Ian Happ's impressive Game 4 performance was inches away from being historic

To say that Ian Happ was struggling prior to Game 4 of the NLDS would have been an understatement. The longest-tenured member of the Chicago Cubs was pitiful in the Wild Card Round against the San Diego Padres, notching just one hit in 11 at-bats while striking out six times (against zero walks).

Things hadn't been any better through the first three games against the Milwaukee Brewers, as Happ had just one hit in 10 at-bats in the first three games of the Divisional Round.

Then, facing elimination against Brewers ace Freddy Peralta in the first inning of Game 4, Happ won back the goodwill of the entire fanbase.

All Cubs fans know that Happ is one of the streakiest hitters on the planet. He's had months where he looks like an All-Star and fringe MVP candidate, and others where he looks like he doesn't belong in the major leages. Case in point: Happ turned in an 86 wRC+ in July before promptly posting a 134 wRC+ in August.

It always tends to work out in the end, though, as Happ has finished every season of his career with an OPS between .750 and .900.

The same was true of Happ's postseason peformance this year, as he finally answered the call with his clutch home run against Freddy Peralta. Take a deeper look, though, and you'll realize that Happ, despite a 1-for-5 performance at the plate, was on fire throughout the whole night.

Ian Happ comes shockingly close to four-homer effort in Game 4 of NLDS

Four-home run games are actually one of the most rare feats in baseball history. It's only happened 21 times before, which means that they happen less frequently than perfect games (24).

That being said, 2025 has been the year of four-homer games. After an eight-year drought following J.D. Martinez's effort for the Arizona Diamondbacks in September 2017, three players managed to hit four home runs in a game this season, the first time that's ever happened in MLB history. Those players were Eugenio Suarez, Nick Kurtz, and old friend Kyle Schwarber.

Notably, none of those 21 games came during the postseason. Happ obviously only hit the one home run, so he didn't necessarily come "close" in the traditional respect, but that each of his other three fly outs all came within mere feet (or inches) of clearing the Wrigley Field baskets is a testament to the quality of contact he was producing throughout the game.

The Cubs will be hoping Happ can repeat his Game 4 effort in the winner-take-all Game 5 in Milwaukee on Saturday. For those wondering, the left fielder has hit eight home runs in his career at American Family Field, including one on July 30 this year.