*1959 | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – Rocky Colavito hit four home runs against the Baltimore Orioles today in baseball history – June 10, 1969. He became the eighth major leaguer to jack four in a 9-inning game. His Cleveland Indians beat the Orioles 11 to 4.
“Rocky Colavito” was born Rocco Domenico Colavito in New York City in 1933. What a name. He could have been a prize fighter if he wasn’t a ball player. He was signed by the Indians in 1951.
Colavito hit 374 home runs in his relatively short 13 year major league career, which, as of June 10, 2017, puts him 77th on the all-time career home run list.
He was never a threat to the record, but in one eleven year span Colavito averaged 33 home runs, which is the same number career leader Henry Aaron averaged per season, and on par with the other career home run leaders; Barry Bonds (2nd-34), Babe Ruth (3rd-34), Willie Mays (4th-30) and Sammy Sosa (5th-35)
The 6-time all-star bounced around the majors a bit. Besides Cleveland, he played for the Detroit Tigers, and had short stints with the Kansas City A’s, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. His best year was 1961 with the Tigers when he hit .290 with 45 home runs and 113 RBI.
CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
Career HR leaders