Mickey Mantle: The American Dream Comes To Life®
 The Award-Winning Videography™ Program & Its Companion Volume
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The Career Home Runs of Mickey Mantle
(Excerpted from the award-winning DVD, Mickey Mantle: The American Dream Comes To Life®- The Lost Stories Special Edition. Click Here to learn more about it. Click Here to see an outline of the contents of the DVD.)
 

Season 3: 1953

Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
037 04/17/1953 Griffith Stadium Washington Senators Chuck Stobbs Right-handed 4th CF 565 Feet

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
5 1 3

2

 2 1 2 1

Yankees 7,
Senators 3

Description: Mickey's first homer of the 1953 season was a real doozy. Perhaps Mickey's most famous home run, it coined the term "tape-measure home run." Mickey laid into a medium high fastball thrown right down the middle and got it all. The ball rocketed out of the park high above the 391-foot sign in left-centerfield. It was still rising when it hit the 60-foot high National Beer sign atop the football scoreboard that sat above the last row of the bleachers. Undeterred, it carried out of Griffith Stadium, crossed 5th St. and finally landed in the backyard of 434 Oakdale St., several houses away. Yankees' PR Director Arthur "Red" Patterson raced from the press box to the place outside the park where the ball had been recovered by 10-year old Donald Dunleavy. Dunleavy showed him where the ball landed. Red measured the distance: 565 feet - the longest home run ever measured! The ball itself was lopsided from the blow - Mickey had literally "knocked the cover off the ball." Contrary to popular myth, Patterson calculated the distance by using the Griffith Stadium dimensions and then pacing off the remaining distance. Nevertheless, the term "tape-measure" stuck and remains popular today.

Quotes & Comments: "I just wouldn't have believed a ball could be hit that hard. I've never seen anything like it." - Senators' Manager Bucky Harris
"I shall never forget it as long as I live!" - Yankees' Rookie Outfielder Bill Renna
"Nobody ever hit a ball that hard here before." - Senators' Owner Clark Griffith

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
038 04/23/1953 Yankee Stadium Boston Red Sox Ellis Kinder Left-handed 4th CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
9 2 4 3 1 3 3
Yankees 6,
Red Sox 3

Description: Mickey pounded a shot into the right-field bleachers with two out in the bottom of the ninth to win the game.

Quotes & Comments: 

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
039 04/28/1953 Busch Stadium St. Louis Browns Bob Cain Right-handed 4th CF 500+ feet

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
3 2 5

2

   2 3  

Yankees 7,
Browns 6

Description: Mickey walloped another tape-measure home run in a10-inning game that featured a wild and vicious brawl between the Yankees and the Browns. Mickey's homer in the third inning carried out of the park in left-field, bounced off a second-floor porch 15-20 feet high on a house across the street from the park, and landed in the yard of another house on Sullivan Ave. Red Patterson measured this ball too. It was reported as 494 feet, but that was the distance to the base of the house it hit. Given it's height - over 15 feet when it hit the porch - it would have gone well over 500 feet. Mickey's homer gave the Yankees and 6-0 lead, but they couldn't hold it and the Browns tied it 6-6. In the top of the 10th Gil McDougal, scoring from second on an infield out, collided with catcher Clint "Scrap Iron" Courtney, knocking the ball loose to score the game-winning run. In the bottom of the tenth Courtney hit a long single and deliberately tried to stretch it to a double so he could spike shortstop Phil Rizzuto. Yankees' players came to Rizzuto's defense, the benches emptied and a wild fight ensued. When order was restored Browns' fans threw bottles at left-fielder Gene Woodling, almost causing a forfeit. After the game the Yankees were escorted out, armed with bats for protection.

Quotes & Comments: 

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
040 04/30/1953 Comiskey Park Chicago White Sox Gene Bearden Right-handed 4th CF

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  0 4

1

   1 1  

Yankees 6,
White Sox 1

Description: With teammate and close friend Whitey Ford pitching, Mickey homered to left-centerfield to break a scoreless tie. A fan touched the ball before it could clear the fence and was ruled a home run. The White Sox argued that it should have been ruled a ground rule double instead of a home run. It was Mickey's first homer when Whitey was pitching.

Quotes & Comments: 

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
041 05/09/1953 Fenway Park Boston Red Sox Bill Werle Right-handed 4th CF

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
3 0 5

2

   1 2  

Yankees 6, Red Sox 0

Description: Mickey catapulted a high, long home run that bounced off a light tower above the netting in left-field.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
042 05/25/1953 Yankee Stadium Boston Red Sox Ellis Kinder Left-handed 4th CF 400+ feet

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  0 4

3

 2 1 3  

Red Sox 14,
Yankees 10

Description: Mickey belted a home run over 400 feet into the right-field bleachers.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
043 06/04/1953 Comiskey Park Chicago White Sox Billy Pierce Right-handed 4th CF 420 feet

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  2 5

3

   3 6  

Yankees 9, White Sox 5

Description: Mickey hit a 420-foot homer into the Yankees' bullpen to stake them to a 5-0 lead. The White Sox tied the game but the Yankees, aided by a lead-off single by Mickey , scored four runs in the tenth inning to get the win.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
044 06/05/1953 Busch Stadium St. Louis Browns Bobo Holloman Left-handed 4th CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
5 1 5

2

   2 2  

Yankees 5,
Browns 0

Description: Mickey homered into the right-centerfield seats and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
045 06/11/1953 Briggs Stadium Detroit Tigers Art Houtteman Left-handed 4th CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
7 1 2

