Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

[Roger King]

Colt Keith became the 21st Tiger player to have a 3-homer game.  Who are the other 20?  

Most are very familiar names.  7 of the 20 occurred since the existence of this Tigers List.  

Feel free to just guess a few and I’ll start compiling the correct list…

Roger King
El Presidente
PN Agency – www.pnagency.com
Ethnic Voice Talent –www.ethnicvoicetalent.com
(416) 515-7195

[Shawn Parker]

Obviously I would guess Cecil and Miggy?

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Detroit Tigers e-mail list" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to detroit-tiger...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAG8ixx3cmbRmVTwoEO4rz%2BfQcm8muEpuUu_-znPUOOi6uJMewg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Michael Borshuk]

Al Kaline, I know from an article I read today, was the youngest in 1955. (Keith is the second-youngest.)

Dmitri Young on Opening Day 2005 is one. 

--

[David Panian]

Larry Herndon

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAMyO7KoadHXUOySpfwW15%2BqsXCMVkaf05nR3WBr5CS_b7LbLxg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Peter Welch]

Kaline, Greenberg, York, Colavito, Cash, Horton, Cecil and Prince Fielder, Miggy, JD Martinez, Granderson, Ordonez, Trammell, Northrup, Jason Thompson, Freehan, Darrell Evans, Dean Palmer, Marcus Thames, Tettleton

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 11:54 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

 

--

[Peter Welch]

Good one!

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of David Panian <dpa...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 12:32 AM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CA%2BUDaV3xpuFwHC3xr6xnUUKRvKKyayy5mW9ODvu%3DNdEBiCho0w%40mail.gmail.com.

[Mike Coveyou]

I think Ty Cobb did this once.

Charley Maxwell (do I recall that he hit 4 in a Sunday doubleheader, although if I'm right about that, I don't recall the distribution between games).

I think Rocky Colavito once hit four in a games, but not as a Tiger.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAMyO7KoadHXUOySpfwW15%2BqsXCMVkaf05nR3WBr5CS_b7LbLxg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Peter Welch]

Wouldn't be surprised about Cobb.  He was stuck in the deadball era with huge ballparks, but he could hit 3 homers if "he wanted to".

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Mike Coveyou <mcov...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 12:34 AM
To: Michael Borshuk <michael...@gmail.com>
Cc: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>; Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAFWdUweGofcP-6UFgfTBvfLkZk%2BqsjHTfucLm2nUX%3DO20HLSiA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Peter Welch]

Maxwell is a good one!

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Mike Coveyou <mcov...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 12:34 AM
To: Michael Borshuk <michael...@gmail.com>
Cc: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>; Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAFWdUweGofcP-6UFgfTBvfLkZk%2BqsjHTfucLm2nUX%3DO20HLSiA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Paul Meloche]

Fielder did it multiple times in 1990 alone if I’m remembering correctly. 

Carpenter did it last season. 

Didn’t Bill Madlock do it with us as well?

I feel like JD and Victor Martinez may have done it while Tigers as well but I can’t really say I remember either. I do remember JD doing it as an Astro so maybe that’s what the  memory is from. 

Paul M.

On Jun 16, 2026, at 9:05 PM, Michael Borshuk <michael...@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAMyO7KoadHXUOySpfwW15%2BqsXCMVkaf05nR3WBr5CS_b7LbLxg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Peter Welch]

And, of course, Zack Short.

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 12:33 AM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/DS0PR19MB72723192B9CF90927DFF99159AE42%40DS0PR19MB7272.namprd19.prod.outlook.com.

[Peter Welch]

Good one on Madlock.  I should have remembered.  I was in attendance at the game he homered 3 times.

Forgot about Carp last year.

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Paul Meloche <meloc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 12:36 AM
To: Michael Borshuk <michael...@gmail.com>
Cc: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>; Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/22A23314-EF61-4484-B1AC-7FB364D1E491%40gmail.com.

[Mike Coveyou]

Peter,

I'm pretty sure Greenberg never hit 3 in one game.  Lots of two homer games.  I have a recollection of reading that Greenberg never having a 3 homer game was a bit of an oddity.

I think Colavito's 4 homer game with the Indians was his only game with more than two.

Mike

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/DS0PR19MB72723192B9CF90927DFF99159AE42%40DS0PR19MB7272.namprd19.prod.outlook.com.

[Peter Welch]

Inge?

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 11:54 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

 

--

[Peter Welch]

Rob Deer?  🙂 

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 11:54 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

 

--

[Peter Welch]

That's interesting.  I guessed Greenberg since he hit a ton of homers, and Colavito was a big-time homerun hitter as well.

Peter

---

From: Mike Coveyou <mcov...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 12:43 AM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
Cc: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

[Glenn Codere]

I remember Bill Freehan having one in (I think) 1971?

