Indians History: Marty Kavanagh Hits First Pinch Hit Grand Slam

Sometimes, all it takes is for a manager to go with a hunch for a team to emerge with a victory. That was the case on this day in 1916, when Cleveland Indians infielder Marty Kavanagh hit the first pinch hit grand slam in baseball history.

Marty Kavanagh had a relatively unusual five year major league career. He was the Detroit Tigers starting second baseman as a rookie in 1914, but was unable to hold the position the following year. Kavanagh became a utility player, and then was almost exclusively a pinch hitter, making his living by getting those key at bats late in games.

Late in the 1916 season, the Cleveland Indians found themselves in need of an additional bat. As such, they purchased Kavanagh from the Tigers on September 2nd. After getting a few relatively uneventful at bats, he made history on this day.

The Indians were trailing the Boston Red Sox 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning before leading the bases. With starting pitcher Joe Boehling due up, manager Lee Fohl called upon Kavanagh in hopes that he would get a hit. He ended up doing far more than that, as he hit a grand slam, the first pinch hitter to do so in major league history.

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As for that home run, it was not exactly a mighty blast over the fence. Instead, Kavanagh hit the ball through a hole in the fence, where the ball was unable to be retrieved. By the time the Red Sox got the ball, Kavanagh had crossed home plate.

That home run would be the only one he hit over the course of the season. Kavanagh would have only one more hit over his final four appearances, and was 0-3 as a pinch hitter to close out the season. He failed to get a hit during his time in the majors in 1917, and then spent the following year with three different teams, ending his career with the Tigers. He would only hit one more homer during the rest of his career as well, doing so in his 12 game stint with the Cardinals in his final season.

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Marty Kavanagh had a relatively forgettable five year major league career. However, on this day in 1916, the Cleveland Indians pinch hitter became the first player in major league history to hit a pinch hit grand slam.