April 17, 1952 -- It was the fifth inning at Griffith Stadium. At the plate was the 21-year-old Mantle, batting right-handed against left-hander Chuck Stobbs, making his first appearance for the ...

And in 1956 he missed by 18 inches from hitting the first ball out of Yankee Stadium ... Fans rooted against Roger Maris, and they urged Mantle on. But Maris broke the record with 61, while ...