Baseball thread No. 8 - play nice

I've been at Comerica Park for its two longest home runs--not counting Home Run Derby. Eric Munson and Carlos Pena.

 

The ball hit by Bonds in the World Series was amazing, but the best home run show I've ever seen put on was in college BP. Watching Clark and Palmeiro (pre-juice) hit balls before the 1985 regional at Mississippi State was amazing. Barry Larkin was there from Michigan and he hit some big bombs, too.

 

I saw Sammy Sosa hit one at Minute Maid back in, I believe, 2001. It was still going up when it hit the lights in left center. Not the light support below the lights, the lights. Sounded like a golf ball when he hit it.

Later in that same game he hit a home run off the concrete wall behind the centerfield fence.

 

Cork and steroids will do that.

 

Also saw David Ortiz hit a girder in the roof at Minute Maid during the HR Derby in 2004.

 

Cory Lidle - My teammates were half-assing it. http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/baseball/15167525.htm

Arthur Rhodes responds - Shut up, scab. http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/brian_cashes_in_yet_again_yankees_george_king.htm

 

Jose Canseco at Fenway park, when he was with the Blue Jays in 1998.

Fenway had giant Coke bottles mounted above and behind the Monster.

Canseco hit a laser that was still rising when it nailed the Coke bottle.

The crowd was stunned at how quickly that ball left the park, and I was disappointed Coca-Cola didn't rain all over the field.

Definitely would've made its way to the Mass Turnpike if unimpeded.

 

Damn, I specifically remember that Herndon blast. Hadn't thought of it once, in the 19-year interim, until just now. It went from bat to facade in around 2 seconds.

 

anyone who has covered a team with lidle on it, knows lidle only cares about one team -- team cory

guy is totally about himself, a bad, bad teammate according to several teammates (i would say former, but i heard it before they were former teammates)

 

I saw it live. Sitting in the left field upper deck with my dad.

When Jackson hit the ball, it sounded almost like a metal bat -- a very loud, sharp crack, we could hear it even over the crowd noise -- and the crowd just said "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" Not loud screaming, not roaring cheers - just 53,000 people drawing in breath, going "OHHHHHH my goddd" all at once.

We could see the ball rising toward the right-field roof -- it looked like it was still going up -- then it hit a large steel circuit box on the underside of the light tower with a big "THOOOM!!" Then, the ball dropped straight down to the field. By this time, the crowd realized what it was seeing, so the roaring really built up at that point until it was deafening as Jackson circled the bases.

The light tower, I have been told, is 474 feet from home plate. Also, about 150 feet above ground level. Figuring the ball would have dropped at about a 45 degree angle from that point on, that gives you about 625 feet had it not hit the light tower. I'd believe it.

 

How many would say that if he wasn't a scab?