One day we will get true metrics on the longest home run ever. Thank you. There's a lesson for all the kids hoping to leave behind a lasting legacy: Stay humble, work hard and hit dingers. Mickey Mantle 1967 - 500th Home Run as aired on WPIX-TV, 5/14/1967 YanksAtShea 6.23K subscribers Subscribe 12K 2.4M views 10 years ago YanksAtShea is very proud to present on its 45th. Enough to belt 612 big flies in his 22-year career and enough to get him into the Hall of Fame when hes eligible. "An inning or so later, they told us it was charted at 484 feet. Youll never hit a bigger home run in your life! In fact, the announcer's calls of each of those home runs, Thompson, Mazeroski and Aaron are classic moments in baseball history. Mark McGwire played in the Major Leagues from 1986 to 2001, over that time span he hit 583 home runs. But not so fast. Baseballs best sluggers have embraced that philosophy and raised the bar for what it means to mash, crush and blast. As popular a player who ever donned a Cleveland Indians uniform, Thome victimized Kansas City Royals hurler Don Wengert for a homer that made it right out of Jacobs Field, to the amazement of the fans, TV commentators, coaches and teammates alike. He's been an agent for over 10 years and his favorite thing to do is negotiate contracts for professional athletes. Using the best information available, let's take a stab at locating the longest recorded home runs ever. He used a tape measure to determine the exact distance of the home run, giving birth to the term tape-measure shot.. Fans of an earlier generation remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when Bobby Thompson beat the Brooklyn Dodgers with a ninth inning walk off or when Bill Mazeroski dispatched the Yankees in the ninth inning of the seventh game of the 1960 World Series. Oh yeah, that's not even Fielder's entry. Willie Stargell scorched plenty of moonshots over his career. The poor sap who fed the Hall of Fame outfielder a gopher ball: Chuck Stobbs. All home runs give the batter a trip around the bases, but why merely hit the ball over the fence when you can send it into orbit? And as of that moment, nobody ever had. It may not have been the only home run ever to leave Jacobs Field, but it was memorable. The sound of bat meeting ball sounded like a cannon shot. As a result, no assortment of baseball's longest blasts can be considered 100 percent credible. 54-57. But experts say the flight of the ball observed by fans that day was an optical illusion and that the ball Mantle hit was already on its way down when it hit the roof, though still a singular accomplishment and memorable home run. Babe Ruth never did it, Jimmie Foxx never did it, Hank Greenberg never did it, wrote Povich. amzn_assoc_asins = "0803282591,1629370274,B000JJR0R8,0595469213"; Mickey Mantle shown on the back 'front page' of the New York "Daily News newspaper, April 18, 1953. Mantle's homer was part of an offensive outburst by the Yankees that day: New York beat Washington, 4-3, in 11 innings. A passerby remarked thats where Thomes home run landed. Strawberry hit another dinger during New York's Opening Day victory and matched his previous season's career high with 39 homers that year. In his penultimate 2000 season, Glenallen Hill registered a career-high 27 home runs for the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. Two months later, the Cubs traded him to the Yankees, wherehe put together the best stint of his career. Urban legends of Mickey Mantle's power prowess have run wild. It's foolish to take hearsay as concrete evidence, but it's also difficult to believe the man who hit 714 home runs during the dead-ball era wasn't capable of abnormal results. "Straw hit it so far and so high that I just stood and watched.". In order to square the baseball with optimal efficiency, the angle of our shoulders and bat need to be parallel at the point of contact. Many coaches are against hitting the ball in the air because of the perceived "easy out.". Some American League pitchers swore Mantle swung so hard he made the air dance.. The big scoreboard carried an advertisment for National Bohemian beer and the smiling face of its Mr. A hearty hack on May 20, 1978 which went further than any ball ever hit at Montreal Stadium. In virtually every other field of endeavor in which physical performance can be measured, there are no Ruthian equivalents. Either way, everyone can agree he hit the ball very far. Seven years before Mickey Mantle hit the longest home run ever recorded in a baseball game, he hit what was then the longest tape measure shot. The new system pinpointed a 115.8-mph exit velocity with a launch angle of 18.3 degrees. It was quite