SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 24: Pablo Sandoval #48 of the San Francisco Giants rounds the bases after hitting his third home run during Game 1 of the 2012 World Series in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pablo Sandoval
The Babe, Mr. October, the Machine and ... the Panda.
Those nicknamed sluggers are the only four men in major-league history to homer three times in one World Series game.
San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval made history on Oct. 24, 2012, in Game 1 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. He homered in his first three at-bats: in the first inning against Justin Verlander; in the third inning against Verlander again; and in the fifth inning against Al Alburquerque.
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With a chance to become the first player ever to homer four times in one World Series game, Sandoval merely singled in the seventh.
The Giants went on to sweep the 2012 World Series -- their second world championship in three seasons (and they would win another in 2014). And Sandoval was named the 2012 World Series MVP, despite not homering again after Game 1.
Babe Ruth hit three homers in Game 4 of the 1926 World Series, Reggie Jackson did it in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series, and Albert Pujols accomplished the feat in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series.
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