1977 World Series Game 3: Reggie Jackson's Three HRs
Three home runs on three consecutive pitches from three different pitchers in one inning—the only time this sequence has occurred in World Series history.
On October 15, 1977, Yankee Stadium hosted a defining moment in World Series history that remains etched in Dodgers memory. Played against a formidable Los Angeles lineup featuring stars like Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey, the game is less remembered for the Dodgers' offense than for an eighth-inning pitching collapse that handed New York the momentum.
- Event
- 1977 World Series Game 3
- Location
- Yankee Stadium, New York
- Opponent
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Key Performer
- Reggie Jackson (New York Yankees)
- Defining Stat
- Three home runs on three consecutive pitches
- Series Outcome Context
- Yankees won the game 6-3, taking a 2-1 series lead
Lore & Background
The collapse unfolded during the top of the eighth inning. Mike Marshall entered to face Jackson and was immediately homered off. Burt Hooton followed, surrendering a second shot on his first delivery as well. Elias Sosa took the mound third, but Jackson sent him packing immediately. Three different Dodgers pitchers, three swings, all within the span of a single inning.
In Their Own Story
With each swing, Yankee Stadium erupted while the Dodgers' dugout fell silent. Marshall's pitch disappeared into right-center before Hooton could complete his warm-up. Sosa lasted only a single delivery. The rapid succession was so shocking that the scoreboard operator struggled to update the numbers in time, marking a moment where history turned on three consecutive swings.
Reader's Guide
Jackson remains the only player to hit three home runs in a World Series game under these conditions. While Dodgers stars Lopes and Garvey contributed to the lineup, the Yankees' offense capitalized on this collapse. The victory gave New York a 2-1 series lead, shifting momentum decisively toward the Yankees, who closed out the championship in six games.
Did You Know?
- Reggie Jackson is the only player in World Series history to hit three home runs in a single game.
- All three of Jackson's home runs were hit on consecutive pitches from three different Dodgers pitchers.
- The game was played at Yankee Stadium, marking the first time the Yankees hosted a Game 3 of the World Series since 1947.
- Jackson's performance earned him the nickname 'Mr. October' permanently in the eyes of fans and analysts.