Given the long, rich history of the MLB, the number of stats and records is nearly endless. One of the most exciting parts of the game is the long ball, so it’s never a bad time to take a look at the players who have the most grand slams. Here is a breakdown of the three players to have hit the most grand slams in MLB history.
When it comes to the most efficient scoring play in the game, even having the opportunity to hit grand slams is a limiting factor. Some players don’t even get to experience an at-bat with the bases loaded more than a few times in their careers, so seeing multiple players with over 20 of them is nothing short of remarkable.
Topping the list is a name that most fans can recognize, and for a multitude of reasons. From being an incredible young player on the Seattle Mariners, in the spotlight of the Big Apple on the New York Yankees and in the media for steroid allegations, Alex Rodriguez has seen it all. He’s even been involved in other sports, including the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA and Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA.
As for his baseball career, whether you want to put an asterisk next to his stats or not, the fact remains that the numbers are astounding. It was in 2013 when A-Rod broke the grand slams record, and it was such sustained power that allowed him to do so. We say that as he never hit more than four grand slams in a single season, meaning that it took a long career to pull off this record. It’s also worth noting that A-Rod’s career ended right before he was able to join the 700-club, as he ended with 696 total home runs.
The record that A-Rod was able to break was the one held by a fellow Yankee great – Lou Gehrig. Although not part of the more modern era, Gehrig is still a household name for most baseball fans. Of course, this was long before what many have dubbed “the steroid era.”
Unlike other Yankee greats like Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra, Gehrig was never able to drive in the illustrious four-run home run in a World Series, but 23 of them is still incredibly impressive. That’s why his record stood for more than 70 years, and it was a far greater percentage of his home runs. Gehrig finished his career just before a key number, that being 500. He hit 493 home runs in total, meaning that nearly 5% of his bombs were grand slams.
It’s only fitting that after two former Yankees top the list, they would be followed by a former player of the Boston Red Sox. The rivalry between the two is arguably the best in all of sport, not just baseball, and no player exemplifies that more than Manny Ramirez.
His larger-than-life personality made him either a fan favorite or utterly hated, but no matter which side you’re on, it cannot be denied that he was one of the best hitters in MLB history. He certainly had his moments in the field, but his focus at the plate was uncanny. Many Red Sox fans will remember him most for leading the team back from down 3-0 in the 2004 ALCS against the Bronx Bombers, but Manny had a long and successful career. Along with his 21 grand slams, the slugger also hit 555 total home runs.
Here’s a list of the all-time greatest grand slam hitters, featuring some of the biggest names in baseball.
No. | Player Name | Teams Played For | Career Grand Slams |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alex Rodriguez | Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees | 25 |
2 | Lou Gehrig | New York Yankees | 23 |
3 | Manny Ramirez | Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays | 21 |
4 | Eddie Murray | Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Anaheim Angels | 19 |
5 | Willie McCovey | San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics | 18 |
5 | Robin Ventura | Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers | 18 |
7 | Jimmie Foxx | Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs | 17 |
7 | Ted Williams | Boston Red Sox | 17 |
7 | Carlos Lee | Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins | 17 |
10 | Hank Aaron | Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers | 16 |
10 | Babe Ruth | Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Boston Braves | 16 |
Some current MLB players are approaching those all-time numbers, so here are the 5 active players closing in on that list of greats:
No. | Player Name | Teams Played For | Career Grand Slams |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Manny Machado | Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres | 12 |
2 | Giancarlo Stanton | Miami Marlins, New York Yankees | 11 |
3 | Cody Bellinger | Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs | 8 |
4 | Rhys Hoskins | Philadelphia Phillies | 7 |
5 | Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | 6 |
Note: Statistics are current as of November 2024.
Mark has been a lifelong fan of all sports, and five years ago turned it into a profession, specializing in the NFL, NHL and MLB. He is a diehard Baltimore Ravens fan and has had his work published in sites such as Sports Illustrated, Pickswise and other top outlets.