Coors Field Home Runs: Who Hit The Longest, And Who Hit The Most
DENVER (CBS4) - The Rockies' 10-game home stand has seen plenty of long (long) balls. The Dodgers' Joc Pederson hit a pair of 470 feet-plus bombs, and the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton hit one 478 feet (or 484 feet, according to ESPN).
But what's the longest home run in Coors Field history?
Troy Tulowitzki says three come to mind that he's seen (he adds he only likes to remember home runs by the Rockies).
- Carlos Gonzalez on July 31, 2010 vs. Chicago Cubs: a walk-off, third-decker to complete the cycle.
- Cory Dickerson on Aug. 23, 2014 vs. Miami: another shot to the right field third deck.
- Matt Holliday on Sept. 19, 2006 vs. San Francisco Giants: home run into the concourse against Matt Cain.
Holliday's concourse blast was measured at 498 feet by ESPN's Hittracker, which makes it the longest at Coors Field by some accounts.
LINK: Who Has Hit The Longest Home Run At Coors Field In The Hittracker Era?
But measuring home runs is not an exact science, and somehow Holliday's doesn't even make the Top 10 list kept buy the Rockies.
Walt Weiss remembers the official No. 1.
"Unfortunately our bullpen coach (Darren Holmes) gave up one to Mike Piazza that went to the concourse in center field," Weiss recalled. "That is the longest one I've seen in a game … but don't tell (Holmes) I told you that."
Here's the official list:
1. Mike Piazza (Dodgers) – 496 feet (Sept., 26, 1997)
2. Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins) – 494 feet (Aug. 17, 2012)
3. Larry Walker (Rockies) – 494 feet (Aug. 31, 1997)
4. Barry Bonds (Giants) – 492 feet (Aug. 27, 2002)
5. Sammy Sosa (Cubs) – 490 feet (Aug. 10, 2002)
6. Barry Bonds (Giants) – 488 feet (Sept. 9, 2001)
7. Andres Galarraga (Rockies) – 487 feet (Aug. 28, 1997)
8. Larry Walker (Rockies) – 483 feet (June 22, 1999)
9. Ray Lankford (Cardinals) – 483 feet (May 19, 1996)
10. Jim Edmonds (Cardinals) – 482 feet (April 4, 2001)
Bonds' 26 Coors Field home runs are the most for an opposing player, while Todd Helton's 227 are the most all time. Add them all up, and over 4,000 dingers have been hit at 20th & Blake.
But then there are the home runs that live in batting practice lore. Tales of seeing baseballs crushed over the Toyota Truck in left, smashed into the new party deck in right, or slammed off the scoreboard in center.
"I saw Mark McGwire go off the facing of the Rock Pile," Weiss claims. "As we sit here (in the dugout) and look it doesn't seem possible, but I was there and I saw it."
McGwire, now a Dodgers hitting coach, was informed of Weiss' claim and laughed.
"Well in BP those don't count," McGwire joked. "But batting practice was certainly fun at Coors Field."
Home Run Derby home runs also don't technically count, but McGwire had the longest during the 1998 derby -- 510 feet, according to the ESPN broadcast -- which is the longest (on video) that we could find.
Mark Haas is CBS4's weekend sports anchor and sports reporter. Read his bio or follow him on Twitter @markhaastv or on Facebook.
