This from Today in Baseball History: The Mick
While the Orioles held promise for the future, Mantle and the Yankees were in the middle of living up to their potential. Mantle was in the process of following up on his Triple Crown season in '56 with another run at the prize, but he would fall short in all three categories.
In 1956 Mantle had 52 HR, 130 RBI, .353 BA, .464 OBP, .705 SLG, 10 SB
By wRC+ though, '57 was Mantle's greatest offensive year, as he finished with an incredible mark of 221, aided by an equally phenomenal .365/.512/.665 triple slash (yes, you read that correctly--Mantle reached base over half the time in '57).
Mantle won his second consecutive AL MVP. He continued to make himself into a legend through his long home runs, and perhaps none was more impressive in '57 than his first inning roundtripper against Baltimore's Ray Moore on August 10th.
Veteran left fielder Enos Slaughter reached first base on a single to left, bringing the dangerous Mantle up with a runner on while Baltimore fans were still settling into their seats at Memorial Stadium. The 25-year-old wonder they called "Muscles" put all his strength into a ferocious swing, sending the ball a long way to center field.
Mantle's drive soared far over center fielder Jim Busby's head.
In those days, the Memorial Stadium center field fence stood a distant 445 feet from home plate.
Mantle's drive soared far over the fence.
A big hedge sat 25 feet beyond the center field fence.
Mantle's drive soared far over the hedge.
Some estimates had the ball as far as 540 feet, but while the distance was not precise, it was clear that the odds of anyone ever hitting a ball further in Baltimore were extremely low. Indeed, it was the longest home run in the Orioles' 37-year tenure at Memorial Stadium. The Yankees had a quick 2-0 lead, and after stretching the lead to 5-0 in the third on a rally sparked by a Mantle drag bunt single, it was smooth sailing the rest of the way. The final score was 6-3. No player in major league history besides Mantle could belt an over-500 foot homer in one at-bat, then immediately start another with his speed on a drag bunt single.
Really? Center field was 445 ft.???
"During my 18 years I came to bat almost 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. You figure a ballplayer will average about 500 at-bats a season. That means I played 7 years without ever hitting the ball." - Mickey Mantle
And we haven't even mentioned defense.
