves and continued through the first four games of the 2024 World Series with Los Angeles.
Before Freeman’s remarkable achievement, Springer actually held the previous mark by homering in four straight games during the 2017 World Series. What makes Freeman’s accomplishment even more impressive is that he’s done it across two different teams and seasons, demonstrating remarkable consistency on baseball’s biggest stage.
Freeman’s six-game homer streak produced a combined seven home runs and 12 RBI, with a slugging percentage hovering around 1.100 during this stretch.
Three-Homer World Series Games: The Ultimate Power Display
Perhaps the most electrifying single-game power display is hitting three home runs in a World Series game. Only four players in MLB history have accomplished this feat:
- Babe Ruth (Yankees, twice: 1926 and 1928)
- Reggie Jackson (Yankees, 1977)
- Albert Pujols (Cardinals, 2011)
- Pablo Sandoval (Giants, 2012)
Ruth stands alone as the only player to accomplish this twice, further cementing his status as baseball’s original power hitter. His 1926 Game 4 performance came in a losing effort, while his 1928 Game 4 display helped complete a Yankees sweep.
Jackson’s three-homer game is arguably the most famous, as all three came on consecutive first pitches off three different Dodgers pitchers in a series-clinching Game 6. The raw statistical improbability of this—hitting three first-pitch homers off three different elite pitchers—makes it one of the greatest single-game World Series performances ever.
Pujols and Sandoval brought this achievement into the modern era. Pujols’ three homers in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series included two mammoth shots that traveled over 420 feet each. Meanwhile, Sandoval’s three-homer game in the 2012 series opener included two off Justin Verlander, who was practically unhittable that season.
The Statistical Rarity of World Series Power Surges
What makes these home-run records so special is their statistical improbability. There have been 119 World Series spanning over 700 games. Despite all of that opportunity, only three players have hit five homers in a single series, while just four have hit three in a game.
The playoff environment makes these feats even more impressive. October baseball features the game’s best pitchers, colder weather that typically suppresses power, and an incredible amount of pressure that can affect even the best hitters.
Who Has Hit the Most Home Runs in World Series History?
We’ve spent most of this article talking about home run records during a single World Series, but what about the all-time leaders?
The very top of the leaderboard is mostly dominated by former Yankee greats, which isn’t surprising since they were constantly playing in the Fall Classic between the 1920s and 1960s. Mickey Mantle is still the all-time World Series home run leader — he slugged 18 dingers during this round of the playoffs. The rest of the top five behind him include Ruth (15), Yogi Berra (12), and Duke Snider (11), along with a tie at 10 homers each for Lou Gehrig and Reggie Jackson.
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