Unveiling Baseball’s Rarest Feats: Who Holds the Record for Most Cycles in a Season and Career?

John Reilly of the Cincinnati Red Stockings had one on Sept. 12, 1883 against the Pittsburgh Alleghenys and again on Sept. 19 against the Philadelphia Athletics. And Tip O’Neill of the St. Louis Browns hit for the cycle on April 30, 1887 versus the Cleveland Blues and again on May 7 against the Louisville Colonels.
The San Francisco Giants are next with 23 cycles (Pablo Sandoval had the last one in 2011 at Colorado) and the Boston Red Sox third with 22. Star outfielder Mookie Betts had the last regular-season cycle for the Red Sox against the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018, though Holt’s playoff cycle was the last one overall.

It was the first time in MLB history that two rookies have hit for a cycle in the same season.

The post The Most Cycles in a Season, Career and More in AL/NL History appeared first on Opta Analyst.

George Brett had a walk-off dinger and hit for the cycle against the Baltimore Orioles on May 28, 1979, but it was his second homer of the game and he had already reached the cycle earlier.

Sure, the perfect game and no-hitters get all the attention. There have been 23 instances of an individual finishing off a perfecto throughout American and National League history, including Don Larsen’s gem for the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Most Career Cycles: 3 –Six Players Tied

Across the long, storied history of the game, there has only been one cycle during the postseason. And it occurred not all that long ago.

It might be the most underrated, underappreciated and arguably most difficult feat in all of baseball.

Ever wonder why hitting for the cycle doesn’t get nearly the spotlight it deserves? In the grand theater of baseball, perfect games and no-hitters hog all the glory, and four-homer eruptions capture fan frenzy — but that natural cycle, the classic sequence of single, double, triple, then home run? It’s the stealthy beast, an elusive dance that’s been achieved a mere handful of times since 1901. Now, why is that? Maybe it’s the triple—the game’s sneaky middle child—that sneaks past many contenders, making this feat shockingly rare and, dare I say, the most underrated marvel of the diamond. Let’s unpack this rarity, celebrate the legends who have done it, and explore some jaw-dropping records and moments that prove the cycle deserves a bigger stage. Ready to dive into baseball’s best-kept secret? LEARN MORE.

The Toronto Blue Jays (Biggio, Jeff Frye in 2001 and Kelly Gruber in 1989) and San Diego Padres (Jake Cronenworth in 2021, Wil Myers in 2017 and Matt Kemp in 2015) have accomplished the feat three times, while the Seattle Mariners have had four (Beltré in 2008, John Olerud in 2001, Alex Rodriguez in 1997 and Jay Buhner in 1993).

While the Rockies have hit nine cycles at home since the team started in the National League in 1994, the Florida/Miami Marlins finally had their first when Luis Arraez did it on April 11, 2023 at Philadelphia before rookie Xavier Edwards made it two on July 28, 2024.

In Game 3 of the 2018 American League Division Series, Brock Holt of the Boston Red Sox turned the trick against the rival Yankees. The veteran utility man went 4 for 6 with five RBIs and 10 total bases in the 16-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.

Most Cycles in Season: 2 – Five Players Tied

Aaron Hill’s cycles for the Arizona Diamondbacks came just 11 days apart in 2012, but they weren’t the fewest days between cycles in MLB history.

We referenced Yelich’s two cycles against the poor Reds in 2018. Well, believe it or not, he’s not the only player to have multiple cycles in one season.

Everyone marvels over the elusive four-homer game, with J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox pulling off the last one on Sept. 4, 2017. There have been 16 of these long-ball fests since the start of the modern era in 1901.

But then there’s the natural cycle. It’s the often forgotten – or even unknown – feat of hitting for the cycle in order (a single, then double, then triple and finally the home run). According to MLB, there have been only 14 of these naturals in the modern era – the last by Gary Matthews Jr. of the Texas Rangers in 2006. 

Postseason Cycle: Brock Holt, 2018

With the triple being the most difficult of the single, double, triple and home run combination needed to complete the cycle, it makes sense that speedy players like Yelich and Trea Turner would be on the list. The Philadelphia Phillies infielder achieved all three of his cycles while with the Washington Nationals.

Babe Herman is not to be confused with George Herman Ruth Jr., who one might say had a pretty good career under the name Babe Ruth. Herman wasn’t bad himself, ending up with a career .324 batting average over a 13-year run with the Brooklyn Robins (later Dodgers – two stints), Reds (two stints), Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers between 1926-45.

Considered one of the best third basemen of all time, this is another reason why many believe Adrián Beltré will get voted in when he’s slated to appear on his first Hall of Fame ballot in 2024.

Walk-offs that Completed Cycles: Five Players

But he’s also hit all three of his record-tying three cycles against the Reds: one at Cincinnati on Aug. 28, 2018, another almost just one month later at home on Sept. 17, 2018 and a third at Great American Ballpark on May 11, 2022.

The Tampa Bay Rays have also only had two cycles since joining the league in 1998. Evan Longoria’s fabulous day versus the Houston Astros on Aug. 1, 2017 marked the second cycle after Melvin Upton Jr. had the first cycle against the Yankees on Oct. 2, 2009.

Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers tormented the Cincinnati Reds throughout early in his career. The two-time All-Star hit .283 with 20 home runs and 62 RBIs – his most homers and RBIs versus any opponent – through his first 93 meetings.

So let’s continue our celebration of the cycle and widen our breakdown to the record-holding hitters in several of the different ways the feat can be accomplished:

Most Total Cycles by a Team: 24 – Pittsburgh Pirates

Several rookies have hit for the cycle. The most recent was accomplished by Xavier Edwards of the Miami Marlins against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 28, 2024. He became the second rookie to hit for a cycle in 2024 after Wyatt Langford of the Texas Rangers did it against the Baltimore Orioles on June 30.

We won’t hold it against Holt that he sealed the historic performance with a home run in the ninth off a position player (Austin Romine). It all looks the same in the box score.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that since the franchise came into existence in 1994, the Rockies have recorded more cycles at home than any other team with nine. The Texas Rangers rank second with six and the Washington Nationals third with five.

Fewest Total Cycles by a Team: 2 – Two Teams Tied

The previously mentioned Herman did it in 1931 – a year after his magical 1930 campaign, though Yelich is the only player to do it twice in one season against the same team.

Nolan Arenado was with the Colorado Rockies when he had the most recent one against the San Francisco Giants on June 18, 2017. Former teammate Carlos Gonzalez also did it at the ballpark known as Coors Field against the Chicago Cubs on July 31, 2010.

Since 1961, only five players have achieved the impressive individual feat by slugging a walk-off homer.

Rookie Cycles

The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the most cycles of any franchise throughout MLB history with 24. John Jaso was the last to do it on Sept. 28, 2016 against the Cubs, who would recover and be just fine the rest of the way.

The St. Louis Cardinals have 19 cycles all time, while the Oakland A’s have 17 to round out the top five.
Herman’s .393 average, 241 hits and 416 total bases in 1930 remain Dodgers franchise records. The right fielder also finished with 35 home runs and 130 RBIs that season.