2004 Articles
Tatis Has Spot In Record Book
By Dennis Maffezzoli
March 15, 2004
His two grand slams in one inning five years ago may never be equaled; but for now, he's just trying to slam his way onto Tampa Bay's roster.
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays have a player in spring training camp who has accomplished something no other player in major league baseball has done.
On April 23, 1999, as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, Fernando Tatis hit two grand slams in the same inning. Tatis homered with the bases loaded in consecutive at-bats off the same pitcher, Chan Ho Park, then of Los Angeles.
Fred McGriff, owner of nine slams, still is in awe of Tatis' feat.
"That's awesome," said McGriff, who has 491 career homers. "The odds of doing that are tremendous."
There were 4,777 grand slams hit in the 129 years of major league baseball prior to Tatis connecting for the first time.
"It's something you don't even think about," McGriff said. "You hit one in one inning, your chances of coming up again are … I don't know what the odds are."
For one thing, at least 13 batters must come to the plate in the same inning. The 40-year- old McGriff, an 18-year major league veteran, doesn't remember coming to the plate with the bases loaded twice in the same inning.
"The chances of it being done again are slim and none," McGriff said. "It's difficult to hit two in one game."
Tatis said he doesn't think about it much, unless someone brings it up. Then, he's just as astonished as when he accomplished the feat.
"If you're really thinking about it, it's amazing," Tatis said. "It's something if you go to the plate and try to do it, it's never going to happen."
Tatis, 24 at the time, even hit two different pitches. The first time, he connected on a fastball for a 450-foot homer. The second one came off a curveball.
"You don't get too many opportunities to do it, but two times in one inning, it's amazing, unbelievable," said Tatis, who hit 34 homers and knocked in 107 runs for the Cards in 1999.
In fact, only four teams hit grand slams in the same inning prior to Tatis -- the 1969 Houston Astros, the 1986 Baltimore Orioles, the 1980 Milwaukee Brewers and the 1962 Minnesota Twins.
Tatis is only one of a dozen players to hit two slams in a game. Some of the others were Frank Robinson, Robin Ventura, Nomar Garciaparra, Bill Mueller and pitcher Tony Cloninger. Mueller's feat was notable, since he did it from both sides of the plate.
When asked if someone could match his feat, Tatis said, "Maybe yes, but it can be difficult. You never know in baseball."
In 1999, Tatis hit another bases-loaded homer that made history. He was one of a record five players to hit a grand slam on Aug. 9, joining Montreal's Jose Vidro, Mike Lowell of Florida, Bernie Williams of the New York Yankees and Jay Buhner of Seattle.
On a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training, Tatis was considered as a long shot of breaking camp with the Rays. His odds have improved lately.
"Our infield situation is evolving into some pretty good competition with Tatis and Deivi Cruz," Tampa Bay general manager Chuck LaMar said. "It's probably more competition than anyone has expected. They have come up here and done everything we've asked of them. And truly have the opportunity to make this squad.
Health is a big concern for Tatis. Since his big year, he has hit 37 homers and knocked in 145 runs in four injury-plagued seasons.
"We're going to give him an opportunity," Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said. "He's had some success at third base. … It's going to be rough on him, but he'll get an opportunity."
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