=============

Glenn Codere

Ardrossan, Scotland

=============

--

[Smith, Bradley]

Off the top of my head, I'll go with Rudy York, Hank Greenberg (just  b/c he hit so many), Jim Northrup (had 2 slams in one game--not sure he ever got to three but when he was hot...), Rocky Colavito (seems like something he'd accomplish, especially in 1961), Ty Cobb (didn't hit a lot in deadball era, but I remember learning as a kid he'd hit 3 (4?) in a game); Miggy (since the list); Fielder Sr; Ordonez (gambling on another post-lister); Cash, Horton, Kaline, and I'll take a stab on Vic Wertz.

Bradley A. Smith

Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Professor of Law, Emeritus

Capital University Law School

303 East Broad Street

Columbus, OH 43215

(540) 287-8954

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 11:54 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

 

** [ This email originated outside of Capital University ] **

 

--

[Roger King]

OK, lots of guesses obviously and a number of the 20 have been named. I’ll just reply to Brad‘s guesses here as a starting point.

Cobb is correct. In 1925. 

As is Colavito who did it in both 1961 and 1962

Rudy York too in 1941. 

Kaline of course. The youngest Tiger to do it. In 1955.

And yes, Willie Horton did it in 1970.

No on Greenberg, Northrup, Cash or Wertz. 

Yes on Cecil. As I think Paul said, he did it twice in the 1990 season. He also did it in 1996 so I guess that one should be added to the three homer games during the era of this Tigers List. 

Yes on Miggy.  2010 & 2013.

No on Ordonez.  

Looking at guesses by other listers…

Mike C got Charlie Maxwell (1959). 

David is correct on Larry Herndon. He did it in 1982.  

Glenn got Freehan who did it in 1971.

Michael B remembered Dimitri Young’s 3-homer Opening Day game which was 2005

Peter got JD Martinez (2015).  

Paul named JD as well and Carpenter hitting 3 last season. 

AND he got V-Mart (2016) & the 1987 Madlock game as well.

In total, that’s 15 of the 20.  

So we’re missing 3 guys who are pre-1968. To be honest, I think I’ve only heard of 1 of them. 

And we’re missing 2 since the creation of this Tigers List. They were both players from the Randy Smith era, so I can see why people might have put them out of mind :-)

[lore724]

Opening day, Dimitri Young. 

Dave

On Jun 17, 2026, at 14:44, Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com> wrote:



To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAG8ixx3sBa-Zfhz_WmKjN9byxZujHyMeXppa4sYe11zuP2AHsA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Roger King]

That’s already on the list below :-)

[Michael Borshuk]

Tony Clark?

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAG8ixx2Mc9-8UF-YXbPPmsVeq8PxdZPc%2Bse2q2POEmyy%2BGGhPA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Peter Welch]

I looked it up.  It's someone from the Tony Clark era.  A good player stuck on some bad Tigers' teams.

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Michael Borshuk <michael...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 10:15 AM
To: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Cc: lore724 <lor...@aol.com>; Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAMyO7Kp_KCNRC6p%2Bdcx4gWSb%3DCRrhGseiwQmxhEREHrVJFdYVw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Peter Welch]

Funny about Cobb.  He probably said "I just wanted to show I could hit homers if I wanted to".  

Cobb's career-high in homers was 12, in 1921 and 1925.  It was 1925 when he hit 3 homers in one game.

Cobb led the league in homers in 1909 with 9.

Cobb probably would have been a great home run hitter in another era.

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Smith, Bradley <BSm...@law.capital.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 8:39 AM
To: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>; Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/DM4PR17MB58989FEB29C4FD5A3C0E4F469FE42%40DM4PR17MB5898.namprd17.prod.outlook.com.

[Michael Borshuk]

Peter's "good Tiger on bad teams" clue makes me think Higginson. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/DS0PR19MB72727FEDAA32CEB81F6A9F2D9AE42%40DS0PR19MB7272.namprd19.prod.outlook.com.

[Michael W]

Bobby Higginson

[Michael W]

I think Carlos Pena did it too.

[Paul Meloche]

I looked it up - it is Higginson and he did it twice. He wasn't even on my radar.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/e619ac00-8e2f-462b-910b-99e1dd719e12n%40googlegroups.com.

[Peter Welch]

Good one!

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 10:42 AM
To: Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/86b91215-6413-475d-b434-eeaabbf96155n%40googlegroups.com.

[Peter Welch]

I know.  I have zero memory of Higginson doing it twice!

I guess it was during a time we try to forget, which is unfair to Higginson (and other decent players during that time like Tony Clark, Frank Catalanotto and Damian Easley).

Speaking of that era, Dean Palmer hit 38 homers for the Tigers in 1999.  Totally forgot about that.  I thought he might have had a 3-homer game that year, but he didn't.

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Paul Meloche <meloc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 10:42 AM
To: Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>
Cc: Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAM0OySr%3DAwU49RadTb4Btmtec_Je3_DJg4i%2BKWaiuKtM4cvBQg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Peter Welch]

I thought that might have been in 1987 when he had a .898 OPS (in a part-time/platoon role), but it was 1982, Herndon's first year with the Tigers, when he had a career-high 23 homers as a full-time player.   Prior to that Herndon's career-high was 8 homers with the Giants.  Herndon also hit 20 homers for the Tigers in 1983 but his home run power mostly disappeared after that until 1987 when he had a power resurgence.

