Totally OT but this may be the place where someone would appreciate it

Nikklos

After graduation, I worked (for six years actually) for a man named Tom Dettore. Orneriest cuss alive but funnier than heck. As a Chicago Cub, Tom gave up the second-longest home run in baseball history. To Dave Kingman.

To keep it on-topic, the last I checked, his 1975 card is a tougher one.

lawnmowerman

I appreciate now knowing Kingman has the second longest homer in mlb history. One of my favorite Mets while I was growing up.
Thanks!

grote15

Sky King! One year I believe half of his total hits were homers, LOL!

lawnmowerman

<< <i>Sky King! One year I believe half of his total hits were homers, LOL! >>



Awesome

Nikklos

I don't know the geography around Wrigley Field but newspaper accounts stated that the ball " sailed over the left-center field wall at Wrigley Field, continued across Waveland Avenue and hit a house on Kenmore Street. " This was 1976 and Kingman was a Met.

To see Tom Dettore reenact his pitching motion and the immediate swivel of his head to follow the path of the ball is a priceless memory.

By the way, Tom has the exact temperament that one would expect judging from his '75 Topps card. 6 foot four, 250 pounds of malevolence.

PSASAP

In 1982, Kingman led the NL in home runs, but his batting average (.204) was lower than the Cy Young award winner that year, Steve Carlton (.218).

gemint

<< <i>

<< <i>Sky King! One year I believe half of his total hits were homers, LOL! >>



Awesome >>



And probably had twice as many strikeouts as hits.

Aric

<< <i>I don't know the geography around Wrigley Field but newspaper accounts stated that the ball " sailed over the left-center field wall at Wrigley Field, continued across Waveland Avenue and hit a house on Kenmore Street. " This was 1976 and Kingman was a Met. >>



I believe they are referring to the former Budweiser roofed house. It is on the corner of Waveland and Kenmore and faces Kenmore. Is there footage of the homerun that we can confirm?

Aric

Found it

Kingman Homerun

It hit the third house on Kenmore. Two houses past the Budweiser house!

Nikklos

<< <i>Found it Kingman Homerun It hit the third house on Kenmore. Two houses past the Budweiser house! >>



That's a long one but that's not THE one. Kingman was a Cub in this video. Actually, the comments below the video make mention of the April 1976 blast when Kingman was a Met.

mlbfan2

<< <i>Sky King! One year I believe half of his total hits were homers, LOL! >>



The closest he came was 62 hits, 24 HR.

Mark McGwire did it. 56 hits, 29 HR.

mccardguy1

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>Sky King! One year I believe half of his total hits were homers, LOL! >>



Awesome >>



And probably had twice as many strikeouts as hits. >>



There is still a story going around Wrigley among the old timers (I used to work for the team) regarding Kingman.

When he played for the Cubs there was a ball hit to the outfield which resulted in a play at the plate. Kingman charged the ball as only Kingman could and made a great throw......too bad the throw was online with the Cubs dugout on the third base side and sailed clear of home plate. The ball entered the dugout and shot down the small stairway leading to the clubhouse. Since that area is all concrete the ball ended up richocheting around the concrete walls and made its way into the single, grungy toilet that is located just at the bottom of the dugout stairs. Legend has it that the ball, after ricocheting around the concrete, entered the toilet stall then rolled around the rim of the toilet before plopping itself in the murky toilet water. That was the first and only time a baseball that was in play in a major league game has ever found it's way into the cold depths of a toilet.

Bosox1976

I lived in the Budweiser house from 1994-1996.

There were multiple ball dents in the siding. We had one broken window during BP on an off day once. The Cubs sent a glass truck over without us even having to call.

Lots of fun times in that place -- and it was cheap rent!

PMKAY

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>Sky King! One year I believe half of his total hits were homers, LOL! >>



Awesome >>



And probably had twice as many strikeouts as hits. >>



There is still a story going around Wrigley among the old timers (I used to work for the team) regarding Kingman.

When he played for the Cubs there was a ball hit to the outfield which resulted in a play at the plate. Kingman charged the ball as only Kingman could and made a great throw......too bad the throw was online with the Cubs dugout on the third base side and sailed clear of home plate. The ball entered the dugout and shot down the small stairway leading to the clubhouse. Since that area is all concrete the ball ended up richocheting around the concrete walls and made its way into the single, grungy toilet that is located just at the bottom of the dugout stairs. Legend has it that the ball, after ricocheting around the concrete, entered the toilet stall then rolled around the rim of the toilet before plopping itself in the murky toilet water. That was the first and only time a baseball that was in play in a major league game has ever found it's way into the cold depths of a toilet. >>



A story like that has to be true.

zep33

<< <i>I lived in the Budweiser house from 1994-1996.

There were multiple ball dents in the siding. We had one broken window during BP on an off day once. The Cubs sent a glass truck over without us even having to call.

Lots of fun times in that place -- and it was cheap rent! >>



That's awesome!!

lawnmowerman

<< <i>The ball entered the dugout and shot down the small stairway leading to the clubhouse. Since that area is all concrete the ball ended up richocheting around the concrete walls and made its way into the single, grungy toilet that is located just at the bottom of the dugout stairs. Legend has it that the ball, after ricocheting around the concrete, entered the toilet stall then rolled around the rim of the toilet before plopping itself in the murky toilet water. That was the first and only time a baseball that was in play in a major league game has ever found it's way into the cold depths of a toilet. >>



Reminds me of the Bird/Jordan Mcdonald's commercials lol

Into the dugout, down the stairway, down the hallway, into the clubhouse, into the toilet stall, nothing but toilet haha

grote15

Kingman was great but he could also be a real d-bag, too. In the classic book "The Bad Guys Won" which chronicled the 1986 Mets, there was a story about Kingman at the beginning of the book in which a young boy politely asked Kingman to autograph his baseball. Kingman replied Sure, kid and then proceeded to watch the ball land right in front of him in a puddle of mud after which he walked away.

CNote

Speaking of towering HRs, I wish I could find a shot of Buhner hitting the ambulance at old Yankee stadium

psychump

I saw Kingman pitch at Candlestick Park when I was a kid.

brian26

<< <i>

<< <i>Found it Kingman Homerun It hit the third house on Kenmore. Two houses past the Budweiser house! >>



That's a long one but that's not THE one. Kingman was a Cub in this video. Actually, the comments below the video make mention of the April 1976 blast when Kingman was a Met. >>



As an aside, the video of Kingman as a Cub in the link is from the famous Cubs/Phillies 20-run game (I believe in '79). It is available on iTunes and has been released on video by MLB.

brian26

<< <i>I lived in the Budweiser house from 1994-1996.

There were multiple ball dents in the siding. We had one broken window during BP on an off day once. The Cubs sent a glass truck over without us even having to call.

Lots of fun times in that place -- and it was cheap rent! >>



LOL - awesome story.