You might think Grand Slams are exclusive to baseball. However, the term has made its way into other sports and gained a unique definition and prestige. Here are four sports other than baseball that have Grand Slams.
On the Courts: Tennis
Even if you don’t play, you’ve surely heard of the Grand Slam in tennis. A player achieves a Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments in the same calendar year: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.
Grand Slams in tennis attract an international audience to the host cities, including New York, London (or more accurately, nearby Wimbledon), Paris, and Melbourne.
Around the Track: NASCAR Racing
NASCAR racing is another sport other than baseball that has a Grand Slam. A NASCAR driver must win the sport’s four major events in one season: the Daytona 500, the GEICO 500, the Coca-Cola 600, and the Southern 500.
On the Course: Golf
This is another Grand Slam that’s well-known among non-players. Like the tennis Grand Slam, it gets so much coverage in the sports press.
Golf’s Grand Slam involves winning The Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open Championship (British Open), and the PGA Championship.
On the Water: Trophy Fishing
Did you know you can win a Grand Slam in fishing by catching multiples of three fish species in a single day? The International Game Fish Association’s criteria may vary depending on the country and local game fish species.
Whether in freshwater or saltwater, achieving a Grand Slam in fishing requires patience, knowledge, and a bit of luck. It also requires knowing a location where anglers have a chance to catch all three Grand Slam species in a single day.
Far northern Manitoba, Canada is an ideal spot, so you should know what to expect on an all-inclusive fishing trip with luxurious accommodations to come back to after a full day of fishing.
While the term “Grand Slam” may have originated in baseball, it has found a home in several other sports: thoroughbred racing, curling, darts, figure skating, judo, and wrestling!
Whatever the sport, a Grand Slam represents the pinnacle of sporting achievement for the athlete. Mentally demanding sports require superior skill, grit, and endurance.