<Li> September 26, 2015, Jarrett Parker of the San Francisco Giants hit three home runs against the Oakland Athletics: a solo home run in the second inning, a 2 - run home run in the seventh inning, and a grand slam in the eighth inning . </Li> <Li> June 6, 2017, Scooter Gennett of the Cincinnati Reds hit four home runs against the St. Louis Cardinals: a grand slam in the third inning, a 2 - run home run in the fourth inning, a solo home run in the sixth inning, and a 2 - run home run in the eighth inning . He had an opportunity for a 3 - run home run in the 1st inning, which resulted in a RBI single . </Li> <P> In the early days of the game, when the ball was less lively and the ballparks generally had very large outfields, most home runs were of the inside - the - park variety . The first home run ever hit in the National League was by Ross Barnes of the Chicago White Stockings (now known as the Chicago Cubs), in 1876 . The home "run" was literally descriptive . Home runs over the fence were rare, and only in ballparks where a fence was fairly close . Hitters were discouraged from trying to hit home runs, with the conventional wisdom being that if they tried to do so they would simply fly out . This was a serious concern in the 19th century, because in baseball's early days a ball caught after one bounce was still an out . The emphasis was on place - hitting and what is now called "manufacturing runs" or "small ball". </P> <P> The home run's place in baseball changed dramatically when the live - ball era began after World War I. First, the materials and manufacturing processes improved significantly, making the now - mass - produced, cork - centered ball somewhat more lively . Batters such as Babe Ruth and Rogers Hornsby took full advantage of rules changes that were instituted during the 1920s, particularly prohibition of the spitball, and the requirement that balls be replaced when worn or dirty . These changes resulted in the baseball being easier to see and hit, and easier to hit out of the park . Meanwhile, as the game's popularity boomed, more outfield seating was built, shrinking the size of the outfield and increasing the chances of a long fly ball resulting in a home run . The teams with the sluggers, typified by the New York Yankees, became the championship teams, and other teams had to change their focus from the "inside game" to the "power game" in order to keep up . </P>

Who hit the longest home run in the home run derby