For those fans who are able to go to many games, there are always certain performances that completely stand out. The following performances are things that I have seen and witnessed as a fan in attendance that deserve some mention. Scroll to the bottom for the Minor League performances. To skip to a particular section, click on a link below

MAJOR LEAGUE: - Top Performances - Milestones - Major League Debuts - Team Debuts - Special Home Runs -Home Run Leaders
MINOR LEAGUE: - Top Performances - Home Run Leaders -

MAJOR LEAGUE

TOP PERFORMANCES

Rich Harden (CHC) - 10 STRIKEOUT GAME

07/26/2008: Not a rare feat, but for me double digit strikeouts deserve some attention. Out of 34 MLB games I have attended to this point, this is only the second time I have seen a pitcher get to 10 K. Outstanding performance from the new Cubbie Rich Harden. Unfortunately, he didn't get a win.

Paul Konerko (CWS) - FIRST TRIPLE SINCE THE 2000 SEASON

06/07/2008: Although this doesn't seem like an eye opener for most people, the rarity of this statistic deserves some attention. Paul Konerko is widely known as one of the slowest players in baseball. He's very good, and hits for power, but his speed is by far his weakness. After a long rain delay and a slick outfield, Konerko hit a line drive to center field. Carlos Gomez (MIN) misjudged the ball and slipped in the outfield, allowing the ball to roll all the way back to the wall in center field. Because Gomez never actually touched the ball and the conditions of the field were very wet, Gomez was not charged with an error and Konerko received his first triple in over 1000 games. Out of 1482 career games, this was his 6th triple. The odds of witnessing Paul Konerko hitting a triple is approximately 1/247, or from the beginning of the 2001 season, it would be 1/1115, which is about the same as a no-hitter. After crunching the numbers, I thought this one deserved to make my top performances list.

Javier Vazquez (CWS) - 12 STRIKEOUT GAME

09/21/2006: Although not really a "rare" feat, in my book getting 10 or more strikeouts in a game deserves some kind of attention. Out of 30 MLB games that I have seen, this is the only time I have even seen someone get into the double-digits. Interesting enough Vazquez was the losing pitcher in this game, but was due to a lack of run support. Still a dominating performance, and rightfully received a standing ovation when getting pulled from the game.

Frank Thomas (CWS) - RETURN TO CHICAGO AS A VISITOR AND HITS 2 HOME RUNS IN FIRST 2 AB'S

05/22/2006: After 15 years as the Chicago White Sox "Franchise Player", he made his first return to US Cellular Field in a visiting club's uniform. Playing for the Oakland Athletics this time, he was greeted with a standing ovation that brought the game to a complete halt. Frank tipped his helmet to his White Sox fans and then stepped into the US Cellular Field's batter's box. This was the first time in his 16 year career that he was a "visitor" at US Cellular Field. Frank hit a 400 FT. home run to left field off of Jon Garland and the stadium once again gave him a standing ovation. To see a visiting player get cheered for hitting a home run is almost unheard of, but the Sox fans showed their appreciation for all of his years as a member of the Chicago White Sox. He stepped to the plate again in the 5th inning and hit another home run, except this time he was booed as he came around the bases - a very interesting moment in baseball.

Frank Catalanotto (TOR) - SIX HITS IN A GAME

05/01/2004: By far the most rare feat I have ever witnessed. Frank Catalanotto went 6 for 6, making a very elite club in MLB history. Achieving six hits in a single game is four times more rare than a no-hitter. From 1970 through 2007, there have been 86 no-hitters, but six-hit games has only been achieved 22 times. So the odds of witnessing this feat is approximately 1/4086 since 1970. Meanwhile, the odds of witnessing a no-hitter is approximately 1/1045.

MILESTONES
 

Jim Thome (CWS) - CAREER HOME RUN #535, PASSING JIMMIE FOXX FOR 15th PLACE ON ALL-TIME HR LIST

08/25/2008: On my first visit to Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, I was not only able to get my first baseball from a Major League game, but also witnessed a milestone home run by Jim Thome. He launched career home run #535, moving him past Jimmie Foxx for sole possession of 15th on the all-time career home run list, and moving him within one of Mickey Mantle.

