As Ruth's talents waned in the early 1930s, Foxx began his ascendancy. By looking back, we can confirm the preoccupation with long-distance hitting in the early stages of baseball history. The longest home runs hit at Tiger Stadium in Detroit by Dan Holmes on January 24, 2022 I could hit for average, but that's not my job. Ted Keith: The most powerful home runs in baseball history None other than Darren Holmes, the Rockies pitcher who coughed it up, estimates that this ball went probably 560 feet -- off a changeup, no less. A careful analysis indicates, however, that accounts of 450- to 500-foot home runs in those days are almost certainly apocryphal. They represent a fraction of those who have applied their ability to the act of hitting a baseball. Oliva was in the dugout with the rest of the Twins when Killebrew hit what is still known as the longest home run in Twins history. Fewer than one in a million men are capable of powering a ball 450 feet against major league caliber pitching. Brouthers rocketed a rising line drive that cleared the fence in distant right-center field, and reportedly rolled another two blocks. Clemson (14-1) captured a 4-1 win against Michigan State to improve to 14-0, the third longest winning streak in the program's short infancy, before dropping a hard-fought battle in the second game to No. Longest home run in the history of every single MLB stadium BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 26: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees at bat during the top of the first inning of the. I ended up buy a very nice winter Tiger jacket and as I tried it on and decided on it they noticed a very minor blemish on the back and quickly informed me I had a hard time even seeing it & probably would have never noticed it. Returns & Exchanges The pitch came from Chicago Cubs righty pitcher Francis Beltran. Mantle hit the facade on two or perhaps three occasions, but never cleared it. Franchy Cordero's 489-foot bomb was the longest home run of the season coming into the night per Statcast. Reggie Jackson's 1971 All-Star homer off the transformer atop Tiger Stadium's rightfield roof is one of the most famous long shots. Ted Williams called it one of the hardest hit balls hed ever seen. Top 10 Tigers homers of the decade. The greatest confirmed home run distance in Major League Baseball is about 575 feet (175 m), by Babe Ruth, to straightaway center field at Tiger Stadium (then called Navin Field and prior to the double-deck), which landed nearly across the junction of Trumbull and Cherry. Yon Moncada, April 19, 2019 (458 feet)The ball doesnt normally carry well at Comerica Park during cold weather early in the season, but Yon Moncadas drive off Jordan Zimmermann had no regard for the 40-degree temperature at first pitch. (Shoutout as well to Bonds skyscraper in Game 2 of the 2002 World Series -- aka the one the camera basically lost track of.). COLUMBIA, Mo. Andres Galarraga at Pro Player Stadium (May 31, 1997)A grand slam counts for four runs every time, but boy, this one had to feel even more satisfying than most. Ruths tape measure mystery is part of the lore surrounding the most famous player of all-time. 457 Feet - Red Sox 1st Baseman Mo Vaughn hit a 457 foot bomb on July 7th, 1996. Thats one of the reasons fans in Detroit were dumbfounded on July 18, when The Big Fella, a muscular slugger for the Yankees named Babe Ruth, did something no one had ever done before. 452 Feet - Eric Davis (While playing for the Detroit Tigers) hit a 452 foot shot on Sept. 26th 1993. April 10, 2021 by retrosimba. For perspective, consider the computerized measuring system implemented by IBM in most major league cities in 1982. On July 21, 1915, as a rookie with the Boston Red Sox, Ruth struck a prodigious drive that sailed far over the rightfield bleachers at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. On September 10, 1960, with two out and two on in the seventh, Mickey worked the count to 2-0. . Have Your Own Jersey? As is often the case at Wrigley, Kingmans home run had a strong wind behind it. About Us Lets take a look at the longest home runs in the history of each MLB stadium. I read that the ball nearly hit a police car on Trumbull ave.That is the longest HR i ever witnessed in person. That list is topped by the legendary Josh Gibson, and includes George "Mule" Suttles, Norman "Turkey" Stearnes, and John Beckwith. I swear one of the Angels hit one either on or over the roof in 84 or 85. But, Mee noted, there was but a slight breeze blowing that day. 50 years ago today, Harmon Killebrew hit his longest home run Martinez hit the longest home run in Comerica Park history last season at an estimated 467 feet. Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Willie Stargell hit a 507-foot home run to right field on August 5, 1969. A former football player, Gibby was sort of like a tight end without the shoulder pads in the outfield for Detroit. document.write(update); On June 3, 2012, Texas Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz hit a 484-foot home run to left-center field off Angels reliever Bobby Cassevah. I found it refreshing to be served by people who truly knew everything and who came across as glad i stopped in and only care about me getting the service beyond what i deserved. Unlike the 1971 All Star game blast when his Famous homer hit the light tower in right center and came back onto the field, his 1984 blast TOTALLY cleared the roof and left the stadium. The longest home runs before Statcast - MLB.com San Diego Padres Franmil Reyes hit a 479-foot home run on June 5, 2018, against Atlanta Braves pitcher Luke Jackson. Wow. The best distance guess at the time: 538 feet. In 1962, he became the first of only four batters to hit a ball over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium. This home run was hit at Tiger Stadium in Detroit on September 10, 1960. The 92.3 mph fastball had a 108.9 mph exit velocity off Goldschmidts bat. Before he retired after the 1973 season, he had performed even more extraordinary feats of long-distance hitting in the junior circuit. Did Ted Williams red-seat blast really clear 500 feet? Others who should be recognized are Jose Canseco, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey, Jr., Frank Thomas, and Andres Galarraga. From a functional standpoint, it makes no difference by what margin a ball clears a set home run barrier. While some records may be several decades old, some are recent and fresh to the memory. This ball cleared the Hard Rock Cafe and landed well into the fifth deck, and Griffeys classic swing made the feat look effortless. 3. FAQ. Tell us in the comments. A-Gon Goes a-Golfing 19 of 20 Just when we thought we had seen everything from Adrian Gonzalez, here he is hitting the longest home run in the history of PetCo Park, a ridiculous pitcher's. Thompson was my favorite player at the time, so it was an awesome moment, to be sure. There were some very big hitters in the American League, but that was unbelievable.. However, fans don't need additional inducements to maintain their fascination with "tape measure" home runs. That was the start of modern long-distance hitting, and it is a testimony to Ruth's uniqueness that he was able to set objective standards of performance that have never been surpassed. And Giancarlo Stanton has hit the hardest tracked homer at a scorching 121.7 mph. On July 7, 2021, Texas Rangers Joey Gallo hit a 462-foot home run off of Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize. Ted Williams' most famous home run was his last, No. On July 6, 1996 Carlos Delgado hit the ball OVER the right center light tower completely into orbit. Darryl Strawberry at Olympic Stadium (April 4, 1988)Give us the launch angle over everything else for this one, because Straw hit this so high that even he wasnt initially sure what happened. Future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux was pitching for the Chicago Cubs. How old is the oldest person on the planet? 15 15. I grew up in Bridgeport Michigan. The ball kept carrying as JaCoby Jones ran towards the wall, eventually clearing both rows of shrubs in straightaway center before bouncing back onto the field. The homer had an exit velocity of 111.6 and was Healys tenth home run of the season. If confirmed, it would be the longest home run in 2018 by a long shot. Recently got a blank jersey stitched at Vintage Detroit and the finished product looks awesome! Strawberry's Home Runs: Going, Going, Still Going Martinezs 113.1 mph drive off a Taijuan Walker fastball hit the roof of that perch, more than midway up the batters eye. The Top 10 Longest Home Runs in History - baseballmonkey.com Harmon Killebrew, Twins' Hall of Fame Slugger, Dies at 74 - The New The big guy came to Detroit in 1990 as a free agent after a season in Japan. On September 30, 2017, New York Yankee Aaron Judge hit a 496-foot home run to left-center field off of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman. In 1921 alone, which was Ruth's best tape measure season, he hit at least one 500 foot home run in all eight American League cities. The home run went to straightaway center field, clearing the stadium and landing into the street. Ken Griffey Jr. at Rogers Centre (April 12, 1996)Remember that scene in Little Big League when Griffey, the big bad villain, launches one to the upper deck and then lazily flips his bat? McGowan didnt bother looking. In order to fully understand and appreciate long-distance hitting, a frame of reference should be established. Giancarlo Stanton, 504 Feet (2016) Since the installment of technology, Giancarlo Stanton's home run is the longest homer ever recorded. Cecil Fielder was only Tiger to clear Tiger Stadium's left-field roof George Kight says it was easy to tell how well a ball was hit at the old Metropolitan Stadium. You are correct about Howard. During those years, only one drive of 500 feet was confirmed by this system. Home runs in MLB arent as hard to come by as they used to be. It was estimated at well over 600 feet but later was reported to have hit a house three lots beyond Waveland Avenue, 530 feet from home plate. And, as was the case with Mantle, Allen was one of the few men in the entire history of the game who possessed legitimate 500-foot-plus power. And yet, everyone in attendance was apparently moved to awe and admiration by this single event, which resulted in the scoring of the lone run. It was heresy to suggest that Ruth's accomplishments could be surpassed, but for a few seasons it appeared that Foxx might do just that. As a result, he's the only player in history to establish true tape measure