Albert Pujols had his fourth three-home run game on Sunday. Mark McGwire had just three as a St. Louis Cardinal.
When Albert Pujols slammed three home runs against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday at Wrigley Field, it became the first baseman’s fourth such game in his nine-plus years as a major leaguer. In doing so, he broke a tie with his hitting coach, Mark McGwire, for the most three-home run games by a St. Louis Cardinal player since at least 1952.
Together, the two had seven of the 12 three or more home run games by a Cardinal during that time. Hall of Famer Stan Musial is next with two. Of course, any such list would be incomplete without noting “Hard Hittin’” Mark Whiten’s chart-topping four home run, 12 RBI performance in 1993.
St. Louis Cardinals, three or more home run games, 1952-current
| Player | Date | Opp | Rslt | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | |
| Mark | Whiten | 9/7/1993-2 | CIN | W 15-2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Albert | Pujols | 5/30/2010 | CHC | W 9-1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Albert | Pujols | 9/3/2006 | PIT | W 6-3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Albert | Pujols | 4/16/2006 | CIN | W 8-7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Albert | Pujols | 7/20/2004 | CHC | W 11-8 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark | McGwire | 5/18/2000 | PHI | W 7-2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Mark | McGwire | 5/19/1998 | PHI | W 10-8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark | McGwire | 4/14/1998 | ARI | W 15-5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Reggie | Smith | 5/22/1976 | PHI | W 7-6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Stan | Musial | 7/8/1962 | NYM | W 15-1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Bill | White | 7/5/1961 | LAD | W 9-1 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Stan | Musial | 5/2/1954-1 | NYG | W 10-6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
In another oddity unearthed by researcher Tom Orf, Pujols joined McGwire (4/14/98) as one of just 35 major league baseball players and second Cardinal since 1952 to hit at least three home runs in a game without making an out.
Three or more home runs without making an out, game, MLB, 1952-current
| Player | Date | Tm | Opp | Rslt | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | |
| Carlos | Delgado | 9/25/2003 | TOR | TBD | W 10-8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Rocky | Colavito | 6/10/1959 | CLE | BAL | W 11-8 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Albert | Pujols | 5/30/2010 | STL | CHC | W 9-1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Chris | Young | 9/6/2009 | ARI | COL | L 5-13 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Jose | Reyes | 8/15/2006 | NYM | PHI | L 4-11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Aramis | Ramirez | 4/8/2001 | PIT | HOU | W 9-3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Kevin | Elster | 4/11/2000 | LAD | SFG | W 6-5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Mark | McGwire | 4/14/1998 | STL | ARI | W 15-5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Jose | Valentin | 4/3/1998 | MIL | FLA | W 7-1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Bobby | Higginson | 6/30/1997 | DET | NYM | W 14-0 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Benito | Santiago | 9/15/1996 | PHI | CHC | W 6-1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Edgar | Martinez | 7/6/1996 | SEA | TEX | W 9-5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Andres | Galarraga | 6/25/1995 | COL | SDP | W 11-3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| Albert | Belle | 9/6/1992 | CLE | SEA | W 12-9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Bo | Jackson | 7/17/1990 | KCR | NYY | W 10-7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Randy | Milligan | 6/9/1990 | BAL | NYY | W 10-1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Cecil | Fielder | 6/6/1990 | DET | CLE | W 6-4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Joe | Carter | 7/19/1989 | CLE | MIN | W 10-1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Wally | Joyner | 10/3/1987 | CAL | CLE | W 12-5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Gorman | Thomas | 4/11/1985 | SEA | OAK | W 14-6 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Ben | Oglivie | 6/20/1982 | MIL | DET | W 7-5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Ben | Oglivie | 7/8/1979-1 | MIL | DET | W 5-4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Dale | Murphy | 5/18/1979 | ATL | SFG | W 6-4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Cliff | Johnson | 6/30/1977 | NYY | TOR | W 11-5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Willie | Horton | 5/15/1977 | TEX | KCR | W 7-3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike | Lum | 7/3/1970-1 | ATL | SDP | W 8-1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Bobby | Murcer | 6/24/1970-2 | NYY | CLE | W 5-4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Art | Shamsky | 8/12/1966 | CIN | PIT | L 11-14 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve | Boros | 8/6/1962 | DET | CLE | L 5-6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Willie | Kirkland | 7/9/1961-2 | CLE | CHW | L 8-9 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Charlie | Maxwell | 5/3/1959-2 | DET | NYY | W 9-2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Preston | Ward | 9/9/1958 | KCA | BAL | W 9-6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Frank | Thomas | 8/16/1958 | PIT | CIN | W 13-4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Ernie | Banks | 9/14/1957-2 | CHC | PIT | W 7-3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Dusty | Rhodes | 7/28/1954 | NYG | STL | W 10-0 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
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Lee Sinins of Complete Baseball Encyclopedia adds that Pujols passed Jeff Kent, Norm Cash and Carlton Fisk and tied Matt Williams for 62nd place on the all time HR list, with 378.
