On April 17, 1953, baseball history was forever altered in Washington D.C.'s Griffith Stadium. The young and prodigious Mickey Mantle hit a colossal 565-foot home run that day not only left spectators in disbelief but also gave birth to a new term in baseball lexicon: the "tape-measure home run."
Mantle's legendary homer came during a game between the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators. As he stepped up to the plate, few could have predicted the sheer magnitude of what was about to occur. The crack of Mantle's bat against the pitch was unmistakable, a sound that resonated like a cannon shot. The ball soared high and far, eventually clearing the distant center field bleachers and landing in an alleyway beyond the stadium's confines. The estimated distance? An astonishing 565 feet.
The press was quick to capture the grandeur of Mantle's feat. Headlines from coast to coast heralded the young slugger's power. The New York Times described the hit as a "prodigious wallop," marveling at how Mantle, only 21 years old, had displayed such herculean strength. The Washington Post, closer to the scene, emphasized the sheer disbelief of the crowd and the opposing team, who could do nothing but watch in awe as the ball disappeared into the distance.
But Griffith Stadium is gone these days, but that's ok. The legacy of Mantle’s mighty swing is preserved in a rather unique location. You see, while Griffith Stadium has long since been demolished, the spot where Mantle stood when he hit that unforgettable home run is now marked by a commemorative plaque in an unexpected place: a hallway at Howard University. The university's College of Medicine now occupies part of the land where the old ballpark once stood.
The plaque, located on the floor of a nondescript corridor, serves as a quiet yet powerful reminder of the historic event. The decision to place the marker there is a testament to the enduring significance of Mantle's achievement. It ensures that students, faculty, and visitors alike can reflect on the day when the unimaginable became reality. The marker reads:
"On this spot, April 17, 1953, Mickey Mantle hit a home run out of Griffith Stadium that traveled 565 feet, the longest home run ever recorded in baseball history."
Howard University, one of the most prestigious historically Black universities in the United States, chose to commemorate this moment in baseball history due to its location on the former grounds of Griffith Stadium. This act of preservation highlights the intersection of sports history and educational heritage, providing a tangible link to the past for future generations. It is a nod to a time when baseball was America's pastime, and legends like Mantle captivated the nation with feats that seemed almost superhuman.
The home plate marker at Howard University stands as a subtle but significant homage to this extraordinary event, blending the realms of sports and education in a way that honors the legacy of one of baseball's greatest power hitters.
--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor
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