The Ultimate OneHit Wonders in MLB History Owen ChaseJanuary 6, 2026 at 11:09 PM 0 Baseball can be brutal on the hopeful. One good year doesn't always buy you time, and even a great start might fizzle before it builds. Some players show brilliance—then vanish. These 10 players made their mark, then left us wondering what could've been. Brady Anderson's Unexpected Power Surge Credit: ebay Before 1996, Brady Anderson had never hit more than 21 home runs in a season. Then came the shocker—50 homers, a .297 average, and a .637 slugging percentage.
- - The Ultimate One-Hit Wonders in MLB History
Owen ChaseJanuary 6, 2026 at 11:09 PM
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Baseball can be brutal on the hopeful. One good year doesn't always buy you time, and even a great start might fizzle before it builds. Some players show brilliance—then vanish. These 10 players made their mark, then left us wondering what could've been.
Brady Anderson's Unexpected Power Surge
Credit: ebay
Before 1996, Brady Anderson had never hit more than 21 home runs in a season. Then came the shocker—50 homers, a .297 average, and a .637 slugging percentage. He led off for the Orioles and played solid defense. That power, though, never showed up again. His next highest total was less than half that.
Chris Shelton's Two Weeks Of Fury
Credit: ebay
Chris Shelton launched nine home runs in the first 13 games of the 2006 season. The Detroit Tigers couldn't believe what they were seeing. His slugging percentage topped .800. By mid-April, Shelton looked unstoppable. Then pitchers adjusted, and the rest of his year—and career—never caught up. He was out of the majors within three seasons.
Roy Gleason's Hit Before The Draft
Credit: sabr
In 1963, Roy Gleason hit a double in his only MLB at-bat for the Dodgers. He expected more. Instead, Vietnam came calling. Gleason served with distinction, was wounded, and returned with a Purple Heart—but never made it back to the majors. Years later, the Dodgers honored him with a replacement World Series ring.
Mark Fidrych Talked To Baseballs And Won
Credit: Wikipedia
Mark Fidrych turned 1976 into a spectacle. He talked to the ball and groomed the mound. He finished 19–9 and led the AL in ERA, becoming baseball's most unlikely star. Arm trouble followed the next year, and while he pitched again, he never regained that magic.
Bob Hamelin's Brief Blast In '94
Credit: ebay
Bob Hamelin looked unstoppable during the strike-shortened 1994 season. As a rookie with the Royals, he hit 24 homers in 101 games and posted a .599 slugging percentage. He beat out Manny Ramirez for Rookie of the Year. Injuries and inconsistency took over after that.
Dave Liddell's Perfect Career Line
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Dave Liddell waited nearly a decade for his chance. In 1990, the Mets finally called him up, and he made the most of it, going 1-for-2 with a clean single. That was his entire MLB résumé. He returned to the minors and later worked in construction.
Esteban Loaiza's Cy Young-Like Leap
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Journeyman pitcher Esteban Loaiza didn't expect to lead the AL in strikeouts, but in 2003 with the White Sox, he did. His 21-9 record and 2.90 ERA came out of nowhere. He made the All-Star team and finished second in Cy Young voting. Loaiza never came close to those stats again, bouncing between teams afterward.
Kevin Maas Lit Up Yankee Stadium
Credit: ebay
In the summer of 1990, Kevin Maas became a sensation in New York. He crushed 10 homers in his first 72 at-bats and looked like Don Mattingly's heir. By the end of the year, he had 21 home runs in just 79 games. The following season, though, pitchers figured him out.
Bryan LaHair's All-Star Blip
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Bryan LaHair made the 2012 All-Star Game as the Cubs' lone representative. His first-half numbers included a .286 average and 14 homers. After the break, Anthony Rizzo took over first base, and LaHair's bat cooled off. After a short run in Japan, he transitioned into coaching. For a moment, though, he was the unexpected star of Wrigley Field.
Joe Charboneau's Rock Star Season
Credit: ebay
Joe Charboneau captured Cleveland's imagination in 1980, winning Rookie of the Year with 23 home runs and a .289 average. Back surgery derailed his sophomore season, and he never recovered. By 1982, he was out of the league. Still, for one year, "Super Joe" was the face of the franchise.
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: January 06, 2026 at 05:27PM on Source: RED MAG
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