Factors used - wind, weather, distance from the porch to the ground and the trajectory of the ball.
The formulas used had estimates as low as 485 feet and as high as 494 feet. The official distance was averaged out at 490 feet, which is the longest homer in the history of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, which opened in 1994.
"This was a really cool deal, and I'm glad the Rangers did it," Hamilton said. "The longest home run I've hit was when I was in the minor leagues. It went 549 feet, and we measured that because there was a mud canal behind the fence and the ball stuck in it."
Hamilton also has the third-longest home run in Ballpark history, when he sent one 460 feet on May 15 of last year. Jose Canseco has the second longest, a 480-footer on June 13, 1994.
After the game in which Hamilton hit the homer, he joked that Canseco's record shot should have an asterisk. Hamilton was obviously referring to Canseco's admitted steroids use while with the Rangers.
"I'm au natural, man," Hamilton said with a wide grin.
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I hope you picked up on the 549 number. That, if true would be the longest home run I have ever read to be verified. Mantle's 565 foot shot is guessed by some to be a little over 510 to the actual impact area.
I wish they would go back and calculate the energy at impact with swing speed, bat weight and forward energy surge vs the velocity of the pitch. They would also need to identify the humidity, wind and impact area and plane of swim for the spin rate.
j
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