Did you know that David Ortiz, four years older than Pujols, has 50 fewer career home runs (in roughly the same number of at-bats)?
Isn’t Albert about to pass Stan for most career multi-HR games by a Cardinal?
Blingboy: The Man accumulated a total of 37 multi-home run games in his career. With 36, The Machine is only one shy… JumboShrimp: In agreement with you, I cannot fathom a single scenario in which there would be anything to be gained by trading Albert. In fact, although I may be guilty of a firmly entrenched pipe dream, I think that the organization recognizes him as a career Cardinal. No, he ain’t goin’ anywhere else – ever!
Should have figured you’d know that 57. I don’t disagree with those who think team-building logic can make a case for trading him before he’s a 5- 10 guy at the end of the year. But that’s not all there is to it, even though baseball is big money business now-a-days. It would be the disgraceful act of degenerate money grubbing minds, much like the DH, band box ball parks and phantom tags. But it has to be a two way street. In other words, if it turns out Albert out-money-grubs the money-grubbers, well then, that’s that.
Brian: On the very day that Stan Musial homered 3 times against the Mets (at the age of 42), I remembered what he had playfully told a reporter during Spring Training that year, that he would NEVER retire as a player. In my 14 year old mind at the time, with such performance serving to underscore what he said, I wondered if he would continue playing at least until 50! After he had played 135 games that year and batted .330, it did not surprise me when he showed up for Spring Training the following year (his last). I can easily envision Albert enjoying such longevity and at least as much success…
Great story, CFS57. Thank you for sharing.
Sadly, I can’t remember Stan as a player although my Dad took me to see him a few times. I would have to think Stan played as hard day in and day out as Albert. It is hard to imagine how a body can hold up for a 20 + year career. Albert already has 10 years wear and tear as a pro, going 100mph the whole time. So far, he can play through anything. It will be a sad day when he can’t do it anymore. My wife thinks it’s rediculous to pray for the health and well being of a ball player but I do it anyway.
Early in the off-season last winter I proposed the Cards look at Iwamura, noting that it made no sense for the Pirates to have a singles hitting middle infielder as their highest paid player. My thinking was they’d be better off with the cheaper Schumaker and we’de be better off with the slick fielding top of the lineup guy. (This was before Lopez signed) Now they have benched him for not being good enough for tha Pirates starting line-up. Gad. Good thing I’m not the GM.
blingboy: Back during those days, when someone like Harvey Haddix could pitch a perfect game for 12 innings, endurance was commonplace. During that particular game, when Haddix lost after 12 2/3 innings (giving-up a single hit and a single run), the winning pitcher (Lew Burdette) had pitched 13 innings and had given-up 12 hits! After his retirement, Warren Spahn had frequently decried over-priced snot-suckers who could not last very far beyond 100 pitches and lacked the toughness which characterized ball players during his era. Players who have depth of character and iron-man toughness nowadays, like Albert Pujols, are throwbacks to that era. With regard to prayer, it is not ridiculous to pray for the health and well being of anyone in any walk of life. Such prayer is certainly warranted in behalf of those in trades and professions that punish the body. The man who thanks God after every hit and home run would certainly appreciate your prayers!
Manly men back then 57.
Too bad we didn’t get to see MacLane. He’ll be back most likely.
Lets see if Colby has rejuvinated after his day off. He slumped along with the money boys, maybe he’ll rebound with them as well.
Aroyo does a good job of working the inside corner, against both righties and lefties.
Garcia has been impressive again. Especially bouncing back from the defensive issue in the first. Doesn’t pitch like a rookie.
