Josh Hamilton (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a sports statistics blog published multiple times weekly focusing on stats that go beyond the numbers.

Josh Hamilton last night became the 16th player in Major League history to hit four home runs in a game. But in our “what-have-you-done for-me-lately” world, the question we need to ask is: When will Hamilton hit his next home run?

Of the 15 previous players to hit four home runs in a game, only two, Mike Schmidt and Shawn Green, hit home runs in their next game. Bob Horner, who hit four HRs for the Atlanta Braves on July 6, 1986, had the longest wait for his next homer after his historic day. Horner did not hit his next HR until 18 games later.

Here’s a look at the previous 15 players who hit four home runs in a game and when they hit their next four-bagger.

Games until next home run, player

Next game: Mike Schmidt, Shawn Green

2 games: Rocky Colavito

3 games: Carlos Delgado

5 games: Lou Gehrig

6 games: Mark Whiten

8 games: Chuck Klein, Gil Hodges, Joe Adcock

9 games: Willie Mays

11 games: Pat Seerey

12 games: Mke Cameron

18 games: Bob Horner

Note: Bobby Lowe and Ed Delahanty had their four-home run games before 1900. Lowe did not hit his next HR until seven days later; Delahanty hit his next home run 12 days later.

Here’s a few more interesting stats about the Four-Homer Club.

* Three players, Gil Hodges, Mike Schmidt and Mark Whiten, hit their four home runs while batting sixth in the batting order.

* Mays (660), Schmidt (548), Gehrig (493) and Delgado (473) are the only four members of the group to end their careers with 400 or more home runs. Two players, Lowe (71) and Seerey (86) are the two players who ended their careers with less than 100 home runs.

* Delgado is the player who hit the most career home runs before his historic day. Delgado had hit 299 HRs prior to his four-HR game. Mays had hit 281 career home runs before his four-HR game.

* Seven of the 16 players had one or more three-home runs games in their career: Gehrig (3), Seerey (1), Colavito (2), Mays (2), Schmidt (2), Green (1) and Delgado (4).

* Lowe and Delahanty hit their four home runs off the same pitcher. Gehrig and Horner hit their four blasts off two pitchers. Hodges and Adcock hit their four home runs off four different pitchers.

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