Polo Grounds Question

[Wsoxmike59]

Today I ran across the famous photo of Dusty Rhodes pinch hit HR in the 1954 World Series. I can remember the first time I saw the photo, I believe I was in 6th or 7th Grade. And my initial reaction to it was …..”Well that’ll explain why Mel Ott was in the 500 HR Club!”

Can some of the older posters who remember the Polo Grounds chime in? The photo in question shows Rhodes rounding 1B which we know is 90 feet from Home Plate. The distance from 1B to the wall in RF looks to be only a shade more than 100 feet. Yet the distance marker painted on the wall says 294 feet. You would think the chalk foul line from the 1B bag to the wall would be almost twice as long as it appears.

Something about this photo always bothered and intrigued me. So I offer up the floor to my fellow WSI Baseball savants and chime in with their opinions and expertise.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CrHJufxt3Tj/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[whitesox5187]

According to Wikipedia, it was 258’ down the right field line at the Polo Grounds (279’ down the left field line), but because it had that oval-like shape it would get deeper. So it was probably 294’ at that spot rather than right down the line.

[Wsoxmike59]

I found a little video of the famous 1954 pinch hit HR. And a couple more images and stories on Dusty Rhodes

https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/dusty-rhodes-hero-giants-1954-world-series-win-hits-high-notes-article-1.357480

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/sports/baseball/19rhodes.html

Fan interference?

[LITTLE NELL]

The photo you posted does seem to be a little out of whack.
I added a picture of that dump that has a little bit better perspective of the dimensions down the lines. It was about 20 feet shorter down the right field line than the left field line, 258 to the right field foul pole and 279 to the left field foul pool.
BTW it was 483 feet to straightaway centerfield and IIRC Lou Brock was the only player ever to hit a ball in the CF bleachers.
EDIT Just checked and Joe Adcock also reached the CF bleachers.

[LITTLE NELL]

I found a little video of the famous 1954 pinch hit HR. And a couple more images and stories on Dusty Rhodes

https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/dusty-rhodes-hero-giants-1954-world-series-win-hits-high-notes-article-1.357480

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/sports/baseball/19rhodes.html

Fan interference?

That’s Jack Brickhouse with the call.
Gotta love the fans dressed in coats and ties.

[Paulwny]

The photo you posted does seem to be a little out of whack.
I added a picture of that dump that has a little bit better perspective of the dimensions down the lines. It was about 20 feet shorter down the right field line than the left field line, 258 to the right field foul pole and 279 to the left field foul pool.
BTW it was 483 feet to straightaway centerfield and IIRC Lou Brock was the only player ever to hit a ball in the CF bleachers.
EDIT Just checked and Joe Adcock also reached the CF bleachers.

Hank Aaron hit a grand slam.
Luke Easter when he played in the Negro League.

[BigKlu59]

Better make sure you corral a gapper or it’s a stand up triple. Always was intrigued by the center field clubhouse and the stairs that led up to it. That and the bowling alley cut out in center field. Some of those old parks had bizzare ground rules tossed in as well. So yes, those NY ballparks could be homer friendly considering half of their games were played there. Ebbets had a short porch in right 297, Polo had 279 in left and 254 in right and the Evil Empire with 318 in left and 314 in right. It’s no wonder trying to get one out at The Palace was a seldom Herculean feat.

[Wsoxmike59]

One other thing about the Polo Grounds that is often overlooked and largely forgotten, Babe Ruth played his first three seasons with the Yankees in the Polo Grounds.

Also I had forgotten that John McGraw’s Giants beat the Yankees in back to back World Series in 1920-‘21. But by 1922 the Yankees popularity due to Ruth, the Yankees were outdrawing the Giants in their home park and John McGraw pulled out the welcome mat and said you boys need to find another place to play!

PS: Check out Babe Ruth’s HR totals for the Polo Grounds from 1920-‘22. Not as big as a disparity as I would’ve thought. A little more than 1/2 his HR were hit in the Polo Grounds. I was thinking it would’ve been 65% or a tad more.

[BigKlu59]

Funny thing is he only hit 1 off of the Cubbies, but it has gone down in history as one of the most memorable. Taking a gander at the list of pitchers he took long, there are a lot of rocking chair stories about being a victim of his.

[Dumpjerry]

Funny thing is he only hit 1 off of the Cubbies, but it has gone down in history as one of the most memorable. Taking a gander at the list of pitchers he took long, there are a lot of rocking chair stories about being a victim of his.

Well, if the Cubbies made the World Series more frequently back then............

[BigKlu59]

Well, if the Cubbies made the World Series more frequently back then............

True, but one would have thought with all the bluster that came out of that series, he would have had half a basket full between playing at Wrigley as well as his driving range in the Bronx.

[Nellie Fox]

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[BigKlu59]

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As apposed to any number of descriptives we could use on here. In that same vein it would sound like sizzling merde if our beloved were referred to as the Soxies….

[Dumpjerry]

True, but one would have thought with all the bluster that came out of that series, he would have had half a basket full between playing at Wrigley as well as his driving range in the Bronx.

But, there are soooo many bars in the area. This is the guy who would run across the street to McCuddy's between innings.