| Crunch time Yankee catcher Elston Howard called for a fastball to end the three-and-a-half hour struggle. There was a healthy breeze blowing toward Killebrew from left field; otherwise the belt-high fastball that never sank might have gone farther than 380 feet. It was the agonizingly loud smack of wood on horsehide that hit Elston Howard's eardrums. The ball jetted toward the stands, almost as if Killebrew had lit a short fuse on a Fourth of July pop bottle rocket. It was not the typical "Killebrew Fly" that featured a majestic parabolic arch. The ball was still rising when it crashed into the left-field pavilion. Silence.
Had this happened? Had Killebrew hit a two-out, two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch to beat the Yankees heading into the All-Star break? Was this team going to the World Series? The crowd erupted, screaming, applauding and stamping its feet on the stands, as had become the custom when the Met Stadium regulars wanted to enthusiastically display their appreciation. The cantilevered triple deck behind home plate shook from the thunderous pounding.
Killebrew circled third base as Rollins crossed home plate, then turned to wait and congratulate Killebrew. Two fans in straw pork-pie hats ran onto the field to aid the celebration as Killebrew planted a cleated foot onto home plate and headed for the dugout.
Seven-year-old Kenny Killebrew was often in the Twins' clubhouse and greeted him as the players marched in.
“That was a nice home run you hit, daddy.” Excerpts index > Home page
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