Ernie Banks Home Run Derby Footage

Two of baseball's most engaging personalities and 1,048 combined career home runs sounds like a winning combination to me. Hall-of-Famers Ernie Banks and Mickey Mantle provided just that when they faced off in the second episode of Ziv Television Program's 1960 series, Home Run Derby. Not only are these clips entertaining, but are important because very little footage exists of these two sluggers.
The 1960 Home Run Derby was quite different than our current format. For one, it wasn't a yearly supplement to the All-Star Game, but a syndicated television program that aired weekly. Two hitters vied for the two thousand dollar prize every week, with the previous week's winner returning to defend his crown. In addition to the two thousand dollar prize (and one thousand dollars to the runner-up), hitters received a 500 dollar bonus for three straight home runs, another 500 dollars for a fourth straight, and one thousand for each additional home run after four. In other words, they took this shit seriously. A few swings of the bat could lead to a substantial payday.
My favorite part of this program is the format of the derby itself. Nowadays, we give hitters ten outs and see what they can do. They're allowed to swing or lay off of any pitch they want. This wasn't the case in 1960.
The format was similar to a real baseball game. They played nine innings, and each hitter was given three outs per inning. Outs were recorded the same as they are now. Anything that doesn't leave the yard in fair territory is an out. The biggest difference in the 1960 version was the presence of an umpire that called balls and strikes. If the hitter didn't swing at a pitch the umpire deemed a ball, it was counted as an out. You'll see Ernie rack up a few outs this way.
An unintended consequence of the event was some awkward interviews in between innings. When hitters weren't at bat, they sat in the dugout with announcer Mark Scott. Maybe it was because they were focused on the game, or maybe Mark Scott wasn't a good conversationalist, but for two players who were supposedly some of the most media-friendly of their era, there were plenty of cringe-worthy exchanges in this episode.
One last not for Cubs fans. If the stadium looks similar, it's because it was modeled after Wrigley Field. In fact, this ballpark in Los Angeles was also known as Wrigley Field, named after the same chewing gum founder William Wrigley Jr., and bared the name before the current Wrigley Field. And I'm guessing their ivy didn't die in the winter.

PART I



PART II



PART III