If there is a record for most meaningless home runs in meaningless games then the record holder must be Kevin Maas. In 1990, “The Sultan of the Solo Shot” hit more one run homers in a losing effort than anyone ever. A game-by-game account of Kevin Maas 1990 effort courtesy of Retrosheet.
July 4, 1990 L 13-6 Royals 6th Inning, O on, O out off Bret Saberhagen
July 7, 1990 W 5-4 Twins 2nd Inning, 2 on, 1 out off Kevin Tapani
July 14, 1990 L 8-7 White Sox 2nd Inning 1 on, 2 out & 4th Inning o on, 1 out off Adam Peterson
July 23, 1990 L 3-2 L Rangers 7th Inning, o on, o out off Kevin Brown
July 24, 1990 L 4-1 Rangers 2nd Inning 0 on, 0 out off Bobby Witt
July 25, 1990 L 9-7 Rangers 4th Inning 0 on, 0 out off Nolan Ryan
July 31, 1990 W 10-4 Tigers 2nd Inning 0 on, 0 out off Dan Petry
August 2, 1990 L 6-5 Tigers 2nd Inning 0 on, 0 out off Walt Terrell
8th Inning 0 on, 1 out off Paul Gibson
August 6, 1990 W 2-1 Indians 6th Inning 0 on, 0 out off Greg Swindell
August 7, 1990 W 3-1 Mariners 2nd Inning 0 on, 1 out off Eric Hanson
August 11, 1990 L 10-1 Athletics 9th Inning 0 on, 0 out off Gene Nelson
August 18, 1990 W 6-0 Mariners 6th Inning 0 on, 2 out off Brian Holman
August 20, 1990 W 6-5 Blue Jays 1st inning 1 on, 1 out off Todd Stottlemyre
August 29, 1990 W 3-2 Orioles 6th Inning 0 on, 0 out off Anthony Telford
September 12, 1990 L 5-4 Rangers 5th Inning 0 on, 2 out off Charlie Hough
September 13, 1990 W 7-3 Tigers 1st Inning 1 on, 1 out off Walt Terrell
September 18, 1990 L 3-2 Blue Jays 8th Inning 0 on, 2 out off Bud Black
September 25, 1990 W 15-3 Orioles 2nd Inning 1 on, 0 out off Mick Weston
October 3, 1990 L 10-3 Tigers 6th Inning 1 on, 2 out off Jack Morris
A Reluctant Analysis
During his amazing 2nd half run in 1990, the Yankees scored a run in each game that Kevin Maas hit a home run. Maas hit one homer off a Hall of Famer (Nolan Ryan), one Cy Young winner (Saberhagen), and a few all-stars (Brown, Morris, Tapani). While his homer off of Charlie Hough was not as historic as Reggie’s World Series tot off the knuckleballer, Maas did provide thrills for one of the worst Yankee teams ever. The Yanks did manage to play near .500 ball in games in which Maas homered (9-10). Current Yankee pitching coach Dave Eiland won his 1st game of the season en route to a
12-27 career record in the September 25th spanking of the O’s. In Maas final homer game, Prince Fielder’s dad also homered. It was Cecil’s 51st when hitting 50 homers still meant hitting 50 homers.