Barry Bonds (SF) - CAREER N.L. HOME RUN #734, NEW ALL-TIME N.L. HOME RUN RECORD

09/23/2006: In the 3rd inning, Barry Bonds hit his 734th career home run off of Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano, breaking the all-time N.L. home run record, and pulling within 21 of the all-time MLB record. Many people don't know that 22 of Hank Aaron's 755 were hit in the American League, so the N.L. record was 733, not 755. Bonds broke the N.L. Record with career home run 734 (Bonds has spent his entire career in the N.L.). Because this was in Milwaukee, long time home of the Milwaukee Braves and of course Hank Aaron, this home run was not received well by the home fans. The stadium erupted in "boo's" with the roof closed, and was one of the loudest moments during any of the games I have attended.

David Wright (NYM) - FIRST SHEA STADIUM HOME RUN

08/10/2004: On my only visit to Shea Stadium, I witnessed a recently debuted Mets rookie third baseman named David Wright hit his very first home run at Shea Stadium. He had just made his MLB debut on July 21, only 20 days earlier. He would go on to became a household name to Mets fans and baseball fans, and would gain a reputation as possibly the best defensive third baseman in baseball, and a solid .300 hitter. At the end of 2007, after only 3 1/2 MLB seasons, he is a 2 time All-Star and was voted 4th in the NL MVP race in 2007, while winning a silver slugger.

Alfonso Soriano (NYY) - 13TH LEAD-OFF HOME RUN FOR 2003, NEW MLB RECORD

09/22/2003: In the 1st inning, Alfonso Soriano hit the second pitch of the game off of Bartolo Colon for a home run, breaking the MLB record for most Lead-Off HR's in a single season.

Frank Thomas (CWS) - 2000TH CAREER HIT

08/04/2003: In the 6th inning Frank Thomas hit a home run to left field for his 2000th career hit off of Kansas City Royals pitcher Nate Field.

MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUTS:

ANDREW CARPENTER (PHI) - 08/27/2008
ANTHONY REYES (STL) - 08/09/2005

TEAM DEBUTS:

MARK KOTSAY - Boston Red Sox Debut - 08/28/2008
ARAMIS RAMIREZ - Chicago Cubs Debut - 07/23/2003
KENNY LOFTON - Chicago Cubs Debut - 07/23/2003
 

SPECIAL HOME RUNS:

GRAND SLAMS:
    Adrian Beltre (SEA) - 09/21/2006
    Felipe Lopez (CIN) - 04/27/2005
    Pedro Feliz (SF) - 06/11/2003

TWO HOME RUNS IN A GAME:
    2 - Frank Thomas (OAK) - 05/22/2006 & (CWS) - 08/18/2003
    Carlos Delgado (NYM) - 08/27/2008
    Jeremey Hermida (FLA) - 07/26/2008
    Joe Crede (CWS) - 06/07/2008
    Paul Konerko (CWS) - 04/15/2006
    Derrek Lee (CHC) - 04/27/2005
    Scott Rolen (STL) - 04/17/2004
    Alfonso Soriano (NYY) - 09/22/2003

WALK-OFF HOME RUNS:
    Corey Patterson (CHC) - 04/27/2005
    Craig Wilson (PIT) - 08/11/2004
    Magglio Ordonez (CWS) - 09/22/2003
    Frank Thomas (CWS) - 08/18/2003
 

HOME RUN LEADERS:

(40 GAMES = 92 TOTAL MLB HOME RUNS)
 

