12/21/24
November 07, 2010
The Longest Possible Home Run: The longest home run in Major League Baseball history was New York Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle's 565-foot tape-measure shot against the Washington Senators at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., on April 17, 1953. Using differential equations, The Week answers the question: What is the longest home run it is physically possible to hit? This can actually be determined. It requires a 111-mph fastball; a 127-mph swing; a 194-mph batted ball heading upward at a 35-degree angle; and a dry, warm stadium in high elevation (via MetaFilter).
Washington Senators, not Nationals.
posted by holden at 05:09 PM on November 07, 2010
Washington Senators, not Nationals.
Actually, according to the Minnesota Twins' team history at Baseball-Reference.com, from 1905 to 1955 the team was officially named the Nationals, though the fans in fact had long referred to them as the Senators. Even after the name was officially changed to the Senators, the press continued to refer to them as the Nats.
Not that it has anything to do with the posting.
posted by billinnagoya at 01:45 AM on November 08, 2010
I have a hard time accepting the term "tape-measure shot" when there was no actually measurement done, and the distance is being disputed by a few people (since they believe the distance may be including bounces).
I think our best chance of seeing a monster shot would be if Adam Dunn signs with Colorado, and faces Aroldis Chapman on September 9th, 10th or 11th, 2011 in Colorado.
Dunn has the longest home run I've ever seen (but the video is no longer available online).