For those of an age that remember television in 1960 - Willie Mays

[PSPS]

There was a syndicated program called "Home Run Derby" and its very first program had Willie Mays vs. Mickey Mantle! Classic television at its finest.

[Silent Type]

1. Loved Home Run Derby, that's when I chose Hammerin Hank as my favorite ballplayer, with Mays close behind.

[rsdsharp]

2. Filmed at Wrigley Field in LA.

[rurallib]

3. so much I could say - but let me just say I am so glad I got to see them play

Saw them both live couple of times.

[rsdsharp]

5. I envy you. I did see Mantle at Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota.

It was near the end of his career, and he didn’t play that day, but I did see him talking and laughing with Whitey Ford in the outfield during batting practice.

[rurallib]

10. That's where I saw him! Can't remember when

All I vaguely remember is Killebrew was playing center (I think) for the Twins and Mantle playing center for the Yanks - and the center field bleachers were pretty creaky

[rsdsharp]

12. If the bleachers were creaky, it had to be before 64 or 65.

In those days the Twins centerfielders were Lenny Green or Jimmie Hall. Killebrew played left for a couple of years; he and Carl Yastrzemski were the left fielders in my first game at the Met. My dad and I sat on the wooden bleachers in left field.

We came in through the left centerfield entrance during Twins batting practice. Centerfield was 402 feet from home plate. The batters eye was about 20 feet behind the fence, and about 30 feet high. As we walked in Killebrew hit a ball OVER the batters eye; it went bouncing past me among the vendors.

[brush]

4. Thanks so much for posting this. I enjoyed it.

I grew up in Tucson, AZ where the Cleveland Indians held spring training every spring. They played the NY Giants in Cactus League games at Hy Corbett Field. My Uncle would sometimes take me to the games where I saw Wllie Mays, Wlliie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal, the pitcher with the high leg kick and the 3 Alou brothers, all of the Giants.

On the Indians team was sluggers Vic Wertz and Al Rosen, short stop Bobby Avila, cathcher Jim Hegan, pithcers Early Wynn and Bob Feller.

This was when both teams were competitive and not long after they met in the World Series where Willie Mays made that famous catch,

[marked50]

6. I learned not to mess with Blasting Caps from a Willie Mays pubilc education ad.

"Don't touch these things!"

[twodogsbarking]

7. We waited for this show and loved it.

[soldierant]

8. Very timely

seeing as MAys left us yesterday (o June 18)

[iluvtennis]

9. Very nice - thank for posting this. n/t

[Jim__]

11. The winner gets $2,000 - a small fortune in those days. Almost nothing today.

[JoseBalow]

14. $2,000 in 1960 is worth $20,867 today

https://www.dollartimes.com/inflation/inflation.php?amount=2000&year=1960

[surfered]

13. Those were the days, before steroids. Although there was a lot of alcohol.

In my childhood, could name the starting line up of the Yankees.

[hwmnbn]

15. Production values have improved...

since then.

I suspect you couldn't get todays athletes to participate today.

I loved this as a kid.

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

16. Home Run Derby was on only 1 year.

The emcee of the show, Mark Scott sadly passed away after the first season age 46. I was too young to remember this show in its heyday but I watched episodes on ESPN classic. I believe they used L.A.’s Wrigley Field because its dimensions were symmetrical for right and left field. Also, the power alleys to left and right center were a cozy 345 feet which helped add to the home run totals.

I’ve enjoyed a lot of shows on ESPN Classic over the years and Home Run Derby was one of them.

To Mark Scott and all of the Derby contestants who are no longer with us, RIP.

[WestMichRad]

17. That was fun, thanks!

The light conditions for the batters was tough, especially in the early innings.