Ruth and Kingman Measure Up Well

The longest home run ever hit? The World Almanac has always listed the 587-footer by Babe Ruth in spring training at Tampa, Fla., in 1919. Ruth was then a pitcher-outfielder for the Boston Red Sox.

The most celebrated tape-measure homer was the 565-footer by Mickey Mantle at Washington’s Griffith Stadium in 1953. It was measured by Yankee publicist Red Patterson, later a vice president of the Dodgers and then the Angels.

Neither will lead a list being compiled by Bill Jenkinson of Willow Grove, Pa., as he works on a book titled, “Kings of the Tape Measure.” He told the New York Times that there have been two 600-footers, although he didn’t reveal the exact distance.

Reports the New York Times: “One, he says, was hit by Babe Ruth over Detroit’s right-field bleachers off Lil Stoner in 1926, and the other was launched by Dave Kingman in 1976, while he was with the Mets. Kingman’s shot, hit off Tom Dettore of the Cubs, sailed over the left-center wall at Wrigley Field, continued across Waveland Avenue and hit a house on Kenmore Street.”

Trivia Time: What college running back, in consecutive bowl games, outgained Heisman Trophy winners in both games. (Answer below.)

For the Record: Brian Duffy of Long Beach, responding to a trivia item on Bill Voiselle wearing the name of his hometown on his uniform, called to say that Richie Allen did likewise with the Oakland A’s in 1977, his last year in baseball.

“Allen had WAMPUM on the back of his uniform,” Duffy said. “He was from Wampum, Pa.”

The following sign is posted in the press center at Firestone Country Club, where the World Series of Golf is being played:

“Can Pete Rozelle run for a touchdown?

“Can Peter Ueberroth hit a home run??”

“Can Dave Stern slam dunk???”

“Can Deane Beman score a hole-in one????

“You bet your Foot-Joys he can!”

Beman, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, aced Firestone’s fifth hole, a 234-yard par-3, in Wednesday’s pro-amateur.

Said Beman: “I’m grateful for that sign, although it does seem a little like I’m blowing my whistle. I hope no one thinks that my fellow commissioners aren’t athletic. But please extend the invitation to play golf to them for me, will you?”

Note: Rozelle might not be able to score a touchdown, but the first NFL commissioner could. He was Jim Thorpe, named in 1920. That year, Thorpe also was the coach and star player of the Canton Bulldogs.

Trivia Answer: Curt Warner of Penn State. In the 1982 Fiesta Bowl, he gained 145 yards in 26 carries, a 5.58 average, as Penn State beat USC, 26-10. Marcus Allen of USC gained 85 yards in 30 carries, a 2.83 average.

In the 1983 Sugar Bowl, Warner gained 117 yards in 18 carries, a 6.50 average, as Penn State beat Georgia, 27-23. Herschel Walker of Georgia gained 103 yards in 28 carries, a 3.68 average.

Quotebook

Cleveland Browns Coach Marty Schottenheimer, denying he’s a workaholic, even though he puts in 18-hour days: “I’m just slow.”