As jets and classic aircraft soared above Lake Michigan near Wrigley Field, St. Louis Cardinals rookie Joshua Baez was putting on a historic air show of his own.
Baez, called up from Triple-A Memphis for Saturday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, became the first Major League player to hit three home runs in his debut to lead his team to an 8-4 victory.
He also became the first player to hit three successive home runs to begin his career and accounted for five of the Cardinals’ runs.
With his mother Yris and more than 30 family members and friends in attendance, Baez blasted his way into the MLB record in a way which will be difficult to surpass.
“It’s just unreal,” Baez said following the game as a light rain began to fall.
To not only get a hit, but three home runs? It’s crazy.”
Baez made an immediate impact by hitting the first pitch he saw from Cubs starter Matthew Boyd for a home run to centerfield.
His second home run was to left field, and his third was to right.
After the team met in the clubhouse and a series of interviews, Baez joined with his contingent on the diamond for photos unlike any taken in the annals of Major League Baseball history.