Willie Mays, who ranks with the greatest players in the history of the game, enjoyed his greatest day at the plate in the Giants’ 14-4 romp over the Braves in Milwaukee on April 30, 1961.
The Giants set their franchise record for home runs in a game with eight. In addition to Mays’ four, Jose Pagan hit two and Orlando Cepeda and Felipe Alou hit one each. Henry Aaron hit two homers for Milwaukee, meaning two men who combined for 1,415 career homers (Mays had 660, Aaron 755) combined for six in this game.
Mays was on deck when Jim Davenport grounded out to end the top of the ninth, depriving Mays of a chance for a fifth homer.