SIX HOME RUNS -
    Frank Thomas (OAK-2, CWS -4)  (2003 / 2006)
FIVE HOME RUNS -
    Joe Crede (CWS) (2003 / 2004 / 2008)
FOUR HOME RUNS -
    Paul Konerko (CWS)  (2004 / 2006)
THREE HOME RUNS -
    Carlos Delgado (TOR-1, NYM-2) (2004 / 2008)
    Jim Thome (PHI-1, CWS-2) (2003 / 2008)
    Derrek Lee (CHC) (2004 / 2005)
TWO HOME RUNS -
    Jayson Werth (PHI) (2008)
    Jeremy Hermida (FLA) (2008)
    Barry Bonds (SF) (2003 / 2006)
    Bill Hall (MIL) (2005)
    Eric Hinske (TOR)  (2003 / 2004)
    Scott Rolen (STL)  (2004)
    Alfonso Soriano (NYY)  (2003)
ONE HOME RUN -
    Jason Giambi (NYY) (2008)
    Ryan Howard (PHI) (2008)
    Lastings Millage (WAS) (2008)
    Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS) (2008)
    Aramis Ramirez (CHC) (2008)
    Delmon Young (MIN) (2008)
    Jhonny Peralta (CLE) (2007)
    David Ross (CIN) (2007)
    Brandon Phillips (CIN) (2007)
    Travis Hafner (CLE) (2007)
    Moises Alou (SF) (2006)
    Adrian Beltre (SEA) (2006)
    Raul Ibanez (SEA) (2006)
    Rob Mackowiak (CWS) (2006)
    Jermaine Dye (CWS) (2006)
    Bobby Crosby (OAK) (2006)
    Alex Rios (TOR) (2006)
    Carlos Lee (MIL) (2005)
    Junior Spivey (MIL) (2005)
    Adam Everett (HOU) (2005)
    Morgan Ensberg (HOU) (2005)
    A.J. Pierzynski (CWS) (2005)
    Jay Gibbons (BAL) (2005)
    B.J. Surhoff (BAL) (2005)
    Corey Patterson (CHC) (2005)
    Felipe Lopez (CIN) (2005)
    Craig Wilson (PIT) (2004)
    Ray Durham (SF) (2004)
    Jose Castillo (PIT) (2004)
    Jason Bay (PIT) (2004)
    David Wright (NYM) (2004)
    Lance Berkman (HOU) (2004)
    Julio Lugo (TB) (2004)
    Toby Hall (TB) (2004)
    Tino Martinez (TB) (2004)
    Aubrey Huff (TB) (2004)
    Gabe Kapler (BOS) (2004)
    Miguel Olivo (CWS) (2004)
    Juan Uribe (CWS) (2004)
    Orlando Hudson (TOR) (2004)
    Albert Pujols (STL) (2004)
    Todd Helton (COL) (2004)
    Magglio Ordonez (CWS) (2003)
    Jose Valentine (CWS) (2003)
    Rickey Ledee (PHI) (2003)
    Manny Ramirez (BOS) (2003)
    Aaron Rowand (CWS) (2003)
    Pedro Feliz (SF) (2003)
    Shannon Stewart (TOR) (2003)
    Frank Catalanotto (TOR) (2003)
    Mark Bellhorn (CHC) (2003)
    Hee Seop Choi (CHC) (2003)
    Sammy Sosa (CHC) (2003)
    Dan Wilson (SEA) (1995)

MINOR LEAGUE

TOP PERFORMANCES

Toledo Mud Hens (AAA) - LARGEST COMEBACK IN HISTORY OF FIFTH THIRD FIELD

05/18/2007: After being down 7-0 in the 4th inning, the Toledo Mudhens tied the game 7-7 by the 9th inning. Then with David Espinosa on 3rd, and Timo Perez batting,  Ricky Stone (LOU) threw a wild pitch. Espinosa then scored, making it a 8 run comeback, the largest comeback in the history of Fifth Third Field, which opened in 2002. The announcement was made to the whole stadium after the winning run scored.

Anderson Machado (LOU - AAA) - HIT FOR THE CYCLE

05/18/2007: Anderson Machado of the Louisville Bats hit a single, double, triple, and home run all in the same game. With this being only one level below the Majors, the odds of witnessing this is fairly the same as on the Major League Level, which is about 1/800.

HOME RUN LEADERS:

(8 GAMES = 10 TOTAL MiLB HOME RUNS )

Player (Team - Level) (Years)

TWO HOME RUNS -
    Clayton Conner (SOU - A) (2008)
ONE HOME RUN -
    Mike Mee (SOU - A) (2008)
    Marquez Smith (PEO - A) (2008)
    Josh Donaldson (PEO - A) (2008)
    Derrick Walker (SOU - A) (2008)
    Brad Miller (SOU - A) (2007)
    Adolfo Gonzalez (GLL - A) (2007)
    Eduardo Perez (GLL - A) (2007)
    Dewayne Wise (LOU - AAA) (2007)
    Anderson Machado (LOU - AAA) (2007)