OT Home Run Derby

[corey dean]

I'm way too young to have seen players like Mantle or Mays play, but am nontheless caught up in their mystique. These Home Run Derby DVDs are pretty cool. The first four matches of Volume One are pure gold:

Mantle vs. Mays
Mantle vs. Banks
Mantle vs. Jensen
Mantle vs. Killebrew

Maybe some of you are old enough to remember watching this on TV? Mantle comes off incredibly shy and uncomfortable in front of the camera, but man, when he smiles, the camera loves him. Totes adorbs I believe is the expression the kids use nowadays.

Anyway, just thought I'd share in case someone has never seen them or knew of their existence. Pretty neat and worth a watch. I picked up volumes 1, 2 and 3 a while back. And fairly cheap if I remember correctly.



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[brian1961]

Corey, I am so glad you brought this up. For postwar baseball history buffs, collectors, and especially those who enjoy the sluggers of this time period, the HOME RUN DERBY DVDs are absolute gems. A steal for what they give to the buyer.

I was not collecting baseball cards when the episodes were originally shown in 1960; I turned six that year. Regardless, they are a treasure trove of visual delight, showing as they do many of our favorites during the prime of their careers. A time capsule opened up!

The DVDs perfectly complement one's baseball card collection. Worth every penny and more!

As for the cards released in conjunction with the shows' sponsors, there is a lot of mystery and so much unknown.

Salute. ---Brian Powell

[Bestdj777]

Glad you posted. Would love to watch these. Love the corresponding cards as well.

[71buc]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

Glad you posted. Would love to watch these. Love the corresponding cards as well.

Hank Aaron wins the competition and Mantle gets the cover of the DVD?

[JBird]

I remember approx 15 years ago they would play all the reruns on espn classics. I would come home from school and watch every day.

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[corey dean]

Originally Posted by 71buc

Hank Aaron wins the competition and Mantle gets the cover of the DVD?

It isn't a round robin type tournament where one person is named the eventual winner. Instead, each week, the leading HR leader, (or one of the HR leaders) from each league compete head to head to win $2,000....the loser gets $1,000. The winner each week comes back to following week. Maybe a comparable comparison are current game shows. Like Jeopardy for instance, you keep playing until you lose. Aaron does go on a six week run tho. Volume 2 has Aaron on the cover. Volume 3 has Mays.

It's neat to see them up close and listen to them talk and see some of their mannerisms. Killebrew is a big boy, looks like he's been tossing pigs and cows around on a farm somewhere. Aaron looks real tiny, I guess you see most athletes today and just expect that they are all and have been huge and Aaron is just this tiny guy.

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by 71buc

Hank Aaron wins the competition and Mantle gets the cover of the DVD?

Well, no point in watching it now that I know how it ends

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by corey dean

It's neat to see them up close and listen to them talk and see some of their mannerisms. Killebrew is a big boy, looks like he's been tossing pigs and cows around on a farm somewhere. Aaron looks real tiny, I guess you see most athletes today and just expect that they are all and have been huge and Aaron is just this tiny guy.

One of the biggest surprises on visiting the Hall of Fame years ago was how small Aaron's 1974 (715th homer) jersey was. I was shocked and just kept staring at it!! It didn't look like a midget's (little person's?) uniform or anything, but it was noticeably small to me.

You nailed it. In our heads, these guys are all huge.

[Vintagevault13]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

One of the biggest surprises on visiting the Hall of Fame years ago was how small Aaron's 1974 (715th homer) jersey was. I was shocked and just kept staring at it!! It didn't look like a midget's (little person's?) uniform or anything, but it was noticeably small to me.

You nailed it. In our heads, these guys are all huge.

I believe his playing weight was around 180 pounds. This makes his accomplishments, especially the HR numbers, all the more impressive.

[brian1961]

I'm a native of the suburbs of Chicago, and Ernie Banks was our guy.

I looked it up. Ernie's playing weight was also only 180 pounds, and he stood 6' to 6'1". He would never be considered a hefty slugger. He was downright slender.

He had a great period of home run productivity until back problems sidelined him.

Cubs broadcaster Jack Brickhouse used to comment once in a while about Ernie's wrists. I guess they were pretty remarkable.

Maybe it's a silly reference, but I remember the Hartland Statue company making Ernie comparatively small compared to most of the others.

Still, Mr. Aaron won the Derby, and deservedly so. I think there's a pretty good entry on the show in Wikipedia.

[the 'stache]

Hank Aaron was only 6' 180 lbs. He dispels the belief that only big guys can hit a lot of home runs. A great eye, great bat speed, and great mechanics make for great power hitters.

Or, if you're the Mick, you take all those things, and add in shoulders that could carry lower Manhattan, and forearms that look Popeye after eating his spinach.

ESPN/ESPN classic runs these occasionally, and if I see one of the episodes playing, I stop what I am doing, and watch.

Oh, how I wish this show existed earlier. How I'd have loved watching Ralph Kiner, Mel Ott, Ted Williams et all participate.