101. "I've been sitting here since 1927 and I
finally got one. This is the first one hit here and the last one. I'm not
gonna give it up."
Fan Oscar Alonso about the baseball that Mickey launched
486 feet into Yankee Stadium's centerfield bleachers, the first ever - Alonso
later gave the ball to Mickey when reunited with his old stickball buddy,
Yankees' pitcher Eddie Lopat
102. "They make it look smaller."
Senators' rookie Ron Stillwell on Griffith Stadium after
Mantle and Maris went 13-for-21 with 7 homers, 12 runs and 21 rbi in a three
game series
103. "Those two beat us by themselves."
Senators' manager Mickey Vernon after Mantle and Maris
went 13-for-21 with 7 homers, 12 runs and 21 rbi in a three game series
104. "It would've been hit out of an
airport."
Art Fowler after pitcher Ryne Duren said he and his
teammates didn't think a Mantle home run was going out
105. "I bet you can't hit one out against
this gale. I bet you a case of beer you won't do it."
Twins' pitcher Ted Sadowski to Mickey when pitching to
him during a storm with gale force winds blowing
106. "I'll take Budweiser."
Mickey to Twins' pitcher Ted Sadowski after Sadowski
challenged Mickey to homer off him during a storm with gale force winds
blowing, and Mickey belted a homer into the right-field bleachers on the next
pitch
107. "It was like a golf ball going into
orbit. It was hit so far it was like it wasn't real. It was a super-human
feat."
Legendary USC Coach Rod Dedeaux on Mickey's 656-foot
home run hit in an exhibition game at Bovard Field, USC on March 26, 1951
108. "Go chase that one, big boy."
Joe Collins to Mickey after smacking a 475-foot homer in
Cleveland
109. "What did you say, Joe?"
Mickey to Joe Collins after smashing a 500-foot homer on
the very next pitch
110. "Aw, go s*it in your hat."
Joe Collins' response to Mickey
111. "I thought it was going completely out
of the park. If not for the roof, it would
have hit the subway across the street."
Athletics' broadcaster Merle Harmon on Mickey's homer
off athletics' pitcher Moe Burtschky at Yankee Stadium May 5, 1956
112. "That would bring tears to the eyes of a
rocking chair."
Tigers manager Bucky Harris on Mickey's 643-foot homer
out of Tiger Stadium off Paul Foytack, September 10, 1960
113. "I had never heard such an explosive
sound of bat on ball; it was by far the most awesome I'd heard before or
since, nor had I ever seen a ball leave a ballpark so quickly. It happened so
fast I wasn't sure I actually saw what I thought I had seen."
Yankees' pitcher Johnny James on Mickey home run on
September 17, 1958 in Detroit
114. "We did not believe what we were
seeing... for a second, we thought it was going over the second fence in dead
center onto Brooklyn avenue, and it just missed doing that!"
Athletics' broadcaster Merle Harmon on a Mantle homer in
Kansas City on August 31, 1955
115. "I just wouldn't have believed a ball
could be hit that hard. I've never seen anything like it."
Bucky Harris, the Manager of the Washington Senators, on
Mickey's 565-foot homer hit at Griffith Stadium, Washington
116. "Lookout!"
Yankees' third base coach Frank Crosetti, yelling at
Mickey when Billy Martin stayed at third base and pretended to tag up on
Mickey's 565-foot home run at Griffith Stadium in Washington - Mickey ran the
bases with his head down and didn't notice Billy standing there, almost
running into Billy
117. "That was the hardest ball I ever saw
hit."
Billy Martin to Mickey, on Mickey's 565-foot homer hit
at Griffith Stadium, Washington
118. "If I send the ball home, I know what
will happen to it. My twin brothers will take it out on the lot, like any
20-cent rocket."
Mickey on the baseball he hit 565-feet in Washington
119. "Happy anniversary!"
Jocelyn Stobbs to her husband Chuck on April 17, 1955,
the second anniversary of the 565-foot home run Mickey hit off him at Griffith
Stadium
120. "Mickey didn't get a hit every time he
faced me. I got him out a few times, too."
Chuck Stobbs, the pitcher who gave up the 565-foot homer
to Mickey in Washington |