Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 353

against the 110 foot high facade, before the ball caromed back onto the playing field. It was later estimated that the ball could have traveled 700 feet had it not been blocked by the ornate and distinctive facade. On August 12, 1964, he hit one whose distance needed no estimate. It was a center field drive that cleared the 22 foot batter's eye screen, some 75 feet beyond the 461 foot marker at Yankee Stadium.

Although Mantle was a feared power hitter from either side of the plate and hit more home runs batting left handed than right, he was a better hitter overall right handed. Roughly 25% of his

total at bats were from the right side, producing a batting average of .330 as opposed to .281 when batting from the left side. His 372 left to 164 right home run disparity was due to Mantle having batted left handed much more often, as a large majority of pitchers are right handed. In spite of short foul

pole dimensions right down the lines of 296 feet to right and 301 feet to left in the original Yankee Stadium, Mantle gained no advantage there as his stroke both left and right handed drove balls to power alleys of 344–407 feet in right center and 402–457 feet in left center. Overall, he hit slightly more home runs away - 270 than home – 266.

Despite being known for power hitting, Mantle was also regarded as one of the best bunters for base hits. He is in 10th place in