Colby just got us a run by hustling down to second beating the DP attempt, then coming around on the bad hop hit by Schu. Nice.
That’s a big bite, knocking their ace out…………. Now lets do some damage. Gotta take them down hard.
Jaime Garcia rox!
Some nice ABs for Colby today.
I’m just catching up BB………….it looks like Craig is up. A few days off for AP I would think. They need to savage their pen in this first game………. That can only help in the series.
We’re behaving like an offensive powerhouse and giving the Reds holy hell, even without significant help from our two biggest boppers! This is Garcia’s first taste of the kind of support he should have enjoyed all along. Albert’s performance yesterday must have lit a fire under everybody’s butts!
The Reds have thrown two consecutive enflated ERA’s at us, saving their very best for when it is too late!
(I didn’t count Arroyo’s enflated ERA)…
Expect to see Hawksworth here. If he stinks it up again today I’d expect him to be DL’d.
Albert almost sits down with two strikes, still falling back, but he stick the bat out and puts it in play. That’s not so good in the big picture…………. and I hope everyone noticed the burst of speed to get to second…… No limp on that one. His progress will allow everyone else to breath. I hope he continues to address his issues.
I hate it when Albert takes the first pitch beachball right down broadway.
Doubt he’ll sit right now Westy, he’s been looking a lot better at the plate. At least I wouldn’t want to be the one to tell him. But I do think they called Craig up in case Albert needs a day.
Who do you think would come up CC?
They’re so demoralized that they can’t do anything against OUR most enflated ERA (Hawksworth)!
I’d expect Salas to come back up despite a lot of sentiment from the masses for McCLain. Salas didnt give up a run in 13 appearances in May (12 in Memphis 1 in STL). Looks like Hawksworth has lived to fight another day though.
Yesterday pummelled the opposition with homers, today pummelled them without homers.
nice firm spanking of those dirty commie Redlegs! Cardinal Nation is happy on Memorial Day.
For those that might think the Phillips challenge to Rasmus was improvisational…….have a clue.
That’s team meeting material. Dusty is attacking this team…………. the pitch-out pick off play at third tells you how serious he is to damage young Colby…………..the solution is simple.
Some Cards fans are more serious than Dusty about damage to young Colby. Happily, young Colby ignored these “fans.”
Interesting interpretation Westy. Identify weakness, go for the kill. Aroyo was busting us inside, then off the outside corner. Same team meeting I’ll bet. Albert was right about us having a game plan for Aroyo. Make him throw a couple of strikes, if he can and if he dares. His stuff is way better when its off the plate.
We know Colby plays a better CF than that. Wouldn’t have got past Palm Beach. But now he’s got to prove it all over again, to all the Dustys. Jay looks pretty good. That will help. I’m kinda surprised Jumbo hasn’t suggested Colby’s got a hurt arm. That wouldn’t explain it all though. He did well at the plate and on the bases today, very well.
That’s not an interpretation BB. If he doesn’t “get it” they will send him down to protect their investment. You can’t wear a target on your back in this league. Just think what would have happened if Baker’s pitch out/ pick off would have been successful. To call a throw down is one thing…….wasting a pitch to do it? That is prospecting. They will make Colby put someone out. If he can’t…….Mo will tell Tony what is going to happen. He’s in trouble.
Jumbo………….when you get to this particular place, take a look around. What your looking for is somewhere around your early teen period. Spend some quiet time.
Something to remember………….its a game. Colby can bait his own traps at this point. There is going to be plenty varmints on the base paths. Set them up and then show some hose. A couple weeks of heavy trapping and you can cruise for a while.
Phillips is there team captain. There Torrey Hunter………. he will make you throw it. Burn him.
Westie, the Cards are not going to send Colby down “to protect their investment.” Wow, where do you come up with such stuff? This kind of idea is what made RC laugh. Rasmus has an OPS near 880, higher than Ludwick or Holliday. Also, his left swing helps against RHPs.
Bling, smart suggestion Colby has a sore arm. I would not be surprised.
Dont know if they would do it but 20 days in the minors will delay Colby’s free agency by a year. Very Costly! Maybe just the threat would get his attention.
Harsh CC. I like it. “Come back when you throw somebody out”. Ouch.