Josh Hamilton Addicted to Home Runs

Josh Hamilton became the 16th Major League player to hit four home runs in a game on Tuesday.

Carlos Delgado was the last to hit four in a game in 2003.

Hamilton, who resurrected a dying career in Cincinnati in 2007, added a double and drove in eight runs.  He increased his season total to 14.  His 18 total bases is tied for second all-time.  Shawn Green of the Los Angeles Dodgers had 19 total bases in a game against Milwaukee on May 23, 2002.

Hamilton is a natural.  He was the top pick overall in the 1999 draft.  Chuck LaMar the Tampa Bay Devil Rays general manager said at the time, "When we draft Hamilton, I'm going to bed.  That's the only player we need."

Hamilton, however, had personal problems, that led to an indefinite suspension by MLB in 2004 for substance abuse.

It took him three years to be re-instated.  He played in the minor leagues late in 2006.  The Cubs drafted Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft in December 2006 and Reds GM Wayne Krivsky purchased his contract from Chicago that same day.  Rule 5 picks must stay on the roster of the drafting team the entire season or must be returned to the original team.

It was a huge gamble for Krivsky and the Reds.  They hired Johnny Narron, the brother of manager, Jerry Narron, to be Hamilton's constant companion to prevent a relapse.  The Narrons are from the same area in North Carolina that Hamilton is.

The Reds needed pitching with Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs in the wings and Ken Griffey Jr. still patrolling center field for the Reds.  Adam Dunn was entrenched in left.  Hamilton was only available to the Reds for 90 games.  Krivsky traded Hamilton to the Texas Rangers for Edinson Volquez and Daniel Ray Herrera.

I was working for SportsTicker the night that "Hard Hittin" Mark Whiten of the St. Louis Cardinals hit four home runs in a game against the Reds on September 7, 1993.  That night in the second game of a doubleheader, Whiten his a grand slam home run off Larry Luebbers in the first inning.  He hit a three run home runs off Mike Anderson in the sixth and again off Anderson in the seventh.  He added a home run with only one man on in the ninth off Rob Dibble.