Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger made history on Friday night by hitting the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history during Game 1 of the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This monumental moment occurred as the Blue Jays triumphed over the Dodgers with an impressive score of 11-4.
Barger stepped up to bat for teammate Davis Schneider against left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda. With the count at 2-1, Barger launched a powerful slider 413 feet to right-center field, marking his third home run of the postseason. “I was choking up a little bit, just trying to put the ball in the air and get a run in in that situation,” Barger reflected on the pivotal moment.
This grand slam was not only significant for Barger but also etched his name in Toronto Blue Jays history as the first postseason grand slam for the team. It served as the highlight of a remarkable nine-run sixth inning, which propelled the Blue Jays to an 11-2 lead over the defending champions.
Upon receiving the call to pinch hit, Barger quickly made his way to the club's advanced Trajekt pitching machine to analyze simulated pitches from Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan, who was on the mound at the time. To his surprise, he ended up facing Banda instead. “I know it’s a tough at-bat, left on left, but the goal was just to put the barrel on the ball, hopefully hit it in the air and get the run in,” Barger explained. His manager, John Schneider, jokingly added, “I hope he doesn’t know who is pitching tomorrow.”
In an amusing turn of events, Barger hit for Schneider just a night after crashing on his teammate’s pull-out couch. The reason behind his unusual sleeping arrangement was not immediately clear. Schneider humorously remarked, “It was so funny. I looked over and just saw him sleeping there in the middle of the night. He’s a head case but he’s funny.”
Adding to the lighthearted atmosphere, Barger arrived at the ballpark wearing a T-shirt that read “I hit balls hard,” a gift from a minor league hitting coach. After the game, he was presented with another shirt by Hall of Famer and Fox TV panelist David Ortiz, but he declined it, stating, “It has Red Sox on it, I’m not wearing that. Are you kidding me?”
In addition to his on-field contributions, Barger showcased his generous spirit by donating his cleats to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Fellow outfielder Myles Straw praised Barger, calling him “one of the funniest guys I’ve ever played with.” Straw added, “He’s hilarious. That’s what makes him who he is and that’s why we all love him. There’s no one else like him, I promise you. He’s got some loose screws, for sure.”
Toronto's successful sixth inning was further bolstered by a two-run homer from Alejandro Kirk, marking the third-largest scoring inning in World Series history. The record is held by the Philadelphia Athletics, who scored 10 runs against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning of Game 4 in 1929, a feat matched by the Detroit Tigers in the third inning of Game 6 against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968.
This World Series appearance is particularly significant for the Blue Jays, as it is their first since securing back-to-back titles in 1993. Barger, who hit 21 home runs during the regular season, is proving to be a vital asset in his second season in the majors.
