What is the most home runs hit in a single game?

The Most Home Runs in a Single Game: A Record Shrouded in Mystery

When it comes to jaw-dropping power displays in baseball, few feats sound as incredible as hitting eight home runs in one game. That’s the official record, credited to Jay Clarke of the Corsicana team in the Texas League, set way back on June 15, 1902. If that number seems almost unbelievable, you’re not alone—many historians and fans have questioned just how accurate it really is.

The game itself was part of a doubleheader against the Texarkana Casketmakers (yes, that was their name), and Corsicana reportedly crushed their opponents 51–4. In the midst of that offensive explosion, Clarke allegedly went deep eight times. But here’s the catch: no surviving box score exists from that day, and contemporary newspaper accounts offer conflicting reports. Some sources from the time mention only three home runs by Clarke, while others don’t specify at all.

Despite the uncertainty, the eight-homer claim has stood the test of time and remains recognized by many baseball almanacs and record-keepers. Whether it was eight, three, or somewhere in between, one thing is clear—Clarke had a monster day at the plate in an era when home runs were far rarer than they are today.

For context, the modern major league record is four home runs in a single game—a feat accomplished by just 18 players in over a century of play. So while Clarke’s eight may never be matched (or fully verified), it endures as one of baseball’s most fascinating quirks: a legendary performance blurred by time, smoke, and the crack of an old-time bat.