The HR was officially announced at 489ft...but thats where it went through the walkway on the 3rd level and into the passage that surrounded the Dome. That walkway was at least 75 feet above field level...and I have no doubt, had there been no obstruction, that ball would have flown 600ft.
It was the hardest hit ball I ever saw. Simply amazing.
Randy lost the game 1-0.
he hit the farthest one I have ever seen at Ballpark @ Arlington.
I remember one he hit the season he broke the record. Off the center field St. Louis Post Dispatch sign. They put a giant band-aid on it for the rest of the season.
That was a monster home run.
He gave us Cards fans lots to cheer about.
My Dad told me he saw Frank Howard hit one on a line drive to dead center in the LA Coliseum - said it went about 500 some feet and splintered the seat that it hit.
I remember listening to that game on KIRO. What a blast that was, huh?
Two of the most powerful blasts I ever saw in the Kingdome hit speaker wires. One was Dave Kingman playing for the A's. He hit what would have been a monstrous homerun to left, but Phil Bradley caught it as it came off the speaker wire.
The other was Ken Phelps who hit what would have been a first inning grand slam to right, but it too hit the speaker wire and fell foul. He was pissed!
I like McGwire and won't feel bad if he does somehow get voted in eventually, but I also understand why most writers won't vote for him.