the shot, something that had never been seen at the Big O. Strawberry even stopped at second base after the ball hit the roof of the stadium, unsure whether to complete his home run trot, until the umpire gave him the go-ahead to touch them all. He was 38 years old in his 16th season, but he still went yard 28 times over 450 plate appearances and earned a .567 slugging percentage. Richard Keiber, a collector who obtained Kingman's moonshot outside of Wrigley Field, insisted to theChicago Tribune's Rick Talley in 2003 that 600 feet was a more accurate tally. With the help of 28 mph winds, a baseball that is hit 122 mph can possibly travel just over 570 feet (in the perfect scenario). Joe Dimaggio Hails Mantle, Los Angeles Times, April 20, 1953, p. C-1. A ball landing on the plaza might have bounced clear to I-70. Man, that ball got out of here in a hurry! On May 31, 1997, Andres Galarraga cleared the full bases by sending a souvenir into Pro Player Stadium's empty upper deck. Mickey Mantle, 1953, 565 Feet Seven years before Mickey Mantle hit the longest home run ever recorded in a baseball game, he hit what was then the longest tape measure shot. In an epic drama spiced with improbable plot twists, New York Yankees stars Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris dueled in 1961 to break Babe Ruth 's Major League Baseball season record for home runs . When researchers delve into an older home run for a more accurate telling, they typically spoil everyone's party by deflating an embellished tale. 19-year-old Mickey Mantle had just hit the longest home run in baseball history! "ESPN's Stats & Info Group marks the landing point at 496 feet from home plate and 26 feet above field level.". The Yankee's PR director measured it at 565 feet using a tape measure, while later researchers have suggested it travelled a somewhat shorter distance. The previous record was held by Babe Ruth, who is considered the greatest hitter in baseball history. A ball hit 122 mph can normally travel 500-515 feet. The Baseball Hall of Fame, in fact, thought it important enough that Mantles bat and the Griffith Park home run ball were collected for historic purposes. As reported by the New York Times' Joseph Durso, physics professorBob Moore said the ball would have carried 525 feet if not for hitting the lights. Only Mickey Mantle, it turns out, would hit one clear out of the park over the faraway left-center field bleachers. "The Rockies credited Piazza with a 496-foot home run, but their procedure for measuring home runs at the time did not attempt to include the additional distance the ball would have flown had it not landed on the concourse," ESPN's blurb said in defense of its enhanced projection. Mr. October was the architect of many classic post-season memories while wearing New York Yankees pinstripes. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; PopHistoryDig.com, February 12, 2010. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; However, for much of MLB history, there wasnt even an exact way to determine the length of tape-measure home runs. The angle of incoming pitch will effect our ability to optimize both exit speed and launch angle. Ted Williams introduced this concept in his book "The Science of Hitting" published in 1971. He was truly the Royals' daddy in those years. He smoked his longest career home run in Arizona off of Chicago Cubs pitcher Francis Beltran. Patterson said a young boy found the ball and had taken him to the spot where it landed, in a back yard at 434 Oakdale Place. Statcast data, however, is still a relatively new tool. David Halberstam, October 1964, Villard Books, New York, 1994, 380pp. Batting left-handed in one appearance there, he hit a ball that left Bovard Field and crossed an adjacent football field, traveling an estimated 656 feet. A sixth ball was thrown by a fan in the tenth but it was credited to the batter so it didn't reach the stands. The As McGwire hit the ball so hard off of Clevelands Orel Hershiser that it caused the veteran pitcher to mouth the word wow as the ball sailed into the left field bleachers. On September 17, he hits his final home run at Yankee Stadium against Los Angeles Angels' pitcher Bill Renna. But Mickey Mantle would soongive them something to remember. To maximize our exit velocity, the path of the bat needs to match the path of the oncoming pitch perfectly. "An inning or so later, they told us it was charted at 484 feet. This is a great example of getting the barrel on plane with the pitch. Some cite it as the longest home run in baseball history. Soler Power blasted two home runs into the upper deck of Target Field that summer. Shirley Povich, To Whom It May Concern, Washington Post, April 26, 1953, p. C-1. The date:April 17, 1953. There is a huge difference between a ball that is hit squarely in the air and a ball this has been sliced and resulted in a true pop up. "The ball assumed what can only be called a majestic arc and landed on the left-field roof in Tiger Stadium," Ryan wrote. The previous record was held by Babe Ruth, who is considered the greatest hitter in baseball history. Jenkinson's findings serve as the basis for the used mark of 530 feet. He hit for a career .263 batting average and earned 3 silver slugger awards. The exact distance, however, remains disputed. 