The date was May 1, 1951. The site was Comiskey Park in Chicago. The pitcher was right-hander Randy Gumpert.
Batting lead-off and playing right field for the New York Yankees was rookie sensation Mickey Mantle.
Mantle stepped into the right-handed hitter’s batter’s box to start the game against White Sox starter Bob Cain. All he could manage was a weak ground ball to second baseman Nelson Fox.
In the third inning, with the Yankees trailing by a pair of runs, Mantle batted with the bases loaded and two outs. He pulled a sharp ground ball to third base that went through Minnie Minoso’s legs. Two runs scored on what was ruled an error.
In the fourth inning, still facing southpaw Cain, Mantle hit a fly ball to center that was deep enough for Joe Collins to score from third. It was not a sacrifice fly under the rules in 1951, but Mantle was credited with an RBI.
Then came the moment.
Randy Gumpert was pitching in relief of Cain. Mantle, batting left-handed, took his practice swings before stepping in to face the former Yankee. Pitcher Vic Raschi, who had doubled, took a short lead off second base.
Gumpert didn’t pay much attention to Raschi as he peered in to Gus Niarhos to get the sign. The six-foot three-inch pitcher nodded assent and delivered.
Gumpert, a grizzled veteran who had faced greater hitters than Mantle would become, including Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, was well aware of the expectations the press had for Mantle. He knew that rookies, especially rookies under great pressure to perform, were usually anxious at the plate.
Gumpert tried to fool Mantle with a changeup. Years later, he described what happened.
“Mickey smacked the ball in dead center field right into the bullpen . . . it must have traveled 450 feet in the air!”
Yankees backup catcher Charlie Silvera, who was in his usual spot in the bullpen, picked up the ball Mantle hit for his first home run. Silvera knew, as did almost all of the Yankees, that Mickey would want that ball.
After the game, Mickey inscribed the ball with the statements “My first H.R. in the Majors, May 1, 1951, 4:50 p.m. Chicago” and “6th inning off Randy Gumpert.”
Near the end of his career, the ball was displayed in his Holiday Inn restaurant in Joplin, Missouri.
Reference:
Mantle leads yanks to victory over white sox at chicago. (1951, May 02). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 51. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/111988891?accountid=46260