I saw Berra hit a pitch at Griffith Stadium in Washington DC.
He didn’t swing hard; he just met the ball.
It took off, and soared, and then soared some more, and then soared further,
It was the most perfectly hit ball I ever saw.
Griffith Stadium was known for its 435 foot center field wall. The ball was caught by the Senators’ center fielder right at the wall.
That didn’t matter.
That ball hit by Berra was a perfect demonstration of the fact that it’s not how HARD you hit the ball—It’s how you hit.
It’s a secret of physics.
Beyond my understanding but I saw it happen.
Baseball people simplify that into, “Let the ball do the work.” I mean, you don’t have to swing that hard to meet a 98mph fastball and give it a ride. Just get the bat on the ball.