A few years ago I was watching a baseball game that went into extra innings with the score tied 3-3, when in the bottom of the 15th inning one of the home team players hit a home run with the bases loaded. It was the first walk-off grand slam in Major League baseball post-season history. But the final score was recorded as 4-3, instead of 7-3 as you might expect.

Can you guess as to why this was?

I'll post back later with the explanation.

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Originally Posted by ebaines

A few years ago I was watching a baseball game that went into extra innings with the score tied 3-3, when in the bottom of the 15th inning one of the home team players hit a home run with the bases loaded. It was the first walk-off grand slam in Major League baseball post-season history. But the final score was recorded as 4-3, instead of 7-3 as you might expect.

Can you guess as to why this was?

I'll post back later with the explanation.

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Because only one run was needed for the win, because the home team was at bat.

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Originally Posted by mountain_man

b/c only one run was needed for the win, b/c the home team was at bat.

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Nope - that's not it.

As a MAJOR Braves fan and I remember the game in 1999, I know the answer.

Mets won 4-3. The hit was counted as a single because the guy at first base hugged the guy who hit the grand slam instead of proceeding to third and allowing the hitter to proceed to second. It wasn't a really costly hug for the team, but it fooled with Ventura's stats that year.

What do I win?

Under previous baseball rules, Mountain man's answer is correct. Since only one run was needed for the won, only one run was recorded. The rules were changed not too long ago so that a home run would be counted as a home run. But, if the bases are loaded and the batter hiots hwat might have been a double as soon as one run crosses the plate the game is over.

However, Goldie might be right about this specific instance.

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Originally Posted by GoldieMae

As a MAJOR Braves fan and I remember the game in 1999, I know the answer.

Mets won 4-3. The hit was counted as a single because the guy at first base hugged the guy who hit the grand slam instead of proceeding to third and allowing the hitter to proceed to second. It wasn't a really costly hug for the team, but it fooled with Ventura's stats that year.

What do I win?

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GoldieMae is correct! Ventura touched first (thankfully!) but he never got to 2nd base, as he was mobbed by his team mates and was unable to proceed. So officially it wasn't a grand slam, just a 1-run single. Goldie - as your prize, you'll get to watch the Mets in action this post season while your Braves are passing time out on the golf links!;)

Tim McCarver had a similar problem back in 1976 when he was with Philly - he hit an apparent grand slam, but in his home run trot he passed the runner on first, who had stopped to make sure the ball cleared the fence and wasn't caught. McCarver was called out, and credited with a 3-run single.

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Originally Posted by ScottGem

Under previous baseball rules, Mountain man's answer is correct. Since only one run was needed for the won, only one run was recorded. The rules were changed not too long ago so that a home run would be counted as a home run.

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Right - the rule changed in the 1920's, just as Babe Ruth was beginning to hit his prodigous blasts. Now some folks may think the 1920's were not too long ago, but that's certainly before my time!

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Originally Posted by ebaines

GoldieMae is correct! Ventura touched first (thankfully!) but he never got to 2nd base, as he was mobbed by his team mates and was unable to proceed. So officially it wasn't a grand slam, just a 1-run single. Goldie - as your prize, you'll get to watch the Mets in action this post season while your Braves are passing time out on the golf links!;)

Tim McCarver had a similar problem back in 1976 when he was with Philly - he hit an apparent grand slam, but in his home run trot he passed the runner on first, who had stopped to make sure the ball cleared the fence and wasn't caught. McCarver was called out, and credited with a 3-run single.

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Okay, smarty-pants, who most recently hit a walk-off grand slam?

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Originally Posted by GoldieMae

Okay, smarty-pants, who most recently hit a walk-off grand slam?

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I don't know, but a quick Google search turned up Russell Martin of the Dodgers who hit one on April 21 this year.

Ryan Zimmerman, May 2007, Nationals.

It doesn't, it would count as 4 runs, in your league they may have different rules

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Originally Posted by glavine

it doesnt, it would count as 4 runs, in your league they may have different rules

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Did you not read the responses posted earlier? The league is Major League Baseball. Robin Ventura was indeed only credited with a 1 RBI single, even though he hit the ball out of the park with the bases loaded. Strange, but true.

That is, we play in the msbl. Just an ameture league , we had the same thing happen it was posted the next night counts all the runs... if I was robin, id want all those rbi's

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Originally Posted by ebaines

Goldie - as your prize, you'll get to watch the Mets in action this post season while your Braves are passing time out on the golf links!;)

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now that was just mean spirited! =) I think you owe goldie a drink and an apology for telling the truth.