AboutGeorge W. Case III Expertise WW II era major league baseball history - questions about specific WWII era players, stadiums, life in the major leagues, teams, impact of major league baseball upon American society during WWII (FDR's "Green Light" letter to the then Commissioner of Baseball) and the relationship of President Roosevelt with Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith in an effort to keep baseball "alive" during the darkest days of WWII.
Experience Son of a former major league baseball player, George Case Jr. who played in the major leagues from 1937-1947.
I was the former Executive Director of SABR (Society for American Baseball Research)
Have produced a DVD taken from my father's 8MM COLOR "home movies" of life in the major leagues from a ballplayer's perspective - currently marketing this DVD privately and also in conjunction with www.baseballdirect.com
Publications SABR Bulletin - "Case's Corner" - newsletter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR)
"Growing Up at Griffith Stadium" - article published courtesy of The Big Train (Walter Johnson Baseball League) - Bethesda Maryland
Education/Credentials BA - Rutgers University 1963
MA - Rider University 1979
Awards and Honors Former Executive Director of SABR
Consultant and speaker - City of Trenton NJ baseball exhibit - "When Trenton Baseball Roared Like Thunder" - 1994
Question What is the range, in feet, of the distance between home plate and hitting a home run in MLB. I realize all parks have different dimensions. I am trying to get an average for length of home runs, and, if possible, what are the shortest and the longest dimensions for hitting a homer in MLB?
Answer As you mentioned - many of the ballparks will have slightly different dimensions - in the 1920's-1950's many of the ballparks had varying distances depending upon the shape of the stadium - example - old Griffith Stadium in Washington had been as long as 407' down the left field line - old Yankee Stadium (original dimensions) had been 285'down the right field line, the Polo Grounds in New York had been 257' down the right field line but well over 450' to dead center field because of the very unusual shape of the stadium
Today's ball parks are much more uniform in their dimensions with the exception of Fenway Park in Boston (Green Monster in Left Field) - the average dimensions of today's ballparks - 335' to left, 385'to power alley in left-center field, 410 to center field, 385' to power alley in right-center field and 335 down the line to right field.
The longest home run that I know of was hit by Mickey Mantle off Chuck Stobbs in Washington's old Griffith Stadium in 1955 - estimated distance 565'
