Last night, Travis Jankowski hit his first home run of the season, and his first as a member of the Texas Rangers. Last year with the Mets, the speedy Jankowski, who has 82 stolen bases in his career, did not homer in 63 plate appearances, going 9-for-54 with three steals and 11 runs scored. He also didn’t homer in his one plate appearance as a Mariner, last having gone deep on June 23, 2021, as a Phillie against Erick Fedde and the Nationals.
Jankowski has hit as many as four home runs in a season, as his 2018 season with the Padres included a blast off Félix Hernández. Eight of Jankowski’s now 10 career home runs came as a Padre — he didn’t go deep in 16 games with the 2020 Reds, but did steal a base for them in the playoffs.
The first time Jankowski homered? That was right after a couple in chicken and pig masks appeared on the broadcast of the Padres-Giants game on September 13, 2015.
Travis Jankowski hit his first home run off Mike Leake, 9/13/15
Mike Leake gave up his first home run to Andre Ethier, 4/22/10
Andre Ethier hit his first home run off Dewon Brazelton, 5/3/06
Dewon Brazelton gave up his first home run to Carlos Delgado, 9/13/02
Carlos Delgado hit his first home run off Dennis Cook, 4/4/94
Dennis Cook gave up his first home run to Lonnie Smith, 9/20/88
Lonnie Smith hit his first home run off Larry McWilliams, 7/25/80
Larry McWilliams gave up his first home run to Gary Carter, 7/28/78
Gary Carter hit his first home run off Steve Carlton, 9/28/74
Steve Carlton gave up his first home run to Doug Clemens, 4/19/65
Doug Clemens hit his first home run off Vern Law, 6/30/62
Vern Law gave up his first home run to Del Ennis, 6/11/50
Del Ennis hit his first home run off Claude Passeau, 5/5/46
Claude Passeau gave up his first home run to Mel Ott, 5/11/36
Mel Ott hit his first home run off Hal Carlson, 7/18/27
Hal Carlson gave up his first home run to Fred Merkle, 5/1/18
Fred Merkle hit his first home run off Patsy Flaherty, 6/23/08
Patsy Flaherty gave up his first home run to Jesse Burkett, 4/22/03
Jesse Burkett hit his first home run off Bill Hutchison, 6/23/90
Bill Hutchison gave up his first home run to Jake Beckley, 5/11/89
Jake Beckley hit his first home run off Lev Shreve, 5/6/89
Lev Shreve gave up his first home run to Roger Connor, 8/29/87
Roger Connor, the career home run king before Babe Ruth with 138 from 1880-97 with the Troy Trojans, New York Gothams/Giants, Phillies, and St. Louis Browns (Cardinals), connects us to Brett Baty’s home run chain.
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