1

 3 2 2  

Yankees 6,
Tigers 3

Description: Mickey launched a high drive onto the roof in right-centerfield, extending his hitting streak to 16 games.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
046 06/18/1953 Yankee Stadium St. Louis Browns Dick Littlefield Right-handed 4th CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  1 3

1

 1 1 2  

Yankees 5,
Browns 0

Description: Mickey homered to left-field in the first game of a doubleheader that the Yankees would sweep from the Browns, with shutouts in both games.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
047 06/21/1953 Yankee Stadium Detroit Tigers Hal Newhouser Right-handed 4th CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  1 4

3

   3 2  

Yankees 6,
Tigers 3

Description: Mickey hit an opposite field homer into the Yankees' bullpen in right-field in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tigers. In the two games of the doubleheader Mickey hit for the cycle with a single, double, triple and homer.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
048 06/23/1953 Yankee Stadium Chicago White Sox Virgil Trucks Left-handed 4th CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  0 4

2

 1 1 1  

White Sox 11,
Yankees 3

Description: Mickey hit a solo homer deep into the right-field seats but the Yankees lost 11-3. Mickey soon injured his thigh muscle, which caused him to miss six games.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
049 07/06/1953 Connie Mack Stadium Philadelphia A's Frank Fanovich Right-handed PH PH/CF 600 feet?

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
6 3 2

2

   1 4  

Yankees 10,
A's 5

Description: In the sixth-inning of the first game of a twi-night doubleheader, Mickey was brought in to pinch-hit for centerfielder Irv Noren after Fanovich walked the bases loaded. (Noren had replaced Mickey due to his thigh injury.) Mickey stepped into the first pitch and crushed a tremendous drive that cleared the upper deck in left-centerfield by at least 25 feet. The ball crossed the street outside the park and was never seen again. It was Mickey's only career pinch-hit grand slam. The Yankees went on to sweep the doubleheader, although Mickey rested his thigh and didn't play in the nightcap. The day before this doubleheader Mickey was named as a starter for the American League All-Star team for the first time.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
050 07/26/1953 Briggs Stadium Detroit Tigers Al Aber Right-handed

3rd

 CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  1 5

2

   1 2  

Tigers 5,
Yankees 3

Description: Mickey hit home runs fin both games of a doubleheader, one from each side of the plate. In the first game Mickey homered right-handed deep into the second deck in left-centerfield.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
051 07/26/1953 Briggs Stadium Detroit Tigers Dick Weik Left-handed 3rd RF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  1 5

1

   1 2  

Yankees 14,
Tigers 4

Description: Mickey hit home runs in both games of a doubleheader, one from each side of the plate. In the second game, Mickey, batting left-handed, powered a homer onto the roof in right-field for the second time that season.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
052 08/07/1953 Yankee Stadium Chicago White Sox Connie Johnson Left-handed 3rd CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  2 4

1

   1 3  

Yankees 6,
White Sox 1

Description: Mickey hit a low line-drive to left-centerfield that got by Minnie Minoso. Mickey used his blinding speed to race around the bases for an inside-the-park homer to lead the Yankees to a 6-1 win over the White Sox.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
053 09/01/1953 Comiskey Park Chicago White Sox Virgil Trucks Left-handed 3rd CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
7 0 2

1

 2 1 1  

Yankees 3,
White Sox 2

Description: Mickey drove a home run into the right-field seats to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead. They held on to win 3-2.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
054 09/07/1953 Fenway Park

Boston Red Sox

 Mel Parnell Right-handed 5th CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
  1 3

1

 1 1 2  

Red Sox 7,
Yankees 4

Description: The Yankees split a doubleheader with the Red Sox in Boston after a Boston fanatic sent Mickey a letter containing a death threat. Despite the threat Mickey played in both games. He crushed a long home run over the "Green Monster" in left-field to spoil the shutout in the loss.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
055 09/09/1953 Yankee Stadium Chicago White Sox Billy Pierce Right-handed 5th CF  

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
5 1 4

1

 1 1 2  

Yankees 9,
White Sox 3

Description: Mickey pounded a two-run homer deep to left-field as part of a seven-run rally in the fifth-inning. The next day's paper featured a photo of Mickey blowing a giant bubble with his bubblegum out in centerfield. Manager Casey Stengel wasn't happy, calling Mickey's conduct "unprofessional." Mickey apologized and promised he wouldn't do it again.

Quotes & Comments:

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
056 09/12/1953 Yankee Stadium Detroit Tigers Billy Hoeft Right-handed 5th CF 550 feet+?

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
7 2 4

2

   2 3  

Yankees 13,
Tigers 4

Description: Mickey launched one of the longest homers in Yankee Stadium history. It slammed into a seat in the upper deck 80 feet above the field and 425 feet from home plate, and rebounded onto the playing field. It helped the Yankees pound Detroit 13-4.

Quotes & Comments: "I've never seen a ball hit that hard!" - Bill Dickey, Yankees' Hall of Fame Catcher and Coach, moments after saying Babe Ruth and Jimmy Foxx hit balls harder than Mickey

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Home Run Number:

 Date:

Place:

Opponent:

 Pitcher: Righty
or
  Lefty:		 Place in Batting Order: Position: Distance:
057 09/20/1953 Fenway Park Boston Red Sox Mickey McDermott Right-handed 3rd CF 550 feet+?

Inning:

 Men
on
Base:		 At-Bats:

Hits:

 Walks: Runs: RBI: Stolen
Bases:		 Final
Score:
1 3 2

2

 2 2 2  

Yankees 10,
Red Sox 8

Description: The Yankees had already clinched the American League title. Mickey's first-inning homer topped the Yankees' three-run first inning.

Quotes & Comments: 

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