Shawn Green

By Scott Barancik/Jewish Baseball News

When Josh Hamilton hit 4 HRs and a double in a single game last week (5/8/2012), it was a rare and spectacular event (see video and box score). The Texas Rangers CF went 5-for-5 with 8 RBIs in the Rangers’ 10-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Only 11 Major Leaguers have hit 4 HRs in a 9-inning game since 1918. Hamilton’s 18 total bases set an American League record.

But his performance still fell short of what arguably was the greatest single-game performance in MLB history: Shawn Green‘s 4-HR barrage in 2002.

In a lopsided 16-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers (5/23/2002), the Los Angeles Dodgers RF went 6-for-6 with 4 HRs, a double, and a single. And while his RBI total (7) fell one short of Hamilton’s, Green recorded 19 total bases, which remains the all-time MLB record (see box score).

Chances are Hamilton will end up with better season totals in 2012 then Green did in 2002 (.285, 42 HRs, 114 RBIs). Through the Rangers’ first 34 games, Hamilton already has wracked up an incredible .402 batting average with 18 HRs and 41 RBIs.

But for the best single-performance performance, Green has our vote.

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