Only five days after Mickey Mantle Jr. was
born, the Yankees were in Washington to play the Senators. Only 4,206
fans were in the stands that historic day as Chuck Stobbs was on the mound
for the Senators facing 21 year old Mickey Mantle.
In the top of the fifth inning, Mickey
stepped to the plate with two outs and Yogi Berra on first base. The
Yankees were winning by the score of 2-1. Stobbs delivered a
chest-high fastball to Mickey who quickly sent the ball sailing out towards
left center field. The ball flew over the stand and glanced off the
National Bohemian Beer sign, which was 460 feet from home plate.
Despite nicking the sign, the ball continued to travel yet another 105 feet.
Arthur (Red) Paterson, Yankee press attache,
immediately ran out of the ballpark to recover the historic ball and to
determine an exact measurement of 565 feet.
Later, in the ninth inning, Mickey surprised
everyone by pushing a bunt that went all the way into center field for a
single. In one game, Mickey went on record as hitting the longest home
run and the longest bunt!
