Brent Cross: 'Home Run Derby- Mickey Mantle vs Harmon Killebrew'

Source:Brent Cross- New York Yankees CF Mickey Mantle, in the Home Run Derby.

"Home Run Derby Mantle vs. Killebrew #1"

From Brent Cross

Back in the late 1980s or early 90s or perhaps both, ESPN had a show called Home Run Derby, well they showed the rebroadcasts of these shows that were on in the 1950s or 60s, I watched this show during the week after school around 4-5 PM. And if you like the Home Run Derby at the MLB All Star game every year, then you should watch this show or check it out on YouTube or ESPN Classic or something and you are interested this type of thing.

This show was the ultimate slugfest, because they would invite two of the top power hitters in the game every week during the season. When these guys were healthy and playing everyday, so they weren't rusty or anything. And the idea was literally to see who could hit the most home runs on each show and it was a home run or nothing. Everything else was an out even a line drive off the outfield wall or something.

I like this show so much that my friends in the neighborhood and little brother would imitate this show or try to. Someone would throw batting practice and each of us would get three outs instead of nine. We did it a little differently but there were real outs, except for the fact that all of our hits had to be home runs or they wouldn't of count. Three strikes per out that sorta thing.

This was a very exciting show unless you hate baseball or something, because it would have the top power hitters in the game competing in it. And back in the 1950s and 60s, that meant guys like Ted Williams, Willy Mays, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killebrew. With a guy throwing batting practice, just lofting the ball over the plate and then it's up to the hitter to hit a home run or he would be out. Unless he swings at a pitch thats called a ball by the umpire. Great show to see some of the best hitters in baseball every week.