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of David Panian <dpa...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 12:32 AM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

 

Larry Herndon

On Wed, Jun 17, 2026 at 12:05 AM Michael Borshuk <michael...@gmail.com> wrote:

Al Kaline, I know from an article I read today, was the youngest in 1955. (Keith is the second-youngest.)

Dmitri Young on Opening Day 2005 is one. 

On Tue, Jun 16, 2026, 10:55 PM Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com> wrote:

Colt Keith became the 21st Tiger player to have a 3-homer game.  Who are the other 20?  

Most are very familiar names.  7 of the 20 occurred since the existence of this Tigers List.  

Feel free to just guess a few and I’ll start compiling the correct list…

Roger King
El Presidente
PN Agency – www.pnagency.com
Ethnic Voice Talent –www.ethnicvoicetalent.com
(416) 515-7195

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Detroit Tigers e-mail list" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to detroit-tiger...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAG8ixx3cmbRmVTwoEO4rz%2BfQcm8muEpuUu_-znPUOOi6uJMewg%40mail.gmail.com.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Detroit Tigers e-mail list" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to detroit-tiger...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAMyO7KoadHXUOySpfwW15%2BqsXCMVkaf05nR3WBr5CS_b7LbLxg%40mail.gmail.com.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Detroit Tigers e-mail list" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to detroit-tiger...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CA%2BUDaV3xpuFwHC3xr6xnUUKRvKKyayy5mW9ODvu%3DNdEBiCho0w%40mail.gmail.com.

[Peter Welch]

I remembered Cecil having 3-homer games, but I thought Prince might have had one as well.  I looked it up, but Prince only had a handful of 2-homer games with the Tigers.

Surprising about Greenberg not having any.  3 homers is pretty rare even for great power hitters.  Of course, Greenberg missed 3 seasons in his early 30s due to WW2 service and only played 3 more seasons after WW2 (he retired at age 36), so he probably would have had at least one 3-homer game if given more chances.

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>

Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 9:44 AM
To: Smith, Bradley <BSm...@law.capital.edu>
Cc: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAG8ixx3sBa-Zfhz_WmKjN9byxZujHyMeXppa4sYe11zuP2AHsA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Mark Pattison]

I was at the game in  Cleveland (2000? 2001?) when Higginson hit three homers. Detroit won that game. That was when they were in that six-year sold-out streak at Jacobs Field -- when it was still called Jacobs Field. It was the second-game of a Saturday split-admission doubleheader; the Friday game had been rained out, and it took more time than usual to play the makeup game Saturday afternoon due to continued precipitation.

As for Ty Cobb, the long-told tale is that he told sportswriters that anybody could hit a home run, and he was going show them all that very day. He clubbed three homers, and came THISCLOSE to a fourth. Then Cobb went and belted two more circuit clouts the next day. Both games were in St. Louis against the Browns.

Mark Pattison

[Roger King]

Yes, it’s Higginson (in both 1997 and 2000) and Peña in 2003.  

I don’t get the sense anyone is getting the other 3 which are Pinky Higgins, Pat Mullins and Steve Boros.  

Here’s the complete list:

• Ty Cobb (1925)
• Pinky Higgins (1940)
• Rudy York (1941)
• Pat Mullin (1949)
• Al Kaline (1955) — The youngest player in franchise history to do it (age 20).
• Charlie Maxwell (1959)
• Rocky Colavito (1961, 1962) — Accomplished the feat twice as a Tiger.
• Steve Boros (1962)
• Willie Horton (1970)
• Bill Freehan (1971)
• Larry Herndon (1982)
• Bill Madlock (1987)
• Cecil Fielder (1990 x2, 1996) — The only Tiger to hit 3 home runs in a game three separate times.
• Bobby Higginson (1997, 2000) — Accomplished the feat twice.
• Carlos Pena (2003)
• Dmitri Young (2005) — The only Tiger to do it on Opening Day.
• Miguel Cabrera (2010, 2013) — Accomplished the feat twice.
• J.D. Martinez (2015)
• Victor Martinez (2016)
• Kerry Carpenter (2025)
• Colt Keith (2026) — The most recent addition to the list, hitting three against the Houston Astros on June 15, 2026

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/86b91215-6413-475d-b434-eeaabbf96155n%40googlegroups.com.

[Peter Welch]

Steve Boros?  I only remember him as a manager.

Pinky Higgins was a 3B who played in 7 seasons with the Tigers during the Hank Greenberg era.  He had some good OBAs but wasn't known for power.

Pat Mullin was a utility OF and pinch-hitting specialist who played in the 40s and early-50s with the Tigers.

Peter

---

From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 12:03 PM

To: Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>
Cc: Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Complete list: Tiger trivia: 3-homer games

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAG8ixx2ho7SnX-4CKXEC8CsJvEX3OqNDbE9M2Kzd-fqGfAd3mQ%40mail.gmail.com.