On May 8th, 1966, only 18 games into his career as an Oriole, Frank Robinson accomplished a feat that was never repeated at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. In the first inning against the 14-1 Cleveland Indians, Mr. Robinson sent a pitch from Luis Tiant, All-Star pitcher who had not allowed a run in 27 straight innings, over the Left Field bleachers landing 451 feet from home plate and rolling another 90 feet, coming to rest under a car in the parking lot.
The HERE 50 project is created to commemorate this achievement, to recognize the impact Frank Robinson had on Baseball, to celebrate the 1966 World Champion Orioles, and to have some fun with the community.
The HERE 50 Project is inspired by my father's stories about the O's in the 60's and 70's, growing up an O's fan, living next to the former Memorial Stadium, being a youth baseball coach, and Dan Connolly's book 100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
Caption: The HERE flag image is from the Archives of the Baltimore Sun. May 20, 1966, taken just 12 days after the mammoth blow.
Photo is by Paul Hutchins, longtime photographer for the Sun. About Mr. Hutchins
The original caption from the Baltimore Sun read, "Bucky Bray of the Sports Boosters prepares to hoist flag atop the left field stands at place cleared by Frank Robinson's May 8 home run off Cleveland's Luis Tiant - the first ever hit completely out of Stadium. A flag bearing the word 'HERE,' is raised over point where Frank Robinson's home run cleared Memorial Stadium and came to rest 540 feet from home plate."
Original Flag was made by F.W. Haxel Company, Baltimore, MD, founded in 1935.
The HERE 50 project is created by Mark Melonas, life-long Orioles fan, husband, dad, artist, youth baseball coach, and neighbor of the former Memorial Stadium. markmelonas.net
The HERE 50 project is created to commemorate this achievement, to recognize the impact Frank Robinson had on Baseball, to celebrate the 1966 World Champion Orioles, and to have some fun with the community.
The HERE 50 Project is inspired by my father's stories about the O's in the 60's and 70's, growing up an O's fan, living next to the former Memorial Stadium, being a youth baseball coach, and Dan Connolly's book 100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
Caption: The HERE flag image is from the Archives of the Baltimore Sun. May 20, 1966, taken just 12 days after the mammoth blow.
Photo is by Paul Hutchins, longtime photographer for the Sun. About Mr. Hutchins
The original caption from the Baltimore Sun read, "Bucky Bray of the Sports Boosters prepares to hoist flag atop the left field stands at place cleared by Frank Robinson's May 8 home run off Cleveland's Luis Tiant - the first ever hit completely out of Stadium. A flag bearing the word 'HERE,' is raised over point where Frank Robinson's home run cleared Memorial Stadium and came to rest 540 feet from home plate."
Original Flag was made by F.W. Haxel Company, Baltimore, MD, founded in 1935.
The HERE 50 project is created by Mark Melonas, life-long Orioles fan, husband, dad, artist, youth baseball coach, and neighbor of the former Memorial Stadium. markmelonas.net
Poster by Greg Houston of the Baltimore Academy of Illustration
There have been some real nice stories written about Frank and the 66 O's and HERE recently..
I was interviewed on the Dan Rodricks "Roughly Speaking" podcast: Episode 92
Click here to go to the podcast. You can also find it on soundcloud, on iOS devices use the podcast app and search for "Roughly Speaking" - we are episode 92. Thanks Dan! Dan has written about Frank and also recently interviewed Bob Luke about Integrating the Orioles on episode 74.
Pete Kerzel wrote a nice piece about HERE 50 on the MASN website.
"Sunday Event will mark 50th anniversary of Frank Robinson's blast out of Memorial Stadium"
Pete told me that he was at the game 50 years ago on Mother's Day and that that was his first baseball game!
Mike Klingaman of the Sun wrote a story tying together many parts of the HERE story.
"Remembering Frank Robinson's historic, outside-the-park home run, 50 years later"
Mike has several stories over the years about Frank in the Sun and also on the Retro Baltimore tumblr.
Brittany Britto – The Sun, Sunday May 8th
‘A hometown baseball hero remembered’
Brittany and Sun photographer amy Davis were at the Event on Sunday.
I was interviewed on the Dan Rodricks "Roughly Speaking" podcast: Episode 92
Click here to go to the podcast. You can also find it on soundcloud, on iOS devices use the podcast app and search for "Roughly Speaking" - we are episode 92. Thanks Dan! Dan has written about Frank and also recently interviewed Bob Luke about Integrating the Orioles on episode 74.
Pete Kerzel wrote a nice piece about HERE 50 on the MASN website.
"Sunday Event will mark 50th anniversary of Frank Robinson's blast out of Memorial Stadium"
Pete told me that he was at the game 50 years ago on Mother's Day and that that was his first baseball game!
Mike Klingaman of the Sun wrote a story tying together many parts of the HERE story.
"Remembering Frank Robinson's historic, outside-the-park home run, 50 years later"
Mike has several stories over the years about Frank in the Sun and also on the Retro Baltimore tumblr.
Brittany Britto – The Sun, Sunday May 8th
‘A hometown baseball hero remembered’
Brittany and Sun photographer amy Davis were at the Event on Sunday.