In a remarkable performance during Game 7 of the World Series, Ernie Clement of the Toronto Blue Jays achieved a new milestone by accumulating 30 hits in a single post-season, setting a new record in Major League Baseball. This surpassed the previous record of 29 hits held by Randy Arozarena, who achieved the feat as a rookie with the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 playoffs.
During the 2020 playoffs, Tampa Bay participated in 20 games across four playoff rounds following a shortened regular season due to the pandemic. In contrast, Toronto played 18 games in three playoff rounds this season. Both teams faced defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.
Clement’s record-breaking hits in Game 7 included a single in the second inning, another single with a run scored in the sixth, and a leadoff double in the eighth inning, which resulted in Dodgers reliever Emmet Sheehan being replaced. Additionally, Clement extended his hitting streak to 13 games, setting a new Blue Jays post-season record. The previous record was held by Toronto catcher Pat Borders, who had a 12-game hitting streak during the 1992 World Series against Atlanta, where he was named the MVP.
Despite the impressive performance, with Clement batting .411 (30-for-73) with one home run and nine RBIs in his first post-season, the Blue Jays fell short in Game 7, losing 5-4 in 11 innings. Clement almost secured the victory for Toronto in the ninth inning, but his powerful hit to left-center field was caught on the warning track, resulting in the game being pushed to extra innings with the score tied at 4-4.
Reflecting on the game, Clement expressed his emotions, stating, “I’ve been crying for like probably for an hour. I thought I was done with the tears.” Clement’s baseball journey saw him drafted by Cleveland in 2017, later moving to the Athletics before signing with Toronto on a minor league deal. His impressive performance in the 2025 regular season with a career-high 157 games played, featuring at all four infield positions, showcased his versatility, hitting .277 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs. Notably, Clement had set personal records in 2024 with 12 home runs and 51 RBIs as a Blue Jay.