The Longest Home Runs in the History of Major League Baseball

Barry Bonds is rapidly closing in on Hank Aaron's all time Home Run record. He could surpass it this summer. But how about the longest Home Runs ever hit? How far did they go? Let's take a look at some of these majestic hits.

America and baseball fans first fell in awe of these blasts as far back as Opening Day 1883. The place was the Polo Grounds in New York. Hall of Famer Roger Conner hit one that day that many people in attendance, claim it was a shot of beauty. It was also the Home run that Conner hit that season. No one knows how far it went that day. But, it began our fascination with what is referred to as tape measure jobs.

Since that time there have been many more balls hit a long way. I first became interested as a young boy. I was at the old Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Grand and Dodier. Geoff Long, a bench player, hit a Home Run against the Braves that cleared the left field light tower. It happened so fast and unsuspected that no one could measure how far it went.

Two of the longest Home Runs are credited to Micky Mantle. 656 feet on April 17, 1953 at Washington's Griffith Stadium. The other being 634 feet at Detroit's Brigg's Stadium on September 10, 1960.(This was later estimated to be closer to 643 feet.) The Home Run hit in Washington first coined the phrase "tape measure job."

Reggie Jackson hit a ball that might have been the longest but, it hit the light tower in Detroit. Dave Nicholson slugged a ball that cleared the roof and an alley before landing on a softball field at old Comisky Park. It was estimated at about 600 feet. Dick Allen hit a ball that hit the roof facade in center field in Detroit. The distance measured at 415 feet. No far enough you say. It is also 85 feet high. That was July 6, 1974.

Here are some of the balls hit at different stadiums.

541-Frank Robinson (Baltimore Memorial) 5/8/66, 545-McGwire (Busch) 5/16/98, 573-D. Nicholson (Comisky) 5/6/64, 535-Stargil (Olympic) 5/20/78, 630-Kingman (Wrigley) 4/14/76, 529-Galarraga (Pro Player) 5/31/97, 528-Fielder (County) 9/14/91, 500- Doby (KC- Municipal) 5/29/55.

The Home Run by McGwire had the stadium crew put up a large bandage to mark the spot at 545 feet. It stayed there all season.

Believe it or not: In the 30's a ball was hit by Ernie Lombard in Cincinnati over the center field fence. It landed in a truck that carried it 30 miles. This was posted in the New Baseball Catalog.

So what about some of the other players? Ryan Howard of the Phillies hit one 496 feet on 4/23/2006 at Citizens Bank Park. Willy McCovey was known for some long Home Runs, too. He hit one into the upper deck at Busch Stadium that held the record there until McGwire's shot in 98. It was estimated at 520 feet. He also had a 500 foot shot at Candlestick Park on 9/16/66. Frank Howard hit a ball at Forbes Field that was guessed to go 560 feet.

This one is very hard to believe. No true measurements ever taken. However it is reported that Josh Gibson of the old Negro League hit a ball that went 911 feet. It went 668 feet in the air alone. There was no fence to clear and records weren't recorded at that time. It is ashame that no true measurement was taken. Because that would have been the longest ever hit.

We will always be amazed by the distance that some of these balls will travel. It is a fascination that has kept baseball fans spellbound for some time and will for generations to come.