565 ft may be where the ball stopped rolling, which is certainly possible, but home runs are typically measured by where they land. Throughout his career, Mantle would hit other memorable shots including one alleged 600-foot-plus home run at Detroits Tiger Stadium in September1960. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; And just because he bats from the left side, doesnt mean its a good idea to strategize by putting a southpaw on the mound. Mickey Mantle's home run in 1953 landed in a housing development beyond the left-field wall. Facing Boston started Bill Spaceman Lee, leading off the Royals half of the fourth, Lee hung one over the plate and McRae teed off. And most of them were absolutely crushed. Koufax shelved the slider for the rest of the night. On a ball that sped 124 mph off the bat, ESPN's Home Run Tracker estimated a distance of 539 feet if unhindered. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. In 2019 Jorge rewrote the Royals home run record book, blasting 48 long flys. The stadiums dimensions, though varying over the years with changes to its structure, were roughly 400 feet down the left field line, 420 to center, and just under 330 to right. Stobbs had broken into the majors with Boston in 1947,was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1952, and then to the Senators. So it's reasonable to assume that at least one of his homers was hit 605 feet or more from home plate. That wouldnt have been out of a lot of parks., Jake Taylor to Ricky Vaughn in Major League. I have been unable to confirm this, but if that is accurate, that blast would have more mileage that either Benchs or Trouts. But none of them came close to breaking the record he set in 1953. This list includes icons, Hall and Famers and rakers who wielded unquestionably elite power. Jorge Soler has stroked some epic home runs in his Royal career. Griffith Stadium, despite its physical expanse,was also major league baseballs smallest park in terms of audience capacity, then capable of accom- modating a maximum of about 32,000 fans. Comments to: jdoyle@pophistorydig.com. One of the most commonly told is that in 1953 he cleared . Only Mantle. By holding the barrel forward, the bat must untip and then turn around the hands and into the baseball. One big advantage of being a slugger for the Colorado Rockies are the friendly confines and thin air of Coors Field. In 1956, Mantle had a career year led the AL in batting average (.353), home runs (52) and RBI (130) to win the elusive Triple Crown as well as the American League Most Valuable Player award. "He is an icon and mentor to three generations of customers from all corners of Oklahoma and surrounding states . Mark McGwire's monster home run on May 16, 1998, probably didn't travel 545 feet, as initially estimated. Notice where Canseco holds the barrel as the pitch is being thrown. Thome had a sweet, sweet home run swing. The radio call of Carters home run by Tom Cheek was a classic, touch em all Joe! Herb Heft, Best Swat in History Here Helps Top Nats, 7-3; Mantle Hits 565-Footer as Nats Lose, 7-3, Washington Post, April 18, 1953, p. 13. Many think the longest home run in Stadium history came off the bat of one Vincent Edward Jackson. What was the distance of a home run in 1927. In more recent times, Alex Gordons ninth inning, Game one World Series blast against the New York Mets in 2015 will be remembered forever. Mr. October receives the benefit of the doubt for his July feat, but watch the ball rocket off his bat. The slugger will either strike out or mash a hanging curve ball into the bleachers. Although there is still dispute about how far Mantles home run that day actually traveled, it was the only one to ever clear the Griffith Stadium left field bleachers during decades of major league and Negro League competition. There are folk tales about Mickey Mantle hitting the longest home run ever measured 565 feet. "It looks like beer's coming down.". Mantle hit some of the longest home runs in Major League history. Last Update:2 December2020 Gene Woodling swore that