OT: Coolest Home Runs You've Witnessed

[Peter W Thomas]

1960 freshman at MIT last class @ 1:00 then to Fenway.

Williams last at bat drive deep into bleachers, landing about 50 feet from me. Not many in bleachers, but at least 10 closer to the ball. I think of it several times a year.

[pbspelly]

Not sure why radio-heard blasts aren't allowed. The most exciting home run I ever "witnessed" was Jayson Werth's game winning home run off of the Cardinals to force a game 5 in the 2012 NL divisional series. Werth fouled off pitch after pitch before connecting on the 13th pitch of the at bat to save the season for the Nats. I was listening in my car and going crazy. I'm lucky I didn't have an accident.

The second most exciting home run that I saw was Robin Ventura's grand slam "single" in game 5 of the 1999 NL series to win the game for the Mets in the 15th inning. I saw that one on TV.

[Deertick]

Most disappointing in person: Eddie Murray's two HR in 1983 WS.

Most impressive in person: Greg Luzinski hitting the Liberty Bell in 1975. I have never seen a replay.

Longest I have hit: Approx 470 ft @ "Doc" Lang field in Tampa. Just to the left of center (408') and one hopped the street (another 70').

Longest I have given up: A knuckle curve that started a little too high to a lefty and got a lot higher in a hurry. We were on Tampa Catholic's field, and the ball cleared the RF fence (335'), a two story field house (+20') behind the fence (+10') over the adjacent field's fence (+10') and wound up in the infield halfway to home plate (+200' ??). My teammates had a meeting on the mound because we couldn't stop laughing.

[Rich Klein]

One season at the Ballpark in Arlington, Juan Encarncion led off the season with a homer, we knew it was going to be another long season

At the double AA Frisco games

Delino DeShields blasting a homer and getting hit int he face the same game

Leonys Martin's first ever professional homer

[Beatles Guy]

Most of the TV ones from the last 30 years have already been mentioned. I did witness in person McGwire's 66th in 1998.

I also saw Chris Speier hit a walkoff for the Cardinals in 1986 I believe. I remember that one because my Dad would not stand up on a long fly ball when everyone else did. I asked him why and he said "I'll stand up when it's gone". Speier hit it and he stood up.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Deertick

Most disappointing in person: Eddie Murray's two HR in 1983 WS.

Most impressive in person: Greg Luzinski hitting the Liberty Bell in 1975. I have never seen a replay.

Longest I have hit: Approx 470 ft @ "Doc" Lang field in Tampa. Just to the left of center (408') and one hopped the street (another 70').

Longest I have given up: A knuckle curve that started a little too high to a lefty and got a lot higher in a hurry. We were on Tampa Catholic's field, and the ball cleared the RF fence (335'), a two story field house (+20') behind the fence (+10') over the adjacent field's fence (+10') and wound up in the infield halfway to home plate (+200' ??). My teammates had a meeting on the mound because we couldn't stop laughing.

I always hit like a pitcher, so it was good that we had the DH for most of my career.

I never really thought about it until I read your post, but I honestly do not remember ever giving up a homer. That may sound like I'm bragging a lot, but maybe I have selective memory loss, too. I was a full-time pitcher for over a decade, so it must have happened at least once.

[Tabe]

Here's one more:

I'm watching some random Expos game on ESPN one night and Andres Galarraga hits a grand slam for the Expos to win the game in extras, I think. I could have some of the details mangled. Anyway, for whatever reason, I was really into that game despite not being a fan of either team. The home run pumped me up and I ended up jumping out of my chair with a fist raised. Well, I hit the bleeping ceiling fan/light fixture over my head and shattered part of it. The glass rained down on me, cutting my elbow, leaving a 1/2" scar that is still plainly visible to this day.

Oh yeah, my parents were already asleep so I had to clean up and then try and explain it to them the next day. Ugh.

[sb1]

Aaron 715 for me, watched it on TV, had newspaper clippings before and after.

[Duluth Eskimo]

I was at game 6 of the 1991 World Series when Kirby Puckett hit the home run that took it to game 7 and their eventual win. The crowd was going absolutely bananas. It spilled over in to the streets and was pandamonium. I have seen some pretty great home runs in my time, but it would be hard for me to believe anything will top that. Jason