On this day in 1960: Mickey Mantle hit baseball's longest home run--an estimated 643 feet.

[Diamond_Dog]

Sept. 10, 1960.

Details of the Home Run:
Date: September 10, 1960.
Location: Detroit, at Tiger Stadium.
Opponent: Detroit Tigers.
Pitcher: Paul Foytack.
Distance: 643 feet.
Path: The ball cleared the stadium's right-field roof and landed in the warehouse of Brooks Lumber.

[SheltieLover]

1. Wow! Monster shot!

[BeyondGeography]

2. And to think

Mantle used a much heavier bat when he hit right-handed because he felt stronger on that side of the plate.

[anciano]

3. One of the greatest baseball players of all time...

a genuine legend.

[chicoescuela]

4. Love the Mick but that distance doesn't seem physically possible

The kids today hit monster shots today of 475 feet
Another 170 feet doesn’t seem possible to me

[IbogaProject]

5. It likely rolled on the roof it landed on

Sometimes they hit the bleachers breaking the full arc.

[brush]

6. I had long thought it was said to be 565 ft. out of the park but the 600+ number must add in the roll out of the park..

[chicoescuela]

7. 565 is the number I recall and that also seems dubious to me

He hit some bombs but 565 or 600 plus? I can’t buy it

[Oeditpus Rex]

17. Well...

A lot of us probably saw this one. In the 1971 All-Star Game in Tiger Stadium, Reggie Jackson hit one that would've left the yard if it hadn't hit a power rransformer on the roof.

[chicoescuela]

18. I did see that one live but TV pictures back then were horrible

I don’t remember any listed distance on that one.

[Oeditpus Rex]

19. 520 feet

And it stayed in the yard.

[chicoescuela]

20. I can believe 520. That has to be about the max physically possible

[Oeditpus Rex]

21. Yeah, but remember:

The transformer stopped it.

[rsdsharp]

8. The 565 number was a home run Mantle hit in May 1953 in Washington.

Supposedly, Yankees PR guy Red Patterson left the stadium, found a kid with the (a?) ball, and paid him $5.00 for the ball and to show Patterson where the ball had come to rest. Paterson paced off the distance and came up with 563 feet. It was later changed to 565 feet after he factored in the width of the back wall of the stadium.

Privately, Mantle said he didn’t think Patterson ever left the stadium.

[brush]

10. Thanks for the correx, RS. Somehow the shot you describe got way more coverage...

than the one the OP is about. I don't recall hearing about the Detroit shot.

[rsdsharp]

12. That may be caused by the presence of the Yankee public relations guy in Washington.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Sorry, But I Don't Believe It

For nearly 50 years, the physics suggest the difference between a baseball & a golf ball distance is 2.3 - 2.8. (The larger number as gold technology improved.
A long home run (450 feet) was a 345 yard drive, which the absolutely longest hitters could do in the 70s.
A 600 foot home run would be a 1780 for drive. That's 590 yards. Nobody could do that except down an airport runway.
The physics just don't work.

[brush]

11. Thanks, PG, your analysis makes sense.

[Auggie]

13. Hey Diamond Dog:

I made to it Cleveland and saw Cecconi's no near-hitter at Progressive Field Monday night vs KC. Our guys scored 10 runs too. Spent the bucks to sit behind home plate. Awesome evening.

[Diamond_Dog]

14. WOW Auggie that is fabulous! You came a long way!

I watched that whole game on TV (well, I watch every game). I should’ve told you to make a sign for me to see!

I’m so glad you saw that great game! I hope you had a good time! How was your experience?

All of a sudden we’ve got four extremely capeable starters (Messick, Ciccone, Cantillo, and Bibee joined them last night pitching a 2 - hit shutout). Smith has done an excellent job as closer too.

We got Ciccone in exchange for Josh Naylor.

[Auggie]

15. Thanks Diamond Dog

Progressive Field is a great venue. Good sight lines and easy in and out. Surprised that nearly all transactions are by digital payment. Biggest annoyance IMO is the between innings entertainment -- a cacophony of loud music and screeching.

Something the radio or TV viewer might not pick up: after a productive hit by Ramírez the crowd chants a sweet little "José" melody. It's almost prayer-like.

Ciccone for Naylor -- I'll take decent pitching over decent hitting any day.

I hate that this post season chance might be decided by that 10 game losing streak. Six left vs Detroit and three vs Texas. Won't be easy to catch Seattle (though they have to play the Astros and Dodgers).

[Diamond_Dog]

16. Yep, Progressive Field went all cashless transactions last year.

I have not been up there for a couple years, and don’t know when I’ll ever make it back, but I hope to. My arthritis isn’t helping, for sure. Even though you see more of the game on TV, there’s something magical about attending a game in person there. We used to drive up to the Rapid Transit station off Green Rd.and take a train to Terminal Tower in downtown Cleveland, get off there, and walk through the sky bridge and across the street to get to a game. I enjoyed that. My middle son saw a game last year in the brand new Texas Rangers park, and he said it doesn’t hold a candle to Cleveland’s ballpark.

I totally agree about the loud noise blasting from the PA during inning change. Maybe the younger folks like it. I can do without it.

José is much beloved in Cleveland! As is obvious. The crowd chanting his name happens a lot.

Now we just need Texas and Seattle to lose a few games!