standards in all directions. Paul was great to work with and offered to delay shipping when I told him I would be on vacation on the original delivery date. What's the Longest Home Run You've Ever Seen? That was a big surprise, that somebody could hit the ball that far, said Tony Oliva, a slugger himself. One other aspect of misrepresentation should be explored. But that massive outfield makes it all the more majestic when sluggers crush tape-measure homers, making this ballpark somehow look small. Long HRs lengthen with time - Baltimore Sun Detroit Tigers J.D. Mark McGwires shot off Randy Johnson (June 24, 1997)Big Mac is one of the few players to ever launch a ball completely out of Dodger Stadium, but were highlighting this one instead thanks to the quality of the pitcher. Only four players have been confirmed to hit a ball over the left field roof at Tiger Stadium in Detroit: Cecil Fielder, Mark McGwire, Harmon Killebrew, and Frank Howard. In his first season wearing the Old English D, Big Daddy hit 51 homers. It was more of a line drive, Mee said, and was estimated to have traveled a mere 469 feet. * Click on a player to see more information about their specific events including videos of plays if available. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. Copyright 1999- Killebrew's Longest Home Runs at Metropolitan Stadium They checked it over and off I went. He is also the author of"Root for the Home Team: Minor League Baseball's Most Off-the-Wall Team Names.". Bob Cerv's Hrs were from both KC Blues and A's. His longest measured at 528' was when' he was with the A's. Mantle's to extreme right field in the cluster was on the porch roof of a house and 43 feet above the playing field in BP. Final Cardinals home run was special for Dick Allen | RetroSimba And then theres a millennial favorite -- Albert Pujols soul-crushing tater off Astros reliever Brad Lidge -- which looks just as fast as Stanton's record 121 mph laser when you watch it on tape. On May 4, 2018, Washington Nationals Bryce Harper hit a 473-foot home run to center field off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Nick Pivetta. The roof was 94 feet high and the left-field fence was 340 feet from home plate . Fifteen writers from New York, Chicago, and other places emphatically stated that Ruth's fifth-inning drive cleared the 52-foot-wide grandstand roof by a considerable margin. Its immortalized with a Florida Historical Markertitled Babes Longest Homer.. Landed in the last few rows one per deck bleachers. The Twins use the same chart today. Those are amazing stats, and yet they dont measure to Killebrews 522-foot blast. 12/9 Tennessee. St. Petersburg, Fla. Ruth was getting ready for his penultimate season when he drilled a spring training pitch off a hotel on March 25, 1934. J.D. Thirty-one years in newspapers, 20 with the Pioneer Press. That's not a little guy right there, and he was always known for great length on home runsbecause he liked hitting them that way and frequently . This was his first game since 17 September, when he . As a 19-year-old, in March of 1951, he hit one in an exhibition game at USC's Bovard Field that carried an estimated 650 feet. Ted Williams hit a 502-foot blast to the right-field bleachers on June 9, 1946. In 1921, major league teams averaged 59 home runs. I placed an order and received a follow up call within 24 hrs due to item was not available. On September 14, 1986, Kansas City Royals right fielder Bo Jackson hit a 475-foot home run to left-center off of Seattle Mariners pitcher Mike Moore. The Metrodome home run record is owned by Ben Oglivie, who was with Milwaukee when, on July 27, 1983, he parked one about 12 rows back in the upper deck in right-center. But baseball has been around way longer than that, obviously. Babe Ruth, yellowing newspaper accounts have it, hit a ball out of the old Tiger Stadium in 1926. It was a rarity. But that massive outfield makes it all the more majestic when sluggers crush tape-measure homers, making this ballpark somehow look small. Check the home run lengths of all seventy Mark McGwire blasts and all sixty-six Sammy Sosa's shots in the fabulous feats section. No one had hit one that far before. WebFont.load({ google: { families: ["Lato:900:latin", "Lato:300:latin", "Playfair+Display:700italic:latin", "Merriweather:700:latin", "Crete+Round::latin", "PT+Sans+Narrow:700:latin"] } }); Detroit Red Wings jerseys are back in stock! It is even easier to consider modern history to help us understand that nothing has changed in the intervening years in our fascination with long home runs. Tim Hagerty is the broadcaster for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, and is on Twitter at @MinorsTeamNames. The City of Wilkes-Barre built a permanent display in Kirby Park honoring Ruths prodigious Pennsylvania poke. Where was Babe Ruths longest home run? His longest drive was probably struck on May 4, 1894, at old Union Park in Baltimore. Allen could not hit with the same power in those directions as when he pulled the ball, but he seems to have lost less distance than almost anyone else when hitting to the opposite field. The best effort on the part of either player was Canseco's famous blast into the fifth level at Toronto's Sky Dome during the 1989 American League playoffs, which was estimated at 484 feet.