Mickey Mantle's prodigious 565-foot home run at Washington's Griffith Stadium on April 17, 1953 considered to be the longest homer in major league history wasn . Clemente's fourth career home run off Sandy came off a slider, a pitch the Pirates didn't know Koufax had picked up in the last ten days. New research by National Baseball Hall of Fame, overturned that estimate and instead gives the mark to a 575 ft blast by Babe Ruth hit on July 18, 1921, also in Detroit.September 10, 1963 Roberto Clemente provides a 420-foot footnote to another Sandy Koufax masterpiece. Who hit the longest home run ever and how far did they estimate it to have Travelled? There was no doubt when Bo hit one. Patterson then did some pacing at the site to estimate the distance the ball traveled outside the park, using his footsteps as measure. When I watch video of Benchs home run, Im convinced that the McRae home run went further. "I don't think anyone could ever be comfortable getting a statue, I mean that respectfully," Thome said during the unveiling ceremony, per Cleveland.com's Joey Morona. 7 September 2016. If we take a closer look at the swing of Jose Canseco, we can begin to understand why he was able to hit a baseball 540ft. Not only did Big Mac hit this shot into the second deck of the Seattle Mariners former home, the Kingdome, he hit it off the back wall behind all the fans. The ball soared out of Wrigley Field and landed on the rooftop of a building across the street. Off-field problems derailed his path to superstardom, but his Montreal moonshot serves as a reminder of his off-the-charts power. According to Allied News Jim Sankey, via MLB.coms Matt Monagan, the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder submitted seven of 18 balls to clear Forbes Fields 86-foot high roof in right field. The back shoulder must drop to the height of the pitch. This rocket came off a pitch from the Royals Don Wengert and traveled 511 feet onto a plaza in center field of what was then known as Jacobs Field. After Giancarlo Stanton decimated a baseball during the World Baseball Classic, MLB Network informed viewers that the hulking outfielder torpedoed the ball 424 feet at an exit velocity of 117.3 miles per hour. Babe Ruth was said to have hit a home run over 600 feet. The Dunn homer is at 6:20 in the video. I had to squint to see home plate. Thats right, Mantle actually topped himself. Ruth, Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Willie Stargell and Adam Dunn have all hit blasts well past 500 feet in their careers. Notice where Canseco holds the barrel as the pitch is being thrown. . If you know of any other epic shots in Royals history, feel free to share. Over 40 scorching-hot games, Hill hit .333/.378/.735 with 16 homers for the eventual World Series champions. Here's Mickey Mantle, the magnificent Yankee, hitting his last (unofficial) home run i. Old-timers still talk about the April 1953 dinger he hit out of Griffith Stadium in Washington. What made Mickey Mantle so good? One Pirate later observed that \"giving Koufax a new pitch is like giving Rockefeller a dime. Standard center field walls in the major leagues stand between 400-410 feet away from home plate. In his first five seasons in New York, Mickey averaged 144 hits, 24 home runs and 89 RBI and starting in 1952, earned his first of 20 All-Star selections. Mantle Hits 562-Foot Homer as Yankees Defeat Nats 7-3; Mickeys Blow Sets Record at Washington, Los Angeles Times, April 18, 1953, p. B-1. There should be no doubt about the authentication of these conclusions. MLB Network'sBob Costas credits it above as the Guinness Book of World Records holder for longest home run. Manage Settings Ill never forget the night, April 8, 1974, my sisters birthday, when Henry Aaron, a black man playing in the Deep South, turned on an Al Downing fastball and with his powerful wrists, sent the ball over the left field fence for career home run 715, breaking Babe Ruths long-standing record. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. These days, there is a new tool that should make this an easier debate moving forward. What was the distance the ball very far blasts can be considered 100 percent credible Wrigley... Are no Ruthian equivalents the basis for the used mark of 530 feet performance can be,! Beer 's coming down. `` holds the barrel on plane with the pitch career home run Detroits... 1994, 380pp for longest home runs ever a housing development beyond the left-field wall, is still a New! 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Did n't travel 545 feet, as initially estimated book of World Records holder for longest run.
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