Posted on 03/25/2011 9:19:30 PM PDT by Altura Ct.
Sixty years ago in an exhibition game against USC, a young Mickey Mantle hit a home run that became baseball legend and spawned a mystery: Just how far did it go?
It was the first inning, one runner aboard, the count at two balls and two strikes, and Tom Lovrich stared down the 19-year-old rookie batter.
USC's junior ace didn't know much about him, except that he more than filled out his gray New York Yankees uniform.
"He was a strong, country kid from Oklahoma," Lovrich said, recalling the legendary at-bat that took place 60 years ago Saturday. "Very strong."
Lovrich figured the rookie would chase something low and away for strike three, so the 6-foot-5 right-hander known as "Tall Tom" began his sidearm windup and fired.
His head sank as soon he heard the devastating crack of the wooden bat.
"My God," said USC second baseman Stan Charnofsky, watching the ball scream over the wire fence in right-center field. "Look at that."
USC's football practice field ran adjacent to Bovard Field. The ball bounced at midfield and rolled into a huddle.
"Who the hell hit that?" one player asked.
And as they walked off the field, their spring practice complete, another football player learned the answer to that question and told the others.
"Some kid named Mickey Mantle."
Introducing himself
The black-and-white clip is grainy, but the narrator's voice is sharp and upbeat:
"It's big league baseball on Bovard Field as the Trojans become the first college team ever to host a world champion," he begins. "The guests of the day: the New York Yankees."
The myth of Mantle and the legend of "The Mick" began at USC that day.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
All I know is that long before steroids Mantle had arms that looked like they were made of steel cable.
A: A better batter.
Headline should be “The LEGEND of Mickey Mantle.”
Saga.
“All I know is that long before steroids Mantle had arms that looked like they were made of steel cable.”
It seems to me that muscles forged from real, back-breaking work, are often suprisingly strong for their size. I knew an iron worker that was about 5’7” with a slight frame, but he was strong as an ox. I think steroids and body-building might build muscle, but they don’t necessary build strength with the same effectiveness as real work.
I wonder if the author knows there is a difference in the meanings of those two words. I agree. It should be LEGEND.
I have vague memories of Mickey Mantle and Willy Mays. My dad was a huge baseball fan and he was smart enough to make me watch when I was just a little kid. By that time it was obvious Mantle was a special player.
RIP Okie. Hit a dinger up there in Heaven for us mere mortals.
The Mick was my idol growing up.
The Mick was my idol growing up.
Full Disclosure: Frank Robinson once hit a ball completely out of the old (pre-Camden Yards) Memorial Stadium in Baltimore; and once against the Brewers Eddie Murray hit a late-inning grand slam in Milwaukee that hit the upper deck and looked like it was still rising when it hit the bleachers...
Cheers!
Amen Brother.
Mantle was no myth. He was powerful and fast.
He’s a white guy so it has to be a “myth”
this is a true story....when Mantle hit his “tape measure” homer that flew 527 ft......he had previously been benched for not making the plane from Philly back to NY.....so he took a cab ,arriving at the start of the 3td inning.......and still hammerd
...Casey Stingel benched him only to pinch hit him in late inning where Mantle hit the tape measure homer winnin the game
....still hammered during the press interview, he was asked...” Mickey...what was that a fastball or a slider ?”
...without a nanosecond of hesitation Mantle replied “ It sounded like a fastball”
I had a yankee uniform and my mother had to cut a blue 7 and sew it on the back. I finally had to stop wearing it to the Stadium, however, because every time I did, Mickey was out of the lineup.
When I grew up in NJ in the late fifties and early sixties, Mickey Mantle was sort of a demigod, like Hercules. Some years later in the seventies, I guess, I was watching the Dick Cavett show with Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford as guests. Some guy from the audience walked up on stage and shook hands with all three of them, as an usher appeared at his elbow and Cavett gaped in surprise. He muttered something about not being able to pass up the opportunity.
That got a slow deep laugh. LOL
That was funny.
Would be great if I could find the video mentioned in the article.
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