A National Leaguer for the first 13 of his 17 big league seasons, Joe Adcock was one of the Senior Circuit’s most respected first basemen. The right-hander started his career in 1950 and played three nondescript seasons as the Reds’ left fielder. In February of ’53 Adcock was part of a four-team, five-player deal that sent him to the Braves. In Milwaukee Adcock moved to first base where he quickly adjusted.

Playing in 157 games, Adcock set new career highs in every offensive category. The changed of positions served him well. At first base Adcock led his league in fielding percentage four times. When he retired, only two men at his position held a higher lifetime fielding percentage.

Despite his fine work with the leather, it was his slugging that most recall today. On July 31st, 1954 Adcock became the 7th player in big league history to hit 4 home runs in a single game. By adding in a double, Adcock established a then-MLB record 18 total bases.

In 1956 he slugged a career-high 38 dingers, a figure surpassed that year only by Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle (52), and Duke Snider (43). A two-time All Star, Adcock was a key member of the Braves 1957 World Series champion team and the ’58 pennant winning club. In ’59 Adcock started a run of four consecutive NL top-10 finishes in home runs. The 6’4″, 210-pounder topped the 20-home run mark in 7 of his 9 seasons in Milwaukee.

Adcock remained productive throughout his ten seasons in Milwaukee, slugging 29 long balls in his final Braves campaign of 1962. In November that year, the team parted ways with their first baseman, sending him to Cleveland in a five-player deal.

Thirty-five years old at the time of the trade, Adcock’s productive seasons were behind him. After one year with the Indians, he spent three seasons with the Angels before retiring in 1966 at age 38. Adcock’s 17-year MLB career concluded with 1,832 hits, 336 career home runs, 1,122 RBI, and a .277 batting average.

Shown here is a 1955 Bowman baseball card autographed by Joe Adcock.

For the nine-year period from 1954-1962 the Braves had a strong trio of sluggers. Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews combined with Joe Adcock to give opposing pitchers plenty to worry about.

Aaron led the league five times while teaming with the two Milwaukee men. During their 9 seasons together, the triumvirate combined to finish in the league’s top-10 in homers an incredible 21 times.

That prolific run saw them combine to average 94 homers per season. Overall Mathews smashed 327, Aaron slugged 298, and Adcock drilled 221 of his own.

Shown here is an autographed baseball card produced by Post Cereal in 1962, Adcock’s final campaign alongside his Cooperstown teammates.

On May 26, 1959 Harvey Haddix twirled one of baseball’s finest pitching performances. Going up against the two-time defending National League champion Braves, Haddix began the game with 12 perfect innings.

After the first 38 Braves batters went down in order, Felix Mantilla reached first on a throwing error. The perfect game was no more.

Eddie Mathews who hit 512 career home runs then bunted Mantilla to second. Haddix intentionally walked Henry Aaron to bring up Joe Adcock. The Braves first baseman slammed the ball over the fence to end the no-hitter and hang the tough-luck loss on Haddix.

In an interesting side note, Adcock’s long ball was credited as a double after he passed Aaron on the base paths between second and third.

Shown here is the 1961 Topps card celebrating Haddix’s performance signed by the pitcher himself.

The first seven times a player hit four homers in a game, no more than 15,000 fans were in attendance. In fact only two of the seven contests boasted crowds as large as 10,000.

The first seven to achieve the feat were Bobby Lowe, Ed Delahanty, Lou Gehrig, Chuck Klein, Pat Seerey, Gil Hodges, and Joe Adcock. According to Baseball Reference, 8,000 fans saw Bobby Lowe hit four home runs on May 30th, 1894. When Ed Delahanty hit four in a game on July 13th, 1896, the attendance was a mere 1,100.

Lou Gehrig’s four-homer game on June 3rd, 1932, drew only 5,000. The number of fans at Chuck Klein’s four-homer game on July 10th, 1936 is in dispute. Baseball Reference lists it as 2,500. However, in a the letter above Warren Giles says that attendance was 1,149.

The attendance for Pat Seerey’s four-homer game on July 18th, 1948 has been lost over time. His 86 career long balls are the least of any man who accomplished the feat.

Gil Hodges’ four-homer game on August 31st, 1950 was witnessed by a relatively robust crowd of 14,226. Interestingly, Hodges was at first base when Joe Adcock slammed his four dingers in front 12,263 on July 31st, 1954 at Ebbets Field.

In the letter shown here Hall of Fame executive Warren Giles details the attendance at Klein’s memorable performance.

Giles writes, “Answering your letter of August 2, our records show the attendance at Forbes Field on July 10, 1936 (the date on which “Chuck” Klein hit 4 how-runs) was 1,149. I am glad we are able to get this information to you and I appreciate your interest.”