June 3, 1937 – One of the most prolific power hitters of all time, Josh Gibson of the Homestead Grays in the Negro Leagues, crushed a ball that still makes people gasp in awe. The slugger belted a shot in Yankee Stadium that traveled some 580 feet.
That distance eclipsed anything that the American and National Leagues had to offer, even Mickey Mantle’s 565-foot HR blasted out of Griffith Stadium in 1953 years later. Legend has it that earlier in his career in 1934, Gibson did what no player had ever done, and hit a ball out of the House that Ruth built.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
From Underdogs to Champions: The Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVI Victory
The New England Patriots victory in Super Bowl XXXVI was a defining moment in
NFL All-Time Coaching Wins: A Top 5 Countdown
It’s NFL trivia time! Who holds the coveted title of the winningest coach in
1976 Olympics Revisited (Weightlifting Medal Winners)
The 1976 Olympics were in Montreal, and the weightlifting started on July 18 and
Three Racing Legends who have achieved 100 Formula One Podiums
After seven decades of Formula One racing, there have been more than a thousand
Exploring the Years of Ultimate Futility (1970s NFL)
There were four years where pro football fans got to witness several examples of
The History of the Olympic Games: From Ancient Greece to the Modern Era
The Olympic Games are one of the most significant sporting events in the world,
The History Of Sports Explained
The dictionary definition of sport, according to Oxford Languages is ‘an activity involving physical
Historic Rivalries: Yankees vs. Red Sox Showdowns
The storied rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox extends