Sometimes it doesn’t take much to stir the memory and imagination, but a majestic 462-foot home run sure did the trick. You can throw in a dose of anticipation for good measure.
That this historic hit came off the bat of a 21-year-old youngster who until lately has gotten almost as much attention for politeness as for his unquestioned potential, makes the story both intriguing and compelling. For sure, Gunnar Henderson’s blast onto Eutaw Street June 11 does not eclipse the most famous home run in Baltimore’s major league history — even though it was estimated to have traveled 11 feet farther.
But Henderson’s home run not only revived the debate about whether a fair ball will ever hit the Camden Yards warehouse, it also brought back memories of the home run Frank Robinson hit on May 8, 1966 — the only fair ball ever hit out of Memorial Stadium.
Given the fact that Memorial Stadium was in only its 13th season, Frank’s blast naturally raised speculation about whether the feat, until that point generally considered impossible, might ever happen again. It took another 25 years to get the answer, and the “HERE” flag that had flown at the spot where Robinson’s home run left the park, was still flying.
The “official” estimation of that historic home run was 451 feet, for which there is an interesting sidelight. When it was suggested the estimated distance was shortchanged, News American sports editor John Steadman enlisted a surveying company to do a more “formal” reading and assigned me to the story.
Using guidelines provided by groundskeeper Pat Santarone, showing the trajectory of the ball, where it left the playing field and where it left the park, the surveyors did a study that took a couple of hours and came up with a more detailed approximation — of 453 feet, 6 inches, which was duly noted in the story that ran May 10. Two vastly different estimations came up with distances a mere 30 inches apart. More than close enough to accept the original 451 as the “official” distance.
Given all technology available today, there is no reason to question the distance of the home run hit by Henderson. And, having seen both, I can attest to the fact that the jaw dropping reaction to this one was at least equal to the one 57 years, one month and three days ago.
Most of those in attendance when Frank hit his home run (not nearly as many as now claim for sure) couldn’t see the ball when it left the park. The trajectory was such that those on the third base side lost sight of the ball when it passed around the upper deck (some speculation was that by the time it left the park it actually was to the left of the foul pole, though 20-25 to the right when it left the playing field).
By contrast, most everyone was able to track Henderson’s historic homeric hoist, to steal a favorite phrase of Lou Hatter, the late, legendary baseball writer for The Sun. Whereas only a couple of people actually saw Robinson’s ball land, there was a cluster around the landing area on this one (but not as many as will claim within a few weeks).
There is one distinct similarity between the two classic home runs — and one significant difference. The trajectory of Robinson’s home run, curving slightly from straightaway left field toward the foul pole, almost certainly was the only one, to either left or right field, that would leave the symmetrical dimensions of Memorial Stadium. Henderson’s was very similar and certainly the most likely one if any fair ball is ever destined to hit the warehouse.
The difference is the ball Robinson hit landed at approximately the same ground level as the batter’s box, whereas the playing field at OPACY is 16 feet below the street level of the base of the warehouse. How that plays with official estimations is beyond my interest, unlike 1966, when I was among those challenging the call of 451. Hang around long enough you wise up.
As was the case at Memorial Stadium, where more balls hit to center field were measured longer than Robinson’s home run, there have been longer home runs than Henderson’s most recent at Camden Yards. In both cases the differences can be explained better by others but have mainly to do with longer swing paths generating more power and distance.
A good thing is the debate about the warehouse’s vulnerability to a fair ball has been rejuvenated. Ken Griffey Jr. did hit it during the Home Run Derby prior to the 1993 All-Star Game, but the balls used in those contests have always been suspect, which still leaves some doubt of the possibility.
Maybe when he grows up, as he jokingly suggested, Henderson will be powerful enough to provide the height and length necessary to reach the warehouse. It would appear that he already has the trajectory.
Perhaps weighing against the odds is the fact that Oriole Park, 32 seasons in, has almost doubled the length of time it took to break down the Memorial Stadium barrier and is still going strong. With the longest drive of the 120 home runs to land on Eutaw Street, Gunnar Henderson is the leader in the clubhouse — and the debate continues.
As for anticipation, his recent run has ramped up another possibility — whether the Orioles are ready, at least for this year, to move on with Henderson as the everyday shortstop, thus opening a spot for Jordan Westburg. That’s a debate that has been raging hotter than any about the warehouse.
Jim Henneman can be reached at JimH@pressboxonline.com
Photo Credit: Colin Murphy/PressBox